Business Concludes at 61st General Council
The third and final business session held at the 61st General Council opened with acknowledgement and appreciation of senior retired ministers and their spouses. General Treasurer Rick Ross, along with his wife Susan, thanked the group for their legacy, stating, “there would be no future without a past, and we stand on the shoulders of those who went before us.” General Superintendent Doug Clay also honored the group and remarked that, although their assignments had changed, their call remained the same.
RESOLUTIONS
Action was taken regarding remaining resolutions. Resolution 1 dealt with the process for filling vacancies that occur in the Executive Presbytery. The resolution proposed allowing those elected by the general presbytery to fill such vacancies to serve the remainder of the unexpired term, a change from the current bylaws, which require an election at the next general council. The resolution was adopted.
Resolution 8 proposed a single addition to the bylaws requirements for churches desiring general council affiliation. The clarifying word “lead” was inserted to add definition to the requirement that, for churches desiring to become affiliated with the Assemblies of God, the lead pastor must be a credentialed minister with the AG. The resolution was adopted.
Resolution 9 presented a provision for honorary presbytery status, allowing an executive officer who had served for a full term of four years or more, to be eligible for appointment as an honorary general presbyter, replacing the current requirement of eight years or more of service before becoming eligible. The resolution was adopted.
A change was proposed to credentialing requirements through Resolution 10 which replaced the requirement of successful completion of courses through Global University and instead requires training through training programs approved by the general presbytery. These programs would specifically align with the courses necessary for each of the three credentialing levels. The resolution adopted.
A structural modification to the organization and governance of the AG U.S. Missions department was offered via Resolution 11. The creation of a new position, director of operations, was proposed. This position would serve under the executive director and oversee daily operations of each of the seven ministries of AGUSM whose descriptions were named and outlined in subsequent sections. The was an adopted with an amendment that added the phrase “reaching the lost” to the description of Chi Alpha’s mission and ministry.
Friday business included the presentation of the General Superintendent's Medal of Honor to Bonnie Papendick and Tim Strathdee. The award is the highest recognition given to Assemblies of God laypersons.
GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT REPORT
General Superintendent Doug Clay presented the final report of the session. He reported that the Fellowship is thriving, both domestically and globally. The health of AG churches and the Fellowship as a whole, he stated, is a group effort. He thanked pastors and leaders for their part in the AG’s post-Covid recovery.
Clay cited several statistics pointing to this recovery. Attendance in AG churches is up by 6%, ethnic diversity is now at 46%, new churches are up by 33%, and total membership is up by 4%. “However, the most encouraging statistics are the increased number of salvations, which are up by 10%, water baptisms which are up by 12%, and Spirit baptisms are up by 4%,” he stated.
The evidence of God moving, he continued, is being witnessed in changed lives, empowered churches, and transformed communities across the country.
HONORARY GENERAL PRESBYTER ELECTIONS
The remaining honorary general presbyters were presented, via adopted resolutions, in the final votes of the day. The honorary general presbyters were as follows:
Wan Ki Choi, an ordained minister with the AG for 45 years who served as president of the Korean Fellowship and superintendent of the Second Korean District.
Donald H. Detrick, an ordained minister with the AG for more than four decades, former district official for the Northwest Ministry Network, and a champion of women in ministry and young ministers.
Michael E. Dickenson, an ordained minister with the AG for 50 years and New Mexico Ministry Network superintendent for the past 16 years.
Duane P. Durst, an ordained minister with the AG for 48 years, former New York Ministry Network superintendent, and Northeast Region executive presbyter since 2015.
Stephen R. Schaible, who served for over three decades as a general presbyter and district superintendent of the South Dakota District for the past 44 years.
Terry L. Yancey, the Kansas Ministry Network’s superintendent for the past 25 years, the longest-tenured superintendent in the network’s history.
FINAL RESOLUTION
A final courtesy resolution was offered by the resolutions committee, thanking the city of Orlando, Florida’s host districts, state and city officials, and hotel and convention staff and personnel for hosting the 61st General Council of the Assemblies of God. Clay then concluded the meeting by leading delegates in singing the Doxology.