Regional Report
on the 2006 General Assembly of
The Church of God, Stephen Smith, General Overseer
The Report of the 101st General Assembly
of The Church of God
August 30 – September 3, 2006
Memorial Auditorium, Chattanooga, Tennessee
Interim General Overseer – Bishop Stephen Smith
The activities began on the evening preceding the General Assembly at the Memorial Auditorium with Pre-Assembly Rally. Sister Connie Wilson of Virginia, the General Assembly Band Movement Coordinator was in charge of the service. Sister Wilson spent a significant amount of time during this service instructing the congregation on how the Holy Ghost operates during tongues and interpretations, and how that we can not operate solely on a message and interpretation. Brother Paul Horton of Virginia delivered the message for the evening.The General Assembly began promptly at 9:00am on Wednesday morning with the dropping of the gavel by Brother Stephen Smith acting as Interim General Overseer. The first session of the General Assembly was primarily dedicated to various forms of individual and concert prayer. Brother Elliott Leighty of Pennsylvania delivered an inspired message during the first session entitled “Returning to the Spirit of the Solemn Assembly” (Joel 2:15). Following the message the congregation went to concert prayer once again to close out the morning session.The afternoon and evening sessions included state, regional, and national reports by the respective overseers. The afternoon session included a message by Brother David Clawson of Oklahoma entitled “…the God of all grace…make you perfect…” (1 Peter 5:10). This message was followed by the CPMA program directed by the General CPMA Coordinator, Brother Melvin Byers Jr. of North Carolina. The evening session contained a boost for “The Evening Light” by the Assistant Editor, Brother Kevin Werkheiser. Following the boost for “The Evening Light” Brother James Smith of West Virginia delivered a message entitled “…strength…made perfect…” (2 Corinthians 12:9).Thursday was the day that everyone was anticipating. This was the day in which the new General Overseer was to be selected. The morning session consisted of a number of state, regional, and national reports followed by a message by Brother Clive Jared of Oklahoma entitled “That thine eyes may be open toward this house” (1 Kings 8:29). Now comes the time we have all been waiting for; the afternoon session was the beginning of the Selection of the General Overseer. Brother Stephen Smith came to the microphone and once again instructed the congregation on proper etiquette of Holy Ghost messages in tongues and the interpretation thereof. He also repeated what Sister Connie Wilson had instructed us during the Pre-Assembly Rally regarding how we can not operate solely on a message and interpretation. There must also be some confirmation of the Spirit accompanying the message and interpretation. Brother Smith also spoke in depth concerning his understanding of how Theocratic Government is supposed to operate within The Church of God as well as his understanding of what Unanimous Decision really means. To conclude his presentation, and without going into very much detail, Brother Smith explained to the congregation some of the actions surrounding recent charges that had been brought against him regarding events from his distant past. He apologized to the General Assembly and asked our forgiveness. He stated that he would declare the Office of the General Overseer vacant (an act which never occurred throughout the course of the General Assembly). He also stated that he would resign his positions and place himself under the will of the Presbytery and that he would make any restitution that they required of him (another act which never occurred during the General Assembly). Brother Smith immediately turned the pulpit over to Brother Ray Dupre. Brother Dupre was supposed to have preached a message entitled “God’s Man, God’s Time, God’s Way” (Isaiah 55:8-9). But instead, he came to the microphone stating how he has struggled over what he was going to say first. He began by reminding the General Assembly that Brother Smith had asked for our forgiveness. He made the point that if our past can continually be brought before us, and if we are expected to continually apologize and repent for our past sins, then the gospel has no power and is void. He stated that Brother Smith does not owe the Assembly an apology, but that those who brought up this past deed and the associated charges owe Brother Smith an apology. He asked the General Assembly if they would forgive Brother Smith for his past transgressions. This was answered with a resounding applause indicating that the General Assembly did in deed forgive him of his past sins. It is unclear if this was designed to absolve the charges that had been brought against Brother Smith or not, because by his own definition of unanimous decision, one group of people who do not have a voice in any business of The Church of God, including the General Assembly, is anyone who has unresolved charges against them. However, our General Assembly was in fact being moderated by a man who has unresolved charges against him. If the forgiveness of the General Assembly did in fact absolve these charges then I guess “all is well” at this point, but if not, it would appear that we did not follow our own guidelines with regards to who can speak during the business of The Church of God; unless of course speaking does not include moderating. Brother Dupre then began to walk around among the congregation talking about how we were preparing to install the new General Overseer. He then had his wife brought to the front in her wheelchair. The purpose and intent of this action is still unclear to this reporter, and what this had to do with the selection of the General Overseer completely escapes me. Brother Dupre went on to say that he felt that we should honor Brother Smith for the past 77 days during which he served as the Interim General Overseer prior to selecting the new General Overseer. He went up on stage and led Brother Smith to the floor in front of the congregation and began to call the brethren down to pray for Brother Smith. He asked the General Assembly if we are going to require this man to resign his position, the underlying question being are we going to allow him to vacate the office of the General Overseer. Brother Dupre said that we needed to show him our forgiveness and show him honor for the work that he has done for the church these past 77 days. He began to call the brethren of the church down front to pray for Brother Smith. Brother Dupre stated over and over again that he was not installing a General Overseer. After a while the front was nearly filled with the brethren praying for Brother Smith; bestowing upon him the honor they felt he was due for his service to the church. During all of this, when the praying was very loud, Brother Dupre began going to different ones standing in the congregation asking them very loudly and abruptly, “Does this feel good to you”. I wish he had asked me that question. Then he made a statement that caused nearly everyone who heard it to take a step back. He said, “I am not installing a General Overseer; God is installing a General Overseer”. Almost immediately Brother James Anders went to the microphone and basically called this thing to order. We had brethren who were praying for Brother Smith to show forgiveness and paying honor to him, who were now being told (although most of them did not even hear it) that they were installing the new General Overseer. It was apparent that this came as a great shock to many of the brethren down front. Brother Anders expressed his concern that things were not being done properly, and that this is one of the most important, if not the most important, day in church history. He stated that if we do not get this right, it will be detrimental not only to the church, but to Brother Smith as well. Brother Smith then came to the microphone and after a few comments called the Assembly to prayer. There was a message and interpretation that stated “my man was before you”. Brother Smith apparently thought this was talking about him and with quite a bit of uncertainty on how to handle the situation called for a first and second to be made installing him as General Overseer. Brother Daniel went to the stage to for discussion, but gave way to another brother who made the motion that Brother Smith be installed as General Overseer of The Church of God. Brother Daniel spoke on behalf of reconciliation of “The Stand”. He also spoke concerning the fact that the General Overseer was to be installed by acclamation. This means with overwhelming Holy Ghost approval manifested throughout the congregation in joy and praise. This was definitely missing in this attempt to install a General Overseer. A second was then given and Brother Smith asked if there were any opposed. A number of brethren stood opposed and refused to submit when asked to do so. The Counseling Committee was to be convened after the lunch break to meet with the brethren that were opposed. It was announced that the matter of selecting the General Overseer would be brought back to the Assembly floor at 10:55am Friday which was the time originally set aside for the Annual Address.The Thursday evening session consisted of more state and country reports as well as the report of the World Missions Committee. This was followed by the World Missions Program and the Parade of Nations directed by the General World Missions Coordinator, Bishop Herman Ard. Following the World Missions Program Brother Donaldo Acosta, National Overseer of Honduras and General Field Secretary brought the message and altar call.Friday morning brought about the Bible Training Institute (BTI) program directed by the General BTI Coordinator, Bishop Herman Ard. This was followed by the report of the General Treasurer, Brother Kevin Werkheiser of Tennessee. The time that was to be set aside for the General Overseer’s Annual Address was instead used as a time of fasting and prayer and seeking God’s will for the selection of a new General Overseer. Brother Smith called the Assembly to a fast that would last until the closing of the General Assembly or until God revealed His will to the church. At 1:00 PM the delegation from Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio (The Stand; also referred to very disrespectfully as “Danny Carter and his group” by the Interim General Overseer) met with the Counseling Committee to present their situation. What a wonderful Spirit that was felt throughout this meeting. Each pastor from the region spoke briefly to the committee as did Brother Danny Carter. Several others also made statements to the committee. Several times throughout the 1 ½ hours meeting the Holy Ghost fell on the group and tears of joy and peace flowed freely. We can not help but believe that the Counseling Committee felt the presence of God in that room and knew that we had found the favor of God.While we were meeting with the Counseling Committee the General Assembly was paying a special tribute to Brother and Sister Pruitt. It grieved our hearts that we were unable to attend that session of the Assembly because we love Brother and Sister Pruitt dearly, however we had not input as to the time of our meeting with the Counseling Committee. Brother and Sister Pruitt have served God and The Church of God faithfully for many, many years. It is so sad that their tenure ended in the manner in which it did. We hope that they know that our region will always hold them in the highest esteem and that we will always love them with all of our heart. Brother Bobby Sutton closed out the Friday afternoon session with a sermon entitled, “…bond of perfectness” (Col. 3:14). The Friday evening program was the Evangelism and Healing Service directed by the General Evangelism Coordinator, Brother Lanny Carter of Virginia. Saturday morning was the Assembly Band Movement Program directed by the General ABM Coordinator, Sister Connie Wilson of Virginia. This included a moment of silence for all of the ministers who went to be with the Lord during the past year. Sister Wilson then brought another message to the General Assembly telling us that we do not need a witness, or acclamation, of the Holy Ghost felt by the body of the General Assembly in order to select a General Overseer. She began handing out mustard seeds to a number of people stating that all we need is a little faith. Why would God change the way he selects a General Overseer now? Saturday afternoon brought the Ordination service for Deacons and Bishops followed by a message by Brother José G. Bañuelos of Mexico entitled, “…perfectly joined together…” (1 Cor. 1:10). Saturday evening held the Victory Leaders Band Program directed by the General VLB Coordinator, Sister Sharon Griffin of Indiana. The program began with the VLB march which was just as much of a blessing as it always has been in the past. The VLB march never fails to bring a tear to the eye and a blessing to the heart. To see the youth of The Church of God march in with banners waving is a sight that you can see nowhere else in the world but the General Assembly. It was sad that they were not led in by the VLB band this year, but the march was still wonderful. Sister Griffin began to preach a message on Deliverance. Her message was being interpreted for our Spanish brothers and sisters. At some point during her message, the interpreter simply walked away from her and apparently asked Brother Acosta to pray for him. Brother Acosta and Brother Dupre began praying for the young man. This went on for quite some time. The Holy Ghost fell on Sister Griffin and she began rebuking the enemy in a powerful way. All of a sudden, Brother Lanny Carter had the microphone and was calling the presbytery on to the stage to form a prayer line. The remainder of the evening was taken with the prayer line on the stage. To the best of this reporter’s knowledge we did not see Sister Griffin again for the remainder of the evening. Why was Sister Griffin’s program taken away from her? God was beginning to move, and the devil did not like it. The Sunday morning session was set aside for the Women’s Missionary Band Program directed by the General WMB Coordinator, Sister Betty Bishop of Alabama. Sunday afternoon was the Sunday School Program directed by the General Sunday School Coordinator, Brother Paul Jernigan of Oklahoma. The Sunday School Program was followed by a message from General Field Secretary, Brother Robert Strong entitled, “Into the Eyes of Grace”. All of the committee reports scheduled for Sunday afternoon were omitted in order to make room for more time to seek God for a new General Overseer. After a time of prayer, the same man who had given out 4 previous messages in tongues relating to installing the General Overseer gave yet another message in tongues. This time he interpreted his own message followed by another interpretation by his son-in-law. Another young man ran up onto the stage and bowed himself at Brother Smith’s feet. Brother Smith reached down and laid his hand on the young man’s head as though blessing him. The young man then jumped up, began running wildly back and forth across the stage pointing crazily at Brother Smith and nodding his head convulsively. A couple of people thanked God for using a different method in selecting the General Overseer. Again I ask, why would a God, who does not change, all of a sudden change the way in which He selects a General Overseer?Many of the presbytery began making their way onto the stage to pray for Brother Smith. Sister Smith came out onto the stage leading the congregation in “The Great Speckled Bird”. I was overwhelmed by the lack of emotion and anointing in this whole spectacle among the congregation of the General Assembly. Very few people even acted as though they were touched by the singing of “The Great Speckled Bird”. It felt as though we were at a funeral! If The Church of God can not get excited over “The Great Speckled Bird” then I wonder if she can even call herself The Church of God. Of course it does take a moving of the Holy Ghost to get the folks stirred up.Brother Ray Dupre then made his way to the microphone and introduced the new General Overseer to the General Assembly. There was a rather lackadaisical round of applause from the congregation. The presbytery found their way back to their seats. Brother Smith asked for all those who approve of him being the General Overseer to stand. Maybe 1/3 of the men stood, but that is being generous. He then asked for those opposed to stand. Four men stood and went to the microphone and expressed their opposition. All four submitted to the General Assembly. There were hundreds of men present who did not stand for or against Brother Smith being installed as the General Overseer. Brother Smith told the General Assembly that the best days for The Church of God are ahead. He then announced that he would not be making appointments at the Assembly this year, but rather they would be printed in the Evening Light over the next few weeks. The obvious absence of the Holy Ghost throughout this entire portion of the General Assembly, not to mention the fact that no form of acclamation or confirmation of this appointment by the Holy Ghost was ever manifested, has weighed heavy on the hearts of over 2/3 of the membership of The Church of God. God have mercy on The Church of God.Chris Newport
Regional Reporter
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