general council of the pastors and elders quarterly news · general council of the pastors and...

Special points of interest:

The Chairman Speaks

GCPE Conference Couples

Night Out Dinner Cruise

Office of the GCPE Secretary

150th Commemorative

Prayer Shawl

One Body

Marriage Enrichment Session

Order the GCPE Handbook

The Chairman Speaks

Inside this issue:

The Chairman Speaks 1

2014 GCPE Couples’ Night

Out Dinner Cruise

2

Furthering the Legacy of

the Azusa Street Mission

and Revival

2

Greetings from the GCPE

Secretary

3

The 150th Commemorative

Bishop Charles Harrison

Mason Prayer Shawl

4, 5

“One Body” 6

The Pastor’s Wife 7

GCPE Marriage Enrichment 8

Church of God in Christ, Inc. VOLUME IV

General Council of the Pastors and Elders Quarterly News

April 2014

Supt. Michael Eaddy

GCPE Chairman


Furthering the Legacy of the Azusa Street Mission and

Revival Through the ONE CHURCH Initiative of the GCPE By Harold V. Bennett, PhD


The Word of God uses the term "Body of Christ" to define the people who have accepted

Jesus as their Savior, and committed their hearts and lives to follow the truth of the Word. He

is the head and we, as the body, are His expression in the earth.

The Word uses this analogy because it demonstrates a visual whereby we can understand

how we are to function under His direction. Just as the natural, physical body receives it in-

struction from the head, we are to receive our instruction from our Head, Jesus Christ.

Every part of our physical body has its own job or function that serves the whole. Each has a

purpose, and was created, by God, for that particular purpose. It is the same in the body of

Christ.

THE WORD EXPLAINS IT LIKE THIS:

Romans 12: 4-8:

"For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,

so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another."

Paul used a perfect metaphor when he used the human body to picture the Church. In great

wisdom he gave us an example that we could understand because it made the message so

clear. The point he was endeavoring to get across to us, as a people, is that THE Church is

not an organization--it is a living organism, where it’s members are controlled by one Spirit.

This is not just a beautiful story; this is something to live by.

Not everyone needs to stand in a pulpit to have an effective "ministry." Over the years I have

known so many people who "ministered" in areas that some would not even consider as minister-

ing to others. For example, the ministry of helps is so far-reaching in the ways it benefits the Body

of Christ. Those that move in this gift are often the unsung heroes of the church, but without them,

the needs of the church would never be met.

We need to understand our place in the body and function with the gifts God has given us. We

need to come together with singleness of purpose (to be the expression of His love to a lost and

dying world). Cooperation with, and submission to, the head is the only way our body can operate

properly (for each member to function as it was created to). No one part is greater than any other

part, and all are necessary.

I think one of the most important functions of the church is to help individuals find their place of

gifting, and equip them for those areas of ministry. Then, the Church will function properly and

truly be ONE BODY.

David Todd Whitley Administrative Assistant

Nat’l Executive Dir., COGIC

Scholastic Motivation Ministries

“We need to

understand our

place in the body

and function with

the gifts God has

given us.”

“ONE BODY”

I have been to a few hundred meetings and conferences over the past years and occasionally had a complaint or

two about not enough "Paper" either before or during the conference but today I cannot wait to get back to a tablet

or a computer, l had to stop right now and peck out on my phone that this has been the absolute best preconference

newsletter that I have ever received from any conference, church or secular!

The articles from the brother from Israel and the sister the pastor’s kid were outstanding and helps make the new

the newsletter worthy of a church Pulitzer Prize!

Excellent job sir. Well done.

Your brother,

RE

AD

ER

S’

REVIEW


THE PASTOR’S WIFE One of the most important and most overlooked people in the church is the pastor’s wife.

Have you ever walked into a room and no one acknowledged your presence and there is no

seat for you. The young woman will give a gesture and then the words, "we will find a place

for you". I have...very often.

The pastor’s wife is more than the big hat, high heeled shoes, and lace trimmed handkerchief.

She is more than the trophy that the pastor holds up every time he asks her to stand. She is

expected to dress nice, but is criticized because she dresses nice. She is expected to be under-

standing and accept the pastor's long hours of study and days of travel, as she raises their chil-

dren. She is expected to run their household on the limited funds supplied by the church. She is the single most likely

person to become the victim of malicious gossip, criticism, impossible expectations and pastoral frustrations. She is the

key figure in the life of the pastor and plays the biggest role in his success or failure.

Most of my life I observed my mother, Mother Vivian F. Green, work in the church kitchen, teach etiquette to growing

boys and girls, attend afternoon prayer and weekly services, work as Business Administrator in the church office, pray

for the church members, and so much more. With all that she was responsible for as pastor’s wife, she was also an atten-

tive mother; loving, caring wife; and devoted daughter. I would often tell her that I did not want her life and she would

always encourage me to embrace my destiny because she saw that I would one day walk the same path that God had

given to her. Many years later, I accepted the call to be a pastor’s wife. What I have learned over these years is that to be

a pastor’s wife is a special assignment from God. I have also come to realize that because you marry a pastor does not

mean that you have accepted the God assignment.

As a pastor’s daughter life was sometimes difficult, but the pastor’s wife is another story altogether. When I got married

I immediately became a role model, an administrator, the praise team, the prayer partner, the cheerleader, a reliable

helper as well as an under-appreciated servant. I had struggled most of my life as a preacher's kid and here I am now ac-

cepting something that was much larger than I had imagined.

My experience has been that people sometimes treat the pastor's wife as though she has no feelings at all. She can be hurt

through attacks on her husband, her children, and even herself. As the pastor's wife, my mother taught me how to answer

unpleasant situations. That is difficult sometimes because the pain is so great, and the reality that you can't tell that dea-

con or missionary what you want to tell them, cuts you even deeper. I am outspoken and opinionated, but no, I can't give

that person that is talking back to the pastor or criticizing my family my true emotion. I can't attack the prayer warrior

that is giving my husband a hard time. No, I have to take it, sometimes in silence and prayer. As pastor's wife, I spend a

lot of time preparing a gentle response in hope of turning away wrath and more time in prayer.

I am learning to embrace the assignment and all of the work that comes with it as I realize that all women are not in-

cluded in their husband’s ministry. I am grateful to God that my husband tries to understand me; he realizes my worth

and ability; he is not threatened by the gifts God has given to me (because those gifts assist him in ministry); and that he

loves and appreciates me. I am also grateful for the rewards that come with being the pastor’s wife. The joy when a per-

son receives Christ and is enlightened; or the comfort of knowing that your example has changed someone’s life. There

is a great reward in knowing that your life positively affects others.

This assignment has challenged me. It has enhanced my faith in God. It has made me want to scream and kick my heels.

It has made me grow. It has been a lonely path. When I want to walk away, God strengthens me for the task at hand. I

am tired, but I persevere. I try to repeat scriptures of hope and encouragement to myself and my husband. I have to smile

when I am hurting inside. My go to person is God therefore, my prayer life has changed. I must cover my husband in

prayer. I find hope in the face of adversity; I look to God for validation; I support my husband in ministry. As a result, I

believe that the most important thing a pastor's wife can do is discover her identity in God.

Today as I reflect on my mother’s example, I am reminded of what is most important. At the end of the day, winning

souls to Christ, inspiring others, building witnesses, and spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ is more important than

anything else. Mother Green has proven that it can be done and by the grace of God, I too, will do it!

First Lady Naomi Ward The Superintendent’s Wife

General Council of Pastors and Elders

Church of God in Christ

P O Box 15365

Chicago, IL 60615

Organization

Please submit inquiries to:

[email protected] or [email protected]

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Church of God in Christ, Inc.

From the Desk of the

Public Relations Director The “Power of agreement for greater achievement” is both

a powerful, relevant and insightful theme that Chairman

Michael Eaddy has chosen for the 2014 GCPE Confer-

ence. How can two walk together except they agree? Our

society with its multi-facet cultural, political, ethnic, finan-

cial, educational and religious challenges makes it difficult

for a believer to live victoriously in this world apart from a

true literal intimate relationship with the Lord Jesus

Christ. If we are going to be truly successful and victorious in this life, we must

resist the temptations to follow our sensual appetites; taste, smell feelings, sight and

hearing. We must undauntedly rely on the power and authority of the “Spirit” -

Word of God.

Supt. William N. Ward, Jr.

GCPE PR Director

PLACE AN ORDER

FOR YOUR PER-

SONAL COPY OF

THE OFFICIAL

GCPE HANDBOOK

AND A COPY OF

THE CHAIRMAN’S

VISION FOR THE

PRIMARY ASSIGN-

MENT OF THE

GCPE DVD TODAY! To order, Send $25.00

for handbook and $20.00

for dvd + $10.00 for

shipping and handling

for a Total of $55.00 to:

GCPE Offers Marriage Enrichment Session

Since 2000, I have been involved with the American Marriage Movement.

This journey has taken me to places I never dreamed I would go. Many doors were opened for me to travel, which led me to co-author Basic Train-

ing for Couples- a black marriage education curriculum. My wife, Angela, and I also worked with David and Claudia Arp to develop 10 Great Dates

for Black Couples.

Because marriage is God’s idea, I have contended, that the church should

have the leading role in the marriage discussion. By awarding commu-

nity grants, the government has seemingly wrestled its way into representing God’s first insti-

tution--Marriage. It is time for the church to step up and lead our members, their families and

communities to the fulfillment God intended for humanity, by doing marriage God’s way.

Since 2014 marks the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the hallmark legisla-

tion prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin, the

National Resource Center for Healthy Marriage and Families presented Working with African

American Individuals, Couples and Families. On February 20, 2014, I was invited, as the

lead researcher of their printed work, to present on the national webinar to honor Black His-

tory Month. This was another wonderful opportunity to reveal hard work that blacks have

done and are doing to preserve the sanctity of marriage and to promote healthy relationships.

As one of the largest black denominations in America, the Church of God in Christ must be a

loud voice in the Faith-Based Marriage Movement!

Since becoming a member of the executive committee of the General Council of Pastors and

Elders, I have found that Chairman Michael Eaddy embraces the important role of healthy

marriages and families for the pastors and elders of the Church of God in Christ---First! He

follows up his belief, that healthy marriages and families are important, by dedicating the last

day of the GCPE to Marriage Enrichment. Under the careful leadership of Chairman Michael

Eaddy wants the GCPE of the Church of God in Christ is poised to embrace its important

place on the frontlines in the battle for our families’ survival. This year’s GCPE conference

will feature a luncheon speaker, breakout sessions and an evening couples’ activity, all de-

signed to put the discussion marriage at the feet of those who are responsible for conducting

more than 95% of all marriages…The Pastors and Elders!!!

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