The Journal: News of the Churches of God

Notes and quotes

Former Feast director dies

FAIRFAX, Va.--Sherwin McMichael, a former elder of the Worldwide Church of God, died Sept. 3 after a long illness.

Mr. McMichael had served as a field minister for the WCG, including in the Washington, D.C., area and as director of the WCG's Feast department in Big Sandy, Texas.

Among the survivors is Mr. McMichael's wife, Beverly.

Long-time elder Raymond Cole dies

EUGENE, Ore.--Longtime Church of God elder Raymond Cole, who founded the Church of God the Eternal in 1974 after breaking with the Worldwide Church of God over doctrinal changes in the WCG, died here Sept. 25.

Mr. Cole, 74, apparently suffered a stroke just before he died. He had also suffered a stroke July 18.

Mr. Cole was one of the first four students to attend Ambassador College, in the year of its founding, 1947. He and his wife, Myra, were married in 1950.

Mr. Cole is survived by his wife and two daughters, Jann and Lynn, both of Eugene.

The family receives mail at P.O. Box 775, Eugene, Ore. 97440, U.S.A.

Hearing in WCG-PCG suit

LOS ANGELES, Calif.--A hearing took place Sept. 24 in federal district court over the future of the Philadelphia Church of God's hope to publish 18 works of Herbert W. Armstrong besides Mystery of the Ages. The Worldwide Church of God, which holds the copyright on Mystery of the Ages and many of Mr. Armstrong's other works, successfully sued to stop the PCG from printing and giving away copies of many of Mr. Armstrong's writings.

Judge Christina Snyder heard arguments from the WCG and PCG. She will consider those arguments and hear more in a hearing set for Nov. 5.

WCG creates 'new financial model'

ATHENS, Ohio--During the Worldwide Church of God's "summer festival" here Aug. 15-19, a church official unveiled a new financial model for United States congregations.

WCG treasurer Ronald Kelly of Pasadena, Calif., said the church is phasing in the new financial system at congregations in the United States beginning with taking up weekly offerings in congregations this year and moving to local banking and disbursement of funds when the expected sale of the headquarters property is completed.

ABC marks graduation

MILFORD, Ohio--Ambassador Bible Center graduated 38 students Aug. 5 as 200 well-wishers watched in a ceremony at the UCG's home office near Cincinnati, according to a UCG publication.

"These students have spent nearly seven hours a day, five days a week, for seven months to achieve this milestone," said Roy Holladay of Hawkins, Texas, chairman of the UCG council of elders. "More important than the certificate is the knowledge of God's Word that they have received and the changes it has effected in their lives."

Mr. Holladay said the students' service to the home office had saved the church more than $13,000 in labor costs.

UCG ministerial news

MILFORD, Ohio--The United Church of God recently hired Guy Burke as a full-time minister. Mr. Burke was ordained in the Worldwide Church of God in 1993. He and his wife, Barbara, have served in Lawton, Okla. The UCG has transferred him to Illinois to pastor the Canton, Mahomet and Springfield congregations.

The UCG also credentialed Donald Shaw. He and his wife, Annie, serve the Roanoke, Va., UCG congregation.

Temple cornerstones planned

JERUSALEM--An Israeli organization, the Temple Mount and Land of Israel Faithful movement, has rescheduled earlier plans to "lay and anoint" the cornerstones for the "third temple of Israel."

According to the Internet version of World Net Daily magazine, the event is scheduled for Oct. 4 and has the "blessing" of the Israeli government, which has pledged to protect event organizers and participants.

Last October the event was canceled by Jerusalem police because of safety concerns.

Two blocks of marble, weighing four and one-half tons each, are scheduled to be anointed as cornerstones for the new temple.

The event poses a threat to Muslims, since the site of the new temple, the Temple Mount, is also the location of the Dome of the Rock, a Muslim mosque.

Some Israelis believe that to begin full-scale construction of the temple the Dome of the Rock must first be torn down. Others believe the temple can be built adjacent to the Muslim shrine.

Arabs say any effort to rebuild the temple would amount to a "grave provocation."

New Web site

MILFORD, Ohio--The United Church of God an International Association has apparently authorized a new Web site on "race relations" at www.ucgrace.org, although the site contains little information other than an "Under construction" notice.

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