United News: What roles and responsibilities have you had in United?

Clyde Kilough: I served in Akron and Youngstown, Ohio, in 1995 to 1996, then in Sacramento and Santa Rosa from 1996 to 1998 and Sacramento-Stockton from 1998 to now. I was also the regional pastor in this area from 1996 to 2001, and was the Council reporter from 1997 to 1999. Two extra opportunities were to serve on the group that met to seek reconciliation with the Church of God, a Christian Fellowship, and to work on the Christ-Centered Servant Leadership Task Force for the last year and a half. I have been on the Council since last year.

What are the biggest things you have learned from the previous Council chairmen, Bob Dick and Roy Holladay?

Have you ever watched a skilled craftsman—say, a carpenter—at work? He makes it look so easy you think, "Oh, I can do that." Then you try it, fumble around, and discover it's not as simple as it looks. After flying by the seat of my pants chairing the May meeting, I came away with a newfound appreciation for the way they handled the job. Of course, I didn't see either of them in action the first year they were on the job, so I know they had a learning curve as well. But I admire the way they were both cool under pressure, were measured with their words and level with their emotions. They did things decently and in order, and that wasn't by accident—it took thorough preparation and attention to detail. We all bring different personalities to the table, but it is the work ethic and integrity that counts, and they set an excellent example that I want to emulate.

What are your priorities as you begin serving as chairman?

These are not necessarily in order of importance, but several come to mind: know the Constitution and Bylaws inside out (we must have respect for our governing documents in order to operate methodically and fairly); be well-organized; become much more familiar with all the international areas; digest the job description and let nothing I am responsible for fall through the cracks; develop a close working relationship with the president (we already know each other very well and work well together on a personal level—our relationship now broadens to impact the Council and home office).

What are the major issues the Council will be facing in the next year?

The biggest issues will always be the same—how do we more effectively take the gospel to the world and how do we become better prepared as the people of God for our work now and in the Kingdom? That is our God-given mission and we can never be sidetracked from that. At this time in history we find ourselves having struggled through a difficult decade, but in God's patience and mercy He has helped us learn and given us spiritual growth, individually and collectively. I am convinced that God has been preparing us to step through some doors He will soon open and that we are standing on the brink of some remarkable times for the Church. I think we will be able to expend much more energy now in constructive efforts and that is exciting.

The Council's biggest job is to have the clarity of vision needed to foresee the opportunities, challenges and problems in order to creatively lead in a world of rapid change. We must also be vigilant, knowing that if God opens doors, Satan will turn up the heat.

There are other specific goals we want to accomplish in the coming year, such as having Council members visit more church areas and having a clearly defined theme that we consistently deliver. We also plan to continue the project of having one or two international representatives sit in on each Council meeting so we have a better mutual understanding of each other's worlds. But we are a spiritual body, and we can therefore anticipate the big issues this year being spiritual in nature—recognizing and prioritizing the many opportunities that we are going to have to further God's work, and recognizing and providing for the spiritual needs of the Church.

How do you see the role and responsibility of the chairman?

The easy part is that the roles and responsibilities are already clearly spelled out in the job description, so it's not my job to define the job. The hard part is to carry out everything. Without going into all the details, the job description broadly defines it as overseeing the activities of the Council, presiding over all meetings of the Council and General Conference of Elders, being familiar with the work of all of the Council committees, keeping an eye on organizational priorities and governmental concerns and bringing the relevant issues to the Council, working with the president to achieve our mission and strategic plan, representing UCG in certain legal or business situations and communicating on behalf of the Council to the Church members and/or the ministry. There are other technical duties prescribed in the Bylaws, particularly in bylaws 7, 8 and 9.

How can the Council and the home office work together most effectively?

It's not as though we're not working well, but we are really still a young and developing organization, still learning our way toward greater effectiveness. Some of the most important things we are learning (and are still in the early stages, by the way) are the deep principles of godly servant leadership. In that lie the core values that govern all relationships and teamwork.

In addition, the right hand has to know what the left is doing in order for their movements in the body to be coordinated. Good communication is therefore essential. There is a fine balance in knowing where and to what degree the Council should be involved in issues and where it should leave them to the home office. Our governing documents allow and sometimes require the Council to manage some things, but we also have to guard against being too hands-on.

I believe that the more thoroughly I understand the issues the home office staff is dealing with, the better I can be a liaison with the Council; and the better the home office understands the thinking of the Council, the more effectively it can follow the Council's lead.

What do you do to keep in mind all the various facets of the Church (young and old, U.S. and international, etc.)?

What were Paul's words—be all things to all men! The challenge is to stay personally interested and involved with all groups, without getting so tied down that someone or something gets excluded. The goal is to keep eyes and ears open to pick up on the needs of any group and see if the Council or GCE can help fill those needs. One of the beauties of godly servant leadership is that it trains us to think outwardly, and as we ask God for that help I know He will give us the capacity to keep in mind those various facets of the work.

What are you most looking forward to as chairman?

The work, the challenge, contributing in some meaningful way to help this body continue to grow in its capacity to serve God's people and do His work. We have been maturing as a Church, and if God can use me to some degree for a couple of years to contribute to that process, then I will be grateful for the experience.

What do you think will be your greatest challenge as chairman?

My job is two-fold: to serve as effectively as possible both the Council and the General Conference, and both present particular challenges. There will be all sorts of tests—keeping a handle on all the details involved while keeping a personal touch and, at the same time, not letting my responsibilities slip as pastor of Sacramento and Stockton. I've already been taking off as many other hats as possible in order not to be stretched too thin.

Roy Holladay has told me that overseeing the annual meeting of the GCE is very challenging, but with the Council's establishing of a conference planning task force, I think that job will be eased somewhat.

I see another unique and intriguing challenge regarding the Council. There we see a group of 12 individuals who work as one body. There is not a man in that group who is not dedicated to the Church and who does not have remarkable strengths and much to give. The chairman's job often involves delegating jobs to these individuals and gleaning counsel and advice from them. When that job is done right, he is in a position to draw the best out of each one and to capitalize on each person's strengths, but in such a way that the individuals work as one. My personal goal in my two-year term is to do this job in such a manner that we will function as a well-oiled machine, efficiently and powerfully doing the work we have been given.

Is there anything else you'd like to say or add that we haven't covered?

Yes! I am deeply indebted to my wife, Dee, for the support she has given me, so often through her intuition and wise advice. I know every Council member treasures his wife's influence and I think it is right to frequently acknowledge and appreciate all of them. And, as always, on behalf of the Council, we are grateful for and continually ask for everyone's prayers that God will be honored by all of our efforts. With God's Spirit working powerfully in all of us, there is no limit to what His people can do together. UN