This entry was posted on Friday, August 10th, 2007 at 5:10 pm and is filed under General. This entry has been tagged Alton Garrison, Charles Crabtree, Executive Presbytery, General Council, George Wood, J. Don George, James Bridges, John Bueno, John Palmer, Relational Districts, Thomas Trask, Zollie Smith Jr.. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
The 52nd General Council (GC) is taking place in Indianapolis, Indiana and this has been an important council for the Assemblies of God this year. Earlier this year, Bro. Charles Crabtree, assistant general superintendent, announced that he would not be seeking reelection this year at GC. Then, on July 10, 2007, Bro. Thomas Trask announced that he would be stepping down as general superintendent.
This GC was already going to be voting on the positions of assistant general superintendent, general secretary, AG World Missions director, and the non-resident Executive Presbytery (EP). As a result of Bro. Trask’s announcement, it also became necessary to hold a special election for the position of general superintendent (to fill the unexpired term). The positions of assistant general superintendent, general secretary, and AG World Missions director are all elected for four year terms and the non-resident members of the EP are elected to serve for a two year terms. The positions of general superintendent, general treasurer, and AG US Missions director were elected for four year terms at the 51st General Council, Denver, Colorado.
George O. Woods was elected with 2,123 out of 2,996 ballots cast (receiving 70% of the votes on the 6th electoral ballot for the position of general superintendent) to become the general superintendent-elect. He will be the 12th general superintendent of the AG to fulfill the unexpired term left by Bro. Thomas Trask’s resignation. He will be taking office 60 days after the GC. George O. Woods has served as the general secretary for the AG for the last 14 years. Please keep him in your prayers in the coming days and months ahead as he serves this fellowship as our general superintendent.
Brother Wood said that he will accept the position with deep humility and that he approaches this moment with fear and trembling, “This is such a great church, such great people and this is a very emotional moment for me.”
He pledged to do his very best to serve all of our church. We have many churches, but we are one in the Spirit and one in Christ. He said that anyone who serves in this position must serve the entire church.
He ended with a quote: “If you want to walk fast walk alone, but if you want to walk far walk together. Let’s walk together into the future that God has for us.”
This information came from futureag.blogspot.com
The following information came from an email that was mailed out by the Office of the General Secretary for the AG.
The son of missionary parents to China and Tibet, Wood holds a doctoral degree in pastoral theology from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, and a juris doctorate from Western State University College of Law in Fullerton, California. He did his undergraduate work at Evangel College in Springfield, Missouri, and served the college in several capacities, including being director of spiritual life and student life from 1965-71. Wood was ordained with the Southern Missouri District in 1967.
Prior to his current post, he was assistant superintendent of the Southern California District from 1988-93. He also pastored Newport-Mesa Christian Center in Costa Mesa, California, for 17 years. During his tenure, the church experienced significant growth, relocated and constructed new facilities, and gave $1 million to world missions in the last biennium of his pastorate.
Wood is author of seven books which include, A Psalm In My Heart Vol. I & II, Living Fully, The Successful Life and a college text on the Book of Acts. He also is an attorney and a member of the California State Bar.
L Alton Garrison was elected with 1,448 out of 2,032 ballots cast (on the 5th electoral ballot for the position of assistant general superintendent) to become the assistant general superintendent-elect. He will be taking office 60 days after the GC. L. Alton Garrison has served as the AG US Missions director for the last 2 years. Please keep him in your prayers in the coming days and months ahead as he serves this fellowship as our assistant general superintendent.
With this election, the position of AG US Missions director will also need to be filled for the unexpired term.
L. John Bueno was reelected for another term as the AG World Missions director with over 94 percent of the votes. Please keep him in your prayers in the coming days and months ahead as he serves this fellowship as our AG World Missions director.
John M. Palmer was elected as general secretary with 1,862 out of 2,576 ballots cast (on the 3rd electoral ballot for the position of general secretary) to become the general secretary-elect. He will be taking office 60 days after the GC. John M. Palmer has served as the Iowa World Missions Director and non-resident EP for the North Central Area. Please keep him in your prayers in the coming days and months ahead as he serves this fellowship as our general secretary.
Zollie L Smith, Jr. was elected as AG US Missions director with 1,942 out of 2,546 ballots cast to become the AG US Missions director. He has served as the executive secretary of the New Jersey district, as the president of the National Black Fellowship of the AG, and as the non-resident EP for the Ethnic Area. Please keep him in your prayers in the coming days and months ahead as he serves this fellowship as our AG US Missions director.
At the 52nd General Council, Indianapolis, Indiana, there was a resolution that had been brought forth concerning relational districts. This resolution, (known as Resolution 6) if adopted, would have allowed churches to join like-minded churches from anywhere in the US and form a new “relational district”. These relational districts would have all the rights of a geographical district. This resolution went down in flames on the floor of the GC.
J. Don George was elected as the non-resident EP for the South Central Area on the second electoral ballot.
This GC has been a very important one for the AG, since the leadership changes that have taken place will help carry this fellowship forward. Please keep all of these leaders and the AG in your prayers in the coming days and weeks ahead.
Please note: There have been other resolutions that have taken place at the 52nd General Council, Indianapolis, Indiana, however in the interest of space and in the interest of only reporting information of interest and direct impact to the Royal Rangers ministry, I have chosen not to cover those items in this post. If you desire to read more about news coming out of this 52nd General Council may do so at the 2007 GC web site.