By Oscar Pimentel, General Overseer, The Church of God
2018 CHANGE OF VENUE
“…I would like to make everyone aware that the change in venue was not by choice or due to our desire. “Many of you know that during the last twelve years or so, from time to time, we have been faced with the need of relocating the Assembly venue. There have been different and several reasons for the need to relocate. General Headquarters has consistently done its best to comply with those things specified in agreement documents between parties. We have always been thankful to the different organizations for their willingness to grant us use of their facilities under terms of contract. All of the organizations have been very gracious.
“We were at Memorial Auditorium in Chattanooga, Tennessee, from 1993-2006; in Cleveland, Tennessee, at North Cleveland Church of God in 2007; in Cleveland at the Conn Center in 2008; at Abba’s House in Hixson, Tennessee, in 2009; and at Ridgecrest Conference Center near Asheville, North Carolina, from 2010-2017. We are now here in this wonderful place at MeadowView Conference Center in Kingsport, Tennessee….
“Shortly after our Assembly last year, when it was understood that we were without a place for our next Annual Assembly, I was briefly overcome with sadness. Honestly and sincerely, I can say that my heart ached at the thought that God’s Church didn’t have a more permanent site in which to celebrate its Annual Assembly and conduct its business…. We didn’t even have a place to borrow. I felt that we were left to wander and it reminded me of the time Moses and Israel were traveling through the wilderness and they came to the border of Edom…. They were not granted access so Israel had to go another way and figure something else out.
“As these thoughts filled my mind, in my heart I asked the Lord, ‘How long will this continue? How many more times will we need to find somewhere else to go?’ I can’t say that God has answered my questions, but certainly the thought of having our own place in Cleveland to celebrate our Assemblies was strongly impressed upon my heart. A place where we don’t have to worry about vacating because things simply didn’t work out. A place where we can come and go in our Assembly sessions as the Spirit leads and releases us. A place where we will not be subject to dismissal from occupancy due to what we preach, practice, and believe. A place where we are not censured in any way from preaching Christ and the Church as God has divinely revealed this message to us. A place that can represent us well. A place that we can all be proud of.
“In the past, some from the field have asked about the feasibility of erecting a Tabernacle on the acres owned by the Church in Cleveland. At the same time, it is true that others have commented they feel different about erecting a Tabernacle. Perhaps the thing that we all agree on is the fact we must have a convenient place for our Assembly every year until the Lord returns. Understanding that one feels one way and another feels another way, I believe that it would be in order for me to ask this wonderful group of people to begin to pray for divine direction as to whether we should have such a place in Cleveland for our Assemblies or not. In all things, we want to be in the will of the Lord.” (General Overseer’s Annual Address, 2018, 113th Assembly Minutes, pp. 65-67.)
2021 ASSEMBLY TABERNACLE
“With slight hesitation I turn to discuss this next subject briefly. While not fully convinced to yet bring this subject to the Assembly floor for discussion, I believe we may be getting close. In view of the diverse challenges we have encountered due to various circumstances, especially in the last 3 or 4 years, regarding places to hold our General Assemblies, it seems necessary to mention a word about an Assembly Tabernacle. “For several years now much has been mentioned by many people about having a convenient building where we can conduct our Assemblies. Also, I have found that some feel it would mean taking on too much of a financial responsibility, not just in constructing a building but giving it the necessary upkeep and maintenance through the year.
“I will not attempt here at this time to point out what is often described as the ‘pros and cons’ of undertaking to build and have an Assembly Tabernacle. I believe we all agree as to just how important our Assemblies are to us and the necessity for continuing the General Assemblies. It is my feeling that most everybody would agree that if it were possible, it would be wonderful to have our own Tabernacle where we could accommodate everyone comfortably at our yearly feast here in Cleveland, Tennessee….
“Undoubtedly, some of you have been praying about the subject since then and some of you even before that time [a reference to an April 9, 2015, Ways & Means Committee letter discussing the possibility of having our own Tabernacle]. I have prayed about this subject myself and asked God for guidance and direction. The best way I know to express what I’ve concluded through prayer and meditating on God is by saying that beyond the convenience it would be to have our own building, it seems that certain things are pushing themselves upon us that make it a necessity.
“Doubtless that as this subject is briefly brought into focus today, the first matter of concern on the minds of many if not all is the question of finances and whether our present property is the most fitting place to build, and appropriately so. Of course, like anything else, if we have God’s favor in it then He will somehow provide all the finances needed and we will be at the location He provides.
“With everything we have faced recently, and because there seems to be a cause, my feeling is that we had just as well begin to talk about this subject and possibly involve ourselves in making an exhaustive survey of all possibilities. I would be glad for the Questions & Subjects Committee to bring this before the Assembly in the manner they see fit in order to find out if this endeavor should be made and possibly their finding be brought to us in the next Assembly for further consideration.
“I leave this subject now by saying that I feel it will do us no harm to also pray a little more about it during this next year. It is not our desire to rush into anything without first knowing what we should do. I encourage those that have not brought this up in prayer to the Lord, to do so and to keep it in prayer throughout the year. We believe in taking time to learn the perfect will of the Lord and following the leading of the Holy Ghost in all we undertake. We want to be careful to not get in a rush that could result in a decision, one way or the other, which the Church would later regret.” (General Overseer’s Annual Address, 2021, 115th Assembly Minutes, pp. 91-94.)
2022 TABERNACLE POSSIBILITIES
“…On Saturday morning, September 4, 2021, the Questions & Subjects Committee came and stood before the Assembly and offered the following: ‘After considering the feelings of our General Overseer and some from the field, we make the following recommendation: We recommend that the General Overseer be authorized to appoint a committee to study the feasibility of constructing an Assembly Tabernacle.
This committee will make no decisions nor be authorized to spend any money on a Tabernacle. Its purpose will be to make an exhaustive survey of possible locations and the financial needs for the construction or purchasing of an Assembly Tabernacle and present its findings to the next General Assembly.’ The records of our clerks state, ‘The section was passed unanimously by the General Assembly. The congregation began to applaud, stood and worshipped the Lord for this next move forward for the Church.’
“On September 20, 2021, at the recommendation of the 115th General Assembly, the Assembly Tabernacle Exploratory Committee was created, and seven men were appointed to serve. Shortly thereafter, these men promptly began their work….
“They were charged with providing the 116th General Assembly with as much factual information as possible that would in turn enable the Assembly to give further consideration to the subject with a better understanding…. The committee was given, and willingly accepted, a big task knowing that no matter what the final outcome or decision of the Assembly might be in the future, this step was considered to be one of the most important and critical steps.
“…They were cautioned against becoming overanxious and encouraged to take whatever time necessary to study, meet as often as needed, and do everything possible to gather the essential information so that the Assembly will be on good solid footing to give careful thought and further consideration. I feel that they have demonstrated loyalty and faithfulness to these instructions….
“At our last Assembly, and since then through the year, much zeal and enthusiasm regarding this subject have been expressed throughout the Church. Some have already given special personal financial donations simply because they want to have a part in this endeavor. I know of one small local church that recently sent in a check for a nice amount for a Tabernacle. We have also heard of others who have been ready to give but are waiting for an official decision by the Assembly. I am thrilled, you are thrilled, and many others also over the thought of having and seeing our very own Assembly Tabernacle in Cleveland. We know something of this magnitude will not occur overnight except a miracle should take place. The wonderful thing is that it so happens we are just the type to believe that miracles do occur!
“…I think you would agree with me that whatever we do, we want the Lord with us. It is a fearful thing to be out of the will of God by doing something we should not do, and by not doing something we should do. No doubt God knows about the Church’s needs and is interested in enabling us to carry on with His work.
“I feel compelled to say that we must be careful not to set out to do something based on mere excitement brought about by a glorious manifestation of God, regardless of how noble that something may be. Like the disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration (Luke 9:28-36), we want to direct our attention to the Son and know what He has to say.
“Who knows but that the Lord may move upon us in this Assembly concerning this subject before the close of it. If the Questions & Subjects Committee and/or the Ways & Means Committee, in their wise judgment, feel that it is the right time for further consideration of the subject, perhaps they could offer workable plans and recommendations for this Assembly to consider.” (General Overseer’s personal notes, Annual Address to the 116th General Assembly, 2022.)
HISTORICAL NUGGETS REGARDING ASSEMBLY AUDITORIUMS Purpose
“Another matter that should claim our attention at the Assembly is the arrangement for the time and place to hold the Assembly in the future.
“The first one was held in a little cottage home in NC… The second was held at Union Grove about ten miles out from Cleveland; then it was moved to Cleveland where it was held from year to year until it was decided our quarters would have to be enlarged, and a committee was appointed to locate and prepare a place. After making investigations and giving the matter careful consideration they purchased the building at Harriman, TN, which was used for two successive years very satisfactory (sic). But the time has come now for another change. It will be necessary for us to make some disposition of the matter at this Assembly.
“It has been believed by some that it would be good to move the Assembly from city to city as a means of spreading the influence and teaching more rapidly. But we do not have the assurance of getting an auditorium at places and times we would want….” (9th Annual Address, 1919, A. J. Tomlinson, Historical Annual Addresses, Vol. 1, p. 121.)
The Assembly
“…A few have not been able to stem the tide and breast the storm and have given out by the way and quit the battlefield, but a large majority of the tried-and-true soldiers have marched into camp with banners flying, songs on their lips and rejoicing in their hearts because they have made it through another year and have the golden opportunity of being here in the Seventeenth General Assembly of the Church of God.
“And now as we look at each other, while we sit or stand in this spacious auditorium, we gather inspiration and courage. Just think of it! After the hard year’s work, don’t our faces shine and glisten with glory!
…This is our filling station, and already we are full and our cups are running over. This is our fall camp meeting, our autumn feast, our good-cheer home. It has been said that this great building cost too much to be used only a week in a year, but the two feasts we have had are worth the whole cost. And besides this, years run by almost like days, and here we are back for the third feast almost before we are aware of it. The first year was the grand opening, last year was the dedication and this year we have just come home and walked in, and what else will happen no one knows. We may be visited by a convoy of angels. The boys have come home to sing. The band boys have come home from the battlefield, and their very presence, as the drums beat and the notes sound, puts a battlefield inspiration in every soldier. Men are glad, women are happy, angels are hovering above desiring to look into these things. Surely these are days of heaven on earth. Is forty thousand dollars too much for us to pay for a home like this? Did not the temple at Jerusalem cost much more? Was there any regret about the cost of that wonderful structure? We think this is great for us, and we are bending under the heavy debt, but six days in the presence of God and one another, with all the shouts and glories and rolling of salvation and healings, takes the bend out of us, straightens us up like men of the Nehemiah type, who could not be frightened away from his post of duty by debts, nobles, Sanballats, Tobiahs, Arabians, Ammonites and Ashdodites with all their combined forces. And we fearlessly declare we can pay all this and much more. Indeed, I am looking for the time when we will have a structure much larger than this one to accommodate these annual feasts.” (12th Annual Address, 1922, A. J. Tomlinson, Historical Annual Addresses, Vol. 1, pp. 184, 185.)
Finish the Tabernacle
“A mammoth Tabernacle at the capital of the world is worth everything to the Church. The Assembly did a wise thing in becoming enthused enough in 1934 to authorize the construction of a Tabernacle…. Many enthusiastic speeches were made insisting that we can raise the money and erect the building in time for the Assembly in 1935. The committee did the best they could but did not complete the building. There is still a debt of ten or eleven thousand dollars. The committee feels that this should be paid and the work finished as they were authorized to do in 1935. Of course the committee cannot pay the debts and finish the building without the cooperation of all the members and many good outside friends besides.
“The committee is still greatly enthused because the Assembly in session in 1934, 1935, and 1936 selected them to make plans and raise money. Money has been raised by several different plans as the committee reports show but with all this there is the corner that many who see it say, ‘I wish we had that corner and the Tabernacle finished.’ Yes, and so does the committee. But wishing alone does not get the money and do the work. They have worked at several plans and have reduced the debt some but have done nothing toward getting that corner covered with Tabernacle.
“…While we are keeping up the Spiritual end we must devise plans to draw in the wealth to support the great cause we have espoused. We are told by the wise man that money answereth all things and is also a defense. We want money so it can be used to push along the mighty work of lifting men in which we are engaged. To get this going just right will require mighty co-operation—every member a worker” (27th Annual Address, 1937, A. J. Tomlinson, Historical Annual Addresses, Vol. 3, pp. 82, 83.)