irectors of the Seventh-day Adventist Church's Global Mission religious study centers and other mission experts met Dec. 3-5 in Loma Linda, California, to share reports and discuss future directions for Adventist relations with other religions.

The religious study centers explore ways of building bridges to the Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and Buddhist communities, as well as to those who profess no faith. "The purpose of the centers is to provide resources, plans and ideas for more effectively reaching out to adherents of other world religions," says Mike Ryan, a General Conference (GC) vice president and director of the GC Office of Global Mission. "As a global community of faith, it's important that we understand the culture and thought patterns of other world religions so that we operate from a basis of understanding rather than misunderstanding."

Reports were given by Scott Griswold, director of the Buddhist study center near Bangkok, Thailand; Jerald Whitehouse, director of the Global Center for Adventist-Muslim Relations, based in California; Richard Elofer, director of the Worldwide Jewish-Adventist Friendship Center in Jerusalem, Israel; and James Coffin, senior pastor of the Markham Woods Adventist Church and director of the secular/postmodern study center in Orlando, Florida. Coffin previewed the soon-to-be-launched www.secularpostmodern.org Web site, which will include articles, book reviews, case studies and other resources related to reaching out to secular/postmodern people, particularly in urban areas.

According to Elofer, who is also president of the Adventist Church in Israel, there are now 15 Adventist churches, 30 congregations and 72 small groups worshiping throughout Israel every week, as well as a congregation in the West Bank. In the past six years, the number of members has grown from 304 to more than 1,100. During his report Elofer stressed the need to find ways to build the level of "conversation" between the Adventist Church and Jewish leaders.

Griswold, based in Thailand, shared many of the resources he has developed for reaching out to Buddhist peoples. He commented that in certain countries Buddhism is closely linked with people's national identity, and that they see accepting Christianity as denying their nationality. Jon Dybdahl, a missiologist and president of Walla Walla College, said, "Christians should be the defenders of the best things in people's cultures."

Those attending the meetings also discussed the agenda for the 2005 Global Mission Issues Committee, a group that meets annually to explore theological issues that impact the way the Adventist Church works across different cultures. One of the main items to be discussed will be the way the church allocates resources for mission.
                                                            --Adventist News Network

$4 Million Damage from Auburn Academy Fire
Fire department investigators have determined that the fire that destroyed the girls' dormitory at Auburn Adventist Academy in Auburn, Washington, last November was caused by an electrical malfunction in the basement. According to academy principal Keith Hallam, when the electrical panel was first installed about 40 years ago, the neutral bar in the breaker box was not properly grounded. As the electrical loads increased over the years, the electrical panel was subjected to extreme heat and eventually ignited.

Damage to the building and contents is estimated at $4 million, Robert L. Sweezey, Adventist Risk Management president, said.

Mexican Union Holds First Communication Summit
The First International Summit of Communicators and Leaders, sponsored by the Inter-Oceanic Mexican Union, was held in Mexico City's Hotel Sheraton Maria Isabel, November 25-27.

Offering seminars in different communication areas, the event drew nearly 800 ministers, journalists, students, and professionals. Baruc Lagos, union communication director, said only about a third of those attending were Adventists; the others came from evangelical and other religions.

A featured speaker was Rosalia Buaum Sanches, president of the Radio Announcers Association in Mexico. Broadcasting, public relations, creative writing, and protocol were among the topics covered by other speakers from Spain, Chile, and Mexico.

Mexico's two largest television networks, Televisa and Azteca, as well as the government TV channel, covered the event, along with several radio stations and the national and city newspapers.

Leon Wellington, vice president and communication director for the church in Inter-America, challenged communicators to be agents of change. "Let us . . . offer ourselves as partners in hope and in the realization of a better future for all humanity," he said.

The La Carlota Hospital of Seventh-day Adventists, along with another local hospital and the Department of Health in Mexico, offered free cholesterol screening, blood donation, and organ donation registration.

A second communication summit is planned for 2004.

West-Central Africa Division Opens New Facilities
Jan Paulsen, president of the Seventh-day Adventist world church, spoke at the November 1 double inauguration ceremony of the renovated West-Central Africa Division headquarters and the newly constructed Riviera Adventist church building in Cocody, Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire.

Also participating in the opening ceremonies, which drew about 2,000 persons, were the Ivorian Head of State, Ori Jacques, special advisor in charge of worship; and Senior Ediemou Jacob of the Celestial Christian Church, president of the Religious Denominational Forum. The local Christian radio station carried a live broadcast of the event.

Most of those present followed the proceedings via public address system and watched on three large screens set up outside the church, which only seats 500.

In his inaugural sermon Paulsen defined religion as "not being a collection of ideas and knowledge, but a way of life." He urged that members abide by the high standard of Jesus Christ, caring for the less fortunate.

UK Enacts New Employment Equality Legislation
Adventists in the United Kingdom have given a "cautious welcome" to new legislation effective December 2, 2003, that aims to guarantee protection for workers from discrimination and harassment at work on grounds of religion or belief. The legislation applies throughout England, Scotland, and Wales.

Commenting on the new rights, British Union Conference executive secretary Eric Lowe stated, "When employers allow Adventist workers the freedom to practice their beliefs, they generally find their efforts are well rewarded. . . . [Religious] accommodation indicates that the employer values the worker, and the worker usually responds with increased loyalty to the company."

It was noted that the new law does not guarantee Sabbath privileges to all Adventist workers; and it does include a number of exceptions, especially if national security is involved.

Bagpipes for Solomon Islands College
The first local bagpipe band in the Solomon Islands was formed recently at Betikama Adventist College, in Honiara.

Business manager Bruce Potter, of Scottish descent, introduced the students to bagpipes by playing at a cultural concert. He also invited the Royal Australian Regimental Pipe Band, which was then in the Solomons, to perform at the college. "The students were so enthusiastic that the army pipers offered to teach them how to play," says Potter.

After about 40 Betikama students and staff spent four weeks of intensive training on the bagpipes and drums, the head of the Australian Army in the Solomon Islands donated five sets of bagpipes, two side drums, and a bass drum to the college.. At the November 7 handover ceremony, members of the Army pipe band were amazed at how quickly the Betikama Adventist College group had learned the rudiments of playing "one of the most difficult musical instruments in the world."

News Notes

The Tobago Mission of Seventh-day Adventists became the eighth organized field in the Caribbean Union Conference area in a ceremony held November 21. Clyde Thomas was appointed president, and Clyde Lewis secretary-treasurer of the mission. The island of Tobago, with a population of 54,100, has more than 7,000 Adventist members worshiping in 30 churches.

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