A Church of the Open Door

BY WILLIAM G. JOHNSSON,
editor of the Adventist Review

ust before the 58th General Conference Session opened in St. Louis, an Adventist source predicted that the conference would be "pure vanilla", meaning plain and predictable. It was anything but that: of the seven Sessions I have attended, this was the liveliest.

From the opening of business delegates flexed their muscle. An early item on the agenda called for a resolution of affirmation of the Bible. One can scarcely imagine a less controversial matter for a group of Adventists, but it sparked immediate debate. The writing was on the wall: delegates to the 58th Session had come to scrutinize, to talk, and to have their way.

The agenda for the Session looked slight, with few items likely to delay progress. But with countless points of order, amendments, amendments to amendments, and long lines quickly forming at the microphones on almost any item, things moved slowly. After several days delegates, sensing that time was running out with important matters still untouched, empowered Session chairmen to limit debate. The final item on the agenda was completed with just 10 minutes remaining on the clock.

In some past Sessions delegates have been criticized for absenteeism from the business meetings or lack of involvement. Not at this one. Even a one dollar discrepancy in the auditor's report was caught and noted in a speech from the floor.

Some might look back on the 58th GC Session as consumed with trivia and parliamentary procedure. I see it otherwise: the world Seventh-day Adventist Church has come of age. And this, I think, is good-even if it tests to the limit the abilities of those who chair this assembly of some 2,000 feisty delegates.

The Session just concluded marks a watershed. If the 58th was lively, the 59th and as many more as remain until the Lord returns will be even livelier. Those who organize and lead out in future Sessions need to give careful thought to processes and technology (the latter came up short in critical areas), not in an attempt to stifle debate and discussion, but to facilitate the conduct of business. Without adjustments future Sessions may spin out of control.

Toward the close of the week a friend of long standing remarked that the Session did not seem to have a clear focal point, a driving element like the debate on women's ordination that characterized Indianapolis (1990) and Utrecht (1995), or divorce and remarriage (2000).

I thought about that. I had sensed that something was going on: Behind the debates on the floor, in the devotional messages, in the election of leaders for the next five years, in the interaction among the thousands of delegates, guests and others, something was there-but what?

By noon on Sabbath July 9 I had begun to catch it. By the time I threaded my way through the milling, exuberant crowds that night I knew it.

Not a program or agenda for the next five years. Something better than a program or agenda.

Not an action voted on the floor of the session. Something bigger than any action or vote; something that makes possible such free-spirited, expression of ideas and opinions.

What is it? Something difficult to capture in a few words, but a new sense of openness, to each other and to the larger world. A new sense of freedom in Jesus-freedom from fear and guilt, freedom to joyous, buoyant living. A freedom that expressed itself in reverent worship and spirited song, but also in loud shouts and cheers-as loud as the voices of the fans that fill the same dome for football games-at the grand finale, the Parade of Nations on Saturday night.

Throughout our history Adventists have been pulled in opposite directions. One force has impelled toward smallness, separation and exclusiveness; the other toward largeness, engagement, and inclusiveness.

The 58th GC Session made clear where this church is headed: our future is openness.

For the first time in our history we elected a female vice-president of the General Conference-Dr. Ella Simmons, formerly provost of La Sierra University. And two other women were added to the officers of the General Conference: Dr. Rosa Banks, an associate secretary; and Daisy Orion, an associate treasurer.

If any item captures the essence of the 58th Session, it is Dr. Simmon's election. It was the big news story, with media around the world picking it up. But it was, for us Adventists, far more: it was a tangible expression of what this church is and will be-an open, inclusive body at all levels.

One item of business ran almost the full gamut of the Session before it was put to rest by vote of the overwhelming majority-the new statement of Fundamental Belief, Growing in Christ. And this statement itself can be seen as a pointer to the direction of the church.

All the 27 articles arose out of a Western context. But our church is growing fast, as the Lord calls men and women from various backgrounds and belief systems into the light of the everlasting gospel. Vast numbers of Earth's population live in daily awareness and fear of spiritual forces; multitudes of others labor under the burden of karma (accumulated deeds from previous lives) and seek spiritual fulfillment through transcendental meditation. The 27 articles are silent in addressing the religious needs of these people.

The newly voted statement Growing in Christ speaks directly to these concerns. It isn't a new doctrine per se: Adventists all along have believed that Christ won the victory over the powers of the enemy, and that the Holy Spirit seeks to dwell within us and transform us into His likeness. We believed that but we hadn't formulated it; now we have. And the new statement will help us all, wherever we live in the world.

This underlying impulse of the 58th GC Session -openness, inclusiveness, recognition of diversity-emerged as a clearly articulated idea in Pastor Paulsen's Sabbath morning sermon, July 9. He spoke of "the open door"- of together building a large, safe family that is open to all; of a family that values all-women and men, youth and children; a family that involves youth in its planning and mission; a family that welcomes all and turns none away, regardless of race, social standing or education; a family of fairness, justice, and compassion.

What a dream! What a family! The family of the open door!

And Saturday night, in a Christian extravaganza-no, an Adventist Christian extravaganza, for only in this worldwide movement could it be possible- the 58th Session reached a glorious, deafening, spine-tingling climax. The superbly choreographed program of music, video, narration, and parade of Adventists from almost every country of the globe brought the 40,000- strong crowd to its feet in jubilant celebration.

What were the crowds cheering? The progress of the everlasting gospel.

Why were they so exuberant? Because of Christ's salvation and the hope of His return.

Wintley Phipps capped it off with "Amazing Grace". How fitting; the massed choir had sung the same acclamation of praise earlier that day, just before Pastor Paulsen stood up to speak. And throughout the Session speaker after speaker had centered their remarks in righteousness by faith, uplifting Jesus, pointing to His grace. A Dome employee remarked that this was the "awesomest" group of people he had ever seen.

It was.

It is.

Kyte Elected as General Counsel

BY SANDRA BLACKMER, news editor, Adventist Review

he General Conference Executive Committee on June 29 appointed Robert Kyte as General Counsel for the world church, replacing Robert Nixon, who is retiring after serving in that position for more than 12 years.

Kyte has been with Pacific Press Publishing Association (PPPA) in Nampa, Idaho, for 25 years, 16 as president. Beginning in its retail division, he later moved into corporate marketing and management. In 1983 Kyte became vice president for marketing and sales, and part of the marketing team that led out in relocating the company from California to Idaho in 1984. He left PPPA in 1987 to study law.

After graduating in 1989 with a doctor of jurisprudence degree from the Northwestern School of Law of Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Oregon, Kyte had just started up a private law practice when he was asked to return to PPPA as president, chief executive officer, and general counsel, a role he has served in until now. He also continued his part-time private law practice, which consisted of corporate, business, and commercial transactions, licensing, real estate transactions, municipal finance, and estate planning.

Kyte earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Walla Walla College in College Place, Washington, and he is a member of the Idaho State Bar Association; the American Bar Association; and admitted to practice before the Idaho Supreme Court; the U.S. District Court, district of Idaho; and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

"My practice has been very varied," Kyte told the Adventist Review. "I've served as general counsel for a number of corporate entities, including several nonprofit organizations both in the Adventist Church and for other types of activities. I've been considerably involved with nonprofit law for nonprofit organizations, and have represented diverse organizations that are not focused on just one area of need. My nonprofit background allows me to come into the church organization, which has those same broad, diverse needs."

Kyte says he will begin functioning in the role of General Counsel in early September, and he is working with Robert Nixon, the retiring General Counsel, to be sure "all bases are covered" during the transition.

The General Conference Office of General Counsel provides legal services to church entities located within the General Conference headquarters office complex. Six staff lawyers serve both General Conference and North American Division administration, departments, and services. Each lawyer has assignments covering specific areas of law or administrative or departmental offices. Major areas include corporate, tax, pension, trust and estate, constitutional, religious liberty, employment, and immigration law and litigation.

Paulsen Calls for Recommitment
and Reformation

BY SANDRA BLACKMER, news editor, Adventist Review

n his sermon during worship service on the final Sabbath of the 58th General Conference session, world church president Jan Paulsen emphasized the need for church members to live a life of faith and obedience.

"God's spiritual people today know how they are to live their lives in faith and obedience to God," said Paulsen. "Ignorance is not the problem of God's people, disobedience sometimes is. By the life we live, as a community and as individuals, we either affirm or deny our status as God's chosen people. I hope, I pray, and I believe that God shall not need to turn elsewhere for a people to finish His mission."

Basing his message on 2 Chronicles 7, where God promises to bless His people and forgive them of their sins in answer to Solomon's prayer during the dedication of the newly constructed temple, Paulsen emphasized that God's promises are also for us today.

Quoting from verse 13--"And turn from their wicked ways"-- Paulsen said, "This is reformation. This signals change. . . . Society has gone wrong; humanity has gone terribly wrong; you have gone wrong. Just look at the world in which you live.

"Let us not fool ourselves," he added. "This world, which is our habitat, is not a good place; and we don't really want to spend a lot more time here."

Paulsen ended with a call to "walk boldly through the door into God's future" because God will hear, forgive, and heal His people.

To read the text of Paulsen's sermon, click here.

Nominating Committee
Completes Its Work

BY SANDRA BLACKMER, news editor, Adventist Review

elbert Baker, secretary of the General Conference session's Nominating Committee, presented the last names of GC department le aders to the delegates on July 7. Two department directors who are not incumbents were voted into office:

Jonathan Kuntaraf is the newly elected director of the Sabbath School/Personal Ministries Department, replacing James Zackrison, who is retiring. Kuntaraf has served as associate director of the department since 1995, and was church ministries director of the Asia-Pacific Division (currently part of the Southern Asia-Pacific Division territory) from 1993-1996. He has a Doctor of Ministry degree from Andrews University and a Master of Divinity degree from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary in Manila, Philippines. He is married to Kathleen, a medical doctor and associate director of the GC Health Ministries Department. The couple has two children.

Erika Puni, who has served for five years as Stewardship and Sabbath School/Personal Ministries director of the South Pacific Division (SPD), was elected as director of the GC Stewardship Department. Before coming to the SPD, Puni was a professor of theology for Avondale College in Cooranbong, Australia. He holds a Ph.D and a Master of Missiology degree from Fuller Theological Seminary, and a Master of Religion from Loma Linda University. He is married to Maxine, who is an accountant. The couple is expecting their first child in November.

Puni replaces Benjamin Maxson, who is now senior pastor of the Paradise Adventist Church in Northern California.

Heather-Dawn Small, who has been acting director of the GC Women's Ministries Department since the retirement of Ardis Stenbakken in December 2004, was voted director of the department. Small served as Women's Ministries associate director from 2001, and was Children's and Women's Ministries director for the Caribbean Union Conference from 1996-2001. Her husband, Josepy, is a pastor, and the couple has two children.