GC president Jan Paulsen introduced the appeal after speaking of his own experience of the impact of apartheid when visiting South Africa in former years. He noted that Annual Council action in 1991 endorsed the merger of Southern Union and South Africa Union Conference that year, and had proposed the integration of the local conferences within two years. There are two conferences that have still not merged.
"The time frame given for merger of the local conferences was achieved in Natal, and has worked very well," Paulsen commented. In addition there was partial achievement of the merger plan in the Cape region. "But the sad reality is that it has not been completed, and the administrative structure has not yet moved to the stage we would wish. For the sake of the oneness of the church, we need to leave behind such culture and practice. We need to help the leadership in South Africa to achieve this without tearing apart the Adventist community. For these reasons we ask this council to reiterate the action taken in 1991: that there be one organization for any given geographical territory. For this oneness is the spirit of our church, driven by our spiritual values."
GC youth director Baraka Muganda cautioned that "this is a very delicate matter, and we need to go carefully." British Union president Cecil Perry endorsed the appeal, saying, "other denominations cannot understand how our church, claiming the moral high ground, can be so stubborn. It is high time for a breakthrough on this matter."
Solomon Maphosa of the Zimbabwe Union said the appeal was an "ethical move," and that even a flawed decision was better than no decision at all, for whatever the decision "it's not going to solve the problem in a clean manner."
Summing up, Paulsen concluded "we are all children of our times and culture. The culture where I am is not necessarily applicable to where you are. The situation in South Africa has arisen from a particular mindset, with a system and set of values we cannot subscribe to. The culture and setting of this situation is an affront to the public and an affront to the spiritual values of our church."
Robert Lemon Elected as GC Treasurer
The GC committee elected Robert Lemon (left) as treasurer of the General Conference to succeed Robert Rawson, who is retiring.
Introducing the recommendation, GC president Jan Paulsen commented that "the treasury assignment is a very critical one. The treasurer needs to be a good team leader, and have a great passion for the Lord and the mission of the church."
GC secretary Matthew Bediako brought the name to the floor for vote. Lemon has served as an associate treasurer at the GC, and is currently the undertreasurer--an assignment that primarily involves defining and managing the GC budget. He grew up in Africa (Bediako commenting that he learned Kiswahili before English!), and has served overseas for many years.
Accepting the assignment, Lemon said that it was "sobering when God's church calls you to carry responsibilities. I can't comprehend that when God has all the angels at his beckoning that he should choose us to tell the greatest story ever told."
As a result of Lemon's appointment, former GC associate treasurer Steven Rose (middle) replaces Lemon as undertreasurer and Eastern Africa Division treasurer Jose Lizardo (right) replaces Rose as GC associate treasurer.
Church Council Votes "Call for Peace"
The committee also voted a new Adventist statement calling for world peace. Introducing the statement, GC general vice-president Ted N.C. Wilson said it was important to make clear the Adventist church's position, especially in the current world situation. The text, whose primary author is elder statesman of the church Bert B. Beach, had passed through a number of committees and was voted without change by the executive committee.
The five page document outlines the fundamental Adventist philosophy of peace in a world that is "increasingly unstable and dangerous." It alludes to the new phenomenon of worldwide terrorism, and how this often "exploits the concept of God":
"Imposing one's religious views on other people, by means of inquisition and terror, involves an endeavor to exploit and manipulate God by turning him into an idol of evil and violence. The result is a disregard for the dignity of human beings created in the image of God."
The document calls for "respect for human rights, in particular religious liberty," forgiveness, and reconciliation. It also affirms that "churches should be known for their support of quality of life," for Christians "to take an active role in making and sustaining peace."
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Jonathan Gallagher is the UN Liaison director of the General Conference.
n a poignant moment the General Conference Executive Committee issued "an appeal for structural unity in the Southern Africa Union Conference," calling for the completion of racial integration of the church in the post-apartheid period.
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