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ADVISORY COUNCIL OF ELDERS

Due to the shananagins and such like by Stanely Rader and other reasons, Mr Armstrong established the Advisory Council of Elders in 1981 (“Advisory Council of Elders formed,” Worldwide News, 16 March 1981, p. 1)

First Members March 1981 (8)

Source

Dibar Apartian
Dean Blackwell
Robert Fahey
Ellis LaRavia
Raymond McNair
Leroy Neff
Joseph Tkach
Leon Walker
(Adviser to the Council - Ralph K. Helge)
“Advisory Council of Elders formed,” Worldwide News, 16 March 1981, p. 1:
“The Council of Elders, as of now, consists of Dibar Apartian, Dean Blackwell, Robert Fahey, Ellis LaRavia, Raymond McNair, Leroy Neff, Joseph Tkach, Leon Walker and, as adviser to the Council, Ralph Helge.”
Expansion July 1981 (12)  
Dibar Apartian
Dean Blackwell
Robert Fahey
Herman Hoeh
Harold Jackson
Ellis LaRavia
Raymond McNair
Roderick Meredith
Leroy Neff
Norman Smith
Joseph Tkach snr
Leon Walker
(Adviser to the Council - Ralph K. Helge)
“Advisory Council of Elders Expanded,’ Pastor General’s Report, 31 July 1981, p. 1:
“Named to the Council were Herman L. Hoeh, the only pioneer student of Ambassador College still in the Church. Also Roderick C. Meredith, who entered Ambassador College in its third year, 1949. (Mr. Raymond F. McNair, who entered the second year, 1948, already was a Council member.) Next added were Norman A. Smith, who entered in September, 1950, and fourth, Harold L. Jackson, a member since May 28, 1936. These early Ambassador College graduates and longtime ministers bring additional depth to the existing Council. The original advisory group consisting of Dibar Apartian, Dean Blackwell, Robert Fahey, Ellis LaRavia, Raymond McNair, Leroy Neff, Joseph Tkach and Leon Walker, with Ralph Helge as Legal Advisor was formed in early March by Mr. Armstrong. The original appointment of the Council was announced March 13 in the Pastor General's Report and in the March 16 issue of The WORLDWIDE NEWS.”
(See also "Advisory Council expands under direction of HWA," Worldwide News, 10 August 1981, pp. 1,3).
Change in Membership late 1981 (12)  

Dibar Apartian

Dean Blackwell

Herman L. Hoeh

Harold Jackson

Ellis LaRavia

Raymond F. McNair

Robert Fahey (replaced with Aaron Dean late 1981)

Roderick C. Meredith

Leroy Neff

Norman Smith

Joseph Tkach snr

Leon Walker

(Adviser to the Council - Ralph K. Helge)

 
Expansion 1982/83? (13?)  

Dibar Apartian

Dean Blackwell

Herman L. Hoeh

Harold Jackson

Ellis LaRavia

Raymond F. McNair

Robert Fahey (replaced with Aaron Dean late 1981)

Roderick C. Meredith

Leroy Neff

Norman Smith

Joseph Tkach snr

(Adviser to the Council - Ralph K. Helge)

In Ordained Ministers of the Worldwide Church of God 1981-82, p. 2.

Not listed is Aaron Dean which seems to be an omission.
Leon Walker went to Big Sandy as Deputy Chancellor of Ambassador College. When he returned to Pasadena he was put back on the Council again.
Expansion 1984? (13?)  

Richard Ames

Dibar Apartian

Dean Blackwell

Aaron Dean

Herman Hoeh

Harold Jackson

Ellis LaRavia

Raymond McNair

Roderick Meredith

Leroy Neff (Secretary)

Norman Smith

Joseph Tkach snr

Leon Walker

(Adviser to the Council - Ralph K. Helge)

Addition of Richard Ames?
Change in Membership 1986 (12?)  
Aaron Dean removed March 1986. Removed for challenging Tkach for his not fulfilling his promises to Herbert W Armstrong. Not announced in the PGR or WN.
Membership 1988 (16)  

Ames

Apartian

Blackwell

Feazell

Hoeh

Hulme

Jackson

Kelly

McNair

Meredith

Neff (Secretary)

Rice

Salyer

Smith

Tkach jnr

Walker

(Adviser to the Council - Ralph K. Helge)

The Family Album of the Worldwide Church of God (1988), p. 4.

The ACE was expanded some time 1986-88 to include the following:
Feazell
Hulme
Kelly
Rice
Salyer
Tkach jnr
(minus Dean and LaRavia)

 


ACE - 1982 (3 May)

 

ACE - 1981

Seated: Mr. Armstrong, Dibar Apartian, Joe Tkach snr, Raymond McNair, Ellis LaRavia, Harold Jackson, Ralph Helge

Standing: Dean Blackwell, Roderick Meredith, Norman Smith, Robert Fahey, Leroy Neff, Herman Hoeh

(NB: it seems that this photo was taken prior to the appointment of Aaron Dean and after Leon Walker's temporary

assignment to Big Sandy. Upon his return to Pasadena he was back on the ACE)

 

NB: “Finally, before his death. Mr. Armstrong - after much prayer chose Joseph W. Tkach to succeed him as pastor general of the Worldwide Church of God. Mr. Tkach was chosen directly through God's government in His Church. Jesus Christ - the living, active Head of the Church - has promised to guide and inspire him in this very important office. Along with the entire Advisory Council of Elders and several other leaders in God's Church, I was a witness to Mr. Armstrong's decision." (Rod C Meredith, "Loyalty to God's Church. Are you backing God's choice?" Worldwide News, 5 May 1986, p. 4)