fter a lengthy discussion during Monday afternoon's meeting, a five-member Ad Hoc Committee was established to consider ways of improving the leadership election processes connected with a General Conference Session. Some of the concerns expressed about the Nominating Committee process include:

• Nominating Committee members often have a limited acquaintance with and knowledge of many whose names are considered for elective positions. The relatively short time given for the Nominating Committee's work does not allow for extensive review and evaluation of a leadership candidate's qualifications and experience.

• The Nominating Committee also must work within a very limited amount of time to compose a leadership group that broadly reflects gender and ethnic diversity in the world church.

On Thursday the Ad Hoc committee brought to the floor a document summarizing suggestions for improvement to the Nominating Committee process. Concepts not requiring amendments to the GC constitution and bylaws were outlined. They included providing the Nominating Committee with brief job descriptions for every position to be filled as well as curricula vitae for elective-position candidates.

Delegates who spoke to the issue expressed support for further discussion and their hope that it will lead to improvements in the process. An action was then voted to request the GC Administrative Committee to consider the suggestions for improvement and report back to a future Executive Committee.

Health Ministries at Work
The extensive worldwide work of the General Conference Health Ministries Department (HM) was highlighted Wednesday morning with a presentation by director Dr. Allan Handysides, his associates Drs. Peter Landless and Kathleen Kuntaraf, Stoy Proctor, and several other members of the HM team. The doctors described program initiatives that have been developed, in collaboration with Adventist Risk Management and Adventist institutions such as Loma Linda University, in many world divisions. Handysides described HM's mission as helping to strengthen and improve the quality of Adventist health initiatives.

"The work, however, is not left only to institutions," said Handysides. "Health Ministries exists to help [church leaders and members] carry out their mission to preach and teach the Word, and provide a healing ministry. Every church should be a center of health, healing, and support in the community."

HM staff has visited almost every church division in the last four years, training thousands of pastors in alcohol and drug-abuse prevention, stop-smoking plans, and balanced ovo-lacto vegetarian nutrition. In a collaborative effort of HM, ADRA, and Adventist Aids Ministries, HIV/Aids programs have been implemented in three African divisions. HM is also integrally involved in evangelism and youth programs.

Plan Voted for Spirit of Prophecy Project
To enhance Adventist identity and increase spirituality among church members, delegates voted a conceptual plan to print and distribute two million sets of 10 Spirit of Prophecy books at a price affordable to members in every country. The initiative is called "Connecting With Jesus." Study guides and a Bible reading plan will be included with each book.

In presenting the project, GC vice president Ted Wilson informed delegates that in spite of projected church growth, which estimates there will be 50 million members by 2020, recent surveys indicate a decline in readership of Ellen White's writings. Other surveys demonstrate, however, that most church members believe that the Spirit of Prophecy is "an authority for the Adventist Church today" and that there is a relationship between a strong spiritual life/mission emphasis and members regularly reading Spirit of Prophecy books. The objective of "Connecting With Jesus" is to challenge every member to recapture a personal vision for helping Adventism fulfill its prophetic mission.

The full plan, including the financial aspects, will be presented at Spring Meeting.

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