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Eleventh Business Meeting
JOSE CAMPOS (welcoming the group in different languages): Ladies and gentlemen, sisters and brothers, welcome to a new day of the General Conference session. CARLO GILIBERTI: [Offered the opening prayer in Italian.] PENIE and ELIEL BARRIAL: [Rendered the musical selection "His Eye Is on the Sparrow" on the saxophone and piano.] HAROLD W. BAPTISTE: The business session will now come to order, and the first item that we are going to deal with is the report from the Nominating Committee. I will call on the chairman and the secretary of the Nominating Committee. JERE PATZER: We have a rather lengthy report today. Some of these are rather routine items because they are ex officio. That does not diminish their credibility or the fact that they play a very vital role, but it does make some of it go a little more quickly. The first section that we will be dealing with is the Auditing Service area. We will start with the General Conference Auditing Service board. There are those that are ex officio, as is our General Conference president; then there are others who come as representatives from the various divisions. DELBERT BAKER: Good morning to the delegation. This is our seventh report, and Mr. Chairman, I am wondering if we could read all of the names of the board at one time. I will read it through once, and if necessary, I will come back and read it the second time, and we can move on the entire board together. HAROLD W. BAPTISTE: By common consent, can we do that? DELBERT BAKER: [Read through the complete list of names twice. The motion was then made to accept. It was seconded and voted.] JERE PATZER: Next we will be dealing with the actual auditing staff themselves. The first four names are those that reside at the headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland. That will include the director and his associates, and then next will be the area officers and where they are from, and those will be given to you in the second reading. That is a rather extensive list again. How shall we proceed? HAROLD W. BAPTISTE: Just read them slowly and deliberately, and then we will vote on them as a whole. DELBERT D. BAKER: [Read the entire list, which included the names of the directors of the General Conference Auditing Service, the three associates, and the area officers.] HAROLD W. BAPTISTE: I see Elder Lowell Cooper standing at the microphone because of his connection with these auditing services. LOWELL C. COOPER: I would like to explain why the name Emmanuel Manu from the West-Central Africa Division appears in several places on the list. It is because the Auditing Service configuration of service areas does not necessarily follow division boundaries. We present the recommendations in this way as an assurance to the body that the division territories are all covered. But the alignment of territory for a particular associate auditor may cover parts of more than one division's territory. HAROLD W. BAPTISTE: Thank you for that clarification. Are you ready to vote? VICTOR PILMOOR: Mr. Chairman, I'd like to ask a question about the board. It may need to come a little later. HAROLD W. BAPTISTE: All right; we'll come back to you. [The names of the auditing staff were moved, seconded, and voted.] VICTOR PILMOOR: Mr. Chairman, could we be assured that more than half the board is independent of church employment? HAROLD W. BAPTISTE: Elder Cooper can answer that. LOWELL C. COOPER: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The composition of the General Conference Auditing Service board is defined in the bylaws. There are five ex officio members. Four of them are General Conference officers; the fifth is the General Conference Auditing Service director. All other board members as specified in the bylaws must be nondenominationally employed individuals who have expertise either in auditing or related areas of financial leadership. We have consulted with all of the division administrations with respect to their selection. HAROLD W. BAPTISTE: Thanks very much for that information. We turn back to the Nominating Committee secretary and chairman. JERE PATZER: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We will now move into a rather lengthy list of directors and associate directors of the General Conference departments. [A point of order resulted in referring this portion of the report back to the Nominating Committee.] JERE PATZER: We are now going to take a look at the Health Ministries Department of the General Conference. As you know, yesterday Dr. Allan Handysides was elected as director. And I would like to have him save time for us by explaining the configuration of the department. ALLAN R. HANDYSIDES: In health ministries there are three budgeted associate positions, and those three work at the General Conference in Silver Spring, Maryland. Several years ago the General Conference Health Ministries Department was composed of up to 16 associate directors. We traditionally have looked to Loma Linda University for assistance in dentistry, nursing, and medicine, and three of the names that we are presenting are from there. [The three individuals, along with their areas of expertise, were named.] Those three are provided with travel budgets and have really been able to do an international work on a wide scale also. There are three other associates that are really more counselors to us, and they also come from Loma Linda. [The three individuals, along with their qualifications, were named.] HAROLD W. BAPTISTE: Thank you very much. Back to the Nominating Committee officers. DELBERT W. BAKER: Mr. Chairman, in light of that thorough explanation of Dr. Handysides, I'm wondering if I could read those nine names and move following that. HAROLD W. BAPTISTE: Yes, please proceed. DELBERT BAKER: [Read the list of associates for the Health Ministries Department.] Mr. Chairman, all of these are associates in health ministries. This is the recommendation to the body. I move it. [The motion was seconded and voted.] JERE PATZER: Thank you. The next name that we are presenting today is for the remaining position of associate secretary of the General Conference. I will give a little bit more biographical information after the name is presented. DELBERT W. BAKER: Mr. Chairman, it's another honor to present the name of Rosa T. Banks for the position of associate secretary in the General Conference. JERE PATZER: Rosa Banks has been with the General Conference since 1989 as director of Human Resources and most recently as an associate secretary of the North American Division. That's where many of you have come to know and love and respect her. [The name of Rosa T. Banks for General Conference associate secretary was moved, seconded, and voted.] JERE PATZER: The next position that we'll be filling needs additional explanation as well. This is the associate for Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries at the General Conference. There was a lengthy discussion in Nominating Committee about the emerging need for chaplaincy services in many of our divisions. That point has been recognized. Of course, it is not in the purview of the Nominating Committee to be adding budgets, so I hope that we do not have those speeches replayed this morning here on the floor. The name that is coming today will be brought to you in a moment. It is a name and position that is funded from the North American Division and, in a sense, lent or given to the General Conference. While most of the concentration admittedly is in North America, the expertise, time, and services, and occasionally even trips outside, are at the expense of that budget. So I want you to know that as this name is brought. DELBERT BAKER: Mr. Chairman, the position of associate for the Chaplaincy Ministries-the name that is recommended by the Nominating Committee is Gary Councell, from the North American Division. I so move it. HAROLD W. BAPTISTE: We have a motion. Do we have support? Yes, we do. JOHN TESTERMAN: Mr. Chairman, I would like to suggest to the chair that as a matter of courtesy we not have the individuals standing in front of us as we vote on them. Normally the procedure is that when you vote on someone you ask the person to leave the room. This would be a courtesy to the individual not to have them standing up front as we vote. HAROLD W. BAPTISTE: I appreciate that. Thank you very much for that observation. Now for the vote on the last recommendation. [Voted.] JERE PATZER: Thank you for the observation; incidentally, that was the plan, and it usually has worked that way. The next positions that we will address are those of the associates for the Ministerial Association of the General Conference. DELBERT W. BAKER: Mr. Chairman, we have four names to present to the body. The first, a new name, is Jonas Arrais, from the South American Division. JERE PATZER: He is currently the associate ministerial secretary of the South American Division. He has longstanding tenure and is highly respected and appreciated in the division. HAROLD W. BAPTISTE: Thank you. DELBERT BAKER: Mr. Chairman, it should be noted that the Nominating Committee is very much aware of the desire of the body to get more information. We are seeking to do that now, and there are plans under way, perhaps in the future, to have pictures and various things to assist the process. With that explanation I so move the name of Jonas Arrais, Mr. Chairman. [Seconded and voted.] JERE PATZER: There are three incumbents and one name that will likely be referred to Annual Council. DELBERT BAKER: Mr. Chairman, I would mention them individually and then act on them following it. Sharon M. Cress from the North American Division, associate in the Ministerial Association. I move it. [Seconded and voted.] The next name is that of Peter J. Prime, from the Inter-American Division, associate in the Ministerial Association. I move it. [Seconded and voted.] The final name in that section is Nikolaus Satelmajer, from the North American Division, associate in the Ministerial Association. I move it. [Seconded and voted.] JERE PATZER: The next two positions are for associates in communications. DELBERT BAKER: The first name is John T. Banks, from the South Pacific Division, associate in the Communication Department. I move it, Mr. Chairman. [Seconded and voted.] And Mr. Chairman, these two names are incumbents. The second and final name in the communication area is Reger C. Smith, Jr., from the North American Division, associate in the Communication Department. I move it. [Seconded and voted.] JERE PATZER: The next three positions, Mr. Chairman, are associates in the Education Department. Two of these are incumbents; the third one is a new person. DELEBERT BAKER: The first name is John M. Fowler, from the Southern Asia Division, associate in the Education Department. I move it. [Seconded and voted.] The second name is Andrea Luxton, from the Trans-European Division, associate in the Education Department. I move it, Mr. Chairman. [Seconded and voted.] DELBERT BAKER: The third name is Luis Schulz, from the South American Division, associate in the Education Department. I move it. [Seconded and voted.] JERE PATZER: The last name is a new name. Luis Schulz, from Argentina, is president of River Plate Adventist University. He serves as an ADRA director; he has a doctorate in educational administration. Our next two names are incumbents for the associate position in the Trust Services Department. DELBERT BAKER: The first is Charles B. Simpson, for associate in the Trust Services Department. I move it. [Seconded and voted.] The next is Wilfredo Sumagaysay, for associate in the Trust Services Department. I move it. [Seconded and voted.] JERE PATZER: The next position is for associate director of the Publishing Department of the General Conference. The name that will be presented is currently the publishing director of the South American Division. DELBERT BAKER: Mr. Chairman, the name that is recommended by the Nominating Committee to the body is Almir Marroni as an associate in the Publishing Department. I move it. [Seconded and voted.] JERE PATZER: The next two positions are associates of the Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Department. These are both incumbents. DELBERT BAKER: Mr. Chairman, the Nominating Committee recommends the name of Jonathan Gallagher as an associate in the Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Department. I move it. [Seconded and voted.] For the second associate in the Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Department, the name of James Standish is recommended by the Nominating Committee. I move it. [Seconded and voted.] JERE PATZER: The next position, Mr. Chairman, is associate for the Women's Ministries Department of the General Conference. This individual has served as the associate director for women's ministries in the South American Division. She speaks fluently in English, Spanish, and Portuguese and has a master's degree in pastoral ministry and counseling from Andrews University. DELBERT BAKER: The name that is recommended by the Nominating Committee, Mr. Chairman, as an associate in the Women's Ministries Department is Raquel Arrais. I so move it. [Seconded and voted.] JERE PATZER: The last two positions that we are bringing to you are associates in the Youth Department of the General Conference. Both of these are new to this position. So we will take them one at a time, and I will give a very brief statement on their biographical background. DELBERT BAKER: Mr. Chairman, the first name that is recommended by the Nominating Committee for the position of associate in the Youth Ministries Department is Van Hurst, from the North American Division. JERE PATZER: Van Hurst is a former youth director, but is currently the president of the Dakota Conference. DELBERT BAKER: I move it, Mr. Chairman. [Seconded and voted.] The second name in this area, Mr. Chairman, for the position of associate in the Youth Department is Erton Carlos Kohler, from the South American Division. Erton Carlos Kohler's current position is the youth director for the South American Division. DELBERT BAKER: I move it, Mr. Chairman. [Seconded and voted.] HAROLD W. BAPTISTE: We left last evening with an item that was tabled. [Appropriate action was taken to take this matter off the table.] LARRY R. EVANS: To refresh our thinking, the issue is the subject of the term of office of the General Conference president, suggesting that it be limited to two terms. The various groups that looked at this suggestion voted to refer this request to the General Conference session with a recommendation that the change not be approved. The rationale is shown in the information the delegates received. HAROLD W. BAPTISTE: We have a motion before us. [Seconded.] Any discussion on this item? BRIAN BULL: Mr. Chairman, I was the one who proposed this motion at the last General Conference session; therefore, I have some paternal interest in the way in which it has been dealt with, and I am delighted that the consideration was given at the level of the General Conference Executive Committee. I understand that the decision is to deny the change and to abandon any attempt to deal with term limits. I've been keeping score, and except for the report from the Nominating Committee this morning, virtually every time an incumbent has stood for an office, that incumbent has been returned to that office. Now, I understand the need to allow for freedom in the operations of the Nominating Committee to permit the Nominating Committee, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, to pick the best person for each of these jobs. But I must admit that it strains credulity to believe that the best person 97 percent of the time until this morning's report was the incumbent. And I wonder if there is not some way in leveling or at least making it possible for another person, not the incumbent, to at least have a chance at being appointed to one or more of these positions. Therefore, Mr. Chairman, I would move that this matter be referred back to the Constitution and Bylaws Committee for consideration at this session as to whether or not there is some possibility of adjusting for the enormous benefit enjoyed by an incumbent for an office. And I would suggest that at least one possibility might be to require a two-thirds vote of the Nominating Committee to report a name back to the floor after they have served two terms or 10 years, whichever is the longer time period. I so move. [Seconded.] HAROLD W. BAPTISTE: The motion, as I understand it, is to refer this matter to the Constitution and Bylaws Committee and to report back to this session. BRIAN BULL: That was the motion. It's an amendment of the motion before us. HAROLD W. BAPTISTE: Any discussion on this amendment? Are you ready, then, to vote on the motion to commit? NILTON AMORIM: Now, Mr. Chairman, it was not related to the motion to commit. I was more concerned with the negative motion that was on the floor, not to accept. I need a clarification. If this vote, this motion, is voted down, does it mean that it is accepted? I have concerns with negative motions. DOUGLAS HUENERGARDT: I'd like to speak in favor of the motion, and the reason is the concern over succession planning. I think that one of the things that is difficult within our organization is to actually plan for and help train people to be able to move into various positions. And so what has happened is that incumbents stay in those positions for a considerable period of time gathering and gaining expertise, and then when that person leaves, there is often a gap, and we have then some loss of expertise subsequently. And so why I'm speaking in favor is specifically so that we can begin doing a more orderly planning process for a number of candidates who could then step in to that kind of position. Thank you. HAROLD W. BAPTISTE: Thank you very much. Just let me observe that we should concentrate on the motion to commit. The substance of the other part of the motion should be withheld until we are through with the motion to commit. TOR E. TJERANSEN: Mr. Chairman, I stand to support the motion that Dr. Bull just made to refer it back to the Constitutional and Bylaws Committee. The main motion doesn't even have a proper recommendation written in our agenda. And I think it's very important for this body to grant the opportunity to come and see the Constitution and Bylaws Committee, because we have noted that the total composition of our elected personnel is an aging group, and with respect to the president's desire to give room for youth, I think we need to make some provision for that to happen. HAROLD W. BAPTISTE: Thank you; you are in favor of the motion to commit. We still want you to focus on the motion to commit, not the substance of the recommendation that you have before you. KEN CORKUM: Mr. Chairman, could I ask for clarification? The motion refers this item back to the Bylaws Committee. Is that the appropriate committee? Is the Bylaws Committee a policymaking committee, or is there another committee that should be considering this? My understanding is that the Bylaws Committee is the committee that sees that it is appropriately placed within the Bylaws; it's not a policymaking committee. So could you clarify if this is the appropriate committee for the referral? HAROLD W. BAPTISTE: That's the motion that was made by the delegate. We can ask him his intention at this time. Dr. Bull, are you available? BRIAN BULL: Mr. Chairman, I would subject the proceedings to the advice of the chair as to the most appropriate committee. It seemed that the Bylaws Committee might be the most appropriate because of its position considering such matters, but if there is another group that, in the opinion of the chair, would be better, I would certainly defer. HAROLD W. BAPTISTE: Thank you. Our time has elapsed. [A motion to table was seconded and voted.] JOHN GRAZ: Mr. Chairman, brothers and sisters, dear friends, it is an honor for me to introduce Mr. Murali and his wife and his son. Mr. Murali has been a member of the legislative assembly of the state of Kerala in India since 1991. He is serving as the chairman of the Kerala Legislative Local Fund Accounts Committee. He is involved with the educational system in Kerala and has given valuable assistance to Seventh-day Adventist schools in his states. Mrs. Murali is a senior lecturer in mathematics at Mahatma Gandhi University. Both are very good friends of Adventists, and we welcome them to meet with their Seventh-day Adventist friends. Welcome. AMBASSADOR MURALI: Honorable President Dr. Jan Paulsen, the officers of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, delegates and visitors from all over the world, I am extremely happy to be here as an honored guest with my family on this auspicious occasion of the fifty-eighth session of the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. On behalf of the government of Kerala and its chief minister and on my own behalf I extend to you, the leaders and believers gathered here, special greetings from the evergreen country of Kerala, which is at the southern tip of the continent of India. It has been my privilege to associate with the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Southern Asia Division through my elder brother, who is our representative with the world headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, Mr. John Wycliff; also with Pastor A. J. Tito, communication director; and Dr. Ron Watts, our beloved president of the Southern Asia Division. I should not forget one of my friends of Seventh-day Adventists in Kerala, Mr. Saji, who introduced me to the leaders of the church some years ago. May I take this time to thank Dr. Graz and the General Conference for inviting me with my family to this session, which has given me a new appreciation of the abounding grace of the Almighty. It is my earnest appeal and prayer that the General Conference will make decisions to allow the global mission of our church to be carried out in the fields of education, religious liberty, evangelism, philanthropy, healing, and humanitarian ministries. Elder Paulsen, I am happy and proud to let you all know that you have believers in Kerala doing their best for the fulfillment of your mission. Even though I am a Hindu by birth, by the grace of God I have had several opportunities to associate with the activities of the church in Kerala. I pledge my wholehearted support and the support of the Kerala chief minister to the future activities of the church in our state of Kerala and in India. Thank you again; God bless you all. JONATHAN GALLAGHER: Ladies and gentlemen, first of all thank you for voting me back into office; I really appreciate that. It is my great honor and privilege to introduce to you Ambassador Evan Paki. He is the ambassador of Papua New Guinea to the United States and Canada and Mexico. As you realize, to be ambassador to the United States is a most prestigious ambassadorship. He is also the youngest such ambassador to be appointed. However, he stands before you, not in those primary roles, but because he is a Seventh-day Adventist brother in Jesus Christ. And so without further ado, I introduce to you Ambassador Paki. EVAN PAKI: Thank you, Dr. Gallagher, Dr. Paulsen, vice presidents, leaders of the church, distinguished delegates, guests from around the world. I am honored and humbled by this opportunity to have observed the fifty-eighth session of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. And I am also honored to stand before you today having grown up in the church and having both sides of my family give decades of service to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The Adventist Church's message has a special place in my heart. In April of last year I was honored to be invited to the General Conference headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, where Dr. Paulsen and the vice presidents of our world church invited me for a special luncheon, a VIP luncheon, as they call it. And as I was leaving to go to my office in Washington, D.C.; one of the leaders asked me, How can the church work with the government of Papua New Guinea? Papua New Guinea's population is about 5.7 million, and nearly 5 percent of that is Adventist. So you are looking at a membership of about a quarter million people, which is about 60 percent of the total division membership. And so how can the church be relevant in the community? How can we play a role in the development of our communities? How can we advance the gospel commission? How can we work together with the community leaders? How can we work together with church leaders, with government leaders? And one of the areas I want to highlight is How we can work together in education? I believe educating our young people is not just an option for the church; it is an indispensable part of the gospel commission. People who are educated support the church; they carve out better lives for their families. Education is a great equalizer, even though we are born under difference circumstances. I think education is a priority. One of the things I have observed is that there are about 2,000 delegates to this session, and I asked one of the organizers how many young people under the age of 30 are here. And I was told there are about 35 out of 2,000. Hopefully in the future General Conference sessions we will gradually increase the number of young people, because we want to involve them in the church, we want to nurture them in the church. If they are going to be leaders tomorrow and in the decades to come, we might as well give them some responsibilities now, so that when the weight of the responsibility is on their shoulders they will be able to handle it. The other area I want to touch on is health ministry. As we know, Christ committed more time to healing than to preaching, and we see it as the right arm of the church, as my division president pointed out in his report yesterday. And with that I will close, and again, I am honored to be able to speak to all of you, especially those who are from developing countries. I think we can go back to our countries with a message to share with the people back home. Thank you so much. HAROLD W. BAPTISTE, Chair
Eleventh Business Meeting Actions
NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT #7
General Conference
GENERAL CONFERENCE SESSION 2005-SEATING OF ADDITIONAL DELEGATES
Brobbey, Benjamin
TERM OF OFFICE FOR PRESIDENT-GENERAL CONFERENCE CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS AMENDMENT-REQUEST
TERM OF OFFICE FOR PRESIDENT-GENERAL CONFERENCE CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS AMENDMENT-REQUEST
Continued on page 39. Adjourned HAROLD W BAPTISTE, Chair
Profiling Adventist Leadership
HAROLD W. BAPTISTE: This is the fourth presentation of the Profiling Adventist Leadership series. At this time I will call on Mike Ryan to present the speaker for today's presentation. MICHAEL L. RYAN: In addition to the speaker, there will be a panel that will help field questions and provide insights: Dr. Lyn Behrens, president of Loma Linda University and Medical Center; Richard Osborn, president of Pacific Union College; and Athal Tolhurst, former undersecretary of the General Conference. Ted Ramirez, our speaker for today, is not a stranger to this group or to the Seventh-day Adventist Church; he is well known. However, in his private law practice he serves as the cochair of Benobels Washington Health Care Practice, where he concentrates his practice in the areas of business transactions, mergers and acquisitions, crisis recovery, turnaround plans, and corporate governance. Mr. Ramirez's 25 years of service to the business community and health-care industry also includes experience as director, trustee, and chairman, and membership on governance boards and committees for strategic planning, finance, audit, and legal affairs. Mr. Ramirez has accomplished many significant things in the business he transacts. He developed and implemented a seven-year system affiliation and merger plan with a large health-care delivery system in the Midwest; he also has developed governance, management, and judiciary duty standard systems policy papers, and presentations for large multicorporate institutions, including the university medical center system in California. He devotes significant time and effort to national charitable organizations; he also is an adjunct faculty member at the College of Law at Ohio State University, and he is presently a member of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist Executive Committee and Financial Audit Review Committee. He also has been a member of the Loma Linda University board for 14 years, and he is an adjunct faculty member at Columbia Union College. I could make quite a list of various publications and speeches that he has produced, but I want to come quickly to some of the more personal items. He has been married for 33 years to Chris Stone, from Tulsa, Oklahoma; he met her during his freshman year at Southwestern Adventist University. He has two daughters: Katy teaches marketing and business at Columbia Union College; Abby is a senior at Columbia Union College this fall, taking history and pre-law. He has wide experience in evangelism in urban areas, as he grew up in Chicago and San Antonio, often accompanying his father in Bible studies and making visits to elderly people. He is in his second stint as the head elder of Kettering Seventh-day Adventist Church. He is an alumnus of Valley Grande Academy and also of Southwestern Adventist University. I asked Mr. Ramirez if he would provide me with a little overview of some significant things in his life, and in that overview he added just a little paragraph that I would like to read. "The Seventh-day Adventist Church and its mission are precious, indispensable components of my and Chris's life. We owe our happiness and blessings to God, our Adventist parents, Adventist schools, and the biblical messages of Adventists. We, our family, love this church and all it's called to be, and we see the sacrifice and devotion with which our church employees and leaders serve God. We aren't perfect, but we're family, and God has made us His children." Welcome to the platform, Mr. Ted Ramirez. [Applause.] HAROLD W. BAPTISTE: Before Mr. Ramirez makes his presentation, please stand and bow your heads for prayer. COSMIN VLAHAPOL: [Prayed in Romanian.] TED RAMIREZ: [His presentation, "Acting With Responsibility: Aspirations of a Servant Along Pathways of Governance," is included in Profiling Adventist Leadership.] HAROLD W. BAPTISTE: Thank you very much for that excellent presentation. You have gathered a panel around you, and we will turn the discussion over to the panel. TED RAMIREZ: Are there questions or concerns that you would like to share in response to the paper? A question has been submitted: "The paper refers to spiritual DNA of Adventists. What do you mean by this term? And how does this concept affect leaders and organizations?" The question is spiritual DNA. The paper does not mean to use that term to express particular beliefs or positions. DNA has to do with who we are. Panel, any additional thoughts? B. LYN BEHRENS: Perhaps I can speak from the physical dimension, Mr. Ramirez, as we think about DNA and its importance in our human life, of encoding for us the color of our eyes, how tall we will be, what, how our heart will be formed and shaped. As I reflect on your comment and your paper I see this as an opportunity for us to be encoded with God's values and live them and express them as you have indicated through love and the fruits of the Spirit. I would see that being essential in the way we respect each other. It's a term that I will use in my thinking and also in my speaking in the future, and I thank you for it. SENDRA GUNAWAN: I have been listening in the past about leadership, and I have tried to understand what the leadership for the church is all about. This is an excellent paper. If we follow the advice given, 80 percent of our church's problems will be solved. We can present papers here, and then we can talk about many, many things, and then everybody can go back, and nothing will happen. It would be good if those who are in top management, the president, secretary, treasurer, etc., got in touch with the members. But that will not happen. Maybe 13 million is too many people for the president to reach, but even at the General Conference session, not very many of the 2,000 delegates will shake hands with the president. So the management has been top-down all the time. HAROLD W. BAPTISTE: Can I interrupt you? Can you focus on the issues that we presented this morning that deal with profiling Adventist leadership, rather than bringing in other elements that are not relevant to the discussion? And on the basis that we have established, your time is just about expired. SENDRA GUNAWAN: Mr. Chairman, give me just about 10 seconds. I think the General Conference office needs to show an example of the changes needed of the leadership. Thank you. HAROLD W. BAPTISTE: Thank you very much. BURNS M. SIBANDA: Mr. Chairman, I very much appreciate the issues that have been raised in the paper, especially when you look at leaders and members acting responsibly. We need to have love for the church, to be fully committed to the church. HAROLD W. BAPTISTE: Thank you very much. ALEX R. PONNIAH: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Let me take this opportunity to thank our speaker for the wonderful report on the subject of acting responsibly. It is not easy, as a Christian, to be doing things in the right way and to be responsible at all times. If you look in the Scriptures, you find leaders who made irresponsible decisions although they were in responsible positions. Likewise, in our own organization we have had leaders who have made irresponsible decisions. Paul struggled through this difficulty. He said the things that I should not do, I do, and the things that I should do, I do not. Oh, what a wretched man I am! Who will deliver me from this wretchedness? He struggled, and yet he found an answer when he said, Oh, I thank God for my Savior, Jesus Christ. As leaders we must constantly practice the presence of Jesus Christ in our lives and in our decision-making. We must ask God to help us to make responsible decisions in our administration and in our daily walk. HAROLD W. BAPTISTE: Thank you very much. We appreciate that. TED RAMIREZ: I would like to take collectively the last three speakers and speak to them. You will notice that there are different ways to express one's love for the church. Each one of you here has expressed your love by taking time off, at great expense and difficulty, to come here. There are various ways to express one's love, and the important aspect in expressing one's love is to stay in the program, continue in dialogue and in communication, despite the disagreements. RICHARD OSBORN: One thing that I worry about is that we place too much responsibility on leaders and presidents to be the ones that lead in everything. As a president, if I don't win every vote on the board, then I might view that as a failure of my leadership. And there are times when it almost seems that every suggestion that a president proposes is a test of whether he or she is a good president or not. We as a church must realize that we need to work together through committees and boards and that drawing from the wisdom of those counselors will tend to relieve the pressure put on a president to always be right. TED RAMIREZ: In fact, to further Dr. Osborn's remarks about the role of each one of you, if you are not a president and if you are not a secretary or a treasurer of a division or a conference or a union, that doesn't mean that you are not a leader. Everyone on the floor is a leader. And one of the challenges that was given to me in the preparation of this paper, by a division president outside North America, was: How do we help each delegate understand that the load is too heavy for leaders to bear by themselves and that each person on that board and committee is a leader and shares responsibility collectively for the decisions made? HAROLD W. BAPTISTE: Thank you. We have 12 minutes more. Would you allow me to impose a three-minute timing limit on your presentation so that we can get a few more people participating? GRACE ADEOYE: I noticed that the three key words in this paper are unify, communicate, and act. They are very vital for successful leadership. However, it seems to me that sometimes we do not communicate well. I can give one example: It is very frustrating to some leaders at times to see suggestions just sitting on some table rather than receiving attention. HAROLD W. BAPTISTE: Thank you. CHIEMELA IKONNE: I've noticed that during this series there have been two major themes: leadership and spirituality. Mr. Chairman, I hope we see the relationship between leadership and spirituality. And since we have begun discussion here, I believe that we are on the right track. My question, therefore, is What plans do we have to ensure that what we have begun here goes down to the divisions, to the unions, conferences, and in fact to the local churches, which is actually where the church begins? Mr. Chairman, what system does our church have for evaluating leadership quality and spirituality quality? ATHAL H. TOLHURST: Mr. Chairman, we wouldn't need this presentation if our leadership was perfect. And I don't think that anybody here would think or suggest that the leadership of the church is perfect. None of us is perfect. And I want to say that this presentation has spoken to my heart. I believe that while it is easy for us to find criticism of this or that leader, or this or that organization within the church, it's easy to criticize because of the weaknesses of human nature, but if we were to take the principles that have been outlined here, which I believe are the core to the whole week of leadership priority issues, we would find that we are responsible to God first in our relationships with Him. And once we have our relationship with God right, then our relationships with our fellow man will follow in the right course. And while it may be true that there are some criticisms, if our leadership takes these principles and applies them, then we can lessen the occasion for criticism and improve the spiritual effectiveness of our church. And although our brother has asked what plans are there in place, I don't think the world church is imposing plans on the divisions and the unions and the local conferences and missions for the implementation of this. It is the place of the leaders of those church organizations to take these principles and to share them with their people and the leaders who are not with us here who could be benefited by the principles that have been outlined. HAROLD W. BAPTISTE: Thank you, Elder Tolhurst. RICHARD OSBORN: Dr. Behrens and I have been serving on the Nominating Committee, and for the first time we've been receiving evaluations of the leaders. That's the first step, I think, and probably those will get more comprehensive as time goes along, which is a model for what many of us can do and are already doing. HAROLD W. BAPTISTE: Thank you. Next speaker. THOMAS O. OCHOOGE: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I refer you to the document, page 5. It says, "Right relationships are not produced by right thoughts or right actions. Just the opposite. Right thoughts and right actions are produced by right relationships." What does that mean? Perhaps that what you think affects your relationships? Can you explain it? I don't follow. HAROLD W. BAPTISTE: All right. Elder Ramirez would like to address that question. TED RAMIREZ: It's a very rare privilege to be asked to comment on the work of Leonard Sweet, but I'll endeavor to do so very succinctly. I think the point that he is making is that there are related parts of a human brain and of a human spirituality, but that it is only in a relationship that we can test and develop love for one another. We can't just sit in a corner and think good thoughts and be effective. We do no one any good if we think great spiritual thoughts and read texts and don't act in the context of a relationship. I think that is what Dr. Sweet is meaning to say here. And that is a quotation from his work. Thank you. HAROLD W. BAPTISTE: Would anybody from the panel like to add to that? ATHAL TOLHURST: Yes, Mr. Chairman. My wife's mother had a principle that she lived by, and that was that there is some good in everybody. And while we may not like somebody, if we were to work alongside that person and endeavor to develop a relationship with that person, we would discover something good. And once we discover something good, then we should cultivate that good. And I believe that we will improve each other's responsibility in leadership if we do that. HAROLD W. BAPTISTE: Thank you. ALLAN HANDYSIDES: I would just like to express my appreciation for being here and be so privileged as to hear papers as they've been presented. Ted Ramirez, I greatly enjoyed your presentation. It is true that any presentation is theory until it is applied, and I think that we need to realize that everybody sitting as a delegate is enjoying a distinct privilege of leadership. It's easy to think that we are somehow separate from the leadership role. The decisions of this session are ours. The appointments of this session are made by us. Deficiencies in the leadership reflect upon us. And when we have appointed leaders, it is our duty to support those leaders. I feel that if there's going to be unity, we have to learn to support each other. And I just pray that we can have a sense of ownership of the leadership of the Adventist Church as we've been sent here as delegates to this fifty-eighth session. I pray that the Lord will bless us to adopt many of the theoretical principles, because applying them makes them facts in our individual lives. Thank you very much. HAROLD W. BAPTISTE: Thank you very much also. TED RAMIREZ: And if I might add, Mr. Chairman, each one of the questions in the paper will remain a theory and fairly useless until you ask them of yourself and until you ask them of your organization. And it is our hope and prayer that we will do that. HAROLD W. BAPTISTE: Thank you. We have one minute that we can allow for the last question. RASHFORD P. MUSONDA: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think the church has been quite asleep for quite a bit of time. We've reached a point now in life where our hearts are excited that material of this nature is coming up so that we can try to polish the way we run the church. Thank you very much for a well-thought-out paper; the material is good. It does not take long to discover those who mismanage funds; they can be flushed out easily. But in general administration we don't have internal controls. Apart from this paper, we would like to come up with internal controls that will help the church to function so that those who mismanage leadership can flushed out just as easily as those who fail to manage funds properly. HAROLD W. BAPTISTE: Our time is now expired. Can you wind up in 30 seconds? RASHFORD P. MUSONDA: Yes. What I want to say is let us come up with evaluation instruments that will help make us loving, transparent, and open to issues. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. HAROLD W. BAPTISTE: Thank you also. Our appreciation to Ted Ramirez for his excellent presentation, and also to those who participated in this discussion. Thanks for your involvement. The meeting stands adjourned, and we ask for the closing prayer. Let us stand. JOSEFINA MORA DE LA ROSA: [Prayer in native language.] HAROLD W. BAPTISTE, Chair
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