BY JONATHAN GALLAGHER

o be preoccupied is usually viewed as something negative. It suggests that you are concerned with one idea to the exclusion of others, that you have a one-track mind. But in the area of the Seventh-day Adventist Church's mission, it is more than acceptable to be preoccupied--it is essential. General Conference president Jan Paulsen made his comments at the opening session of the General Conference Executive Committee's Spring Meeting 2001, where members approve the audited financial statements.

"It is inconceivable that the Seventh-day Adventist Church could wake up one morning and not be preoccupied with our mission,” said Dr. Paulsen. “We are 'defaulted' to act and react that way. That is the way we are. Were there ever to come a day when we would no longer be that way, we will cease to be useful to God. But our commitment is sharp and clear, even as we face the very difficult mission challenge of the 10-40 window. We will prioritize mission.”

GC Treasurer's Report

"Preoccupied with our mission." Though not chosen as the theme, such a phrase captures the emphasis of the agenda and the essence of the meetings. The Adventist Church must deliberately and emphatically concentrate on its God-given commission. In addition, the church must also recognize its position in society, and the importance on speaking out on vital issues:

“There was a time when we were a small and modest sized community which, apart from our occasional evangelistic 'excursions' into the secular world, thought largely of our internal situations as a church, and we talked to ourselves. That is changing rapidly. The extent to which we are a voice to the public on a variety of issues is in direct proportion to our visibility, our size, and our public interest in the secular society.”

More and more the church is recognizing its need to address issues as part of its mission agenda, choosing to make statements to the media and at important conventions, making an Adventist voice heard. Paulsen said that he wished to make his international visits a significant opportunity to speak on current and local matters of concern:

"One of the first questions I am asked by the press or other media is, 'What do you have to say to the public here?' The public rightfully expects us to be concerned about the issues of its world, of everyday life."

Paulsen concluded by announcing the development of a new program that will directly aid mission and lay involvement:

"We are frequently being challenged by mission-driven lay-people for us to allow room for them to become partners in ministry and in mission, And they remind us of the many statements from the pen of inspiration where the Lord's servant tells us to 'press together,' that to finish the work laity and ministry must work together—and that we will not finish it until we do.

"So we will bring to you a proposal to motivate, train, and equip laity around the world—one million of them—to partner with us all in mission. We will make this the Quinquennium of Laity in Mission; it will be known as ‘Go One Million.’ We will plan our resources to make this possible. We will give it high priority. We are here as a mission community. When all is said and done, that is what needs to be accomplished."

Appropriately, this emphasis on preoccupation with our mission was followed by the reading of the church's mission statement, shortly followed by the unveiling of a Strategic Plan for the GC.

GC Votes Strategic Plan
Vice-president Gerry Karst introduced the concept, saying that "there is an evident need for planning. Previously we have planned, particularly with reference to financial matters, but now we are more focused on strategic planning. The plan before you is couched in terms that are generally applicable to the entire world field, and ready for the adaptation by divisions. Using such a plan, we can help ensure that everybody is moving in the same direction, giving attention to the same issues."

General field secretary Mike Ryan, also appointed as director for Strategic Planning, added that such plans are not new and that many divisions already operate using a strategic plan. "It is encouraging what we have seen so far," he commented. "There is a will and a commitment to rally around this. It's exciting what can be done—what must be done—to meet the tremendous challenge before us. By 2010 it is likely that we will have 26 to 27 million members, with all the needs for pastoral staffing, institutions, and training. In this context of our mission, with a distinct message of hope to this world, I hope we can rally ’round and adopt this plan."

Commenting on the proposed plan, president Paulsen said that "It is not so broad it becomes diffused, and not so narrow that it becomes restrictive. It is specific, yet is not intended to state all the things the church should be doing. It emphasizes the three core values we are recommending as the ones at the center of what we are doing: growth, unity, and the quality of church life."

After two hours of discussion and editorial amendments, the plan was unanimously approved with the recognition that it would be further developed and action plans would be prepared to aid in its implementation.

Short-term International Service
A Code of Best Practice on Short-term International Service was introduced by Vice-president Lowell Cooper, who said that such a code was needed in a world of increased ease of communication and travel.

"We want to encourage international service by groups and individuals, but also protect the church from that which is not in its best interest," said Cooper. "This code should not be seen as inhibiting opportunities for international service by members, but to lay a foundation of common understanding by which they can work together for the common good."

Speaking on behalf of a Division that is frequently the recipient of such international visits, Elder Artur Stele of the Euro-Asia Division, headquartered in Moscow, commented, "It is very important for recipients to have ownership of programs happening their territory. Even if you want to help, you don't go in without knocking on the door."

Atlanta as venue for 2010 GC Session
Three cities presented bids as possible venues for the 59th General Conference Session to be held in 2010—Indianapolis, Toronto, and Atlanta. Committee members voted today to accept the recommendation of the investigating team that Atlanta, Georgia, be chosen as the venue-a city not previously visited by the session. (Indianapolis hosted Session 1990, and Toronto the most recent session of 2000.)

Factors influencing the choice involved costs, facilities, accessibility, hotel locations, and other aspects of importance to the session, which is one of the world's largest conventions and as a result can only be hosted by a small number of cities, reported session coordinator Linda de Leon and GC treasurer Robert Rawson.

The Georgia Dome in Atlanta can seat 76,000 and is "more than adequate for our needs," said Rawson. The Phase IV Convention Center will host the other aspects of session, and has 420,000 square feet of exhibit space.

The session is provisionally scheduled for June 23-July 3, 2010. The next GC Session will be held in St. Louis, Missouri, in 2005.

Adventist Review Special Issue
Adventist Review editor William Johnsson revealed the forward planning for a special issue of the Review with the working title, "A Tapestry of Adventism." The aim, he said, was "to show, by words and images, that with all the incredible variety of Adventism around the world, we are one people."

This special issue, which is slated to go to press in November, is to feature Adventists as "A People Unique" with contributions from all over the world illustrating spirituality, mission and service, lifestyle, and unity. The issue aims to "evoke an appreciation for what God is doing in our midst," Johnsson concluded.

Go One Million
This new project, unveiled for the first time at the Spring Meetings, aims to equip and train one million lay people for service and direct participation in evangelism, according to Global Mission director Mike Ryan.

“The concept 'to go' is still very much alive in the church," said Ryan, "and we aim to equip one million lay people to become soul-winners. We will be producing contextualized materials, and we will be addressing the challenges of the 10/40 window."

A coordinating committee to oversee the "Go One Million" program was proposed to the church's administrative committee, and further details will be presented to Annual Council, noted chairman Paulsen.

Adventist World Television Committee
GC Vice-president Ted Wilson shared the concept of a new committee to coordinate the various TV ministries and the current program of the Adventist Global Communication Network (AGCN).

"AGCN is already working extensively with divisions," said Wilson, "and we are taking this further with the establishment of this Adventist World Television committee. We will be networking with the existing organizations, and folding AGCN into this committee to oversee all the various technologies such as Internet broadcasting, satellite, and local TV."

New Women's Ministries Associate Director
Heather-Dawn Small was elected to the position of associate director in the Women's Ministries department, Her appointment followed the resignation of Lynetta Hamstra who has left to devote herself full-time to her new baby, reported vice-president Eugene Hsu.

PARL Training Seminar
After voting lists of authorized meetings, the final action was to approve a Public Affairs and Religious Liberty training seminar to follow the 5^th World Congress on Religious Freedom to be held in Manila, the Philippines, in June 2002.

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Jonathan Gallagher is the United Nations Liaison Director for the Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Department at the General Conference.