APRIL 29, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CHURCH OF GOD OF PROPHECY ANNOUNCES LEADERSHIP TRANSITION
On Friday, April 26, 2013, the General Presbyters of the Church of God of Prophecy received the resignation of Bishop Randall E. Howard, General Overseer. Bishop Howard, who had served the organization since 2006, is taking a ministry sabbatical for a season of spiritual renewal and to focus on personal issues within his family.
As Bishop Howard steps down, the seven General Presbyters, comprised of Bishops David Browder (Asia and Oceania), Sam Clements (North America), Clayton Endecott (Europe, the C.I.S., and the Middle East), Benjamin Feliz (Central America, Mexico, and Spanish-speaking Caribbean), Clayton Martin (Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean Isles), Stephen Masilela (Africa), and Gabriel Vidal (South America), will serve as a plurality of leadership. In accordance with church governance, a new general overseer will be nominated in an upcoming meeting of the International Presbytery, which will then be approved by the International Assembly, the highest decision-making body of the church.
Speaking for the presbyters, Bishop Clements showed support and appreciation for Bishop Howard’s leadership, which he said was “strategic and visionary” and had led the church through a period of growth. He added that Bishop Howard’s resignation is “absolutely not due to a moral failure.” After his ministry sabbatical, Bishop Howard said he looks forward “to new opportunities to serve the Church of God of Prophecy in her call to build God’s kingdom.”
About the Church of God of Prophecy
The Church of God of Prophecy—whose core values include prayer, the harvest (evangelism), and leadership development—is a vibrant, worldwide body of believers, united in worship, working hand-in-hand to share God’s love and a message of hope to the broken-hearted. The Church of God of Prophecy has over one-and-a-half million members, worshipping in over 10,000 churches and missions in 125 nations of the world. Nearly 90% of its global membership is outside of North America.
For more information, contact:
DeWayne Hamby
Director of Communications
Church of God of Prophecy International Offices
(423) 559-5128
dhamby@cogop.org
"God is excited to show you mercy. He rises to give you His compassion." (Isaiah 30:18)
"For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous;
you surround them with your favor as with a shield." (Psalm 5:12)