GENERAL CONFERENCE SESSION - 2000-DAILY PROGRAM APPROVAL
Voted, To approve the daily program for the 2000 General Conference session as it appears in the Session program booklet.

GENERAL CONFERENCE SESSION - 2000-AGENDA APPROVAL
Voted, To approve the agenda for 2000 General Conference session as it appears in the session agenda notebook, with the understanding that the order of business will be decided by the Session Steering Committee and the chairmen of the business meetings.

GENERAL CONFERENCE SESSION - 2000-STANDING COMMITTEES
Voted, To approve standing committees for the 2000 General Conference session, as follows:

CHURCH MANUAL
Lowell C Cooper, Chairman
Gerry D Karst, Vice-chairman
Mario Veloso, Secretary
Members: Rosa T Banks, Maurice T Battle, Bert B Beach, Bekele Biri, Norma J Collins, James A Cress, A David C Currie, Teofilo Ferreira, Ronald M Flowers, Ulrich Frikart, Ann Gibson, Bert B Haloviak, Raili Kallioskowski, Dennis C Keith Sr, Richard P Lehmann, Israel Leito, Robert E Lemon, Rowena J Moore, K J Moses, Ruy H Nagel, Joseph Ola, Jere D Patzer, Robert L Rawson, George W Reid, Angel M Rodriguez, Donald R Sahly, Iacob Stelian, Gary B Swanson, G Ralph Thompson, Athal H Tolhurst, Amy Willsey, Gerald Winslow, Linda Wysong.

CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
Calvin B Rock, Chairman
Athal H Tolhurst, Secretary
Members: Erich Amelung, Niels-Erik Andreasen, Delbert W Baker, Harold W Baptiste, Bert B Beach, Adrian Bocaneanu, Reinder Bruinsma, Brian Bull, Joseph Carlson, Pyung Duk Chun, Larry R Colburn, Alipio B da Rosa, Mart De Groot, Louise Fomuso, Agustin Galicia, Roberto Gullon, Michael F Kaminsky, Robert E Kyte, Harold L Lee, Richard Liu, Lily Mandalas, Peter O Mensah, Charles F Montille, Robert W Nixon, Barry D Oliver, Ruth E Parish, Juan R Prestol, Donald G Pursley, Carlos Puyol, Humberto M Rasi, Donald E Robinson, Steven G Rose, G Ralph Thompson, Max A Trevino, Velile S Wakaba, Bertil Wiklander, F Donald Yost.

PLANS  
Robert J Kloosterhuis, Chairman Donald R Sahly, Secretary
Members: Martin L Anthony, Sergio E Balboa, Harold W Baptiste, Alejandro Bullon, Jean Carter, Sylvanus N Chioma, Birgid Faber, Howard F Faigao, Noel S Fraser, Patrick Guenin, Stephen R Guptill, C Lee Huff, Choudampalli John, Michael F Kaminsky, Gerry D Karst, Robert E Lemon, Benjamin C Maxson, Moses Mwenya, Kermit L Netteburg, Samuel Ravonjiarivelo, Osmar Reis, Michael L Ryan, Kei Hoon Shin, Takashi Shiraishi, Virginia L Smith, Shanmug Sundaram, G Ralph Thompson, Nina Usachev, Andre Van Rensberg, Yafesi Walugembe, Ted N C Wilson.

NOMINATING COMMITTEE
As provided for by the General Conference Constitution and Bylaws

SEATING OF ADDITIONAL DELEGATES AND ADDITIONAL STANDING COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS
Philip S Follett, Chairman
Maurice T Battle, Secretary
Members: Harold W Baptiste, Alex Rantung, Claude A Sabot, G Ralph Thompson.

AMENDMENTS-REFER TO STANDING COMMITTEES
It was noted that all recommendations for amendments or substantive changes to the Constitution and Bylaws or to the Church Manual will be referred to the respective Standing Committees.

GENERAL CONFERENCE RULES OF ORDER
By common consent it was agreed to approve the General Conference Rules of Order to govern the business meetings of the 2000 General Conference Session.

GENERAL CONFERENCE SESSION - 2000-CARSON, WALTER E - PARLIAMENTARIAN
Walter E Carson, of the General Conference Office of General Counsel, will serve as parliamentarian at the business meetings of the 2000 General Conference Session.

NORTHERN ASIA-PACIFIC DIVISION AND SOUTHERN ASIA-PACIFIC DIVISION - NEW DIVISIONS
Voted, 1. To recognize and record the reorganization of the former Asia-Pacific Division into two new divisions known as the Northern Asia-Pacific Division and the Southern Asia-Pacific Division, effective October 6, 1996.
2. To accept the Northern Asia-Pacific Division into the world sisterhood of divisions of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
3. To accept the Southern Asia-Pacific Division into the world sisterhood of divisions of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

GHANA UNION CONFERENCE--NEW UNION CONFERENCE
Voted, 1. To recognize and record the reorganization of the former West African Union Mission into two unions known as the Ghana Union Conference and the West African Union Mission, effective January 1, 2000.
2. To accept the Ghana Union Conference (AID) into the world sisterhood of unions of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

ZIMBABWE UNION CONFERENCE--NEW UNION CONFERENCE
Voted, 1. To recognize and record the conference status and a name change for the Zambesi Union Mission, effective January 1, 1998.
2. To accept the Zimbabwe Union Conference (EAD) into the world sisterhood of unions of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

CHINESE UNION MISSION--NEW UNION MISSION
Voted, 1. To recognize and record the merging of the South China Island Union Mission with the East Asia Association (China) to form the Chinese Union Mission, effective June 13, 1999.
2. To accept the Chinese Union Mission (NSD) into the world sisterhood of unions of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

NORTHEAST BRAZIL UNION MISSION--NEW UNION MISSION
Voted, 1. To recognize and record the reorganization of the former East Brazil Union Conference and the North Brazil Union Mission into three new unions known as the East Brazil Union Conference, the North Brazil Union Mission, and the Northeast Brazil Union Mission, effective January 1, 1996.
2. To accept the Northeast Brazil Union Mission (SAD) into the world sisterhood of unions of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

CENTRAL PHILIPPINE UNION CONFERENCE--NEW UNION CONFERENCE
Voted, 1. To recognize and record conference status for the Central Philippine Union Mission, effective May 19, 1996.
2. To accept the Central Philippine Union Conference (SSD) into the world sisterhood of unions of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

SOUTH PHILIPPINE UNION CONFERENCE--NEW UNION CONFERENCE
Voted, 1. To recognize and record conference status for the South Philippine Union Mission, effective November 20, 1995.
2. To accept the South Philippine Union Conference (SSD) into the world sisterhood of unions of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

EAST INDONESIA UNION CONFERENCE--NEW UNION CONFERENCE
Voted, 1. To recognize and record conference status for the East Indonesia Union Mission, effective December 1, 1997.
2. To accept the East Indonesia Union Conference (SSD) into the world sisterhood of unions of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

ADRIATIC UNION CONFERENCE--NEW UNION CONFERENCE
Voted, 1. To recognize and record the organization of the Adriatic Union Conference, effective January 1, 1999.
2. To accept the Adriatic Union Conference (TED) into the world sisterhood of unions of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

DELEGATES FROM NEW UNIONS WELCOMED
G Ralph Thompson welcomed the delegates from the new unions to the to the fifty-seventh General Conference Session.

Adjourned.

PETER ROENNFELDT: [Gave the opening devotional, "The Perfect Home" which is found in Bulletin 1]

LEO S. RANZOLIN: It is again my privilege to welcome you to the fifty-seventh session of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. What a joy to be here in this beautiful city and lovely country. You know, I have always had an appreciation for Canada. I love the people, the prairies, the mountains, and the lakes. And on a personal note I must say that I am related to one of the traditional families of Canada, the Longard family. We have enjoyed the friendly hospitality and pray that the days we spend here will remain in our minds forever. This is a very important assembly, poised at the start of a new millennium. I wondered if we would be starting the year 2000 in heaven. But friends, brothers and sisters, leaders, we are still here on this earth with unfinished work to do. Let us pray that the Lord will guide us and all the delegates. Let us pray that the Holy Spirit will come into our hearts and lead in all the decisions we make, so that we will experience a revival and reformation and prepare our lives to finish the task that is before us. May the leaders who will be chosen receive a double portion of the Spirit so that we can move ahead with new fervor and consecration to challenge the more than 11 million believers to do their part for the Lord's work. And now I call on Elder G. Ralph Thompson, secretary of the General Conference, to lead us into the procedures of this session.

G. RALPH THOMPSON: Thank you, Brother Chairman. You and I had the privilege of organizing the first business session of the fifty-sixth session in Utrecht, Holland, five years ago. I want you to know it is a pleasure to work with you again at this the fifty-seventh session here in Canada. We extend a hearty welcome to all of our delegates and friends. We are glad that you are here. We welcome all of our special guests whose badges allow them to sit on the floor with their special division groups. But of course, when it comes to the official business of the General Conference session, only official delegates with a purple delegate badge will have voice and vote. We know that you will honor this so that the business of this General Conference session can be carried out with order and decorum. The secretaries of the various divisions and areas will make sure now that all of the official delegates have their badges and agenda books. At this time will all official delegates who have not received their agenda books please stand.

The General Conference Constitution, Article IV, Section 1, reads as follows: "Section 1. The General Conference shall hold quinquennial sessions at such time and place as the Executive Committee shall designate and announce by a notice published in the Adventist Review in three consecutive issues at least four months before the date for the opening of the session. In case special world conditions make it imperative to postpone the calling of the session, the Executive Committee, in regular or special council, shall have authority to make such postponement, not to exceed two years, giving notice to all constituent organizations."

Brother Chairman, the following notice appeared in the Adventist Review of January 27, February 3, and February 10, 2000, and the announcement read:

General Conference Session Official notice is hereby given that the fifty-seventh session of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists will be held June 29 to July 8, 2000, in the SkyDome in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The first meeting will begin at 1500 hours, June 29, 2000. All duly accredited delegates are urged to be present at that time.

Jan Paulsen, President

G. Ralph Thompson, Secretary

Brother Chairman, Article IV, Section 5, provides for the appointment of regular delegates by union conferences and by divisions and by the General Conference. These delegates have been duly appointed in harmony with the constitution. The secretaries of the divisions of the General Conference have reported the following numbers of regular delegates seated from their respective organizations. And I shall read them, Brother Chairman.

Regular Delegates:

The Africa-Indian Ocean Division	140
Eastern Africa Division	150
Euro-Africa Division	101
Euro-Asia Division	63
Inter-American Division	189
North American Division	132
Northern Asia-Pacific Division	57
South American Division	160
South Pacific Division	80
Southern Asia-Pacific Division	126
Southern Asia Division	68
Trans-European Division	76
Attached Union: Southern Africa Union Conference	10

The total, Brother Chairman, of regular delegate seats have been allocated according to Article IV, Section 6.

Article IV, Section 7 (a), of the constitution provides that all members of the General Conference Executive Committee shall be delegates at large. The present membership of the General Conference Committee is 265.

Section 7 (b) states that all associates, directors, and secretaries of General Conference departments and associations are also delegates at large. This number amounts to 28.

Section 7 (c) states that 34 delegates elected from the General Conference-appointed staff shall be delegates. That number therefore is 34, and this gives us a total of 327 for Section 7 (a) (b) and (c).

Section 7 (d) provides for other representatives of the General Conference and division institutions and other entities, and those employees, field secretaries, laypersons, and pastors who are selected by the Executive Committees of the General Conference and its divisions. The number of these delegates shall be determined as the difference between the sum of all the other categories of delegates at large, and 640. This number came to 313. The distribution of this number of delegates has been allocated to the divisions and the General Conference and its institutions as stipulated.

So when we add the figure of 313 to the 327 other delegates at large, we get the total of 640. Thus, Brother Chairman, when we now add our regular delegates of 1,360 together with the 640 delegates at large, we have a required grand total of 2,000 delegates. This is the group of delegates provided by the constitution to initiate the work of the session. And so, Brother Chairman, we present this delegation to you at this the first meeting of the fifty-seventh session of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. This group of delegates present is now empowered to act on behalf of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists at its fifty-seventh session. We should say that as of a few minutes ago 1,602 delegates have completed registration and many more will be completing registration by this evening. Brother Chairman, we now await your call to order.

LEO S. RANZOLIN: Thank you, Brother Secretary. I would like to call to order the fifty-seventh session of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and declare it open for business.

G. RALPH THOMPSON: Let us now take a look in our program booklet at the daily program, which is found on pages 7-16. [The secretary mentioned several important appointments in the program, reminding delegates of the evening program; the devotional message, which will be presented the next day, June 30, at 8:00 a.m.; and of the fact that the next day will be Friday, when the Sabbath should be anticipated. Delegates were reminded that breakfast will not be served on Sabbath. A full schedule is planned for Sabbath, July 1.]

I think the program is pretty clear, so, Brother Chairman, I move the acceptance of the daily program. [Motion was seconded and voted.]

And now if we would look into our agenda books I would like to call our attention to the agenda itself. [The secretary then explained the various sections of the agenda, mentioning that the largest number of items relate to the Church Manual.]

So for now, I move that we adopt the agenda items as listed, with the understanding, of course, that the chair will not necessarily follow the items in the exact order in which they are listed. I so move. [The motion was seconded and voted.]

Brother Chairman, in our agenda booklet, pages 14 and 15, you will find the list of standing committees. [The secretary then noted the various standing committees and the respective chairs and secretaries.]

I move the acceptance of the standing committees. [The motion was seconded and voted.]

Now I would like to point out that all recommendations for changes made by individuals from the floor will be referred to these standing committees for study. Now I need to comment on the rules of order. Each one of us should have received in our packet the General Conference Rules of Order. In the business meetings of this General Conference session we shall be following the GC Rules of Order. By common consent I would suggest that we proceed in this manner, unless there's an objection. The Administrative Committee of the General Conference has recommended that a parliamentarian be appointed for this session. The name that has been recommended is that of Walter E. Carson, who served in that position, as I recall, at the last GC session.

Brother Chairman, as we get ready to do business for the Lord at this fifty-seventh session, I'll quote a statement from our Church Manual, page 133, regarding the duty of delegates. It reads as follows: "A delegate to a conference session or constituency meeting is not chosen to represent merely the church or conference. A seated delegate should view the work as a whole, remembering that he or she is responsible for the welfare of the work in every part of the field. It is not permissible for church or conference delegations to organize or attempt to direct their votes as a unit. Nor is it permissible for the delegates from a large church or conference to claim pre-eminence in directing affairs in a conference session. Each delegate should be susceptible to the direction of the Holy Spirit and vote according to personal convictions. Any church or conference officer or leader attempting to control the votes of a group of delegates would be considered disqualified for holding office." Brother Chairman, this is good sound counsel for all of us delegates to this General Conference session.

And now, Brother Chairman, at each General Conference session we take note of those who have passed on. The delegations of this session represent more than 11 million members and 204 countries. The working force on the payroll of the church numbers 165,882. Each quinquennium some of these workers fall asleep in Jesus and close their earthly ministry. During the past five years a large number of workers, including retired personnel, have died. We miss their friendship and their fellowship, their support and dedication to the cause they loved. We confidently expect to meet them again on the resurrection morning. Brother Chairman, it would be appropriate for us to stand for a few moments of silence in memory of these fallen warriors of the cross. [Taps was played.]

And now, Brother Chairman, there are additional agenda items for us to look at. You'll find them in the agenda book, pages 5-13. We have a number of unions and two divisions to be voted into the sisterhood of unions and divisions. [The secretary called on Larry Colburn, associate secretary, to read the recommendation concerning the reorganization of the former Asia-Pacific Division.]

LARRY R. COLBURN: Recommended, first, to record the reorganization of the former Asia-Pacific Division into two new divisions, to be known as the Northern Asia-Pacific Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Southern Asia-Pacific Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, effective October 6, 1996. Second, to accept the Northern Asia-Pacific Division into the world sisterhood of divisions of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Third, to accept the Southern Asia-Pacific Division into the world sisterhood of divisions of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Brother Chairman, it gives me great pleasure to move that we accept these recommendations. [The motion was seconded and voted.]

G. RALPH THOMPSON: Brother Chairman, we must now turn our attention to the unions. Dr. Donald Sahly, who represents the Africa-Indian Ocean division, will bring that recommendation.

DONALD SAHLY: Mr. Chairman, because of growth and development in the West African Union it has become to reorganize the work there, so we are recommending: (1) to reorganize and record the reorganization of the former West African Union Mission into two unions, known as the Ghana Union Conference and the West African Union Mission, effective, January 1, 2000; (2) to accept the Ghana Union Conference of the Africa-Indian Ocean Division into the world sisterhood of unions of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It is my privilege to make this motion.

PETER MENSAH: Mr. Chairman, the church in Africa is coming of age, so we are happy that the former West African Union could produce a first union conference. Please, rejoice with us. This is remarkable.

Mr. Chairman, it's a privilege to be here today representing the 250,000 members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Ghana. Today by the grace of God you have voted us into the sisterhood of unions. We want to praise the Lord and thank Him for this, and we want to thank our division officers and the officers of the General Conference.

MAURICE T. BATTLE: Mr. Chairman, it's indeed a pleasure to recognize and to recommend conference status and a name change for the Zimbabwe Union Mission, effective January 1, 1998. The action is to accept the Zimbabwe Union Conference into the world sisterhood of unions of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. I so move.

L. D. RAELLY: Mr. Chairman, we want to thank God for what He was able to do in Zimbabwe, for Zimbabwe was the first union mission to become of age on the Black African continent. We praise God for it. Thank you.

P. R. MACHAMIRE: I want to bring you greetings from the 350,000 members in Zimbabwe. We have a fast-growing church in that part of the world. We solicit your prayers as we continue to grow and to await the soon coming of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. [Motion was seconded and voted.]

LARRY R. COLBURN: Brother Chairman, another major reorganization has taken place in the Northern Asia-Pacific Division, and it gives me great pleasure to read this recommendation: (1) to recognize and record the merging of the South China Island Union Mission with the East Asia Association (China) to form the Chinese Union Mission, effective June 13, 1999; (2) to accept the Chinese Union Mission into the world sisterhood of unions of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It gives me great pleasure to move that we accept this recommendation.

P. D. CHUN: I am glad we now have the Chinese Union Mission, with a population of more than 1.3 million. EUGENE HSU: Greetings from the Adventist brothers and sisters in China, Hong Kong, Macaw, and Taiwan. It is a great challenge for us, but the Chinese Union Mission is ready to take up the challenge, to finish the work. [Motion was seconded and voted.]

LEO RANZOLIN: Dr. Mario Veloso represents the South American Division. He will present the next item.

MARIO VELOSO: Brother Chairman, it's a pleasure to present the result of a growing church in Brazil. This recommendation also has two parts: (1) to recognize and record the organization of the former East Brazil Union Conference and the North Brazil Union Mission into three new unions, known as the East Brazil Union Conference, the North Brazil Union Mission, and the Northeast Brazil Union Mission, effective January 1, 1996; (2) to accept the Northeast Brazil Union Mission into the world sisterhood of unions of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. I would like to recommend and make a motion to accept these new unions. [Motion was seconded and voted.]

LEO S. RANZOLIN: We now move to the Central Philippine Union Conference, and Larry Colburn will present this item.

LARRY R. COLBURN: Thank you, Brother Chairman. It gives me great pleasure to recommend that we recognize and record the conference status of the Central Philippine Union Mission, effective May 19, 1996, and also that we accept the Central Philippine Union Conference into the world sisterhood of unions of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Brother Chairman, I wish to move that we accept this new union conference into the sisterhood of union conferences. [Motion was seconded and voted.]

It also gives me great pleasure to recommend that the South Philippine Union Mission become a union conference. We recommend to recognize and record the conference status for the South Philippine Union Mission, effective November 20, 1995, and also to accept the South Philippine Union Conference into the world sisterhood of unions of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. I would like to move that we accept this recommendation. [Motion was seconded and voted.]

Brother Chairman, we also have a recommendation for the East Indonesia Union Conference. This is the third union mission becoming a union conference in the Southern Asia-Pacific Division. Recommended: (1) to recognize and afford conference status for the East Indonesia Union Mission, effective December 1, 1997; (2) to accept the East Indonesia Union Conference into the world sisterhood of unions of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Brother Chairman, I am delighted to move that we accept this recommendation. [Motion was seconded and voted.]

LEO S. RANZOLIN: Now we need to go to the Adriatic Union Conference.

MAURICE T. BATTLE: It is indeed a pleasure and an honor, Mr. Chairman, to recognize and record the organization of the Adriatic Union Conference, effective January 1, 1999, and to accept the Adriatic Union Conference into the world sisterhood of unions of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. I so move. [The motion was seconded and voted.]

BERTIL WIKLANDER: It is a privilege to be a part of this event. The church in the Slavic regions has gone through some very difficult times in the 1990s. Because of conflict and the need to have two unions to care for many small and weak fields in the Balkans, we found that it would be very advantageous to take Slovenia and Croatia out of the South-East European Union Conference and combine them with the Adriatic Mission, to create the Adriatic Union Conference. We are grateful for the fact that the work is growing in spite of incredible hardships, and we thank you all for your prayers for the people in the Balkans.

LEO S RANZOLIN: Let me introduce the president of the Adriatic Union, Dr. Dragutin Matak.

DRAGUTIN MATAK: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is my privilege to bring warm greetings from all the members of the Adriatic Union and from the countries of Albania, Greece, and Slovenia. As we all know, these countries have some severe problems. In Albania we feel safe, and in spite of economic crises, work is progressing there. In Greece a half dozen churches are still in ruins, but also God is blessing. We really appreciate being a part of this big and beautiful family. And maybe I should add that alphabetically our union now heads the list of unions in the world.

LEO S. RANZOLIN: All right, are you ready to vote? [The motion was seconded and voted.]

G. RALPH THOMPSON: The delegates from the unions have already been seated within their delegation, but we welcome them now as seated members of their new union organizations. It is a great joy to have these unions accepted into the world sisterhood of unions along with the two divisions.

Now we come to the Nominating Committee. As soon as you have your list of nominees, you will need to give them to Athal Tolhurst, the undersecretary, who will be located in the North Building of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. [The secretary then explained the process of selecting the Nominating Committee, giving details regarding the numbers to be chosen and the various venues for the groups to meet.]

Now, Brother Chairman, I think that brings us to the end of the first section of our business meeting. I would like to move that we adjourn this first section. [The motion was seconded and voted.]

GERALD NORTHAM: [Benediction.]

LEO S. RANZOLIN, Chair

G. RALPH THOMPSON, Secretary