The business agenda contains items affecting the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist family. A typical agenda mix for a GC session includes issues dealing with organizational structure, constitution and bylaws, theology and practice, progress reports, and the election of leaders. First-time attendees will be surprised at both the simplicity and complexity of the global church.
- New Conferences or Union Missions
Shortly after the session opened yesterday, delegates were invited to vote on the acceptance of two new union conferences, two new union missions, and the attainment of conference status by four former union missions. Before the vote, the GC was comprised of 92 unions.
- News and Progress Reports
Highlights and challenges of the past quinquennium, featured in the GC president's report last evening, will also find emphasis in that of the secretary and treasurer today. The report from the office of Archives and Statistics will be a delight to those with mathematical inclinations. (The rest of us will savor the headlines.) A favorite part of the agenda comes by way of reports from the 12 divisions and one union (Southern Africa Union Conference), attached directly to the GC. Six evenings of the 10-day session are devoted to these inspiring presentations.
- Election of Leaders
The 171-member nominating committee will conduct its work while other meetings are in progress. There are 127 elected positions to be filled at this session. They include: officers for the GC; officers for each of the 12 world divisions; a director (and associates where applicable) for each GC department; a director and associates for the GC Auditing Service; plus the board of trustees for the GC Corporation.
- Constitution and Bylaws
The 1995 GC session in Utrecht approved major amendments to the GC constitution and bylaws. The amendments for consideration at this session are less dramatic, but nevertheless important, refinements. Among the proposals are the following:
- Reference to role of divisions.
The existence and role of divisions, previously assumed in the constitution, is now stated more explicitly.
- Adjustment of regular and at-large delegate ratios.
The combined effect of several amendments approved in 1995 resulted in very limited delegate quotas from divisions. Much of the delegate representation had been shifted from divisions to unions. The proposed amendment ensures that a division will be able to select at least 10 delegates.
- Adjustment in the process of selecting members of the nominating committee.
The new proposal allows for delegates from a division to function as a unit in the process of selecting members of the nominating committee.
- Election of a GC Auditing Service Board.
The structure of the GC Auditing Service became the subject of vigorous debate at the 1995 session. Delegates voiced sharply divided opinions about how best to protect the independence of the audit function. The current recommendation provides for the election of an Auditing Service director as well as an Auditing Service board whose chair is the GC president.
- Church Manual Amendments
The first official Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual was published in 1932. The preface stated that "it has become increasingly evident that a manual on church government is needed to set forth and preserve our denominational practices and polity." The two objectives of setting forth and preserving denominational practices and polity are accomplished, in large part, by having the session approve new additions or amendments to the Church Manual.
Ninety-one of the session's agenda items deal with the Church Manual. The majority of these items serve to update terminology, clarify meaning, or improve the sequential presentation of information. However, several amendments or proposals are bound to awaken considerable interest. Here's a preview:
- Divorce and remarriage issues:
The 1995 session in Utrecht requested the GC to appoint a commission to study divorce and remarriage issues and to propose recommendations for inclusion in the Church Manual chapter entitled "Divorce and Remarriage." Several aspects of this chapter have been modified: biblical principles have been set forth; the language used is less judgmental; the twofold purpose of church discipline is described; and a local church ministry for families is outlined.
- Change in Church Manual Format:
Four chapters of the Church Manual will continue to require GC session approval. Changes to the notes (which contain explanatory and illustrative material) may be approved by the GC Executive Committee. In addition, it is recommended that the terms of reference for the Church Manual Committee permit the committee to perform routine editorial tasks rather than to have such matters also occupy the attention of delegates to a GC session.
- Windows on Mission
When all is said and done the agenda of the session is much more than the 147 items that can be checked off the pages of the bulky delegate materials packet. The routines and functions of organizational life must be cared for, but there is more to see, do, and experience.
Five time segments during the business sessions have been reserved for presentations and discussions of special issues facing the global church: Envisioning the church's future, establishing effective witness to other religions, preserving unity amidst increasing diversity, growing in spiritual maturity and discipleship, and sharing resources for mission, involve both challenge and opportunity. What shall we do, collectively and individually, about them? The impact of these discussions will last far beyond the Session's closing ceremonies.
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elegates and visitors to a General Conference (GC) session will find 24-hour days too short to see or do everything that a session offers. Time will fly. But they will walk to concerts, prayer and devotional meetings, exhibits, special features, committees; or to find friends, food, and a place to relax. At the center of this sprawling maze of activity is a business session of the church.