BY JONATHAN GALLAGHER, United Nations Liaison director, General Conference

t the North American Division's year end meetings on November 3, committee members voted to reaffirm the church's policy on labor unions.

According to division president Don Schneider, "A policy like this is very important to our church." He added that lawyers comment how significant and useful this policy is in explaining and defending the church's position.

The document voted references the current debate on this issue, stating that "because recent discussions have urged that the church reconsider its historical position on labor unions, it is recommended to reaffirm 'Relationship of Church Members and Church Institutions to Labor Organizations.'"

The reaffirmed policy makes clear that while the church "is aware that unjust activities on the part of some employers and the exploitation of employees created a climate for strong labor unions… church members should, and institutions must, remain free and independent from organizations which might violate a member's conscience or interfere with the fulfillment of the mission of the church through its institutions."

This means, according to the document, that "Seventh-day Adventist Church members are following the historic teaching of the church when they refuse to join or financially support labor unions or similar organizations." Similarly, institutions are following the same practice "when they refuse to recognize labor unions as bargaining units or to enter into contractual negotiations with them…"

This action follows the vote of a set of guidelines by the General Conference annual council on October 14 which gave "guidance on how Christians should respond to requests or demands put upon them by employers, labor organizations, and governments." In general terms, the GC guidelines declare that "the workplace should be characterized by and atmosphere of mutual service and mutual respect. Adversarial relationships between employer and employees, born of suspicion, self-interest and rivalry, deny dignity to persons and ignore the larger interests and needs of society."