By Joe Iaquinta

Convened August 7-11, 1997
H. Roe Bartle Hall
Kansas City, MO

Theme: Celebrate the Past, Seize the Future

Read Bishop Underwood's report of the previous eight years (1989-96)

Elected General Officials:

Resident General Executive Directors:

• James D. Leggett, General Superintendent and Bishop
• Donald Duncan, Vice-Chairman and Exec. Dir. of World Missions Ministries
• Ronald W. Carpenter, Sr., Exec. Dir. of Evangelism
• S. Paul Howell, Exec. Dir. of Church Education Ministries
• Jack Goodson, General Secretary/Treasurer

Zone Representatives:

• Dr. A.D. Beacham, Jr., Southeast Zone
• Thomas H. McGhee, Northeast Zone
• James McDowell, Central Zone
• James R. Pennington, West Zone
  

Pastoral Respresentative:

• John Hedgepeth, Northwood Temple, Fayetteville, NC

Women's Ministries President: Doris Moore

Men's Ministries President: Jack Kelley

Key Developments during the quadrennium

• Target2000 gives way to Mission21 growth strategy
• Paradigm shift from heirarchical model to networking model
• International Headquarters renamed to Resource Development Center
• Advocate Press renamed to Lifesprings Resources
• IPHC magazine The Advocate renamed to Issachar File
• Refocusing Target2000 workshops held in conferences aross the nation
• Emphasis on equipping with 275 training opportunities offered annually
• First National Pastors Conference held March 20-23, 1995, at Heritage Grand Hotel outside Charlotte, NC
• Participated in the Memphis Miracle reconciliation conference on October 17-19, 1994
• First Solemn Assembly heled in Fayetteville, NC, August 23-24, 1996.
• Seize the Future satellite broadcast to 38 points of presence across the U.S.

Stats Summary (12/31/96)

• U.S. Membership: 164,132
• U.S. Churches: 1,658
• Overseas Membership: 565,849
• Overseas Churches: 5,507
• Total Membership Including Affiliates: 2,736,574