Special points of interest: The Chairman Speaks GCPE Conference Couples Night Out Dinner Cruise Office of the GCPE Secretary 150th Commemorative Prayer Shawl One Body Marriage Enrichment Session Order the GCPE Handbook The Chairman Speaks Inside this issue: The Chairman Speaks 1 2014 GCPE Couples’ Night Out Dinner Cruise 2 Furthering the Legacy of the Azusa Street Mission and Revival 2 Greetings from the GCPE Secretary 3 The 150 th Commemorative Bishop Charles Harrison Mason Prayer Shawl 4, 5 “One Body” 6 The Pastor’s Wife 7 GCPE Marriage Enrichment 8 Church of God in Christ, Inc. VOLUME IV General Council of the Pastors and Elders Quarterly News April 2014 Supt. Michael Eaddy GCPE Chairman
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Special points of interest:
The Chairman Speaks
GCPE Conference Couples
Night Out Dinner Cruise
Office of the GCPE Secretary
150th Commemorative
Prayer Shawl
One Body
Marriage Enrichment Session
Order the GCPE Handbook
The Chairman Speaks
Inside this issue:
The Chairman Speaks 1
2014 GCPE Couples’ Night
Out Dinner Cruise
2
Furthering the Legacy of
the Azusa Street Mission
and Revival
2
Greetings from the GCPE
Secretary
3
The 150th Commemorative
Bishop Charles Harrison
Mason Prayer Shawl
4, 5
“One Body” 6
The Pastor’s Wife 7
GCPE Marriage Enrichment 8
Church of God in Christ, Inc. VOLUME IV
General Council of the Pastors and Elders Quarterly News
April 2014
Supt. Michael Eaddy
GCPE Chairman
Page 2 General Council of the Pastors and Elders Quarterly News
Furthering the Legacy of the Azusa Street Mission and
Revival Through the ONE CHURCH Initiative of the GCPE By Harold V. Bennett, PhD
Page 3 General Council of the Pastors and Elders Quarterly News
Page 4 General Council of the Pastors and Elders Quarterly News
Page 5 General Council of the Pastors and Elders Quarterly News
Page 6 General Council of the Pastors and Elders Quarterly News
The Word of God uses the term "Body of Christ" to define the people who have accepted
Jesus as their Savior, and committed their hearts and lives to follow the truth of the Word. He
is the head and we, as the body, are His expression in the earth.
The Word uses this analogy because it demonstrates a visual whereby we can understand
how we are to function under His direction. Just as the natural, physical body receives it in-
struction from the head, we are to receive our instruction from our Head, Jesus Christ.
Every part of our physical body has its own job or function that serves the whole. Each has a
purpose, and was created, by God, for that particular purpose. It is the same in the body of
Christ.
THE WORD EXPLAINS IT LIKE THIS:
Romans 12: 4-8:
"For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function,
so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another."
Paul used a perfect metaphor when he used the human body to picture the Church. In great
wisdom he gave us an example that we could understand because it made the message so
clear. The point he was endeavoring to get across to us, as a people, is that THE Church is
not an organization--it is a living organism, where it’s members are controlled by one Spirit.
This is not just a beautiful story; this is something to live by.
Not everyone needs to stand in a pulpit to have an effective "ministry." Over the years I have
known so many people who "ministered" in areas that some would not even consider as minister-
ing to others. For example, the ministry of helps is so far-reaching in the ways it benefits the Body
of Christ. Those that move in this gift are often the unsung heroes of the church, but without them,
the needs of the church would never be met.
We need to understand our place in the body and function with the gifts God has given us. We
need to come together with singleness of purpose (to be the expression of His love to a lost and
dying world). Cooperation with, and submission to, the head is the only way our body can operate
properly (for each member to function as it was created to). No one part is greater than any other
part, and all are necessary.
I think one of the most important functions of the church is to help individuals find their place of
gifting, and equip them for those areas of ministry. Then, the Church will function properly and
truly be ONE BODY.
David Todd Whitley Administrative Assistant
Nat’l Executive Dir., COGIC
Scholastic Motivation Ministries
“We need to
understand our
place in the body
and function with
the gifts God has
given us.”
“ONE BODY”
I have been to a few hundred meetings and conferences over the past years and occasionally had a complaint or
two about not enough "Paper" either before or during the conference but today I cannot wait to get back to a tablet
or a computer, l had to stop right now and peck out on my phone that this has been the absolute best preconference
newsletter that I have ever received from any conference, church or secular!
The articles from the brother from Israel and the sister the pastor’s kid were outstanding and helps make the new
the newsletter worthy of a church Pulitzer Prize!
Excellent job sir. Well done.
Your brother,
RE
AD
ER
S’
REVIEW
Page 7 General Council of the Pastors and Elders Quarterly News
THE PASTOR’S WIFE One of the most important and most overlooked people in the church is the pastor’s wife.
Have you ever walked into a room and no one acknowledged your presence and there is no
seat for you. The young woman will give a gesture and then the words, "we will find a place
for you". I have...very often.
The pastor’s wife is more than the big hat, high heeled shoes, and lace trimmed handkerchief.
She is more than the trophy that the pastor holds up every time he asks her to stand. She is
expected to dress nice, but is criticized because she dresses nice. She is expected to be under-
standing and accept the pastor's long hours of study and days of travel, as she raises their chil-
dren. She is expected to run their household on the limited funds supplied by the church. She is the single most likely
person to become the victim of malicious gossip, criticism, impossible expectations and pastoral frustrations. She is the
key figure in the life of the pastor and plays the biggest role in his success or failure.
Most of my life I observed my mother, Mother Vivian F. Green, work in the church kitchen, teach etiquette to growing
boys and girls, attend afternoon prayer and weekly services, work as Business Administrator in the church office, pray
for the church members, and so much more. With all that she was responsible for as pastor’s wife, she was also an atten-
tive mother; loving, caring wife; and devoted daughter. I would often tell her that I did not want her life and she would
always encourage me to embrace my destiny because she saw that I would one day walk the same path that God had
given to her. Many years later, I accepted the call to be a pastor’s wife. What I have learned over these years is that to be
a pastor’s wife is a special assignment from God. I have also come to realize that because you marry a pastor does not
mean that you have accepted the God assignment.
As a pastor’s daughter life was sometimes difficult, but the pastor’s wife is another story altogether. When I got married
I immediately became a role model, an administrator, the praise team, the prayer partner, the cheerleader, a reliable
helper as well as an under-appreciated servant. I had struggled most of my life as a preacher's kid and here I am now ac-
cepting something that was much larger than I had imagined.
My experience has been that people sometimes treat the pastor's wife as though she has no feelings at all. She can be hurt
through attacks on her husband, her children, and even herself. As the pastor's wife, my mother taught me how to answer
unpleasant situations. That is difficult sometimes because the pain is so great, and the reality that you can't tell that dea-
con or missionary what you want to tell them, cuts you even deeper. I am outspoken and opinionated, but no, I can't give
that person that is talking back to the pastor or criticizing my family my true emotion. I can't attack the prayer warrior
that is giving my husband a hard time. No, I have to take it, sometimes in silence and prayer. As pastor's wife, I spend a
lot of time preparing a gentle response in hope of turning away wrath and more time in prayer.
I am learning to embrace the assignment and all of the work that comes with it as I realize that all women are not in-
cluded in their husband’s ministry. I am grateful to God that my husband tries to understand me; he realizes my worth
and ability; he is not threatened by the gifts God has given to me (because those gifts assist him in ministry); and that he
loves and appreciates me. I am also grateful for the rewards that come with being the pastor’s wife. The joy when a per-
son receives Christ and is enlightened; or the comfort of knowing that your example has changed someone’s life. There
is a great reward in knowing that your life positively affects others.
This assignment has challenged me. It has enhanced my faith in God. It has made me want to scream and kick my heels.
It has made me grow. It has been a lonely path. When I want to walk away, God strengthens me for the task at hand. I
am tired, but I persevere. I try to repeat scriptures of hope and encouragement to myself and my husband. I have to smile
when I am hurting inside. My go to person is God therefore, my prayer life has changed. I must cover my husband in
prayer. I find hope in the face of adversity; I look to God for validation; I support my husband in ministry. As a result, I
believe that the most important thing a pastor's wife can do is discover her identity in God.
Today as I reflect on my mother’s example, I am reminded of what is most important. At the end of the day, winning
souls to Christ, inspiring others, building witnesses, and spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ is more important than
anything else. Mother Green has proven that it can be done and by the grace of God, I too, will do it!