Proceedings
First Business Meeting (continued)
57th General Conference Session, June 29, 2000, 6:45 p.m.
[Tom Neslund and Reg Burgess made a presentation concerning "Walk Around the World."]
CLAUDE SABOT: [Prayer in French.]
GERRY KARST: Good evening, delegates, special guests, and friends. I am Gerry Karst, the assistant to the president for the General Conference. On behalf of the General Conference it is my privilege to welcome you to this fifty-seventh session of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. We thank God for your safe arrival, and we look forward with anticipation to the part that each one will play in this important session. Thousands have been praying daily for this very time when the church in session anticipates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to guide and direct the proceedings of this important meeting. I invite you to be constantly in prayer throughout this entire session. We are pleased for the good facilities and accommodations, for this clean and friendly city, for the good public transportation system, the fine selection and availability of food in the area. The city of Toronto and its officials have rolled out the welcome carpet to all Seventh-day Adventists from around the world. And so, as you learn to find your way around this huge complex, as you bump into friends new and old, and as we sing, pray, and worship together from nearly every country of the world, let us consider what a privilege it is to belong to the great family of God. Can you collectively say "Amen"?
ORVILLE D. PARCHMENT: I don't know if you heard what I heard yesterday, but while I was listening to the 6:18 news on the radio, the announcer made a very significant statement. The United Nations has declared Canada to be the best country in the world in which to live [applause], followed by Norway, the United States, and Iceland. From the scenic island of Newfoundland to the mountains of British Columbia we members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada welcome you to the fifty-seventh session of the General Conference. For years we have been planning and dreaming, and now tonight it is a reality. And so on behalf of all of the members and all of the people who are coming from around the world I welcome you, delegates and guests, and to everyone, welcome to the best country to live in-Canada.
DERRICK M. NICHOLS: Ontario is honored to have this fifty-seventh session of our world church here in Toronto. On behalf of the membership of the Ontario Conference and in the love of Jesus, our Saviour, we welcome each one of you warmly from near and far, from across the continent of North America and every country around the world. We are pleased to have you here. I want you to know, ladies and gentlemen, that Ontario is beautiful. It is yours to discover. Please enjoy your stay here. Now as we gather here it might be Israel's last encampment before we cross the Jordan. Our prayer here in Ontario is that God will give us all in this session the unity, the wisdom, the faith, and the power to move God's church forward and into the Promised Land. Welcome again, and God bless you all.
B. B. BEACH: President Paulsen, delegates and friends, it gives me great pleasure this evening to introduce to you some distinguished visitors and guests here at the session of the General Conference. I am happy to introduce to you, first of all, the Honorable Chris Hodgson, the minister responsible for the management board of the cabinet for the province of Ontario. He is here this evening to bring not only his greetings but also greetings on behalf of the premier, the Honorable Mike Harris. Chris Hodgson is a friend of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada, and his assistance to the organizing committee is greatly appreciated. In his work and in his home Chris represents many of the ideals that Seventh-day Adventists try to achieve. Having said this, may we ask the Honorable Chris Hodgson to come forward and address the General Conference session.
CHRIS HODGSON: Thank you for that very warm introduction. It is an honor to be invited here today to convey greetings on behalf of the government of Ontario and the premier of our province, the Honorable Michael Harris. Premier Harris regrets that because of a previous engagement he is unable to be here this evening. However, he has asked me to express thanks on behalf of the people of Ontario for the commitment made by the Seventh-day Adventist Church to hold the fifty-seventh General Conference world session here in Ontario. It has been nothing less than astonishing to see the amount of work and the details that the organizing committees have put on to host this event. And it is evident that this effort has paid off. We are truly appreciative of the hundreds of volunteers and staff. The significance of this gathering has not escaped the people of Ontario. Not only is it good for tourism and our economy, but now more than ever we need the presence of people whose goal for others in our society is vital to the keeping of the message that we must all be our brother's keeper. I know that the Seventh-day Adventist Church has a long history here at home, and around the world, of helping others through their many programs of aid and education.
Here at home we are proud and grateful to acknowledge the many good works done by Adventists that benefit so many members of our communities. Like the Adventist Church, we in the province of Ontario are blessed by the presence of many nationalities who strengthen the social fabric of our province. To all of you who have made this your first visit to Ontario I give you a special welcome. It would not be fitting to address a gathering of Adventists without also noting that we are grateful for the freedoms of our society, including the freedom to worship and the freedom to live and practice our faith in peace, which is so much a part of your message. It is my hope-indeed, it is the wish of the people of Ontario-that this general council will be the most successful ever. God bless, and thank you so much for inviting me to be a part of this tonight.
B. B. BEACH: We are very honored to have with us this evening one whom we might call Mr. Toronto. Mel Lastman's contributions as mayor of Toronto not only are legion, but have almost become a legend, allowing him to put his personal stamp on Toronto, Canada's largest city and one of the largest metropolitan areas in North America. He has created a climate of confidence, and when we had the raising of the flag the other day we were told that he controls not only the climate of investment and business but also the meteorological climate. And this afternoon when we heard thunder, Mel Lastman spoke to the thunder, and the sun came out. He has boundless energy and enthusiasm, and this makes him a doer and an arch promoter of Toronto. He has had positive relations for some years with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, especially with the North York Branson Hospital. Ladies and gentlemen, let us welcome the mayor of Toronto.
MEL LASTMAN: Thank you very much, Bert. There is no amount of flattery that I find offensive. Pastor Jan Paulsen, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church; Pastor Orville Parchment, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada; the Honorable Chris Hodgson; platform guests; distinguished guests and delegates to the Adventist world session 2000, welcome to Toronto, the greatest city in the world. Now, Pastor Parchment was saying that Canada was declared the greatest country in the world. This was not done by me. This was not done by the prime minister. This was done by the United Nations. And this has been done for seven consecutive years. Welcome to a city of friends, a city of harmony, a city of serenity. We guarantee you a great time and a great city. You will find everything here. No other city in the world offers so much to their visitors. You represent the largest convention in our city. More than 60,000 people will participate in your world session 2000. We're very proud that you selected the city of Toronto. We wish you well for your business and fellowship meetings. And we guarantee a perfect environment for your convention. When your meetings end or you have free time, the city is at your doorstep. Enjoy our clean, safe streets; our rapid transit, including the most efficient subway in the world; and our thousands of restaurants. We have every type of food in the world. And enjoy the great spirit of this great city of Toronto. But I want to set something straight. In Canada we honor our distinguished visitors, we honor our prime minister, we honor our premier, we honor our lieutenant governors, we honor our ministers in government, we honor our judges, but in the city of Toronto we worship our mayor. Now, you may have heard that I control the weather in Toronto. Don't believe it. It's a myth. Sometimes I have a bad day. This was one of them. But I would like to see you come back for your fifty-eighth world session so we can open this roof and you can see what it's like under the stars. No matter where you go in our communities and neighborhoods, you will feel at home. We are the most culturally diverse city in the world, with people from 169 countries speaking more than 100 languages, and we get along. We live, work, and play together, and that is the magic of this great city, and that is the magic of the Adventist Church. You are a great worldwide church without barriers that now has 11 million members in more than 200 countries. You were among the first to adopt the strong moral and lifestyle principles that others emulate today. You said no smoking when everyone thought that it was stylish, and that it could do no harm. You knew before everyone else. You advocated vegetarian food and a healthy lifestyle when everyone else was wallowing in high cholesterol. You instilled wonderful family values in your children and taught them the benefits of a drug-free lifestyle. Ladies and gentlemen, your children are a credit to you. They never get into trouble with the police. They are young people with a wonderful spirit. They respect their parents, and they maintain and uphold the Adventist sense of values. Our city alone has nearly 20,000 Adventists, including two members of the mayor's staff. Toronto is a special place where everyone, regardless of race, creed, color, or religion, can practice their faith and celebrate their heritage. On behalf of Toronto's city council and the 2.4 million people of our great city I would like to present two keys to our city, to Pastor Paulsen and Pastor Parchment. These keys are our city's highest honor.
Ladies and gentlemen, enjoy your world session. You have been fantastic, and the city really enjoys what you are doing and how you are doing it. There aren't any problems with the Seventh-day Adventists. You are terrific. Enjoy your world session, and please enjoy Toronto. Thank you very, very much.
ORVILLE PARCHMENT: Honorable Gentlemen, the warmth and generosity of the reception that the city has extended to us by the Honorable Chris Hodgson on behalf of the premier of Ontario is truly heartwarming, and the response of the people here is an indication of how well we feel at being in the city of Toronto. What you see before you is the sampling of what will flood this city during the two coming weekends. We would like to share with you a gift for you to take away from here as a memory of this visit with us.
Now, ladies and gentlemen, for the unveiling of the Seventh-day Adventist stamp, I invite you to stand as Harold Helman sings the national anthem.
[Orville Parchment and Barry Bussey made a presentation concerning the special stamp that has been released by Canada Post.]
[Jan Paulsen led out in a ceremony in which a sculpture fashioned by Victor Issa was unveiled.]
[The theme song, "We Have This Hope," was sung.]
NILTON D. AMORIM: [Scripture reading: 2 Peter 1:19-21.]
JAN PAULSEN: I want you to meet my wife, Kari. This weekend (maybe I should have said "recently") she discovered she is the preacher in our family. She's in a Norwegian national costume. This weekend we will have been married 45 years. She is to be commended for her endurance, and tolerance, and many other gifts. But beyond that, she joins me because I want to honor the women of the Seventh-day Adventist Church tonight-the mothers and the wives, the unsung heroes of so many private situations and a part of so many public major undertakings by our church. They are the majority of our family, and they are the heart of the church. I honor the women of the Seventh-day Adventist movement.
And also tonight I want to honor the children. Stephanie from Peru joins me, and Wesley from Brazil. There are at least 5 million children in the Seventh-day Adventist family around the world, and we so often take them for granted. Workers' children, ministers' children, evangelists' children, often move with the furniture as if they were part of the furniture. They have to be uprooted, they have to find new friends, they have to get used to new schools. They have to grow up quickly. I honor the children-the 5 million children of the Seventh-day Adventist family. Thank you!
[The report of the General Conference president can be found in Bulletin 1.]
[At the conclusion of his report Jan Paulsen asked a number of individuals to join him in a season of prayer.]
LEO S. RANZOLIN: What a blessed time we have spent together here this evening, and before the benediction we have an item of business. I want to ask each one of you, if you have time, to assist Ruthie Jacobsen in the prayer room.
I would like to call a brief business session at this moment and call on G. Ralph Thompson for a brief announcement.
G. RALPH THOMPSON: Brother Chairman, during the break the caucuses met, and they have chosen their names for the Nominating Committee, and at this time I hope that we'll have the names for the Nominating Committee, and then we will vote to record them. So those of you who have the material, can we have those names given out at this time?
LEO S. RANZOLIN: The divisions met for their caucuses, and they have selected the members of the Nominating Committee. This was done right after the business session today. Their names should be there, and the Secretary is preparing this list so that this committee can start working immediately tonight. So we expect all of you here as we start our devotions tomorrow. This will be, as Elder Paulsen said to us, a wonderful time of fellowship. As we await this I again ask you to remember Ruth Jacobsen's request for volunteers to participate in prayer. We thank you, and we will wait a few moments as we bring the list to you.
G. RALPH THOMPSON: Brother Chairman, we are very late in getting the names together. So what we are suggesting is that we take a few more minutes to get all of these things in order. My suggestion is, Brother Chairman, that we have the benediction and ask the delegates to wait. We will get those names to you later.
We are fighting against time. It is going to take a little while. We will have the benediction, and our faithful delegates will stay by while others and visitors can leave.
DAVID JAMIESON: [Benediction.]
G. RALPH THOMPSON: Brothers and sisters, ladies and gentlemen, Brother Tolhurst has explained to us a little bit of the problem that we are faced with here, and he has been working with it, so let's give him our ear.
ATHAL TOLHURST: Thank you, Brother Thompson. Just for your information, we are working as speedily as possible to make the Nominating Committee lists available. It may be quite a few minutes before we can get the lists distributed to you, so we pray for your patience. Thank you.
G. RALPH THOMPSON: I propose that we close the meeting as of now. [The motion to adjourn was seconded and voted.]
LEO S. RANZOLIN, Chair
G. RALPH THOMPSON, Secretary
LARRY R. COLBURN and FRED G. THOMAS, Proceedings Editors
First Business Meeting, (cont.)
57th General Conference Session, June 30, 2000, 9:00 a.m.
G. RALPH THOMPSON: We now have the recommended list of the members of the Nominating Committee. I move that we record these names as comprising the session Nominating Committee. [Motion was seconded and voted.]
LEO S. RANZOLIN, Chair
G. RALPH THOMPSON, Secretary
LARRY R. COLBURN and BILL BOTHE, Proceedings Editors
Actions
Second Business Meeting
57th General Conference Session, June 30, 2000, 9:15 a.m.
GENERAL CONFERENCE SESSION 2000-NOMINATING COMMITTEE-APPOINTMENTS
Voted, To appoint the following as members of the standing Nominating Committee of the 57th session of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists:
Abayon, Harlin
Agoha, Elizabeth
Agoki, George
Aliddeki, Christian S M
Allen, Dave
Andreasen, Niels-Erik
Anthony, Garth
Anthony, Wijetunge Don
Antic, Radisa
Baker, Delbert W
Banks, John
Barbosa, Jose Clodoaldo
Behrens, B Lyn
Bignall, Derek A
Bisanda, Elifas T
Bishop, Joseph
Bocaneanu, Adrian
Boma, Emmanuel
Bustamante Villabona, Eliseo
Campian, Ioan
Camps, Sandra
Cardosa, Izeas dos Santos
Carter, Jean
Castillo, Ismael
Castillo Santander, Eleodoro
Christian, Graeme
Christopher, K
Connelly, Bonnie
Coston, Cynthia
Crysostem, Arattukulam John
Cubenda, Vasco
Davila, Gregorio
Dee, Sandy
Diaz, Paterno M
Doom, Darryl
Eldridge, Gloria
Elias, Teodoro
Ewoo, Andrews L
Faber, Birgid
Fontaine, Daniel
Gaikwad, Samuel
Garcia Lopez, Hipolito
Gomez, Julian
Gomez, Raul
Gordon, Malcolm D
Gorski, Nevil
Gorski, Rodolpho
Gulfan, Alberto C Jr
Gungadoo, Stenio
Gustin, Patricia
Habingabwa, Uzziel
Handia-Ben, Priscilla H
Hendriks, Alex
Hengen, Alfredo
Henry, Elie
Honore, Elie Simon
Hsu, Eugene K Y
Jensen, Sven Hagen
Jeremiah, Gladys
John, Choudampalli
Jones, Theodore T
Kasaji, David
Katele, Bryson
Kawona, Samuel
Kesaulya, Reinhold
Khiminets, Ivan F
Kim, Eun Bae
Kinjo, Kenyu
Konig, G Henk
Krupsky, Vladimir
Kwakfut, Jael
Kyte, Robert E
Lee, Harold L
Lehmann, Richard
Levterov, Ntkola
Lewis, Willie J
Liske, Bruno
Lukumbi, Monga Espoir
Luxton, Andrea
Lyakhu, Iliya
Lyngdoh, Lionel F
Macalintal, Efinito
Machamire, Paminus
Madridondo, Leonilo
Mahapure, Sadanand G
Malopa, Benford E
Mamarimbing, Ronnie
Marapaka, Joseph
Martinez, Rene
Mason, Owen
Matak, Dragutin
Mayer, Carlos R
Mayr, Siegfried G
Mbwana, Geoffrey
Mensah, Peter O
Miranda, Armando
Monnier, Eric P
Mostert, Thomas J Jr
Mtike, Geoffrey G
Mugiraneza, J N
Musema, Kasereka
Muyunda, Mavis
Nam, Daegeuk
Ndlezanie, Patrick
Nelson, Dwight
Ng, Wai Chun (Stanley)
Ngalamulume, August Mwanba
Niconde, Victor
Nixon, Robert W
Noltze, Ronald K
Nowak, Karel
Ola, Joseph A
Oliveira, Carlos A Rosa de
Oliveira, Wandyr Mendes de
Omana, Ivan H G
Ongombe, Job G
Ostrovsky, Ivan N
Othoo, Johnson
Parchment, Orville D
Patzer, Jere D
Perez, David Javier
Perla, Juan O
Perla, Pablo
Perry, Cecil R
Pheirim, Chinaongai
Pierre, Saint-Louis
Pohjola, Pekka T
Polok, Wladyslaw
Punch, Nord
Ramos, Orlando
Ramos-Suau, Miguel
Rathinaraj, John
Ravonjiarivelo, Samuel
Reichel, Benjamin
Riches, Robin D
Roberts, T J
Robertsen, Roger
Rodriguez, Bernardo T
Roger, Guy
Rosat, Denis
Rupp, Reinhard
Saggia, Hezron
Sandefur, Charles C
Sarli, Tercio
Sarli, Wilson
Sazhin, Vladimir
Scheuneman, Byron
Schneider, Don C
Shin, Kei Hoon
Shiraishi, Takashi
Shvarts, Alexander
Silva, Helder Roger C
Sonii, Adoley
Stele, Artur
Stephen, Wilson W
Stolyar, Vasily
Toledanes, Jemuel M
Tombokan, Jay Marx
Torkelsen, Max C II
Torres, Jairo Emerick
Trevino, Max A
Trotman, Jansen
Trujillo, Arnold
Tshimanga, Mulumba
Villoso, Daniel B
Wakaba, Velile S
Watts, Neil
Wellington, Leon B
Wolde-Endreas, Solomon
Wollan, Harald
Wondim, Agegnehu
Yamashiro, Naomi A
Ytreberg, F Martin
Zoogones, Iris
SECRETARIES REPORT
Voted, To receive and accept the report of the General Conference Secretary, G Ralph Thompson.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT #1
Voted, To approve the following partial report of the Nominating Committee:
General Conference President, Jan Paulsen
STATISTICAL REPORT
Voted, To receive the statistical report from the Director of Archives and Statistics, Bert B Haloviak.
Calvin B Rock, Robert J Kloosterhuis, Chairmen
Mario Veloso, Secretary
Athal H Tolhurst, Actions Editor
Carol E Rasmussen, Recording Secretary
Proceedings
Third Business Meeting
Fifty-seventh General Conference Session, June 30, 2000, 2:00 p.m.
ROBERT J. KLOOSTERHUIS: It gives me pleasure to introduce to you a gentleman, a Christian, and a treasurer, Elder Robert Rawson, treasurer of the General Conference.
ROBERT L. RAWSON: It is certainly an honor to be able to stand before you in this capacity today and to bring you a report, but I have to acknowledge right up front that I am nothing without the advisors and consultants and associates who stand by my side day by day. I would like to introduce them to you today. [Elder Rawson then introduced members of the Treasury staff: Robert E. Lemon; Gary B. DeBoer; Dennis C. Keith, Sr.; Juan R. Prestol; Donald E. Robinson; Steven G. Rose; Verland V. Erntson, controller; Linda de Leon, assistant treasurer; W. Dean Rogers, assistant treasurer; and Roy Ryan, assistant to the treasurer. The full text of the treasurer's report appears in Bulletin 2. A motion to accept the report was made, seconded, and voted.]
It now gives me great privilege to introduce to you our external auditor, Mr. Jack Powers. Mr. Powers is a partner in the firm of Maner, Costerisan & Ellis, located in Lansing, Michigan. Jack Powers is a Seventh-day Adventist Christian. He is a member of the Lansing Seventh-day Adventist Church. Mr. Powers has been auditing the General Conference records since 1978.
He tells me that this is his fifth General Conference session to report to the delegates. I am pleased to introduce and welcome to the podium Mr. Jack Powers, who will present the certificate of audit. I trust all of you have received the auditors' statement, which was to have been passed to you some time ago. He will present the certificate of audit and make any comment he feels appropriate for our understanding. And then following his presentation, Elder Robert Lemon will bring to you some facts relevant to the material you have in your combined financial statements booklet, which we hope will summarize the information for easier understanding. Following that, we will be glad to entertain questions that you may have. Mr. Jack Powers.
JACK POWERS: Thank you, Elder Rawson. The auditors' opinion appears on pages 1 and 2 of your financial statement document, identified as the combined financial statements for the years 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, and 1995. Referring to the independent auditors' report: We have audited the accompanying combined statements of financial position of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists as of December 31, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, and 1995, and the related combined statements of activities and cash flows for each of the years then ended. These combined financial statements are the responsibility of the management of the General Conference. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these combined financial statements based on our audits.
NIELS-ERIK ANDREASEN: Your Nominating Committee has been at work again, and we now have the second report, dealing with the two senior officers in the General Conference: that of Secretary and that of treasurer. I will ask our committee Secretary to read the first name.
DELBERT BAKER: Mr. Chairman, we have a second report from the Nominating Committee, and we submit the following partial report for the position of Secretary of the General Conference. The name is Matthew A. Bediako.
ROBERT J. KLOOSTERHUIS: You have heard the name of Matthew Bediako as Secretary of the General Conference; is there support for that? I see some support. Does everyone have their voting card? We will call for the affirmative vote first and then those that would oppose, if any. All those who are in favor, please lift up your voting card. Thank you. And those opposed, by the same sign. I think that is nearly unanimous. Thank you; that is carried.
JAN PAULSEN: We would like to ask Elder and Mrs. Bediako to join us on the platform. While they are joining us, I could make a long speech about Ralph Thompson and the magnificent contribution he has made to the church over these past 20 years as Secretary. He is to preach here tomorrow morning, and we will in that connection make our public acknowledgments to Elder Thompson. But it is truly a valiant service he has rendered to the church as Secretary for 20 years.
Matthew and Elizabeth Bediako. Matthew has served the church in many capacities in Africa and also internationally, and is one of the knowledgeable men of the international Seventh-day Adventist family. I am truly delighted that Matthew can be a team member of the General Conference leadership.
MATTHEW BEDIAKO: What can I say! We are accepting this responsibility because I believe that God's people have spoken. And God will touch me when everybody has deserted me. I know He will stand by our side. Who is sufficient for this job? This afternoon I just want to claim the statement from Paul: "My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:19). I have been privileged to know Elder Thompson since 1977. Since that time I've called him my chief, and he and his wife are like parents to us. And today I'm called upon to step into his shoes. In Ghana we call him the Secretary who preaches his report, and it was most certainly that today. What an awesome responsibility! I have just two requests to this church: We need your prayers; we need them because we are not able unless God provides us the power and wisdom. I want to thank the previous General Conference presidents who have given me the opportunity to serve this church in various capacities. And I am looking forward to working with the reelected president and the treasurer to be elected, to counseling with them and doing God's business until He meets us in heaven.
Once more, thank you, church, and I want to thank God for what He has wrought in our poor lives. Thank you.
ROBERT J. KLOOSTERHUIS: And now I would like to ask our Nominating Committee to read the nomination for General Conference treasurer.
NIELS-ERIK ANDREASEN: Mr. Chairman, we have the final name for treasurer of the General Conference. The name is Robert L. Rawson.
DELBERT BAKER: Mr. Chairman, I would like to put that nomination in motion. [Moved, seconded, and voted.]
ROBERT J. KLOOSTERHUIS: We welcome Elder Rawson as our treasurer again.
JAN PAULSEN: I'm delighted that Robert Rawson has accepted to continue to be treasurer for the General Conference. Bob Rawson and I have worked well together and will continue to do so. I know of no man who is better equipped in skills or better committed in his heart than he is to the assignment that you have just reelected him to. He and Carolyn are a wonderful couple whose company we treasure very much. Thank you, Bob, and I wish you many, many blessings from the Lord.
ROBERT L. RAWSON: I thank you, I pledge myself to serve God and His church as best I can, as He provides the strength for me to do so. I must tell you that my wife promised me that she was going to spend the time during my report today in prayer. And you must know that that is what gave me courage and strength to stand before you today with confidence. You know I have a wife that is committed to me to that extent, so thank you, honey. I look forward to seeing you soon.
ROBERT J. KLOOSTERHUIS: The Chair would like to invite any delegates who have questions concerning the financial statements to come forward.
DAVE WEIGLEY: Thank you, Elder Rawson; we appreciate the detailed report. Just one question about the sharing of the division now going from 1 percent to 2 percent. I am concerned how that may impact some of our divisions where the resources aren't there to do that. Will we have a reversion coming back from the GC that will offset that extra expense? And on top of that, will that be hard currency that we will have to come up with? Could you just help us on that a little bit? It seems odd that these divisions that really struggle to meet their budget are now expected to give another 1 percent to support the General Conference.
ROBERT L. RAWSON: North America, in my opinion, has been a greatly blessed division by virtue of the fact that it has reached out to the world. That has been a tradition of North America, and I think North America has reaped tremendous benefits from that. It is my opinion and, I think, the opinion of many. There are many divisions of the world that could be able to be a greater help to the operation and expenses of the world church. We think that the benefit to the world division will be significant as we look to future opportunities. "As we reach out to help those of afar, we will be blessed at home."
ROBERT J. KLOOSTERHUIS: The Chair recognizes the gentleman at microphone 1. Would you identify yourself, please?
ROGER ROBERTSEN: Roger Robertsen, president of the Norwegian Union in the Trans-European Division. I would also like to comment upon this same issue. Today I actually stand here to thank the NAD for its generous and enormous support of the world team. I am impressed that this has been and still is possible. We, who are based in other divisions, were actually proud to have such a generous family member, so thank you, NAD.
ROBERT J. KLOOSTERHUIS: The Chair now recognizes the gentleman at microphone 2. Please identify yourself.
GARLAND DULAN: I have a question on page 4 of the booklet here in terms of the difference in the endowment earnings between 1998 and 1999. Would you explain that difference?
ROBERT E. LEMON: Because of trying to finish in a short time, I didn't mention it, but there is an error in the recording of the endowment earnings. They were shown under the investment line above instead of under the endowment earnings. In 1999 we made some changes in the accounting for Global Missions, and the earnings on the endowment fund for the Global Mission are shown under the function of investment earnings. You will see that it is $6.7 million as compared to $4 million from the previous year. So it isn't that the earnings weren't there. It is a very legitimate question.
DONALD GILBERT: I would just like to say how much I appreciate this financial statement. I congratulate Elder Rawson and his Treasury staff, and God has really blessed. These past five years have been marvelous, and I just thank you, Bob, for this wonderful, wonderful report. May God bless you as you start a new quinquennium.
B. B. BEACH: Brother Chairman, delegates and brothers and sisters and friends. During the General Conference session we have the privilege of having a number of observers who are attending the session from other churches, other denominations. They are honoring us with their presence, and some of them will be introduced over the next few days. We are very pleased to have one of the high officials of the Salvation Army in Canada among us this afternoon. He has been here already for a day or two, and we are delighted that he can be with us. We have Colonel Earl Robinson and Mrs. Benita Robinson. He is the Secretary for external international relations of the Salvation Army world headquarters. We have known each other for some time. We have attended meetings together, and I would just like to tell him before he gives us his greetings that we Seventh-day Adventists hold the Salvation Army in very high esteem. [Applause.] They meet crying human need around the world and are an example of devotion to us, and we respect them for that. Colonel Robinson, we are happy to have you and your wife with us. Please tell us a few things, whatever you want to tell us.
EARL ROBINSON: Thank you very much, Bert, and thank you for the invitation to attend this splendid occasion as observers. Benita and I bring greetings from General John Gowens and the International Salvation Army as a Christian world communion. Several of you have already indicated something of the way in which there are close working relationships with the Salvation Army and the Seventh-day Adventist communion in your regions, and we are pleased to know that evidence of partnership in the gospel.
When I was a youngster growing up in the prairies of Canada our next-door neighbors were Seventh-day Adventists. I learned then that the Salvation Army and the Seventh-day Adventists share similar lifestyle expectations of their members. Since then, and particularly through recent associations with Bert Beach and John Graz and other Seventh-day Adventists whom I have met in international conferences, I've become aware of other amenities. Things that we share in common. We date back to a similar beginning date-1863 for you, and 1865 for the Salvation Army. We share a similar passion for the fulfillment of our great Lord to make disciples of all nations. Already today that passage of Scripture has been referred to a number of times. Perhaps most significantly, in our witness to the church of Jesus Christ as a whole, we share a wholistic gospel emphasis in seeing social responsibility as an integral component of the mission of the church. We view with importance the call of God to the whole church to take the whole gospel to the whole world. May I inform you of a mission phrase used by the Salvation Army that is also attributable to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Serving with heart to God and hand to mankind-our priority, as with you, is our love to God, our devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ, and it is because of that priority that we love the world as God so loved the world and gave His only begotten Son for it. We pray that you might be keenly aware of the Lord's continued guidance during these days as you seek more clearly to understand what God wishes you to be in His name and to His glory as you enter the third millennium and do His work in His world until He returns to take you home. May the Lord bless you abundantly. [Applause.]
B. B. BEACH: We thank Colonel Robinson for his kind words. They resound in the Seventh-day Adventist heart, and we would just like to ask our public affairs director, John Graz, to give a little gift of remembrance to Colonel and Mrs. Robinson.
ROBERT J. KLOOSTERHUIS: Thank you so very much for those words. We appreciate that. Now the Chair declares a session recess until Sunday morning, as is scheduled. And we would appreciate your standing for prayer at this time.
MANOEL ABDORAL DE FREITAS CINTRA: [Benediction.]
ROBERT J. KLOOSTERHUIS, Chair
MAURICE T. BATTLE, Secretary
LARRY R. COLBURN, BILL BOTHE, and FRED THOMAS, Proceedings Editors
