John Robinson, publisher of the In Transition newspaper, decides to cease publication. The last issue is printed in January.

The Journal: News of the Churches of God runs its first issue in February. The Journal is created by Dixon Cartwright, a former editor of In Transition. Its purpose is to provide accurate, timely news on the greater Church of God (with a focus on groups that left the WCG) and provide a forum for biblical and related discussions.

The Worldwide Church of God's (WCG) Ambassador University (formerly known as Ambassador College) will have its last remaining campus located in Big Sandy, Texas, closed. In its fifty years of operation, the church's college (which for a time had three campuses) provided a liberal-arts education to a total of 14,732 students.

In February the The Philadelphia Church of God announces that it will republish and freely distribute HWA's 1985 book Mystery of the Ages. The WCG immediately files a federal lawsuit against the PCG, claiming that they had distributed illegal reproductions of the book. Although the WCG stopped printing the book a few years after HWA's death, they still own the copyright to it. The WCG and PCG would fight a legal battle that would span the next several years. The PCG would eventually appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court to review its case. The court decided in 2001 not to listen to the case, which meant a lower court ruling favoring the WCG would stand. The legal battle ended in 2003 when the WCG agreed to sell to the PCG full copyrights to the Mystery of the Ages book plus nineteen other works by HWA. The WCG will receive three million dollars (U.S.) for the copyrights. It is estimated that the total cost to the PCG to obtain copyrights, including legal fees and other expenses, will be more than five million dollars.

CG7 Board of Directors approves appointment of a President's Commission of Diversity.

The official reason given for Hulme's dismissal is " . . . differences between the Council and President regarding operations of the organization." Further official elaboration is not provided, in part due to possible lawsuits. However, based on unofficial statements from elders and employees reported in The Journal's January 1998 issue, Hulme's separation comes down to conflicts over "who is in charge." Instead of governing by cooperation with the council of elders and carrying out decisions approved by the general ministry, Dave as president made many decisions as if he had total control (like HWA).

David Hulme would soon form Church of God, an International Community, which would become one of the largest churches with a history back to the WCG. In 2003, a total of approximately 2,600 members and guests attend the church's Feast of Tabernacle sites around the world.

Bryce Clark, a former WCG minister who in 1975 joined the Church of God, The Eternal (COGTE) founded by Raymond Cole, leaves the group. After his departure due to doctrinal differences, he forms the Bethel Church of God. Mr. Cole continues operating COGTE until his death in 2001.

Ongoing growing disagreements between Global Church of God (GCG) founder Roderick Meredith and the church's board, primarily over church government, will come to a head in November.

When Rod formed the GCG five years ago, he set up bylaws that created a church structure whereby the organization would be governed by a consensus. Now however, instead of governance by consensus of board and council of elders, he strongly felt (as reported in August 1998 issue of The Journal) he should be the sole "unquestioned leader" of the church.

Conflicts over "who is in charge" coupled with the sadly common desire among Ex-WCG ordained men to possess unaccountable control, are by far the chief catalysts behind the majority of WCG splits.

The church board passes a resolution on Nov. 20th affirming that membership lists and mailing lists/files are the sole property of the Global Church of God and use of them without written consent of the executive committee was strictly prohibited. Although still employed by GCG, Rod Meredith dates and sends a letter on Nov. 21st to members using unapproved church lists. The letter makes several accusations and requests members NOT to send their tithes/offerings to GCG, but instead send their checks to Rod personally made out to him. On November 25th, the board fires Rod after he refuses to resign.

Rod Meredith soon forms the Living Church of God (LCG). It is estimated 70% to 80% of brethren leave the GCG for the new group. The GCG would continue as an organization until September 1999. Due to a lawsuit won by a LCG member against the GCG, the church is in effect bankrupted. The Church of God, a Christian Fellowship (CGCF) is formed by former GCG members. The CGCF starts with 34 elders, 25 congregations and about 1,000 brethren around the world. Around June 2001 most of the CGCF merges with the United Church of God, an International Association. Before the merger some CGCF members leave and form the Church of the Eternal God.

CG7 Hispanic Conference in U. S. begins preaching the trinity.

The WCG sells its Ambassador University campus in Big Sandy, Texas. The buyer is an arts and crafts corporation called Hobby Lobby. The company will lease the facilities to the Institute in Basic Life Principles, a ministry of Bill Gothard. The entire campus sells for $8.5 million dollars.

In May the WCG sells approximately 13 of its 31-acre west campus to Maranatha High School and Harvest Rock Church. The sale includes many of the campus' main buildings: Ambassador Auditorium, Hall of Administration, Physical Education Complex, Student Center and Men's Dormitory. Harvest Rock dedicates Ambassador Auditorium on July 4th.