BY SANDRA BLACKMER, news editor for the Adventist Review
early 300 Executive Committee members and 70 invitees from around the world gathered for this year's Annual Council, October 10-14, held at the world church headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland. Included in this number were 36 division officers, 24 General Conference (GC) officers, 101 presidents of union conferences and missions, 24 pastors and other frontline workers, 39 lay people, and 136 others who carry leadership responsibilities throughout the world church. During Annual Council sessions committee members vote policy items and statements on social issues, hear reports, elect personnel, and approve the church's world budget.
Paulsen Calls for Positive Faith
General Conference president Jan Paulsen delivered his keynote address on Sabbath morning, October 9, in the Takoma Park church, located about eight miles from the General Conference (GC) office building. Paulsen challenged Annual Council delegates and others attending the 100th anniversary celebration of the church (see sidebar titled "Takoma Park Church Celebrates Century Milestone") to focus on what he called the "two main support pillars on which the future of humanity rests"-the first and the second coming of Christ-and on the positive power of Christ to help believers build ethical lives.
Jan Paulsen [photo by Reger Smith] |
"We know [Jesus] is coming, but we don't know when; and we probably should not ask," Paulsen told the overflow congregation. "The more important questions are, How does the certainty of this scenario affect me, and how do I prepare for it?"
Paulsen described Paul's statement in Romans 12:9, "Hate what is evil; cling to what is good" (NIV), as an appeal to give up pursuing what is known to be destructive, debilitating, and degrading and "be a force for good. Ignorance is not the problem of God's people; disobedience is. Use your energy to pursue what is good."
"The moral power of Christ-the power of His resurrection-is not just the power to say no," said Paulsen, "but also every bit as much the power to say yes-yes to prudence, to moral goodness, to justice, to reverence before God, and to allowing the fruits of the Spirit to develop. It is living in anticipation of Christ's second coming that is the reality that drives this."
The full text and the audio of Paulsen's 20-minute sermon is available online.
Adventist Review to Launch New International Edition
Adventist Review editor William G. Johnsson introduced the Annual Council delegates to a dramatic expansion of the ministry of the Review by describing an eight-month feasibility study that led to a proposed new international edition. Church leaders from around the world responded by strongly endorsing the plan to print and distribute a free international English-language edition that will be read by nearly 1 in 3 Adventists worldwide-5 million believers in 10 of the church's 13 world divisions.
Treasury Reports Increase in Tithes and Offerings
General Conference treasurer Robert Lemon presented to Annual Council delegates a picture of strong world church finances. "The tithe increases the last few years, both pre- and post-9/11 around the world as well as in North America, are nothing short of a miracle," said Lemon. "The Lord has blessed His people, and His people have become even more faithful during these difficult times."
Undertreasurer Steven Rose reported the following interim gains:
- Tithe income year-to-date (as of August 31, 2004) to the General Conference:
- Non-North American Division-$5,714,857, up from $4,327,308 at the same time in 2003.
- NAD-$40,066,611, up from $39,670,622 in 2003.
- Total tithe income-$45,781,468, an increase of $1,783,538.
World Mission Offerings year-to-date (as of August 31, 2004) to the General Conference:
- Non-NAD-$17,168,965, up from $15,482,801 in 2003.
- NAD-$12,863,221, an increase of $66,721.
- Total mission offerings-$30,032,186, up from $28,279,301.
Lemon explained that GC financial statements report only the portion of funds that come to the GC budget through tithe sharing and mission offerings. "Some have misunderstood that the decrease in the world budget of the GC because of the tithe-sharing formula adjustment means the church is struggling to have enough funds to do its work. What this formula has actually done is left more of that at the local level in certain divisions."
Delegates also voted to approve the 2005 budget proposal of $120,116,270. Sixty-two percent of the budget comes from tithe, 36 percent from offerings, and 2 percent from investment earnings and donations.
North America contributes 79 percent of tithe income. Twelve percent comes from non-NAD divisions, and 9 percent from other sources.
Rose also presented the following 2005 budgeted expenses:
53 percent-appropriations to world divisions & GC institutions
25 percent-GC operations
16 percent-interdivision employees (missionary program)
6 percent-GC administered
Faith and Science Report
Annual Council delegates received the report of the organizing committee of the International Faith and Science Conferences held under General Conference sponsorship since the summer of 2002. Two international conferences in Ogden, Utah (2002), and Denver, Colorado (2004), were augmented by regional meetings in seven of the church's 13 world divisions during 2003.
The report strongly reaffirms the church's historic position on a literal six-day creation and underscores the importance of this doctrine to the system of Seventh-day Adventist beliefs. It also calls for continuing a respectful dialogue between the church's theologians, scientists, and administrators on this and other topics.
In a two-and-a-half-hour floor session, more than two dozen delegates rose to comment on the report or to suggest language for inclusion in a responding document. Almost all expressed appreciation for the organizing committee's report, and recommended that the Council address any perceived ambiguity in the church's Fundamental Belief #6 through a consensus statement. A four-person committee composed of persons who authored the initial report was drafted to prepare a response.
General vice president Gerry Karst highlighted the importance of the discussion for teachers, students, and parents involved in Adventist higher education. "Parents who sacrifice to provide an Adventist education for their children have a right to expect it in all areas of the curriculum," he reminded delegates. "While there must be adequate exposure to the insights of science, Adventist students have the right to hear about the Adventist belief in creation from a teacher who believes it by conviction."
The drafting committee later in the session brought a 300-word statement of affirmations and recommendations to the floor, where it was discussed for more than an hour before being voted.
WOMEN'S MINISTRIES: Ardis Stenbakken and Heather-Dawn Small, director and associate director of GC Women's Ministries, record items of interest during a meeting. [photo credit: Ray Dabrowski]
|
Requests that language be included to express the church's historic belief found expression in the document's affirmation of a "literal, recent, six-day Creation." Responding to questions about perceived ambiguities in the church's Fundamental Belief #6, the document specifies that "the seven days of the Creation account were literal 24-hour days forming a week identical in time to what we now experience as a week." The global nature of the Genesis flood was also underscored.
The responding statement called for the widest possible dissemination of the International Faith and Science Conference (IFSC) report (see November 11 World edition of the Adventist Review) and the drafting committee's response in all the major languages used by members. It also called upon governing boards and educators at Adventist institutions to continue upholding and advocating the church's position on creation. Special concern was urged to educate Adventist youth attending non-Adventist schools about the issues related to the church's belief.
New Fundamental Belief Endorsed
Delegates also voted to recommend adding a new statement to the 27 doctrinal affirmations currently identified in the church's Fundamental Beliefs. The proposed statement, "Growing in Christ," will be placed on the agenda of the church's worldwide General Conference Session in July 2005 in St. Louis, Missouri. It is the first addition to be recommended by an Annual Council since the original document was approved at the church's 1980 session in Dallas, Texas.
The new statement addresses several areas of Christian belief and practice that many church leaders and theologians felt did not receive adequate attention in the present articulation of core beliefs. The power of Christ in confronting and vanquishing demonic powers is highlighted, and the freedom of believers from past deeds and influences is affirmed. Specific spiritual practices, including personal Bible study, prayer, worship, and witness are described as supporting the believer's new life in Christ
"If we're going to be a people of hope, we also have to be able to show people where to find it-and that's why these spiritual resources and practices that point to Jesus have been identified in the new statement," said Mike Ryan, vice president for strategic planning and director of the church's Global Mission initiative.
The complete text of the "Growing in Christ" Fundamental Belief, along with supporting Bible references, is available online.
GC Nominating Process Examined
A five-member Ad Hoc Committee was established on Monday during Annual Council 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.
The Ad Hoc committee on Thursday 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.
Amendments Made to Mission Statement
Delegates unanimously voted to amend the church's Mission Statement, and also endorsed a new "Values Statement of the Seventh-day Adventist Church." The changes to the Mission Statement included five consensus expansions of language in the current document: (1) "the everlasting gospel" phrase became "the everlasting gospel of God's love"; (2) readers are reminded that the everlasting gospel is "revealed in the life, death, resurrection, and high priestly ministry of Jesus Christ"; (3) Jesus is identified as both Saviour "and Lord"; (4) the church is designated as God's "remnant" church; (5) and its task is to "nurture believers as disciples" as it awaits the Second Coming.
The Values Statement stresses the "infinite value" of each individual to God, and reminds that they are thus deserving of "respect and dignity," "gifted for and needed in the diverse activities of the Church."
Paulsen's Summary
As Annual Council ended on October 14, Paulsen expressed appreciation to the delegates for the "extraordinary level of involvement and attendance at the meetings over five extremely busy days." He concluded by saying, "I pray that the Holy Sprit will give direction and strength to the work that has been entrusted to you [the delegates] so we can get on with our task, care for the mission entrusted to us, finish the work, and hasten the coming of our Lord."
Takoma Park Church Celebrates Century Milestone
Annual Council delegates helped the Takoma Park Adventist Church, located about eight miles from the General Conference (GC) office building, celebrate its 100th anniversary the weekend of October 8 and 9. Program highlights included a musical drama called The Trial of Ellen White that featured the King's Men from Atlantic Union College, a miniconcert by the New England Youth Ensemble, and a presentation by the GC Office of Global Mission. General Conference president Jan Paulsen gave his keynote address from the church pulpit on Sabbath morning.
The Takoma Park church was organized on August 20, 1904. The membership roster listed 41, with the first name inscribed being that of A.G. Daniells, General Conference president. Services were first held in Takoma Hall, an early city landmark. In 1907 the 151 congregants constructed their first building, which included a school. A new 450-seat church was erected in 1913. Today's vibrant, multiethnic congregation of nearly 1,300 members meets in their church building constructed in 1953, which is located on Carroll Avenue in Takoma Park, Maryland.
Plan Voted for Spirit of Prophecy Project
To enhance Adventist identity and increase spirituality among church members, delegates voted a 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 anticipated church growth, which projects 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, April 13 and 14, 2005.
Executive Committee Adopts Philosophy of Music
Following a lengthy discussion, Annual Council delegates voted to approve a philosophy of music document that incorporates principles of music for corporate and personal worship experiences.
"I would hope that any guidelines on music that our church adopts not become the instruments by which we measure spirituality," said Jan Paulsen. "I see them as teaching instruments." Paulsen added that the philosophy of music statement presents guidelines and not policies.
Commission to Study Use of Tithe
Delegates voted to establish a 59-member commission, with broad-based world representation, to review the use of tithe including tithe exchange, depreciation and tithe, tithe in educational institutions, and interdivision employee support and tithe.
Commission members will include representatives from the GC; theologians; division, union, and conference officers; pastors; educators; and laypersons. No date was designated for the commission to present a report.
2004 Baptisms Pass One Million Mark
General Conference secretary Matthew Bediako reported that 1,006,492 people have been baptized and joined the Adventist Church so far this year as a result of church-growth initiatives Go One Million, Sow 1 Billion, and Year of Evangelism. The one-million milestone has been reached only once before in Adventist church history. This brings world membership to a total of 13,663,497. On average, 2,756 people are being baptized each day, or one baptism every 31 seconds. There were 47,688 more baptisms reported this year than at last year's Annual Council.
NAD membership has also crossed the one million mark, joining five other divisions with million-plus memberships: Inter-America, South America, East-Central Africa, Southern Africa-Indian Ocean, and Southern Asia Pacific.
The church's average baptism retention rate is 70 percent.
Mission Awareness Offers Nontraditional
Ways of Giving
"For some members, the Adventist mission offering seems like giving into a black hole," Gary Krause, director of the Office of Mission Awareness, told Annual Council delegates. "They don't know where it's going, or what their contributions will fund. We need to foster a culture among us that helps every member understand that the entire church benefits in all its mission initiatives and projects from this offering."
Krause described Adventist members as "the most generous people in the world when they see a need," and announced new plans by his office to give members opportunity to financially support mission projects outside of the traditional Sabbath morning mission offering. A new Web site, www.adventistmission.org, will include a secure site for online giving as well as detailed information about how mission offerings are being used.
Health Ministries at Work
The extensive worldwide work of the GC Health Ministries (HM) department was highlighted with a presentation by HM 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 members have 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.
Annual Council 2007 to Be Held in Ukraine
For the first time in Adventist Church history the Euro-Asia Division will host the church's Annual Council. In 2007, session delegates will travel to Kiev, Ukraine, to discuss church business and worship with the approximately 6,000 Adventists who live in that city. Since 1968, Annual Council has been held outside of North America only eight times.
News Notes:
Ben Maxson, General Conference Stewardship director, and his wife, Mary, North American Division Women's Ministries director, are moving to Paradise, California, where Ben will serve as senior pastor at the Paradise Adventist Church. Mary will continue as director of NAD Women's Ministries but will be headquartered in California. Ben officially transitioned to his new position October 1.
Women's Ministries director Ardis Stenbakken will be retiring and moving to Colorado with her husband, recently retired Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries director Richard Stenbakken, at the end of the year. Ardis was elected GC Women's Ministries director in 1997.
Home Study International president Joseph Gurubatham has accepted the presidency of Health Management, Inc., an ASI-member organization located in Washington, D.C. Health Management specializes in healthcare careers training and education as well as home health services. Gurubatham has been president of Home Study International for 15 years. He will begin his new responsibilities on November 15.
Patricia Gustin, who has served as director of the GC Institute of World Missions at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan, for eight years, will be retiring January 1, 2005. She plans to move to Walla Walla, Washington, to live near her daughter, son-in-law, and two grandchildren.
