General Council Business Ends with Eschatological Error Resolutions

COLUMBUS, Ohio – On the final day of business at General
Council 2023, votes took place on a series of eschatological errors that had
resulted from changes in culture or outdated language in current bylaws. There
were healthy discussions held on each of the resolutions and each resolution
was adopted by the assembly.

Resolution 13 replaced outdated language from 1925 which had
been used to highlight disagreement with a popular false teaching of the time. By
renaming the false doctrine in question “Universalism” instead of “The restitution
of all things”, it made clear the error is the belief held by universalists
when many no longer understand the ideology meant by the phrase, the
restitution of all things.

Resolutions 14 and 15 renamed other false doctrine
categories which were presented in an effort to clarify and strengthen the
positions of the Assemblies of God on these beliefs. Resolution 14 replaced the
title “Post-tribulation rapture” with “The imminent return of Jesus”,
pinpointing that issue would be taken with any doctrinal ideology that denied
the imminent return of Christ. Resolution 15 added the words “and Denial of the
bodily reign of Christ” to the title previously stated as simply “Amillenialism”.
Again, the adding of this language broadened the category to include any false
doctrine that denies the future bodily reign of Christ.

Resolution 16 gave further insight into the issue of
disciplinary action for ministers who teach or preach views not held by the
Assemblies of God on such eschatological issues. The language added to this
bylaw stated that ministers could teach or discuss other doctrinal views but
the issue would come with the intent to lead others astray.  The intent behind the teaching now gives
ministers the freedom to have conversations about other points of view but they
are not permitted to have those discussions with the intent to lead others to
adopting beliefs that are outside those outlined by the Assemblies of God
bylaws.

Finally, resolution 21 revoked the 26^th
resolution of the 1995 General Council which prohibited the discontinuing of
the King James version of biblical text printed in Sunday school curriculum.
The resolution was adopted and the former resolution was rescinded.

The remaining honorary general presbyters were presented,
via adopted resolutions, in the final votes of the day.  The honorary general presbyters were as
follows:

·        
Beth Grant, appointed missionary for 46 years by
the Assemblies of God World Missions (AGWM) department. Grant was also the
first woman to serve on the executive presbytery and served faithfully for 14
years. She is the first female minister to receive the honorary general presbyter designation.

·        
M. Wayne Blackburn, founder of the League of Christian Schools and former
general presbyter of 28 years.

·        
Donald G. Gifford, former youth and children’s
pastor as well as former district superintendent of the Indiana District. 

·        
William Kirk, lead pastor at several New York
churches, totaling 24 years in lead pastoral ministry, and New York Ministry Network assistant superintendent from 2005-2023.

·        
Marcus M. McClain, general presbyter since 2003
and former leader in the New Mexico Ministry Network.

·        
Gregory M. Mundis, former executive director of
the Assemblies of God World Missions and longtime ordained minister with the Assemblies of God.

·        
Sergio Navarrete, former 20-year general
presbyter, current vice president of the Hispanic World Fraternity of the
Assemblies of God, and former district superintendent of the Southern Pacific District.

Additional business included a report from U.S. Missions Executive Director
Malcolm Burleigh, who stated that finances were up 8% in the current year,
and a legal report from appointed legal counsel, Kristen Waggoner. In her
report, addressed what she called one of the most
pressing issues facing the church, the issue of gender ideology. Waggoner gave an informative and inspiring speech challenging
the Assemblies of God ministers and leaders to respond to this issue with
grace, but not at the cost of truth. “If we help perpetuate the confusion that
is keeping people lost,” she warned, “it is not loving.” She stated that
churches and religious organizations need to be armed with tools to safeguard
themselves against accusations of discrimination and incidents of liability.
She gave several practical steps pastors and ministry leaders could take to be
preventative in this rising issue. These steps included clearly communicating
the church/organization’s stance on the issue of gender identity to the
congregation and the community, creating core documents so that the
aforementioned beliefs and practices are memorialized in writing, and consistently
applying those documents. “The courts see consistency as evidence of
sincerity,” she stated as she urged, again, proactive precautions be
established.