Church of God General Assembly 2018 Agenda: Jeremiah Generation

XXIV.     RESOLUTION: GENERATIONAL ASSIMILATION

RATIONALE:

An aging ministry needs the vigor of the next generation. An upcoming generation of ministry needs the wisdom gained from the experience of the preceding generation. In an effort to foster a uniting spirit such as that which bonded Elijah and Elisha (2 Kings 3:11), the expression of gratitude for that which has been done must be united with an expression of anticipation for that which is to be. As Aquilla and Priscilla engaged Apollos (Acts 18:26) and blended their expanded knowledge of the gospel with the zeal and eloquence of the younger orator, resulting in a powerful and public declaration of Jesus, so the Church of God must find points of connection whereby the various generations can effectively blend their gifts into a powerful demonstration of Pentecostal proclamation of Jesus Christ.

WHEREAS, the ministry pool of the Church of God has continued to age in the past few decades; and

WHEREAS, these aging ministers have contributed greatly to the establishment and advancement of the ministries of the Church of God; and

WHEREAS, a Caleb Generation of ministers has much to offer a new generation of God-called, Spirit-filled ministers by mentoring, advising, and guiding the younger generation; and

WHEREAS, a new generation of young ministers—the Jeremiah Generation—stands ready to march into the harvest with a decided determination to FINISH the Great Commission in their generation; and

WHEREAS, the Church of God must provide opportunities for upward mobility of potential leaders at all levels of ministry and administration; and

WHEREAS, there is an expressed need for assimilation of the generations into a dynamic, Spirit-empowered force to go into the harvest and FINISH the Great Commission; and

WHEREAS, a need exists for greater cooperation in ministry by both older and younger generations so that we may complete the task assigned to us by our Lord in His Great Commission to the Church in Matthew 28:19-20;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the International Executive Council of the Church of God implement ways and means to provide meaningful recognition and affirmation of aging ministers; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we embrace the Jeremiah Generation of emerging ministers in meaningful ways that will mobilize this army of younger ministers; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that we consider practical actions for the assimilation of generations into a viable spiritual force for the work of the ministry and for the advancement of the gospel, so the Church of God may FINISH the Great Commission.