By Thomas C. Hanson
Bernie Schnippert, church treasurer, chaired the first two days of meetings at a regional pastors conference June 25 to 28 that dealt with financial and administrative concerns of the church.
Church Administration conducted meetings the next two days.
Dr. Schnippert said that the budget is set at $160,000 a day, and when that figure drops by an average of $20,000 a day, he has to cut $5 million out of the annual budget. Average daily mail income for June dropped to $136,028--"a worrisome trend" (see Treasurer's Report, page 5).
Dr. Schnippert said he was caught in a loop, that when he cuts the budget, some members may feel they are receiving less from headquarters, which causes them to give less, which causes him to have to cut the budget more.
Dr. Schnippert listed priorities in this order 1) the church; 2) publications; 3) and Ambassador University, noting that Ambassador has one to two years to become self-sufficient.
In response, Craig Bacheller, pastor of the Miami, Florida, North and South churches, said: "What I see happening here is a realignment of priorities. Our philosophy in the past was that church areas support headquarters in preaching the gospel. Now we have reversed that role so that headquarters supports the churches so they can preach the gospel locally."
Natalie LaBran of Coopers & Lybrand gave an overview of the audit her firm conducts of the church's financial records.
"The level of cooperation has been exceedingly high," Ms. LaBran said. She explained that "an audit of the financial statements is a test of transactions that have taken place throughout the year--what has the church done with the money, how does it come in, how does it go out. Your records are very well kept."
How church is incorporated
The church is a California nonprofit religious corporation. Nonprofit means that no profits go to any private individual, Dr. Schnippert said. Profits don't go back to owners.
Dr. Schnippert read from Advising California Nonprofit Corporations, a reference book for attorneys: "Religious corporations may be formed primarily or exclusively for religious purposes, may not make any distribution of corporate assets to members at any time...."
Mr. Tkach is the lowest paid pastor general we have ever had, Dr. Schnippert said, and basically only works off of unanimous decisions. He has a collaborative style of leadership.
Dr. Schnippert said that the church sought legal counsel on Mr. Tkach's salary before setting it and plans to publish his salary and the salaries of top administrators in the church after an outside firm (Coopers & Lybrand) conducts a salary review and comparison of similar corporations.
"If those salaries are too high, I will recommend that they be reduced," Dr. Schnippert said. "If any salaries are in any way inappropriate, which I doubt, they will be adjusted according to the study."
Bob Osbrink and Gregg Herbert, of Grubb & Ellis, the real estate firm retained by the church to sell the headquarters property, gave a progress report.
Mr. Herbert said we are "selling much more than just improvements on a grandiose site." He referred to the property as "a one of a kind, world class campus. There is not another site like this in the United States."
Grubb & Ellis hopes to sell the entire property to one user. Many of the historical buildings cannot be torn down. Grubb & Ellis personnel are in constant contact with church officials and they meet formally with the search and sale committee every two weeks.
The proceeds of the sale will be allotted to important uses that further the mission of the church, Dr. Schnippert said.
Although final decisions must await the sale of the property, preliminary plans call for such things as funding a retirement plan for ministers and other church employees, financing local church buildings, purchase of a new, much smaller headquarters building and a possible endowment for Ambassador University. Of course, he said, this list is neither exhaustive or unchangeable.
Dr. Schnippert said "that the church has taken great pains to conduct the sale of the property in a highly professional manner and to that end has retained Grubb & Ellis; Alschuler, Grossman & Pines; and Deloitte & Touche to represent us as our brokers, consultants and attorneys. We are confident that the sale will proceed effectively and efficiently, unencumbered by legal or financial complications."
Mike Feazell, director of Church Administration, referred to a book titled: When Not to Build: An Architect's Unconventional Wisdom for the Growing Church, by Ray Bowman with Eddy Hall, by Baker Book House.
Mr. Feazell said that building a church building is not a panacea.
There are many important considerations besides money in reaching a wise decision about a church building.
Mr. Feazell said that a church building can become a greater curse than blessing if a congregation is not fully aware of and prepared for the responsibilities and challenges of owning a building.
Many churches have regretted their decision to acquire a building, because they were not prepared for it financially, emotionally or spiritually. On the other hand, when a congregation is truly ready, a building can be a great blessing.
Dr. Schnippert said: "We are developing a system for allowing members to give donations to headquarters that can be earmarked to be spent only to purchase or improve a local church building in their city. Although we are working on the new program, it is not yet set up, so I ask our members to hold off sending in those types of donations just yet. When the program is ready it will be announced."
Dr. Schnippert outlined two possible ways that the Worldwide Church of God can receive and process member donations.
In one plan, referred to as the red plan, members give to headquarters, which issues receipts, maintains accounting functions, pays ministerial salaries and major church expenses and deposits donations above expenses into the local church account.
In the other plan, labeled the blue plan, money is processed locally. The local church would collect donations, bank them, issue receipts and pay all bills, including ministerial salaries.
The small congregations would run a deficit, Dr. Schnippert said, and the large churches would have a surplus.
Pastors would be locally responsible for legal and financial regulations if a local funding model were adopted, Dr. Schnippert said. They would spend much of their time sorting through technical and complicated administrative matters now handled by our accountants and legal staff here at headquarters, he added.
Curtis May, who discussed local funding with the Los Angeles, California, congregation, said that none of the ministers nor members there wants local processing.
The regional pastors unanimously agreed that the red plan would be best for the church.
Dr. Schnippert said that one of the greatest difficulties for him as treasurer is to predict income now that the church does not teach mandatory tithing.
A possible solution Dr. Schnippert introduced is non-pledge pledge cards, which will be pilot-tested in some areas. (See "WCG: Where We Are and Where We are Going," page 2.)
Russell Duke, president of Ambassador University, said that Oct. 8, 1997, is the golden anniversary of the college, and that plans are for 658 students to be enrolled this fall. To make tuition costs more realistic the university has raised tuition from $105 to $125 per unit, and the following year it will be $175 per unit. This is still well below tuition costs in comparable colleges.
Dr. Duke said that the university's goal is financial independence, and the church has given him one to two years for this.
Dr. Duke said that Ambassador is still serving Worldwide Church of God youths (at the university and the Summer Educational Program), others in the Christian community and the people of East Texas, but that the university needs a core of Worldwide Church of God young people.
Dan Rogers, superintendent of U.S. ministers, kicked off the final two days of the conference by praying for headquarters staff and the field ministry.
Pastor General Joseph Tkach joined the group June 27 after he met with Seventh-day Adventist leaders in the Washington area earlier in the week (see "WCG and Seventh-day Adventist Church Officials Meet," page 4).
Don Mears, pastor of the Big Sandy church, said: "Members feel freer to complain than they ever have before. This is good because we are rebuilding a greater sense of trust."
Al Barr, pastor of the Atlanta, Rome and Buford, Georgia, congregations, commented: "I come to church to be boosted by the Atlanta area congregations. I see the Holy Spirit working in the lives of people. It looks like they have their first love."
Curtis May, pastor of the Los Angeles, California, church, said: "This conference was characterized by openness, heartfelt sincerity, prayer, communication and collaboration.
"One thing that was brought home powerfully was that the `us and them' attitudes between the field and headquarters have no foundation. Some blame the current administration for things that happened over the years and those things are not any fault of theirs," Mr. May said.
David R. Fiedler, pastor of the Milwaukee West and Kenosha, Wisconsin, churches, said: "This conference really had a family atmosphere. I say that because we discussed both the joys and the complexities of what faces us as a fellowship.
"Consequently, I feel a greater sense of awareness and responsibility, and have a tremendous desire to see us through this transition phase.
"I'm confident that when the members have a fuller picture of our situation, they too will respond in the same way.
"Though things are difficult right now, I realize they are that way because we are following Jesus Christ. I believe that as we share in his sufferings we will also share in his glory.
"This is our church. I want to see it not only survive, but thrive!"
Guy L. Engelbart, pastor of the Tacoma and Bremerton, Washington, churches, said: "This conference was inspiring and enlightening, yet sobering. I was especially encouraged and grateful to see the collaborative spirit and the sharing of information among all the members of the headquarters team and the regional pastors.
"Mr. Tkach, Dr. Schnippert and others were solicitous and open to input, ideas and suggestions. This has not always been the case in the Worldwide Church of God.
"I came away more convinced than ever that, even though this is God's Church, it is our church as well. We are all in this together. More responsibility and ownership are being given to all of us within the body of Christ. We need to accept that responsibility and trust God to see us through.
"We believe in faith that Christ will take us through this wilderness of financial and other difficulties, and bring us into a bright and wonderful future for the Worldwide Church of God."
Ken H. Williams, pastor of the Rochester, New York, church, said: "I want to thank our Pastor General Joseph Tkach, and our treasurer, Bernie Schnippert, for this extra regional pastors conference. It was needed and accomplished far more than I imagined possible.
"The Holy Spirit continues to lead our church in developing an interdependent ministry. Our four days with Joe Tkach, Mike Feazell, Bernie Schnippert and Dan Rogers re-emphasized that we need each other.
"It was inspiring to see the Holy Spirit remove the `us and them' barrier that has been between our central office and the ministry in years past.
"I believe God is preparing us for the work he wants our church to do in preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ on into the 21st century."
Mike Swagerty, pastor of the Sacramento and Corning, California, churches, said: "I feel that this conference broke new ground for our fellowship. There was a sense of teamwork and true collaboration and respect for each other, such as I have not seen in my 28 years in the ministry.
"All of us, ministers, Pasadena administration and local brethren are truly in this together. I can't wait until this style of leadership filters down to all levels of the church."
Ray A. Meyer, pastor of the Kansas City North and St. Joseph Missouri, and Kansas City South and Topeka, Kansas, churches, said: "This conference, more than ever before, reinforced the reality that the relationship between our leaders in Pasadena and our ministers and members in local congregations is not a matter of `us and them.'
"There has never been a time of more collaboration, communication, cooperation and sensitivity for the needs and concerns of the ministry and members.
"Our church leaders have been placed in their responsibilities by the Holy Spirit to minister to the body of Christ. Any other perception is incorrect."
Steve Botha, regional pastor from Westchester, New York, said: "There was a level of openness that I had not seen before. The personnel at our church headquarters were open to questions. I sensed that they not only understood the questions, but were also eager to answer.
"There seems to be a real sensitivity to the concerns of the field ministry as well as the membership. To me this conference was a `giant leap' in our efforts to be more inclusive in our decision-making.
"I would hope that the field ministry and the membership would respond with the same sensitivity to the concerns that our leadership team has. We are after all, all a part of the body of Christ. It is imperative that we work together in a spirit of Christian unity."
Bob Persky, pastor of the Bowling Green, Kentucky; and Clarksville, Tennessee; churches, said: "This conference has made a monumental mark on my life in that it excelled in communication and collaboration among the leadership in both headquarters and the field ministry.
"I feel our church body has now passed a major milestone in linking our corporate body with our regional church pastors in open discussion of church governance, church finances and church goals. We are now united in a mutual trust that I feel exceeds anything I have ever seen in all my 29 years in the ministry.
"I feel not only a person-to-person trust in those who are responsible for corporate duties, but I feel a deep spiritual bond rapidly developing.
"I have always realized the leadership of God over our church body, but now I am witnessing an obvious reconciliation being prompted by Jesus Christ, which is fulfilling the goal stated in Ephesians 4:13 that "we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."
Don Lawson, pastor of the Oklahoma City and Enid, Oklahoma, churches, said: "Many different words stand out in my mind. Outstanding! The relationship that developed as we prayed, fellowshipped and had meetings was truly a blessing.
"Informational! We received information that should help us to relate to the other pastors in a way to instill more confidence in them. We are also more able to answer the questions people are asking.
"Togetherness! We came to a much closer relationship to those at headquarters. We now understand more deeply their job and desire they have to really assist us in doing ours.
"My wife, Sue, and I came away with a deep appreciation that God has given us the opportunity to serve during this time. Our hearts overflow with thanksgiving."
Rand Holm, pastor of the Prescott Valley and Sedona, Arizona, churches, said: "I was struck with our leadership's commitment to be subject to the will of Jesus and the leading of the Holy Spirit.
"In every discussion there was a profound sense of `where is God leading us in this matter?' Our leadership team and our regional pastors worked together to seek the will of God over numerous issues that are of immediate and long range concern to our church.
"The `middle wall of partition' that has plagued headquarters-field relationships before seemed to dissolve before our very eyes as God's Spirit provided leadership, and we yielded to it.
"I believe a great miracle happened and a wonderful healing will begin in our fellowship as a result of this wall coming down. To God be the glory!"
Garvin Greene, pastor of the Knoxville, Harrogate and Morristown, Tennessee, churches, said: "The more we regional pastors and wives are with each other and the Pasadena staff, the more kinship we feel. Joe Tkach, Mike Feazell and other church leaders have such warm, tender hearts.
"The news Bernie Schnippert brought us was like a bucket of ice-water thrown over us--the shock was great! But as we looked at the facts and issues, as we discussed options for action, as we prayed and were reminded of God's promises, we calmed down.
"By the end of the sessions, we were encouraged despite our present challenges. The regional pastors are solidly behind Joe and the Pasadena staff. We love them and know they love us.
"Our challenge is to effectively convey the essence of what we heard to the ministry in our regions. Our members also want to know what is happening so they can share the burden and challenge with us."
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