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Thirteenth Business Meeting
FLORENCE CHIREMBA: [Opening prayer.] JEANNEVILLE REIGN B. DAYO: [Special music: �How Great Thou Art.�] LOWELL C. COOPER: Welcome back, brothers and sisters. Wasn't that a beautiful way to begin a session? As was announced this morning at the close of our business session, we are returning to general business items. The �Challenges to Mission� segment that was originally scheduled at this time has been combined with the presentation tomorrow afternoon. This, in response to a number of requests, opens up the way for us to have opportunity from now until 5:00 to deal with business agenda items. And we are going to begin the business of the afternoon with a report from the Nominating Committee. We turn now to the officers of the Nominating Committee for that report. JERE PATZER: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This afternoon we are bringing you what I trust will be a rather brief report. It is, we hope, the final report. This first item that we are bringing to you is the membership of the General Conference Corporation board. This is actually the legal governing body for our General Conference. Many of you have organizations similar to this on the level in which you work. DELBERT BAKER: Mr. Chairman, we have 18 names to read for the General Conference Corporation Board of Trustees, and the Nominating Committee recommends the following names for the respective positions. I will read them through once; then I'll read the name and their position. [A motion to accept the names was made, seconded, and voted.] Mr. Chairman, the Nominating Committee recommends the following names for positions on the General Conference Executive Committee. I will read the names and the division that they are from. [A motion to accept the names was made, seconded, and voted.] JERE PATZER: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We have two more names. DELBERT BAKER: Mr. Chairman, the Nominating Committee recommends the name of Roscoe Howard III as associate secretary of the General Conference. I move it. [The motion was seconded and voted.] Mr. Chairman, the Nominating Committee recommends the name of Juan Prestol as associate treasurer of the General Conference. I move it. [The motion was seconded and voted.] DELBERT BAKER: [The following individuals were recommended and voted: Jonathan Kuntaraf, director, Sabbath School and Personal Ministries; Gary Swanson, associate director, Sabbath School and Personal Ministries; Jean-Luc Lezeau; associate director, Stewardship; Erika Puni, director, Stewardship; Anthony R. Kent, associate secretary, Ministerial Association; Joel Zukovski, director, International Food Association.] We have some interesting facts and statistics to share here briefly. The members of the Nominating Committee were a very diverse group representing the entire global church, all countries, colors, and divisions. About 15 percent of the body were females. We had translations for three different groups�Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian. We met seven different days, with 12 sessions, covering approximately 45 hours. We filled more than 200 positions in the world church, and cast more than 100,000 votes. And finally, this may be of some interest to you: approximately 2,800 bottles of Pine Valley water were consumed, which amounted to about 47,000 fluid ounces. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. LOWELL C. COOPER: I think we would all like to say thank you to the Nominating Committee. JERE PATZER: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And if I can add just one brief note to that: I too want to thank those who have made this Nominating Committee successful. Standing behind me are Dr. Delbert Baker, Dr. Niels-Erik Andreasen, and Dr. Harold Lee, my associates. There is another individual whom the committee would like to have you recognize as well. Bob Woolford has been working with this committee as a floor manager. He first did this at the Nominating Committee at the 1980 session and has been doing it successfully and with great appreciation behind the scenes ever since. He says that this is his last session. I am not sure the General Conference Nominating Committee can function without his being there, and I think it would be well for you to show appreciation to Bob Woolford for all the hours that he has donated for this. [Applause.] Finally, I would like to thank the committee members, all 196 of them, for serving. There were times when there were strong differences of opinion, but the grace of God held us together. There was just one overriding wish from the committee, and that was that God would have His way. We believe that He did. We prayed for that at the beginning nearly a week ago. At the end today we thanked Him for doing that. I would like to have the committee members stand so that you can recognize them. [Applause.] Thank you, committee, for what you have done, and the Christian graces that you have demonstrated. Mr. Chairman, I would be pleased to move that we recognize officially our appreciation to this committee for the work that they have accomplished. [Motion was seconded and voted.] LOWELL C. COOPER: Now we return to the general business and pick up from where we left off in the morning's session. We have on the floor a motion that I will review for you in just a moment, and when we have dealt with that particular motion we will look at a few items relating to the constitution and then move on to a rather long list of items from the Church Manual Committee. The item before us at present is to receive and adopt fundamental belief 28 as amended and brought to us by the Writing Committee. The statement has come back to us with some amendments. GEORGE W. REID: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As one who spoke several days ago to this, I want to commend the committee and believe that they have made valuable adjustments to the statement. I hope we will adopt it. LOWELL C. COOPER: Thank you. We need to determine if the body wishes to close discussion. [The body voted to terminate discussion.] We will now vote on the motion before us, which is to adopt the fundamental belief as amended. [The amended fundamental belief was voted.] LARRY R. EVANS: Mr. Chairman, I would direct your attention to item 310 in the constitution and bylaws agenda, page 85, the dissolution statement. There are three items I want to explain. 1. In the present dissolution, our Constitution and Bylaws Committee discovered that the dissolution statement does not name a Seventh-day Adventist tax-exempt entity for the assets, should that become necessary to be distributed. It was felt that we needed to add a clarifying statement. 2. Corporation, which is referred to in the dissolution statement, has its own bylaws and its own statement of dissolution. Therefore, that is not necessary to be stated in our particular dissolution statement. 3. It was also felt by the Constitution and Bylaws Committee that it would be best if we would move the dissolution statement from the bylaws to the main body of the constitution. To do that, we need to do some renumbering, and those three items are reflected in what we will be doing here and what we are recommending. So to get this before us, Mr. Chairman, I move that we delete the present dissolution statement. [Seconded and voted.] Let's now go to item 311, page 87. I move to add a new article to the constitution and bylaws, Constitution, Article XIII�Dissolution, to read as follows: �In the event of the dissolution of the General Conference, any funds or assets remaining after all claims have been satisfied shall be transferred to a Seventh-day Adventist tax-exempt religious entity recommended by the General Conference Executive Committee. The dissolution process shall be in harmony with the requirements of all applicable federal and state laws.� [Motion was seconded and voted.] RONALD HERBERT: Just a question: How is it possible for the General Conference Executive Committee to deal with the dissolution aspect if it is the General Conference that is being dissolved? [A legal adviser was not available to answer the question, so the questioner agreed to have the question held until an adviser could become available.] LARRY R. EVANS: Item 312, page 88, is simply housekeeping, in which we are recommending that we move the dissolution statement from the body of the bylaws to the main body of the constitution. I move it to become Article XIV. [The motion was seconded and voted.] We now go to item 307 in the agenda, on page 42. There have been some changes over the years in regard to the percentage amount of tithe passed on. Beginning on line 13: �A percentage of the tithe receipts of the local conference/mission/field shall be forwarded through the union and division in accordance with the General Conference Working Policy.� And then on line 20, the funds to the General Conference shall be as follows: �Special gifts. Proceeds from the maturities of planned giving designated for the General Conference.� I move it. [Seconded.] GERHARD PFANDL: My question is simply that the percentage is not specified, whereas before it was a tithe. Does this mean that it is no longer 10 percent but can be 5 percent or 2 percent or any other percentage? LARRY R. EVANS: That is true; they vary. The percentage does vary from time to time, as set by the Executive Committee. DANIEL DUFFIS: The current reading says that �a tithe of the receipts of the union conferences and union missions� shall be forwarded to the General Conference. The change says that a percentage of the tithe of the local conferences will be sent to the General Conference. Why the change from union to local conferences? Is this an additional levy on local conferences? LOWELL C. COOPER: Who can help us with some information? Bob Lemon, please. ROBERT E. LEMON: Mr. Chairman, over the years there have been some shifts in the tithe percentages, and they are covered in General Conference policy. The current reading of the bylaw provided for 1 percent of local conference tithe worldwide, with the exception of the North American Division. From the North American Division it is 8 percent. These changes took place a number of years ago, so this amendment is simply cleaning up the wording. [Following a further question from Daniel Duffis, Elder Lemon continued.] Mr. Chairman, the percentage to the General Conference comes through the union. The percentages that the division passes on from the unions still remain the same. Everything in the new bylaw wording is referenced to the original tithe from the local conference. LOWELL C. COOPER: All right, does that help? I turn to Doug Hardt. DOUGLAS HARDT: I have a question, Mr. Chairman, about lines 27-30. What is the reason for the deletion of the material concerning the appropriations from the publishing houses and medical institutions? LOWELL C. COOPER: Do we have some help with that question? Elder Lemon, can you help? ROBERT E. LEMON: We do not require appropriations from publishing houses of the General Conference. Some institutions choose to give appropriations. We do not have a policy requiring appropriations from these organizations. This has not been the case for many years, and so we are simply bringing the item into line with practice. LOWELL C. COOPER: We turn to Dionisio Olivo. DIONISIO OLIVO: Mr. Chairman, I also have a question regarding this situation that has to do with tithe payments to the General Conference. Who sends the tithe to the General Conference? Aren't the member organizations supposed to send the tithe to the General Conference? If we say that the unions are the members of the General Conference and we now require the conferences to send the tithe to the General Conference, how can we bring harmony between those two? LOWELL C. COOPER: Can we address that question? Maybe, Elder Lemon, we need to turn back to you for additional help. ROBERT E. LEMON: Mr. Chairman, on line 16 it refers to �through.� It says that �the local conference/mission/field tithe shall be forwarded through the union and division in accordance with the General Conference Working Policy.� This change here is not altering anything from what we are presently doing; it simply is aligning the wording with the rest of the policy. The General Conference does not change the percentages without an Annual Council action and without years of discussion. LOWELL C. COOPER: Thank you very much. I think perhaps we're ready to vote. May I ask a question? Is the absence of unions of churches in this statement intentional or accidental? ROBERT E. LEMON: Mr. Chairman, I think it's accidental. It should probably be referenced, since it now is in other parts of the policy. LOWELL C. COOPER: All right, just to be inclusive of all organizational structure we will include unions of churches in that series of denominational structural descriptions. [The motion was voted.] Thank you very much. We will go now to Church Manual items, and I believe we will begin with item 426. Vern Parmenter, please. VERNON B. PARMENTER: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Please turn to page 80 in the support material, which has to do with courtship and marriage, and we will pick it up on line 26, which reads as follows: �However, it is the hope of the church that, if the member chooses a marriage partner who is not a member of the church, the couple will realize and appreciate that the Seventh-day Adventist minister, who has covenanted to uphold the principles outlined above, should not be expected to perform such a marriage.� I move, Mr. Chairman, that we approve this amendment. [The motion was seconded.] LOWELL C. COOPER: Thank you. Any comments or questions? CORRADO COZZI: My suggestion is for line 29 to say, �. . . should not be expected to perform such a marriage in accord with church vote.� And the church vote could evaluate the situation case by case. LOWELL C. COOPER: Brother Cozzi, the recommendation that comes to us is the changing of nomenclature from pastor to minister. The recommendation is not to change the nature of the statements in the Church Manual, so we cannot take up your recommendation here on the floor. If it is the wish of the body to refer the matter, or to have that question referred ultimately to the Church Manual Committee, there is a process to do that. But the action before us is to deal only with the amendment that is listed. We have heard your item; you may wish to speak to the Church Manual Committee leadership about how to bring your suggestion to the consideration of the church. Would that be helpful? CORRADO COZZI: Brother Cooper, it was my intention just to open this up for discussion. Thank you very much. THOMAS O. OCHOOGE: I am contributing to the statement as a whole. LOWELL C. COOPER: Could we invite you, if your concern is with the statement as a whole, rather than the part that is being amended, to speak with the officers of the Church Manual Committee? Elder Miranda and Elder Parmenter will be happy to discuss with you the matter and the procedure by which we entertain discussion on changes to the Church Manual. THOMAS O. OCHOOGE: OK. [A question arose concerning the relevance of the change from pastor to minister, in light of the fact that some frontline pastors are also officiating ministers, including the officiating of weddings.] LOWELL C. COOPER: All right. Do we have a response to that from the Church Manual Committee? VERNON B. PARMENTER: Mr. Chairman, perhaps I should just state that the word minister under the new definition does not disallow the pastor who is licensed as a marriage celebrant to also perform a marriage. So I think that minister is more embracing and allows for both pastor and minister to perform weddings. LOWELL C. COOPER: We'll now ask you to vote. [The motion was voted.] ROBERT W. NIXON: Mr. Chairman, I have had a good discussion with Ron Herbert, who is the corporation secretary in the South Pacific Division, and he is satisfied with the explanation that we have given in answer to his question on the dissolution, and he advised that I could say two thumbs up for that one. And it was my pleasure to do that. Thank you. LOWELL C. COOPER: Thank you very much. Back to Church Manual material. VERNON B. PARMENTER: Mr. Chairman, if we could go to item 402, which has to do with the baptismal vows and baptism. Page 44 of the agenda. Before I present this specific item, I would like to give a little rationale for bringing this to you. The South Pacific Division sent us the recommendation from their executive committee, and they raised these particular points that I'd like to share with you that I believe are very relevant. Questions have been asked as to why some significant fundamental teachings of the church are excluded. The questions are referring to the 13 baptismal vows. As you know, we now have 28 fundamental beliefs, but we have only 13 baptismal vows. So some people are asking why we have only 13 statements in the baptismal vows. And they are also asking what the determining factor for the inclusion of those teachings and lifestyle issues that have been included has been. Further, they question the appropriateness of making detailed doctrinal statements at a baptism, when many non-Seventh-day Adventists who have no understanding of the reasons behind these statements are present. Also, it has been revealed that in some baptisms taking place vows are not being publicly affirmed, and in others various unofficial vows are being given. Both of these options are unacceptable. What is important is that we as a church need to reaffirm the need for public affirmation of faith prior to baptism. And second, the public affirmation of faith needs to contain three essential elements: First, the acceptance of the saving grace of God. Second, the acceptance of the teachings of Scripture as expressed in the Statement of Fundamental Beliefs. And third, a desire for baptism and a demonstration of commitment to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. So now I bring you, Mr. Chairman, to page 45, where we introduce an alternative vow. And I will read from line 27: �1. Do you accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord, and do you desire to live your life in a saving relationship with Him? 2. Do you accept the teachings of the Bible as expressed in the Statement of Fundamental Beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and do you pledge by God's grace to live your life in harmony with these teachings? 3. Do you desire to be baptized as a public expression of your belief in Jesus Christ, to be accepted into the fellowship of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and to support the church and its mission as a faithful steward by your personal influence, tithes and offerings, and a life of service?� Mr. Chairman, I move that we add this section to the Church Manual. LOWELL C. COOPER: I've heard support for it. ARMANDO MIRANDA: Thank you very much. In the Church Manual we find room for this kind of alternative vote. Page 30 says: �In churches where frequent baptism may reduce the significance of a public examination, an alternative plan should be observed.� There is room for this aspect. GARY WEBSTER: I support the motion, because it allows for flexibility so that the Holy Spirit has the opportunity to move appropriately. In the current situation, if we read the vows publicly, then we have to share them all. Now, where there is no non-Seventh-day Adventist present, that is often a good thing, because it reminds our members of the key points of our faith, but where there are non-Adventists present�and we hope there are, because it is a tremendous evangelistic possibility and opportunity to help people�it is dangerous evangelistically, because we spread all these truths in front of people who have not had the opportunity to process them, and really, this is not in agreement with what Jesus said: �I have things to say, but you cannot bear them now� (see John 16:12). And the same with Ellen White's counsel in the book Evangelism about presenting truths slowly. So, Mr. Chairman, I think that this proposal allows us to be flexible and gives the Holy Spirit the opportunity to move. Finally, the three vows present a biblical foundation that we have. They are Adventist. People have to be exposed to our fundamentals. They are practical. They are mission-focused and very relational. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. JAY GALLIMORE: I appreciate the input from the other divisions, but the rest of us have not had a chance to see this. Changing the baptismal vows should have the same courtesy as changing a fundamental belief. I would like to have this dissipated throughout the world field to conferences and unions, for them to be able to give input, before bringing this to a General Conference session. The abbreviated form doesn't even mention the Sabbath, for instance. This needs a lot of discussion; it is very sensitive. Mr. Chairman, I move that we refer this back to the Church Manual Committee for input from the world field, from conferences, unions, and divisions, including frontline workers, before bringing this kind of major change before a General Conference session. LOWELL C. COOPER: Thank you very much. We have a motion before us of referral and the purpose of the referral outlined. Brother Gallimore, could you, if you have a written motion, share that with the folks here at the table? This motion requires a second. It is debatable and amendable and requires a simple majority. Is there support for the motion? Yes, we see that. Now the motion to refer is open for discussion. Anyone wish to speak to that point? VERNON B. PARMENTER: Mr. Chairman, could I just make a comment while some folks are coming to the microphone? I understand that my comment does not address exactly what Elder Gallimore is suggesting, and that is that it be shared with all the conferences and frontline workers. But I do understand that some months ago our undersecretary sent to all the delegates the materials that we are considering here. It was available also on the Internet for people to view and see. So this should not be the first time that at least our delegation has seen the documents. DUNCAN O. MUMBO: I think it would be wise for us to refer it, because we have 28 fundamental beliefs and only 13 baptismal vows. And number 11, for example, is basically not a doctrine, and not all of them are fundamental beliefs. Other numbers are merged together. ONAOLAPO AJIBADE: I believe that if we adopt the alternative, we will begin a very dangerous trend in the church. The public affirmation is to assure the church that the person joining the church really believes our fundamental beliefs. Therefore, we are to give the church that this person is joining the greater consideration. I have heard it said that we have adopted this alternative because of non-Adventists, but I would like to say that to the church, the prospective joining is more important. I will support the fact that we should refer it back. BRIAN BULL: I am very uncomfortable with this proposal, for the following reasons. The Adventist Church has claimed since its inception that it has no creed, except the Bible. One of our founders, John Loughborough, said, �The first step of apostasy is to get a creed telling us what to believe. The second is to make that creed a test of fellowship. The third is to try members by that creed. The fourth is to denounce as heretics those who do not believe that creed. The fifth is to commence persecution against such.� I strongly support the motion to refer. BASIL HALL: The material we use to give Bible studies does not necessarily cover the 28 or 27 fundamental beliefs. So for you now to ask baptismal candidates to swear before the church that they will abide by the 27 when they have been taught only 24, or even 12, is not honest. So I would like this to be referred. GEORGE BAXEN: I wish to speak in favor of the motion to refer, because I think that as a church we have become sensitized to the fact that many of our members are leaving through the back door. We assume that all fundamental beliefs have been presented to newcomers of the church. So I think that as a church we need to think very soberly before we tamper with the baptismal vows. We should be thorough in preparing candidates for baptism. ROSCOE J. HOWARD: Mr. Chairman, I would rise to speak against the motion to refer. First, I think the operative word is alternative. Those who do not particularly like this vow do not have to use it. Second, it puts the onus on the individuals who are preparing candidates for baptism to make sure they have been thoroughly indoctrinated with the fundamental beliefs. And I think that would also add enticement to those non-Adventists who may be relatives or friends who are there to ask, �Well, what is it that you believe?� So I rise to speak against the referral. STEPHEN GUPTILL: I also oppose the referral. As was mentioned earlier, the Church Manual does give flexibility for the baptismal vows, and I would like to see that flexibility remain here. If the church is uncomfortable with the alternative, we can use the one that's already suggested. KENAOPE KENAOPE: I stand to oppose the referral. As the previous speakers have said, this is an alternative. TOR E. TJERANSEN: I stand to speak against the motion to refer. The grounds for referral were that it was not widely disseminated in the church. But this was discussed at Annual Council in October 2004 with all the union presidents present. DARREN CROFT: I am a church pastor with many young people in my church, and this new alternative does not replace the original baptismal vow. We need to keep this relevant in its wording, understandable in its wording, and this gives me an alternative in my church that the youth will clearly understand, but it is supportive of us as an Adventist Church and all that we stand for. LOWELL C. COOPER: Do you wish to close the discussion? [The body voted to close the discussion.] We will now vote on the motion that is on the floor, which is a motion to refer this item back to the Church Manual Committee. [The motion to refer was lost.] The main motion is now before us, to adopt the wording that is on page 45. [The main motion, with the wording on page 45, was voted.] VERNON B. PARMENTER: Mr. Chairman, item 403, page 46, entitled �Alternative Method for Membership Transfer,� is a new section that reads, beginning on line 10, �Alternative Method for Membership Transfer�A division may approve alternative methods for transferring members from one church to another within the division but when members request transfers to a church in another division, the above �Method of Granting Letters of Thanks'��that is, the normal method of granting letters of transfer��must be followed.� Perhaps a note of explanation, Mr. Chairman. One or two divisions have been experimenting to see if they can improve the process by which members are transferred from one church to another, and in one particular case they are having members who desire to move from one church to another and are about to leave their home church secure a card or letter that indicates that they are in good and regular standing. This card or letter is valid for a period of three to six months. Members present this to the church in which they wish to secure membership. They are voted as members, and on the card is the name of the clerk of the church that the members left. The clerk of the members' new church can then communicate with the previous church of these members, indicating that they've joined another church, and so the previous church can then vote to remove them from their list of members. I move that we approve this new section. [The motion was seconded and voted.] VERNON B. PARMENTER: The next item, Mr. Chairman, is 405, on page 48. This concerns rebaptism. [Elder Parmenter then explained the rationale behind the proposed amendment to the Church Manual, entitled �Rebaptism,� quoting from both biblical and Spirit of Prophecy sources.] Mr. Chairman, I move these amendments. [Seconded.] LOWELL C. COOPER: The floor is open for questions, comments, observations. GEORGE W. REID: I think that the committee has done a very good job in the restructuring of this statement, and I am particularly satisfied that they have added the section at the close, which deals with a kind of abuse that has taken place in some quarters. Baptism is substituted for repentance and reformation in some cases. GIOVANNI LEONARDI: I wish I had the time to think a little more about the suggestion, but I can say that I agree on the majority of what is said. But I have a problem. Suppose a person comes from a different community�for instance, when he was baptized he believed that the Holy Spirit was not a person. Can I receive him as a member if he is not rebaptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit? LOWELL C. COOPER: You have posed a question for us. Is someone prepared to answer that? ANGEL RODRÍGUEZ: This is probably an issue in which there may be different opinions. It seems to me that those who have studied with this individual should encourage rebaptism, because we do follow the scriptural directive that baptism should be in the name of the Trinity. But it seems to me that this may not be the place to bring up cases and try to decide how to address them. It may be better to deal with the principles involved in the proposed changes. LOWELL C. COOPER: Thank you. EDWIN GULFAN: I am pleased with this provision. I am speaking particularly about one situation that is not covered in this recommendation. I am referring to children of Adventist parents who, because of parental and other pressures, were baptized into the church at too young an age. Some of these, during their growth in later years, wish to reaffirm their commitment to Christ. I believe rebaptism is a very personal matter; it's the strong personal conviction of the individual that should be determined and studied by every minister involved in cases of rebaptism. [A number of individuals spoke to this proposal regarding rebaptism.] LOWELL C. COOPER: Do you wish to end discussion? [Discussion was ended by a two-thirds majority.] We will now vote on the motion, which encompasses the wording on pages 48-50. [The motion was voted.] VERNON B. PARMENTER: Mr. Chairman, we will now take up item 408, page 53, and item 411, page 56. We are addressing both these items in order to make sure that two sections of the Church Manual agree with each other. Both have to do with the disposal of the emblems at a Communion service. [Both items concerning the disposal of the emblems at a Communion service were moved, seconded, and voted.] Mr. Chairman, item 409, on page 54, has to do with the place of music in worship, especially as it relates to choirs and musicians. [The various changes were explained.] I move that we approve the changes. [Seconded.] DIONISIO OLIVO: I believe, Mr. Chairman, that we should leave �They [choir members and other musicians] should be members of the church, or Sabbath School, or the Adventist Youth Society� instead of making the proposed change, which states, �It is preferable that they be members . . .� I also want to add that one of the most controversial issues in the Seventh-day Adventist Church right now is music and worship. And I don't think that opening the door for nonmembers to be part of our worship in music is going to help in solving the controversy. PAUL PETERSEN: I want to speak in favor of the motion. I certainly want to recommend that it be changed from �They should be� to �It is preferable that they be.� I am one of the many people in parts of the world who became Seventh-day Adventists because they were invited, while not members, to take part in the choir. HALYNA TASHCHUK: In our Adventist schools we have many non-Adventist, nonbaptized students who are members of a choir, and it would be a discrimination not to allow them to sing together with Adventist students in the worship. DUNCAN O. MUMBO: Mr. Chairman, I want to address the word preferable. Where we come from, there is another matter that needs attention. Take polygamy, for example. Polygamists come to the church. They worship with the people. Now, if we agree that Sabbath school members are also allowed to sing in the choir, this is going to create more tension for us. DIONISIO OLIVO: If we use the term preferable, even nonmembers of the church are going to be able to participate. I move that it should read should and not preferable. [This motion was seconded.] LUIS M. CABERA ARIASI: I feel that the language should not be so exclusive, because I know of instances in which young people who have participated in the music of worship service later became members of the church. BRIAN MERCER: I am the principal of a Seventh-day Adventist high school, and it would preclude half my choir members if this motion went through. I am speaking against the motion. Some of those students join our church in later years, and I believe that we will be worse off if we support this motion. AIRA ARINA: I am really against the amendment. I have come from a youth church, I am a leader, and I would say that we have involved many people in music ministry and that is why they have been baptized. If we want young people to involve themselves in the church, and if we say they should be baptized before they can serve in music ministry, that's not right. JOHN MC GHEE: I speak against the amendment. The reason is that many times as a worship leader I like to invite various members of the congregation to join me up front to sing a phrase, or part of the song, and to participate. There would be no way for a music leader to know if that person is a member, even of Sabbath school or the Adventist Youth group, and since this amendment seems to refer to all people who participate in music up front, it would be very difficult to really manage that. ARMANDO MIRANDA: Let me tell you, brothers and sisters, that when I was a non-Seventh-day Adventist, I was invited to come and be part of the choir of the church, and that was the reason I came to the church and accepted our Lord and Savior. LOWELL C. COOPER: Thank you very much. We have a motion to amend. That is the active motion on the floor. And we will vote on that. The motion to amend involves striking �It is preferable that they� (on line 15) and replacing it with the original wording, �They should.� [The amendment was lost.] We now go to the main motion, which would be the wording as it is found on page 54. [The motion was voted.] VERNON B. PARMENTER: Mr. Chairman, now we go to item 415, pages 62 and 63, concerning the Personal Ministries Department. [The proposed changes were explained. A motion to accept the recommendation was made and seconded.] JONATHAN KUNTARAF: I just would like to give an explanation as to why we need to adopt these amendments. We know that personal ministries has a lot of activities. In some big churches we can see the need of having a personal ministries assistant who will be in charge of small group ministries, Bible correspondence schools, Ingathering, and so forth. LOWELL C. COOPER: Thank you. ROYDON RICHARDSON: I understand that not all divisions have the Ingathering department or coordinator in personal ministries, and I'm wondering whether that's appropriate to combine it here in this section. LOWELL C. COOPER: Thank you. Do we have a response, Elder Parmenter? VERNON B. PARMENTER: Mr. Chairman, I guess the same argument could be made under the personal ministries council (although I'm not sure if I'm understanding the comment fully), but many churches do not have enough personnel to service all of the positions, and so they don't appoint them. But when it comes to Ingathering, I understand, and maybe Jonathan Kuntaraf can explain it for us, that Ingathering is always the responsibility of the Personal Ministries Department, but maybe I'm wrong. ROYDON RICHARDSON: Mr. Chairman, in the Trans-European Division the Ingathering coordinator is not part of the Personal Ministries Department, and in most of our unions where Ingathering takes place the coordinator is usually connected with the Adventist Development and Relief Agency. [Discussion continued; different aspects relating to the Personal Ministries Department were discussed.] LOWELL C. COOPER: I take it you're ready to vote. [The motion was voted.] VERNON B. PARMENTER: Mr. Chairman, the next item, 419, is on page 70, and concerns the Publishing Ministries Department. This is an entirely new section again, and I will read lines 11-13: �The Publishing Ministries Department is organized to coordinate and promote literature evangelism in the local church under the supervision of the Publishing Ministries Council and the appropriate publishing organization for the territory.� [An explanation of this addition to the Church Manual was made.] I would emphasize that this is not talking about conference or union or division levels, but about the appointment of a publishing ministries coordinator and a publishing ministries council in the local church setting. I move it, Mr. Chairman. [The motion was seconded and voted.] VERNON B. PARMENTER: Mr. Chairman, I notice that I missed one in sequence. If I could take you to item 416, page 64, concerning the Sabbath School Department. Again, this has to do with music in the churches, and it is designed to be a little more inclusive, because in some churches there are no organists or pianists. It reads, �In Sabbath Schools which use pianists and/or organists, such musicians are appointed by the Sabbath School Council.� I move it, Mr. Chairman. [The motion was seconded and voted.] VERNON B. PARMENTER: Mr. Chairman, item 422, page 73. A fairly simple item. We come to the work of the Nominating Committee, and we wish, on lines 43 and 44, to include the office of Bible school coordinator and publishing ministries coordinator. I so move. [The motion was seconded and voted.] The next item, 413, on page 58, is regarding the church board. Again a similar matter. The publishing ministries coordinator and Bible school coordinator are members of the church board. I so move. [Seconded.] LOWELL C. COOPER: Is there any discussion? BUROMBO MUDUMO: I'm surprised that the Adventist Men's Organization is not included. Everyone else is represented on the church board�the youth, the women, the eager beavers, you name them. But AMO, a very crucial department of the church, is not represented on the church board. I would like to move that AMO be a member of the church board. [Seconded.] LOWELL C. COOPER: There is a motion before us. AMO stands for Adventist Men's Organization? Is that correct? BUROMBO MUDUMO: Yes, that is correct. [It was then voted to add Adventist Men's Organization to the list of members on the church board.] LOWELL C. COOPER: We are back to the main motion, and are ready to vote. [The motion to add to the membership of the church board and its meetings was voted.] VERNON B. PARMENTER: Mr. Chairman, the next item, 414, on page 60, has to do with the Personal Ministries Department. It is to simply add the publishing ministries coordinator to the personal ministries council. I move it. [Seconded.] LOWELL C. COOPER: Any questions or comments? We are ready to vote. [The motion was voted.] Pastor Bayne, you would like us to hear you on the earlier action regarding the church board composition? Is that correct? CARLYLE BAYNE: The problem with that is that Women's Ministries is a department in its own right. Adventist Men is not a department in its own right. Adventist Men and Dorcas are in fact under the purview of the Personal Ministries Department. So I think you are opening a dangerous door there. Because if you do that, then the Dorcas leader should also be a member of the church board, and then you need to take it in reverse and create a Dorcas Department and an Adventist Men's Department. The Adventist Men's Organization is represented on the church board by the personal ministries director. LOWELL C. COOPER: Thank you, Elder Bayne. We have voted on the item; the only way I suppose we can reopen it is if there is a motion to reconsider. Hearing no motion, we'll pass on. VERNON B. PARMENTER: Mr. Chairman, we come now to item 417, page 65, concerning the Department of Women's Ministries. And here we deal with the objectives of the ministry and just a few amendments. [The amendments were moved, seconded, and voted.] JUAN R. PRESTOL: Mr. Chairman, it seems to me that the objections that were raised by Carlyle Bayne is something that the body should express itself about. And it was voted very quickly. It seems to me that what he said makes sense. If we are going to vote the Adventist Men's Organization as part of the board, then the Dorcas also should be considered somehow. And it seems to me that the body should express itself about it. I would like to make a motion to reconsider that action. I move to reconsider. LOWELL C. COOPER: There is a motion to reconsider? VERNON B. PARMENTER: It's item number 413, page 58, concerning the church board and its meetings. LOWELL C. COOPER: All right, Brother Prestol, did you vote in favor of the item? JUAN R PRESTOL: Mr. Chairman, I voted for it, but it seems as though what Pastor Bayne is saying makes sense. LOWELL C. COOPER: If you voted in favor, if you voted with the majority on that item, then you are entitled to make a motion to reconsider. The motion of reconsideration is before us. Is that supported? Thank you. We have support. Now we are opening discussion on the motion to reconsider the item 413. Any comment on that? [It was then pointed out that the Church Manual, under the heading �The Church Board and Its Meetings,� makes provisions for the Community Services and/or Dorcas leader to serve on the church board.] DEBBIE-ANN SCOTT: I propose that we include the AY leader as a member of the church board, because it will help to give the Youth Department a stronger voice. LOWELL C. COOPER: Thank you, sister. Do you speak in favor of the motion to reconsider? DEBBIE-ANN SCOTT: Yes. LOWELL C. COOPER: Thank you. JAY GALLIMORE: Just a question for clarification, Mr. Chairman. I have no problem in principle with men's ministry. I think that is a wonderful idea. My question is Who does the person on the church board representing men's ministry relate to at conference, division, or General Conference? VERNON B. PARMENTER: Where the Church Manual deals with the Personal Ministry Department, it simply says that the Adventist Men is another subsidiary group within the Personal Ministries Department. LOWELL C. COOPER: We go to Brother Chibiya. MUYOYA CHIBIYA: I speak against the motion to reconsider, because the Church Manual already states, �Additional members of the board may be elected by the church if desired.� And my local church has taken advantage of that clause to put people on the board when it is so desired. LOWELL C. COOPER: The motion before us is one of reconsidering item 413. [The motion was lost.] VERNON B. PARMENTER: The next item, 418, on pages 66-69, is on the Children's Ministries Department, and here we have almost a rewrite of this section. [Elder Parmenter read several pages of amendments.] I move it, Mr. Chairman. LOWELL C. COOPER: Thank you; is there support? All right, we're going to suspend business in three minutes, so we will take the speakers that we have in order. Is there anyone to speak on this item? JESUS URIARTE: Yes, Mr. Chairman. Could I have a little bit of history as to how this came about and who was involved in the redrafting of this entire section? VERNON B. PARMENTER: Mr. Chairman, Mrs. Linda Coe is the children's ministries director, but she indicated to us in the Church Manual Committee that this resulted from all of the children's ministries leaders meeting together, working on this document, and preparing it. It went through several drafts and was worked on extensively, and was then passed on to the Church Manual Committee. LOWELL C. COOPER: We have one more speaker. RONALD HERBERT: Yes. The amendment proposes that women's ministries may work with other entities. I'm just wondering whether that word entities is correct. Should it be ministries or departments? Entities indicates other bodies outside of the local church. LOWELL C. COOPER: Thank you for the observation. Elder Parmenter, could you comment? VERNON B. PARMENTER: Mr. Chairman, I think it could include other bodies besides the departments. I think the wording was intentional. Sister Coe may wish to indicate otherwise, but I think that it was intended to be fairly widely inclusive. LOWELL C. COOPER: Thank you. We have additional people coming to the microphones, and I think that in view of the time we're going to need to suspend the business at this point and bring on the special item that was scheduled for 5:00. Thank you very much for your help this afternoon. LINCOLN E. STEED: Good afternoon. My name is Lincoln Steed, and I'm editor of Liberty magazine. I'm sure you remember that at the very beginning of His earthly ministry Jesus began by speaking of liberty, religious liberty. Then at the very end, just before His crucifixion, He gathered His disciples and others around him on the Mount of Olives. He spoke of wars, troubles, and a restriction of religious liberty. So our church at its very beginning was concerned about religious liberty. We've always been, as a people, most preoccupied with speaking of the need of Christian liberty and the threats that are prophesied to come against that. Early on, our church did a great work with A. T. Jones and the American Sentinel. And for 100 years following that magazine, Liberty magazine has been proclaiming Christian liberty, and the liberty as it relates to end-time events, to our secular leaders. It's very wonderful today as I look at the magazine that I edit, and recognize that of the nearly 200,000 copies we send out, most of them are going to leaders in the country, from the president to senators, representatives, community leaders, mayors, judges, and so on. These people are reading. They see the signs around them, and they need to know what these things mean. I'm sure you're all aware that today in England they are in a panic with terrorist attacks there in the train stations and on a bus. These are reminders to us that our liberties will soon be restricted, as Jesus so clearly said when He spoke of wars and rumors of wars and of being delivered up to persecution. In 1888 Ellen White, when she was speaking about the American Sentinel (which was closed preemptively because some criticized it for being too religious, not secular enough), said that �there have been surprising indifference and inactivity in this time of peril. Truth, present truth, is what the people need; and if the startling significance of the movements now in progress in regard to the religious amendments had been realized by our brethren in every church; if they had discerned in these movements the plain, direct fulfillment of prophecy, calling upon them to arouse to the demands of the crisis, they would not now be in such stupor and deathlike slumber� (Testimonies, vol. 5, p. 718). I'm sure that I'm not alone among our editors in believing that sometimes our people's response to what we're trying to do in our various outreaches, particularly our printing outreach, resembles a deathlike slumber, but as we come to our one hundredth anniversary of Liberty magazine this year, we're telling ourselves that we've carried forward the command of God for 100 years, while at the same time recognizing that 100 years is way too many to still be on this earth. As we come to that point I want to remind you, with a little video that we'll show in a second, of the challenges that are before us, and to remind you again that our Lord expects us, as Ellen White says, �to give the trumpet a certain sound��not an echoing tinniness, like some of these PA systems have, but a clear clarion call so that those panicky people in the subway, those desperate people and many others like them fleeing from the White House and the Congress and the Senate, and many others like them need to know that amid these panics something is happening, that God's Spirit is available even as others attempt to restrict expression of religion. Thank you for your attention, and we have a couple of minutes to view this video. [The video was presented.] One hundred years is a long time, and not only will we not personally live to see that, but I do not believe that the Lord will allow this world to go on that long before it all wraps up. Let's bow our heads for a word of benediction. LOWELL C. COOPER, Chair
NOMINATING COMMITTEE REPORT #8
EXPRESSION OF APPRECIATION
GROWING IN CHRIST--ADDITION TO THE STATEMENT OF FUNDAMENTAL
BELIEFS
Growing in Christ
By His death on the cross Jesus tri-umphed over the forces of evil. He who subjugated the demonic spirits during His earthly ministry has broken their power and made certain their ultimate doom. Jesus' victory gives us victory over the evil forces that still seek to control us, as we walk with Him in peace, joy, and assurance of His love. Now the Holy Spirit dwells within us and empowers us. Continually committed to Jesus as our Saviour and Lord, we are set free from the burden of our past deeds. No longer do we live in the darkness, fear of evil powers, ignorance, and meaninglessness of our former way of life. In this new freedom in Jesus, we are called to grow into the likeness of His character, communing with Him daily in prayer, feeding on His Word, meditating on it and on His providence, singing His prais-es, gathering together for worship, and par-ticipating in the mission of the Church. As we give ourselves in loving service to those around us and in witnessing to His salva-tion, His constant presence with us through the Spirit transforms every moment and every task into a spiritual experience. (Ps 1:1, 2; 23:4; 77:11, 12; Col 1:13, 14; 2:6, 14, 15; Luke 10:17-20; Eph 5:19, 20; 6:12-18; 1 Thess 5:23; 2 Peter 2:9; 3:18; 2 Cor. 3:17, 18; Phil 3:7-14; 1 Thess 5:16-18; Matt 20:25-28; John 20:21; Gal 5:22-25; Rom 8:38, 39; 1 John 4:4; Heb 10:25.)
(This fundamental belief should be numbered as #11 [after #10, The
Experience of Salvation and before #11, The Church].)
DISSOLUTION-GENERAL CONFERENCE CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
DELETION
ARTICLE XXII--DISSOLUTION
DISSOLUTION--GENERAL CONFERENCE CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS ADDITION
Article XIII--Dissolution, to read as follows:
ARTICLE XIII--DISSOLUTION
Executive Committee. The dissolution process shall be in harmony with the requirements of all applicable federal and state laws.
AMENDMENTS--GENERAL CONFERENCE CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS AMENDMENT
ARTICLE XIV--AMENDMENTS
FUNDS--CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS AMENDMENT
ARTICLE XVII--FUNDS
b. A percentage of the tithe receiptsof the union of churches shall be forwarded to the division in accordance with the General Conference Working Policy.
c. Regular mission offerings.
d. Special gifts. Proceeds from thematurities of planned giving designated for the General Conference. COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE-- CHURCH MANUAL AMENDMENT
Courtship and Marriage
The church recognizes that it is the prerogative of the individual to make the ?nal decision relative to the choice of a marriage partner. However, it is the hope of the church that, if the member chooses a marriage partner who is not a member of the church, the couple will realize and appreciate that the Seventh-day Adventist minister, who has covenanted to uphold the principles outlined above, should not be expected to perform such a marriage. If an individual does enter into such a marriage, the church is to demonstrate love and concern with the purpose of encouraging the couple toward complete unity in Christ. (For further information on the subject of marriage, see Chapter 15, Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage.)
BAPTISMAL VOWS AND BAPTISM-- CHURCH MANUAL AMENDMENT
Baptismal Vow and Baptism
Baptismal Vow--Candidates for baptism or those being received into fellowship by profession of faith shall affirm their acceptance of the doctrinal beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the presence of the church or other properly appointed body. (See p. 31.) The minister or elder should address the following questions to the candidate(s), whose reply may be by verbal assent or by raising the hand.
Vow
1. Do you believe there is one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a unity of three coeternal Persons?
2. Do you accept the death of JesusChrist on Calvary as the atoning sacri?ce for your sins and believe that by God's grace through faith in His shed blood you are saved from sin and its penalty?
3. Do you accept Jesus Christ as yourLord and personal Savior believing that God, in Christ, has forgiven your sins and given you a new heart, and do you renounce the sinful ways of the world?
4. Do you accept by faith the righteous-ness of Christ, your Intercessor in the heavenly sanctuary, and accept His promise of transforming grace and power to live a loving, Christ centered life in your home and before the world?
5. Do you believe that the Bible isGod's inspired Word, the only rule of faith and practice for the Christian? Do you covenant to spend time regularly in prayer and Bible study?
6. Do you accept the Ten Commandments as a transcript of the character of God and a revelation of His will? Is it your purpose by the power of the indwelling Christ to keep this law, including the fourth commandment, which requires the observance of the seventh day of the week as the Sabbath of the Lord and the memorial of Creation?
7. Do you look forward to the sooncoming of Jesus and the blessed hope when "this mortal shall . . . put on immortality"? As you prepare to meet the Lord, will you witness to His loving salvation by using your talents in personal soul-winning endeavor to help others to be ready for His glorious appearing?
8. Do you accept the biblical teachingof spiritual gifts and believe that the gift of prophecy is one of the identifying marks of the remnant church?
9. Do you believe in church organiza-tion? Is it your purpose to worship God and to support the church through your tithes and offerings and by your personal effort and in?uence?
10. Do you believe that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit; and will you honor God by caring for it, avoiding the use of that which is harmful; abstaining from all unclean foods; from the use, manufacture, or sale of alcoholic beverages; the use, manufacture, or sale of tobacco in any of its forms for human consumption; and from the misuse of or traf?cking in narcotics or other drugs?
11. Do you know and understand thefundamental Bible principles as taught by the Seventh-day Adventist Church? Do you purpose, by the grace of God, to ful?ll His will by ordering your life in harmony with these principles?
12. Do you accept the New Testament teaching of baptism by immersion and desire to be so baptized as a public expression of faith in Christ and His forgiveness of your sins?
13. Do you accept and believe that theSeventh-day Adventist Church is the remnant church of Bible prophecy and that people of every nation, race, and language are invited and accepted into its fellowship? Do you desire to be a member of this local congregation of the world church?
Vow (Alternative)
1. Do you accept Jesus Christ as yourpersonal Savior and Lord, and do you desire to live your life in a saving relationship with Him?
2. Do you accept the teachings of theBible as expressed in the Statement of Fundamental Beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and do you pledge by God's grace to live your life in harmony with these teachings?
3. Do you desire to be baptized as a public expression of your belief in Jesus Christ, to be accepted into the fellowship of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and to support the Church and its mission as a faithful steward by your personal in?uence, tithes and offerings, and a life of service?
ALTERNATIVE METHOD FOR MEMBERSHIP TRANSFER (CHURCH MEMBERSHIP)-- CHURCH MANUAL ADDITION
Alternative Method for Membership
REBAPTISM--CHURCH MANUAL AMENDMENT
Rebaptism
Rebaptism is specifically mentioned in only one biblical passage (Acts 19:1-7), where the apostle Paul endorsed it for a group of about 12 believers. Their previous baptism had been that of John, which was a baptism of repentance. In addition to repentance, Christian baptism is associated with a clear understanding of and personal commitment to the gospel and the teachings of Jesus and a reception of the Holy Spirit. With this increased understanding and commitment, it was acceptable for them to be rebaptized.
Individuals From Other Christian Communions-On biblical grounds, individuals from other Christian communions who have embraced the Seventh-day Adventist message and who have previously been baptized by immersion, may request rebaptism. The following examples suggest that rebaptism may not be required. Evidently the instance of Acts 19 was a special one, for Apollos is reported to have received John's baptism (Acts 18:25), and there is no record that he was rebaptized. Apparently some of the apostles themselves received John's baptism (John 1:35-40), but there is no record of subsequent baptism.
On the basis of acceptance of signi?cant new truths, Ellen G White supports rebaptism as the Spirit leads the new believer to request it. This follows the developmental pattern of Acts 19. Individuals who have previously experienced believer baptism should evaluate their new religious experience and determine whether rebaptism may be desirable. There is to be no urging. "This [rebaptism] is a subject which each individual must conscientiously take his position upon in the fear of God. This subject should be carefully presented in the spirit of tenderness and love. Then the duty of urging belongs to no one but God; give God a chance to work with His Holy Spirit upon the minds, so that the individual will be perfectly convinced and satis?ed in regard to this advanced step."-Evangelism, p. 373.
Apostasy and Rebaptism-Although apostasy clearly existed in the apostolic church (e.g. Heb. 6:4-6), Scripture does not address the question of rebaptism.
Ellen G. White supports rebaptism when members have fallen away in apostasy and have lived in such a manner that the faith and principles of the church have been publicly violated. Then they should, in case of reconversion and application for church membership, enter the church as in the beginning, by baptism. (See Evangelism, pp 189, 197.)
"The Lord calls for a decided reformation. And when a soul is truly reconverted, let him be rebaptized. Let him renew his covenant with God, and God will renew His covenant with him."-Evangelism, p. 375. Clearly what is referred to here is not a recurring spiritual revival in a believer's experience, but a radical change in life.
Inappropriate Rebaptism-On the basis of biblical teaching and the guidance of Ellen G White, rebaptism should occur only in special circumstances and should be relatively rare. To administer it repeatedly, or on an emotional basis, lessens the meaning of baptism and represents a misunderstanding of the gravity and signi?cance which Scripture assigns to it. A church member whose spiritual experience has become cold needs a spirit of repentance which leads to revival and reformation. This experience will be followed by participation in the ordinance of foot-washing and the Lord's Supper to signify renewed cleansing and fellowship in the Body of Christ. Therefore, rebaptism is not necessary.
Properly applied, baptism becomes the avenue of induction into the church. Baptism is fundamentally the pledge of entrance into Christ's saving covenant, intended to be permanent, and should be treated as a joyful and solemn welcome to the family of God.
DUTIES OF DEACONS, THE-- CHURCH MANUAL AMENDMENT
The Duties of Deacons--The work of the deacons involves a wide range of practical services for the church including:
1. Assistance at Services and Meetings--No change
Care and Maintenance of Church Property--No change
CONDUCTING THE COMMUNION SERVICE--CHURCH MANUAL AMENDMENT
Conducting the Communion Service--Length of Service--No change
An offering for the poor is often taken as the congregation leaves. After the service the deacons and deaconesses clear the table, collect glasses, and respectfully dispose of any bread or wine left over by pouring out the wine and burying, burning, or disposing of the bread in another appropriate manner but in no event returning it to common usage.
PLACE OF MUSIC IN WORSHIP-- CHURCH MANUAL AMENDMENT
Providers of Church Music--Sacred music is an important part of public worship. The church needs to exercise care in the selecting of choir members and other musicians who will rightly represent the principles of the church. Choir members and other musicians occupy a conspicuous place in the services of the church. Their musical ability is only one of the quali?cations they should have. It is preferable that they be members of the church, or the Sabbath School, or the Adventist Youth Society and in their personal appearance and manner of dress set an example in modesty and decorum. Consecrated individuals with exemplary characters, appropriately attired, provide a positive influence when involved in the musical features of the services. Any plan concerning the wearing of choir robes is optional on the part of the church.
Churches may choose to have multiple choirs. The organization of children's choirs is to be encouraged as an effective means of spiritual nurture, bonding to the church family, and outreach.
SELECTING CHOIR LEADERS-- CHURCH MANUAL AMENDMENT
Selecting Choir Leaders--Great care--No change
Choir leaders should work in close collaboration with the pastor or church elder in order that the special musical selections harmonize with the theme of the sermon. The choir leader is under the direction of the pastor or elders of the church and does not work independently of them. The choir leader should counsel with them, not only as to the music to be rendered, but also concerning the selection of singers and musicians. The choir leader is not an ex of?cio member of the church board.
PERSONAL MINISTRIES DEPARTMENT, THE-- CHURCH MANUAL AMENDMENT
The Personal Ministries Department
The Personal Ministries Department provides resources and trains church members to unite their efforts with the ministry and church of?cers in the ?nal proclamation of the gospel of salvation in Christ. The aim of the department is to enlist every member in active soul winning service for God.
Personal Ministries Council--The Personal Ministries Council guides the outreach (missionary) efforts of the local church and works under the direction of the church board. The council should meet at least once each month. This council shall consist of the following: Personal Ministries leader (chairperson), Personal Ministries secretary, pastor, an elder, church treasurer, Dorcas Society leader, Dorcas Society secretary, Adventist Men's organization leader, Interest coordinator, Health Ministries leader, Communication secretary, Sabbath School superintendent, Youth leader, coordinator for Ministry to People with Disabilities, Children's Ministries coordinator, Women's Ministries leader, director of Community Services center or Community Services leader, Bible School coordinator, and other members as deemed necessary. The Personal Ministries Council may assign subcommittees for specialized tasks as deemed necessary. All subcommittees report to the Personal Ministries Council. (See Notes, #1, p. 125.)
Personal Ministries Leader--The Personal Ministries leader is elected by the church to lead in training and directing the church in active outreach (missionary) service and is chairperson of the Personal Ministries Council. The Personal Ministries leader may need assistants who would coordinate the Bible Correspondence School, Bible Evangelism, literature distribution, Ingathering, small group ministries, member training, and other means to enhance soul winning. It is the leader's duty to present to the church, in the monthly Sabbath Personal Ministries service and in the church business meetings, a report on the total outreach (missionary) activities of the church.
Personal Ministries Secretary--No change
Community Services/Dorcas Society--No change
Community Services Center--Where a church operates a Community Services Center, the Personal Ministries Council is the governing committee of the center. The director of the center is appointed by the Personal Ministries Council and is a member of the council. (See Notes, #4, p. 125.)
Adventist Men--Adventist Men is another subsidiary group within the Personal Ministries Department. (See Notes, #3, p. 124.)
Ministry to People with Disabilities--No change
Bible School Coordinator--The Bible School coordinator is elected to organize and coordinate the church's Bible School outreach ministry to the local community. The Bible School coordinator should work in close cooperation with the pastor, the Church Interest coordinator and the Personal Ministries leader. (See Notes p. 125.)
PUBLISHING MINISTRIES DEPARTMENT--Church Manual ADDITION
Publishing Ministries Department
The Publishing Ministries Department is organized to coordinate and promote literature evangelism in the local church under the supervision of the Publishing Ministries Council and the appropriate publishing organization for the territory. It assists the local church departments in the promotion, sale, and distribution of subscription magazines and other missionary literature. The department works with the pastor and departments of the church in planning for systematic ways to involve the church membership in accomplishing these objectives.
"There are many places in which the voice of the minister cannot be heard, places which can be reached only by our publications,--the books, papers, and tracts filled with the Bible truths that the people need."--Colporteur Ministry, p. 4.
Publishing Ministries Council--The Publishing Ministries Council is appointed by the church board and works under its direction. It shall be chaired by the Publishing Ministries coordinator. The pastor, Personal Ministries leader, and Personal Ministries secretary serve as ex officio members. Committee members shall be chosen based on their interest and experience in literature evangelism. (See Notes #29, p. 124.)
Publishing Ministries Coordinator--The Publishing Ministries coordinator is elected by the church to provide leadership in literature evangelism activities of the church. (See Notes #30, p. 125.)
SABBATH SCHOOL DEPARTMENT, THE--CHURCH MANUAL AMENDMENT
The Pianist and/or Organist--In Sabbath Schools which use pianists and/or organists, such musicians are appointed by the Sabbath School Council.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE--CHURCH MANUAL AMENDMENT
Nominating Committee--No change
Work of the Nominating Committee--As soon as possible after its election, the nominating committee should be called together by the one chosen to act as chairperson. With earnest prayer for guidance the committee should begin its work of preparing a list of names to submit to the church for officers and assistants comprised of members in regular standing on the roll of the church making the appointments. These will be placed in nomination for office and presented to the church at a Sabbath service or at a specially called business meeting of the church. In making their selections, the committee may counsel with others who are well informed. This committee does not nominate either the pastor or the assistant pastor(s). These appointments are made by the executive committee of the conference/mission/field.
The church nominating committee deals with the following:
Such other leadership personnel as the church may deem advisable, except Sabbath School teachers who shall be appointed by the Sabbath School Council and approved by the church board.
CHURCH BOARD AND ITS MEETINGS, THE--CHURCH MANUAL AMENDMENT
The Church Board and Its Meetings Definition and Function--No change
Membership--The following church officers should be included in the church board membership: In many cases two or more of these offices are carried by one individual. Additional members of the board may be elected by the church if desired. The minister appointed by the local ?eld to serve the church as its pastor is always a member of the church board.
Officers--No change
PERSONAL MINISTRIES DEPARTMENT, THE--CHURCH MANUAL AMENDMENT
The Personal Ministries Department
The Personal Ministries Department provides resources and trains church members to unite their efforts with the ministry and church officers in the final proclamation of the gospel of salvation in Christ. The aim of the department is to enlist every member in active soul winning service for God.
Personal Ministries Council--The Personal Ministries Council guides the outreach (missionary) efforts of the local church and works under the direction of the church board. The council should meet at least once each month. This council shall consist of the following: Personal Ministries leader (chairperson), Personal Ministries secretary, Publishing Ministries coordinator, pastor, an elder, church treasurer, Dorcas Society leader, Dorcas Society secretary, Adventist Men's organization leader, Interest coordinator, Health Ministries leader, Communication secretary, Sabbath School superintendent, Youth leader, coordinator for Ministry to People With Disabilities, Children's Ministries coordinator, Women's Ministries leader, director of Community Services center or Community Services leader, and other members as deemed necessary. The Personal Ministries Council may assign subcommittees for specialized tasks as deemed necessary. All subcommittees report to the Personal Ministries Council. (See Notes, #1, p. 123.)
Personal Ministries Leader--The Personal Ministries leader is elected by the church to lead in training and directing the church in active outreach (missionary) service and is chairperson of the Personal Ministries Council. It is the leader's duty to present to the church, in the monthly Sabbath Personal Ministries service and in the church business meetings, a report on the total outreach (missionary) activities of the church.
Personal Ministries Secretary--The Personal Ministries secretary is elected by the church and serves as the representative of the Adventist Book Center for all departments of the church. The secretary works closely with the Personal Ministries leader in developing the outreach (missionary) programs of the church. (See Notes, #2, p. 124.)
Community Services/Dorcas Society--No change
DEPARTMENT OF WOMEN'S MINISTRIES, OBJECTIVES--CHURCH MANUAL AMENDMENT
Department of Women's Ministries
LOWELL C COOPER, Chair |
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