23rd General Conference Highlights

By Joe Iaquinta

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

Theme: Celebrate the Past, Seize the Future

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

Last update on 8/1/07
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