In other actions, the General Conference Executive Committee:
Voted to establish a new Center for World Evangelism to stimulate creative ideas and methods for the Adventist Church's outreach. Based at the Adventist Church's world headquarters, the center will provide seminars and other training events.
It Is Written speaker/director Mark Finley was appointed director of the center and will also hold the position of General Conference field secretary. Serving at It Is Written for 13 years, Finley and his wife, Ernestine, have conducted more than 100 evangelistic series. He is regarded as a pioneer in satellite evangelism technology.
Voted a proposal to establish a General Conference graduate degree granting institution in Africa. With a small campus base, the institution will provide classes on several college campuses in Africa. The location of the new institution has not been yet been determined. About $1 million for development costs have already been allocated.
Voted a revised policy document on trademarks. Associate treasurer Don Robinson said the policy was being revised to make it simpler to implement. When there are "flagrant actions" that damage the church's name, there is little recourse but to defend the church's legitimate position, commented Robinson. "We cannot live with that situation," he stated, adding that "there is a process to approve legitimate requests to use the church's trademark." (Read the complete trademark policy in PDF.)
North Pacific Union president Jere Patzer commented that "this is about truth in advertising--if people come to a Seventh-day Adventist church, they should be assured it is an Adventist church."
Received a five-page Philosophy of Music document for review and study. Speaking on the issue, GC president Jan Paulsen said that "this is always a delicate matter to deal with." He mentioned that the previous statement on music was 30 years old, and questions were frequently asked on the church's stand on "good music." While the document was not discussed at this time, he hoped that a wider distribution would give opportunity for input. (Read the complete music document in PDF.)
Voted a new plan evangelize at least 13 large cities around the world. The "Hope for the Big 13" initiative will be funded through special offerings, including an appeal at the GC Session in 2005. Each division will select a major city for this special outreach. GC vice president Ryan identified this program as a response to the "urgent need to focus on urban evangelism, to plant churches in the large cities of the world."
Voted a new proposal from the GC Office of Volunteers that seeks to encourage every church around the world to send and support at least one volunteer for mission. Called "Chosen," the program aims to involve every church community in active evangelism, says GC associate secretary Vernon Parmenter.
Elected James Standish, assistant director of the GC Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Department, associate director.
Elected Michael Ryan, a GC field secretary and director of the Office of Global Missions, to the position of general vice president of the General Conference. In his new assignment Ryan will continue his responsibility as director of strategic planning. Accepting the new assignment, Ryan said he "appreciated the confidence shown in me, and I solicit a deep interest in your prayers." Ryan replaces Leo Ranzolin who retired.
Elected Johan E. Johansen, Norwegian Union Conference treasurer, as treasurer of the Trans-European Division. Johansson replaces William Olson who became president of the Alberta Conference in Canada.
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