Notes and Quotes
from the church of God

UCG credentials elder

GLADEWATER, Texas--The United Church of God has credentialed Joe Dobson of Olathe, Kan., as an elder, announced Ken Treybig, pastor of the United Church of God East Texas, which meets in Big Sandy.

Mr. Treybig wrote in an E-mail to members of his Texas congregation that Mr. Dobson "was credentialed as an elder in United back in May" of 2009, but "for some reason" the announcement of his credentialing "slipped through the cracks."

Mr. Dobson, an employee of the State of Kansas as an ombudsman for nursing-home residents, was a pastor in the Worldwide Church of God for more than 30 years, until the mid-1990s.

As of this writing, the UCG's headquarters apparently still has not mentioned Mr. Dobson's credentialing in its publications or on its Web site (ucg.org).

The new UCG elder lives with his wife, Pat, in Olathe, a Kansas City suburb.

COG group changes name

TYLER, Texas--The Tyler Church of God has announced a name change. It is now the Tyler Sabbath Fellowship.

Gary Woodring, a member of group's board, also announced that the fellowship will formally dedicate its new building in early 2010.

Winter Family Weekend

WEST CHESTER, Ohio--Organizer Jim O'Brien provided The Journal with a schedule of events for the annual Winter Family Weekend in Lexington, Ky., set for the last week in December. It will be sponsored by the Church of God Cincinnati and Church of God Lexington.

From Dec. 23 through 27, 2009, attendees can participate in adult and youth seminars, Sabbath classes, a homeschool meeting, karaoke, games including basketball, volleyball and bingo, a kids' carnival, and breakfasts and other meals.

The entry fee will be $10 per person, with a $40 maximum fee per family.

For more information see cogcincinnati.org/tournament.

Or write Church of God Cincinnati, P.O. Box 1811, West Chester, Ohio 45071, U.S.A.

New Edmond church

EDMOND, Okla.--The Churches of God have increased by at least one group in the past few months. The new Faithful Church of God in Laodicea operates out of Edmond, the same city that headquarters Gerald Flurry's Philadelphia Church of God.

The new FCGL is made up mostly of members who were part of Mr. Flurry's group, as well as former members of the Church of God's Faithful (CGF).

FCGL pastor Frank Borg says his group is dedicated to helping the CGF rise above its Laodiceanism.

"We are committed to do what we can to help the Laodicean CGF, its membership and the rest of the scattered virgins in the 300-plus splinter groups to repent and change ... as we sound the alarm to announce the soon-coming Day of the Lord," he wrote.

The FCGL's official beliefs include the identification of RCG/WCG/GCI founder Herbert Armstrong as the "end-time Elijah."

For more information see fcogl.org, which features writings of Mr. Borg as well as Alfred Cachia, Daniel Frendo, Steve Jordan, Peter Moss and Keith Taylor.

Or write the FCGL at P.O. Box 31135, Edmond, Okla. 73003, U.S.A.