BY JONATHAN GALLAGHER, United Nations Liaison director, General Conference

n a slew of policies, guidelines, and amendments presented to the North American Division (NAD) year-end meetings on November 3, those addressing ethical matters, the protection of children from abuse, and remuneration drew most discussion in the NAD Executive Committee

Dealing with Offenders
The revision to the policy "Dealing with Offenders," which outlined procedures in dealing with church members who break the law, provoked concern that the policy would always require reporting to authorities. The policy is particularly applicable to cases of theft and fraud in local churches.

Gary Thurber, Indiana Conference president, wondered if the policy language was "too strong," and about the possibility of reconciliation-for some situations can best be resolved that way, he said. He was concerned about having to report even minor incidents to the police.

Michigan Conference president Jay Gallimore was similarly concerned, and asked if he would have to "report every kid who gets in trouble because Adventist Risk Management (ARM) demands it." He spoke of reconciliation and how restitution had been made, adding that "the minute you call the police in you don't know where it's going."

Norman Miles, Lake Region Conference president, spoke of his "mixed feelings in dealing with situations like this." He said he "recognized that reconciliation is the preferred way," but added that "people who engage in financial fraud will be reported."

Robert Sweezey, ARM president, explained that such incidents were reported to his organization "around every other week," and that "grace does not close the consequences of our sin." He added that it was important to retain the "reputation of safeguarding our donations." The action, he said, would make church organizations more insurable, more credible to donors, and more accountable.

Larry Caviness, president of Southern California Conference, commented that he saw the proposed policy amendment as addressing not the kid at summer camp but those involved in treasury matters. He added that "people in the church are concerned that we have in place accountability to safeguard the church's money."

The amended policy was voted as presented, calling for any church employee or volunteer who "performs an act in violation of the laws of the country" to be disciplined, adding that "the Church will report all violation(s) to appropriate law enforcement officials."

Guidelines for Volunteers and Caregivers
Introducing the guidelines, Arthur Blinci, an ARM vice president, stated that it was "critical that ministry to kids is done in a safe environment." The means of avoiding liability was more than doing a criminal background check, he continued, and the main reason for the guidelines was to protect both children and volunteers. He concluded by moving that the extensive set of guidelines be adopted.

President of the Kansas-Nebraska Conference Jim Hoehn raised the issue of having to ensure two adults were present when interacting with children, and also pointed to legal issues of ensuring consistent guidelines between church organizations.

Jose Rojas, director of Adventist Volunteer Ministries Network for the North American Division, commented that the guidelines had been "many years in discussion," and that while there was much variety across the division, the "use of volunteers is increasing dramatically, and we must take an affirmative act today."

Mable Dunbar, women's ministries director of the Upper Columbia Conference, expressed her concern over "taking so long to protect our children." She added that she had worked with those who had been abused, who told her of their wish that the church could have protected them. She also noted the figure that since 1985 $13.7 million has been paid out in lawsuits on such issues, and "we cannot leave without putting something in place" to protect both children and volunteers. The guidelines were passed by majority vote.

To Raise or Not Raise Salaries
Discussion over the proposed 2.1 percent increase to the church's salary factor for 2004 brought several church leaders to their feet, concerned at how their organizations would be able to make such additional payments.

Jay Gallimore, Michigan Conference president, commented that the meeting could end up voting "many policies we will not be able to implement."

John Loor, president of the Montana Conference, told the delegates that in his region "we've had a tithe decrease," and asked how to pay such an increase, concluding "you just can't do that."

Kingsley Whitsett, president of the Mountain View Conference, said that his conference had "gone through many additional costs," mentioning retirement costs, the additional two percent on the pastor's wage scale, and other items. "Some of us cannot keep up with these increases," he concluded, and that the end result would be a "dividing of the division when some areas could not implement increases and would be further out of policy."

Others members worried that pastoral wages were slipping back in relative terms, that the real value of tithe paid was decreasing, and that there was a lack of teaching and discipling of members on tithe-paying.

The increase was eventually voted, to be implemented July 1, 2004.