1 July 3, 2005

President's Reelection 2 Morning Devotional 4 Secretary's Report 6 Evening Devotional 9 Treasurer's Report 12 Trans-European Division Report 16 Proceedings 19 Sabbath Sermon 20 North American Pastor Jan Paulsen Division Report 23 Reelected World Nominating Committee Report 31 Church President SPECIAL REPORT Paulsen Reelected for Second Term

BY BILL KNOTT "The Lord is present with the multimedia report, which his wife also ST LOUIS—Delegates representing Spirit," Paulsen continued. "I believe helped to present, highlighted more than 14 million Seventh-day He has guided this congregation, this Adventists involved in outreach efforts Adventists today elected Pastor Jan gathering. If I did not believe that, the to alleviate poverty, assist with job Paulsen to a second five-year term as responsibility that one assumes is too training, and share Bible truth. president of the church's General great to carry. 1 need to know that the "When a church isolates itself from Conference. the environment in which it Paulsen, 70, has served as is placed; when a local con- the church's first officer since gregation forgets the setting in being elected at a special ses- which it is placed, something sion of the church's Executive goes wrong," Paulsen told the Committee in March 1999. Thursday night crowd of more He was subsequently elected than 10,000 in the Edward to a full five-year term at the Jones Dome. "Too often we denomination's 2000 interna- are caught up with ourselves, tional session in Toronto. He our own inner comforts, had previously worked as a strengthening the ties within general vice president of the ourselves, that we forget that General Conference; presi- we are placed in a context. dent of the church's Trans- We are placed in an environ- European Division; and as a ment. We are in a specific pastor, missionary, seminary community for a purpose. We teacher, and college presi- are there to make a dent. A native of Norway, he difference." is only the second non-North Paulsen also specifically American to serve in the addressed the young adults of church's highest leadership the world church near the post since the denomination close of his evening report. "I was organized by 20 want you to come in and to American delegates in Battle I .rttict- with the rest of us," he Creek, Michigan, in 1863. urged those between 15 and The president and his 30 years of age. "I want to wife, Kari, acknowledged the make room for you, for you applause of the delegates and have energies and ideas that guests after the Nominating no one can quite match. If Jan and Kari Paulsen Committee report that rec- you don't find the church ommended his election was interesting, you can make it voted by the assembly. Holy Spirit will be a constant compan- interesting; just don't walk away from "It is a privilege to serve the Lord ion and support, and I believe He it, for walking away is the worst and the church in the leadership role will." possible thing that you can do." that you asked me to fill," Paulsen said. The afternoon vote by the 2,000 The church's world session typically "It is an honor, and I want to express official delegates attending the world selects its lead officer first: the new appreciation for the trust you have meeting endorsed the recommendation president then meets with the placed in me. And I will do my very made by the 196-member Nominating Nominating Committee to help select best to serve the Lord :find His Committee, and came less than 12 other members of the church's church His people as best I know hours after Paulsen's keynote presiden- administrative team. how." tial report on Thursday night. The "Mission Is Our Objective" A Conversation With Pastor Paulsen

BY WILLIAM G. JOHNSSON always strong. Her mind is stronger without intimidation. We often talk Is it true—that this very day, July than her health at times, but she has together about the message and so marks 50 years of your marriage to never looked hack with regrets on forth, and she will sometimes give a Kari? that time we spent in Africa. human dimension to it that I would Yes, that's right. You married and you went into min- otherwise miss, thinking just bibli- Congratulations! You two seem very istry immediately, right? cally or theologically. comfortable with each other. What is the Well, we married and went into a What is your vision or dream for the secret of your relationship? study period. For the first four years or next five years? When you have lived together for so after we married we were in stud- I want the church not to he dis- as long as we have, and found a good ies. She supported me. I pursued full- tracted from what we have already life in it, you become very comfort- time studies, and she was in full-time determined is our focus. I want the able with each other. I think the fact work. church—I want us as leaders to be that we have so many shared values, She has a good theological mind. constantly focused on mission. Mis- not just in faith—though, of course, She does. We met at our training sion is our objective. The benefits faith is the first one. We have shared school in Denmark. We were just 17, that accompany it are the benefits of values, shared interests, shared chil- 18 years of age, beginning theological renewal. As you spend yourself, dren. The more you can share, the ministerial training. She has a very exhausting your energies and they get closer you get to each other. good, very sharp mind. Her mind was replenished, this is how spirituality Looking back over the years, is there early on conditioned for these kinds complements an active life of mis- one highlight that stands out? of things. sion. Also, I think it very important There are some for each of us to become intersections that involved. Particularly to came to he important sharpen the sense of own- as we look back. ership among those who Going to Africa 43 are young and to give to years ago when we them a sense of being were a very young trusted. family, that opened to Many members will con- us a world that we had tinue to pray for you and not known before. It's Kari. Is there a particular the world of the focus you would like them to global church. We have in their prayers? since discovered there That the Lord will give are many, many other us the strength of mind, doors that you have to the Spirit, to do what He walk through, but that has in mind. I would ask first one took us into them also to pray for the the world, away from church, to pray specifically THE FIRST TAKE: Editor William G. Johnsson interviews newly reelected our more sheltered GC president Jan Paulsen. for this rapidly growing community in Europe. international global family Even though that to hold together as one. experience exposed you to medical condi- Does she interact with you in your The family does best as we strengthen tions that seriously affected Kari? speaking and sermons? the bonds that tie us together. Yes. It did. It's the risk and price She does. She is the only one to that you sometimes pay. But Kari was this day who can tell me the truth

ADVENTIST REVIEW, )1.115 2005 (1019) 3 TRANSFORMED IN CHRIST

By the Incarnation Devotional message presented Friday morning, July 1, 2005

n his influential book, The Essence of on the hard drive of Creation, and He, out of Christianity, the German philosopher His great love for humankind, chose to become Ludwig Andreas Feuerbach (1804-1872) like one of them. argued that God was simply a human Celsus, who attacked the Christians with projection. such vigor toward the end of the second century 1 A.D., wrote: "God is good, and beautiful, and Richard Rice, in The Reign of God, declares that "no matter what we learn about the vastness of the blessed, and that in the best and most beautiful universe or the intricacy of the atom, we ourselves degree. But if he came down among men, he are the greatest mystery of all. And the more we must undergo a change, and a change from good learn about ourselves, the more mysterious we to evil, from virtue to vice, from happiness to become" (pp. 96, 97). misery, and from best to worst. Who, then, I suggest, however, that the greatest mystery Glenn Samuels would make choice of such a changer' with which the human mind could ever be con- Ministerial This is precisely the message that John brings. fronted is the mystery of the Incarnation. The Secretary, West John, the last of the original disciples, whose mystery of godliness, God manifested in the Indies Union Gospel differs significantly in content from his flesh, is the basis of every hope, the foundation of other three Gospel-writing companions, seemed our salvation, the source of our transformation, eager to make his point. John, writing from and the reason for our rejoicing (1 Tim. 3:16). Ephesus, according to tradition, sometime around A.D. 100, The Creator becoming flesh—the Divine becoming delivers this: human in the person of Jesus Christ, who was all God and "When the world had its beginning, the word was already all man at the same time—is fundamental and foundational there; and the word was with God; and the word was God. in the transformation of sinners into saints. For the This word was in the beginning with God. He made all Christian, the Incarnation is distinctive and unique—and things and there is not a single thing which exists in this personal. It is in a particular life, in a particular person that world which came into being without him. In him was life "the Word became flesh" (John 1:14, NIV). and the life was the light of men. . . So the word became This is not an idea or philosophy. It is not an ideology or (flesh) a person and took up his abode in our being" (John mere theology. It is not an all-pervasive force. It is in Christ 1:1-14, paraphrased). and Christ alone that God became man. He is the mono- "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, genes [only begotten]. There is none other like Him. because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, This Creator became a creature—He who by the word of that we might live through him" (1 John 4:9). His mouth established this vast universe in all its immeasur- able and inconceivable complexities. The Humanity of Jesus This God, who established millions of galaxies and John's Gospel uncompromisingly stresses the real human- mighty stars not visible to naked mortal eyes; this God, who ity of Jesus. made the world in six days, creating humanity from the dust 1. Jesus was physically tired as He sat by the well of of the ground; this God became flesh. His signature appears Sychar in Samaria (4:6).

4 (1020) ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 3, 2005 2. His disciples offered Him food as Christ, Ellen G. White states: "It is Christ in order that we may he agents an ordinary hungry man (4:31). impossible for us, of ourselves, to escape of transformation through Christ. 3. He had sympathy for those who from the pit of sin in which we are For whether we be doctors or were hungry and with those who were sunken. Our hearts are evil, and we can- patients, presidents or district pastors, afraid (6:5, 20). not change them.... Education, cul- teachers or students, administrators or 4. He knew grief, and He shed tears ture, the exercise of the will, human lecturers, accountants or secretaries— as any mourner might (11:33, 35, 38). effort, all have their proper sphere, but let's be agents of transformation seek- 5. In the agony of the cross, the cry here they are powerless. They may pro- ing to change lives by the Spirit of of His parched lips was "I thirst" duce an outward correctness of behavior, God. (19:28). but they cannot change the heart." Let us lift others, worldwide, with The fourth Gospel shows us a Jesus Left to ourselves, we would self- the hand of love and share with them who was no shadowy, docetic figure. It destruct. Sin, like a cancer, has perme- the word of hope—that He is God shows us one who knew the weariness ated every tissue of the human soul, with us, lifting humanity, saving of an exhausted body and the wounds made painfully evident in acts of bru- humanity, transforming humanity, and of a distressed heart. It is the truly tality (covertly and overtly expressed), preparing humanity to live with human Jesus whom the fourth Gospel in our gross inhumanity one to the Divinity. Eden will be restored, and sets before us. other, even in sacred circles. God and humankind will dwell The saving love of God is revealed together again—this time together for- The Divinity of Jesus in the birth of Christ. For John, the ever—all transformed because Christ On the other hand, there is no purpose of His coming is that we might became "flesh" and dwelt among us. other Gospel writer who sets before us live through Him. It is only as He lives Amen. such a view of the deity of Jesus. in us, transforming us, empowering us, 1. John stresses the preexistence of that we can experience true life—and Jesus: "In the beginning was the Word, only because He became one of us—all . .. and the Word was God" (1:1); and because of His saving love. "Before Abraham was, I am" (8:58). 2. He speaks of the glory that He The Transforming Power of the had with the Father before the world Incarnation was made (17:5). By His becoming one of us, the 3. He speaks again and again of His transforming power of God, in Christ, coming down from heaven (6:33-38). is available and accessible to any and The Hometown Paper 4. No human being took His life every believer. from Him. He had power to lay it This, for John, is the prime purpose for a Worldwide Church down and power to take it up (10:18; of the Incarnation: "God sent his only 19:11). begotten Son into the world, that we Order the Adventist Review before John presents us with a Jesus who might live through him" (1 John 4:9). July 31, 2005 and pay only $31.95 was undeniably human and who yet The Incarnation is the fundamental was undeniably divine. source and foundational platform for for 36 issues. our transformation. The weakest, Name Love and the Incarnation vilest, most wretched recalcitrant sin- The force that moved God to expe- ner, sinking beneath the weight of Address rience the Incarnation, the foundation transgression, asks: Can God change of our transformation, was the very and save a sinner like me? In the City essence of His nature—love. It is a Incarnation, God shouts His response love that is saving and revelational, in an open-ended "Yes, I can, and State/Prov/Code and the mystery of redeeming love will I will!" Send with check to: occupy the minds of the redeemed Paul says, "If any man be in Christ, throughout eternity. he is a new creature" (2 Cor. 5:17). Adventist Review He came down to our level because Transformed from a power-seeking P.O. Box 1119 we could not get up to His, and with despot with a desire to rule into a lov- Hagerstown, MD loving arms He is lifting us up to show ing, caring undershepherd, the individ- 21141. what living is. In this, God's love is ual is called to serve, chosen to model manifested. He is saving us, transform- the life of the transforming Christ. ing us in the process as He reveals My brothers and sisters of God's Himself to us. worldwide Seventh-day Adventist 1-800456 On page 18 of the book Steps to Church, we have been transformed in

ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 2 0 0 5 (1021) 5 REPORT PREPARED FOR THE GC SESSION In a Time of Unprecedented Changes Presented Friday morning, July 1, 2005 Matthew A. Bediako Secretary

he first meeting such as Reorganization South American Division this was held in 1863, We began this quinquennium seri- The work in Brazil was reorganized with 20 delegates attend- ously looking at the growth of the to add an additional union—the West ing. These delegates repre- church in many parts of the world field Central Brazil Union. In 2001 the sented the existing mem- and asking: Is the organization in place Ecuador Attached Field achieved full Tbership at the time: 3,500 Seventh-day strong enough to provide leadership union status. Adventists. At that session the and nurture for new members? General Conference Executive Southern Asia Division Committee consisted of just three Africa Unprecedented growth in India led members. At the 2002 Annual Council we to major reorganization. The division At this fifty-eighth session we esti- voted to reorganize the work in had 350,136 members at the beginning mate the total number of delegates to Africa, south of the Sahara, into three of the quinquennium. By the end of number 2,000, with an additional 600 divisions. As a result, the continent is 2004 it was home to 919,782 believers, special guests. They represent the now home to the West-Central Africa an increase of 262 percent since the world church's baptized membership of Division stretching from west of the last General Conference session. The 13,936,932, as of December 31, 2004. Congo River to the western tip of the division also reorganized itself to The first General Conference continent, with headquarters in Cote include seven unions. Executive Committee of three has d'Ivoire; the East-Central Africa grown to 292 members representing Division comprised of the lake Euro-Asia Division our work in 206 countries. region of Africa, with Kenya as its A new union was created, bringing Since we met five years ago in headquarters; and the Southern the existing number of unions in the Toronto, several momentous and tragic Africa-Indian Ocean Division, with division to six. We hope that in a events have occurred. The terrorist headquarters in Zimbabwe. The work year's time another union will be attacks in New York City and in in Nigeria was reorganized to create created to care for the vast western Washington, D.C., on September 11, two unions the Eastern Nigeria section of the territory. 2001, shocked the entire world. Union and the North-Western Nigeria We have witnessed wars in Union Mission. South Pacific Division Afghanistan and Iraq, and the human In the South Pacific Division disaster in Darfur, southern Sudan, Inter-American Division restructuring resulted in a reduction where it is estimated that more than 1 The rapid growth of the Inter- of unions, from five to four. These million people have lost their lives. American Division also called for reor- efforts have resulted in the creation The day after Christmas, 2004, the ganization in the Central American of more conferences, missions, fields, horrific tsunami in southern Asia Union and Mexico. The Annual and sections. affected the entire world. Council voted and established three The worldwide Seventh-day Yet despite these social upheavals, unions for Central America: North Adventist Church now includes 13 God continues to do marvelous things Central, Mid-Central, and South divisions, 102 unions, and 540 confer- for His church. At these times of Central American unions. The work ences/missions/fields. We are beginning uncertainty Seventh-day Adventists in Mexico was reorganized to include to witness positive Outcomes from are sure of our responsibility as three unions: Inter-Oceanic Mexican, these changes. Leadership is moving unveiled in the prophetic picture of North Mexican, and South Mexican closer to the local level, thereby Revelation 14:6-12. unions. strengthening the work.

6 (1022) ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 2005 New Initiatives outreach throughout the world. all levels of the church. At the first Annual Council of this With the launch of Go One Permit me to pay special tribute to quinquennium, three focus issues were Million, Sow 1 Billion, and the Elijah God's workers who do not share the voted for promotion throughout the Project, we have witnessed a marvelous limelight on occasions like this, for world field: growth, unity, and quality upsurge of soul-winning activities in often we hear very little about them. of life. Our worldwide divisions have the church. These amazing people are the local expanded this list with their own local The Lord, through the Holy Spirit, pastors and evangelists; workers in our issues and are promoting them in their has blessed His workers with a mar- educational and health institutions; territories and churches. velous harvest. During this quinquen- the thousands of dedicated lay mem- nium 5,049,157 people have been bers, who—at the root of it all—face Soul Winning added to the Seventh-day Adventist their daily tasks with tremendous During this period the church voted Church—an increase of 1,015,179 courage. These people, under the to promote major evangelistic initia- over the previous quinquennium. power of the Holy Spirit, are responsi- tives by establishing the Council on World membership grew from ble for much of the progress of the Evangelism and Witness. This commit- 10,939,182 to 13,936,932, and every church. tee has served as the powerhouse for division has contributed to these And let me express my appreciation Go One Million, Sow 1 Billion, the encouraging gains. In some divisions and gratitude to the "silver-haired" Elijah Project, and Global Evangelism. thousands have been baptized in a day. fathers and mothers in Israel who have A detailed report of these initiatives laid the solid foundation we have built will be given later during the session. Facts and Figures upon during these five years. To the About 33 percent of the Seventh- thousands of retirees around the world Supporting Independent Ministry day Adventist membership lives on the who have played their parts so well, In the past, foreign missions and continent of Africa. thank you, and God bless you. missions outside the local church came The Inter-American Division con- under the direct auspices of the church tinues to be the largest division, closely Mission Cross-Fertilization organization. Missionaries going over- followed by the South American and More fields around the world are seas were all sent by the General East-Central Africa divisions. These now able to assume a greater share of Conference. three divisions make up 50 percent of responsibility at home and throughout However, during the past two our total world membership. the world. More and more, our workers decades numerous mission initiatives I am happy to report that by the are proceeding from all divisions to all have come from churches, schools, and end of December 31, 2004, the North divisions, from unions to unions. hospitals. These initiatives have been American Division crossed the 1 mil- These interdivision and intradivi- a blessing to God's cause, for those lion-member mark, and the Southern sion workers provide a steady cross- who provide and receive these services Asia Division has also reached the fertilization of ideas and methods that have been equally blessed. million-member mark. enrich our outreach programs. They To coordinate strategies, share plans, work with members and leaders of the resources, and foster effective commu- A Tribute church in the countries or regions to nication, the General Conference This morning I stand to recognize which they are assigned—not always appointed a committee to oversee these my dedicated and committed in supervisory positions, but as workers key objectives. The committee's goal is colleagues in leadership throughout together for God. to encourage mission initiatives, while at the same time preserving unity, Facts and Figures order, and financial support for the 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004** basic church structure. Accessions 1,090,848 1,043,843 961,542 980,920 991,717 1,071,135 Per day 2,987 2,858 2,633 2,686 2,715 2,933 World Baptism and Membership Per hour 124 119 110 112 113 122 The past five years have been the Accession rate 10.73% 9.54% 8.23% 7.96% 7.69% 7.99% best soul-winning period in our entire New churches 5 4 4 4 4 4 history. organized Church administrators, departmen- every hour tal leaders, and office workers through- Growth rate 7.63% 6.84% 5.42% 4.65% 3.98% 3.96% out all levels of the church; teachers, Ratio 547:1 519:1 498:1 482:1 471:1 459:1 of population doctors and nurses, students, literature to Adventist evangelists, and our steadfast pastors; member have all been galvanized to join lay ** Based on world population, mid-2004: 6,395 892,000 members in conducting evangelistic Prepared by the General Conference Office of Archives and Statistics. Updated April 11, 2005

ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 2005 (102i) 7 In addition to the regular missionar- Relevant activities need to be I appeal to you, fellow delegates to ies, we have a large number of short- brought into focus for the finishing of this fifty-eighth General Conference term missionaries called Adventist God's work. Tried and honored plans session, let us go from St. Louis with Volunteers. These workers fill an must be further developed. God has a earnest determination to join hands, important gap in the church's overall thousand ways in reserve to proclaim and, under the power of His Spirit, mission program. the gospel in all the earth, but these finish this work of evangelization. We are happy about and proud of are yet to be discovered and prayerfully Let me finish with a call from Ellen the contribution that student mission- adopted. Specialized leaders must be G. White, a servant of the Lord. She aries make to the world missionary called and sent into the 10/40 window wrote: "Wake up, brethren and sisters, program. Last year I visited many of and the megacities. Members of all age wake up. Sleep no longer. 'Why stand these students in their places of work, groups must be mobilized to serve as ye here all the day idle?' Jesus calls and it is gratifying to note that many volunteers and "tentmakers" through- you, saying, 'Go work today in My of today's regular missionaries were stu- out the world. vineyard.' Whoever has received the dent missionaries at one time. We are This movement is not, and cannot Holy Spirit will make it manifest; for so grateful to our colleges and universi- be, static. It must be expanded into all His powers will be employed in the ties for promoting this program. With- new territories. The church must ever most active service. All who actually out these student missionaries and work to enlarge our sphere of labor. receive Christ by faith, work. They feel volunteers several English language We must lift our sights and see the the burden of souls. God now calls schools and high schools in Asia would immense task in a correct perspective. upon everyone who has a knowledge of certainly cease to exist. Then we will recognize that God is in the truth, who is a depositary of sacred Our summary of missionary depar- charge of the evangelization of the truth, to arise and impart the light of tures during the quinquennium shows world. The ultimate success and heaven to others" (Christian Service, the following: achievement of our endeavors are His. p. 80). Appointees 737 Our greatest need is to identify our- She wrote also: "Wake up, brethren; Furloughees/OAL 1,992 selves with God. The must-have goal for your own soul's sake, wake up. Adventist Volunteers 8,199 of the Adventist movement must be to Without the grace of Christ you can Total 10,928 fall in step with God and advance with do nothing. Work while you can" Him to the ends of the earth. (ibid.). Conclusion Delegates at this fifty-eighth session, The Complete Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal on 33 CDs you represent the organizational forces ❑ that have made the success of this Superb Quality ❑ 20+ Hymns/Disc quinquennium possible. Thank you. ❑ Leather Binder On behalf of the church's leader- ❑ 700 Hymns ship, I invite you to assume with us the ❑ Index Included weighty responsibility of sharing God's Uses include... message in these last days. While we Complete set - $430 value ❑ evangelism keep preaching and witnessing in areas ❑ US$329 plus $10 shipping home worship Min. order- 3 discsUS/$38 that have brought great success, we ❑ church worship Hymnals and song books sold separately must, with even greater zeal and vigor, ❑ nursing homes dedicate ourselves to the area in which ❑ prison ministries He Is Our Song - 156 songs on 4 CDs - $49.95 60 percent of the world's population ❑ solo practice ❑ Sing for Joy - 1.50 songs on 4 CDs - $49.95 lives—an area in which less than 18 outdoor church ❑ learning new hymns If purchased separately on tapes they would cost over $700 percent know Jesus. The challenges of megacities, the secular mind, and the More Accompaniment Discs also materialistic world are yours and mine. Sabbath Songs for Tiny Tots 3D Bible The task and the challenge are Cradle Roll on 1 disc US$19.95 Visual Aids immense, and the logistics are stagger- Sabbath Songs for Tiny Tots ing. However, the immensity of the Kindergarten on 2 discs US$29.95 task is not the chief problem. The problem is the measure of our faith, Little Voices Praise Him - on 4 discs - L1S$69.95 our spiritual vision, and our experi- Please Add 5% for shipping. ence. The challenge of taking the good Songbooks sold separately. 8" tall 17" tall news to all people requires faith and 1-800-35-HYMNS Dan 7 lion, Dan2, 3 images sacrifice and a personal experience 1-800-354-9667 Office: (770)-562-2544 Satisfaction guaranteed with the Lord. VISA [web page] www.35hymns.com also available at your local ABC

8 11024) ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY , 2005 TRANSFORMED IN CHRIST

By Entering God's Rest Devotional message presented Friday evening, July 1, 2005

his evening I remind you of a group many battles yet to fight before they would actu- of powerful and prominent leaders ally possess the land in its fullness; yet in a real in the Bible. Because they were so sense the promise of rest in the land of milk and prominent in Israel's history, you honey was being fulfilled as they trusted in God's will no doubt recognize their names: promise. TShammua, Shaphat, Igal, Palti, Gaddiel, Gaddi, But the story of Joshua leading Israel into Ammiel, Sethur, Nahbi, and Guel. God's rest is not just a story of a people long ago In fact, I have yet to find a group of and far away. It is our story as well. Adventists who can identify these names as I read them, until I add the last two names on the Entering God's Rest list: Caleb and Joshua (Hoshea). Yes, these are I used to think that the typological fulfillment the names of the 12 spies sent out by Moses Richard M. of entering God's rest, as Caleb and Joshua and under the command of God to survey the Land Davidson faithful Israel did, would take place at the of Promise (Num. 13:4-16).* Ten leaders were a J. N. Andrews Second Coming. But according to the book of dismal failure, dragging a whole generation down professor of Old Hebrews, we can already, by faith, enter God's with them, while Caleb and Joshua were Testament interpre- rest. We may experience it now. paragons of victory and success. tation, and chair, In Genesis 2 God rested by ceasing from His On Canaan's borders God had promised Israel Old Testament works on the Sabbath, and He invited Adam through Moses, "For as yet you have not come to Department, and Eve to rest on that first Sabbath. From what the rest [Hebrew menuchah] and the inheritance Seventh-day were Adam and Eve resting? From their own which the Lord your God is giving you. But Adventist works? No, they were resting in God's finished when you cross over the Jordan and dwell in the Theological work. land which the Lord your God is giving you to Seminary, Andrews Thus even before sin there is a profound inherit, and He gives you rest [Hebrew nuah] University inference of the principle of righteousness by from all your enemies round about, so that you faith. And Paul draws the implication for dwell in safety" (Deut. 12:9, 10). believers in his day: "There remains therefore a rest [sabbatismos, Sabbath rest] for the people of God. For Reliving the Story he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from After dividing the inheritance among the 12 tribes, the his works as God did from His" (Heb. 4:9, 10). Every author of the book of Joshua writes this powerful and Sabbath, as we rest from our work, we proclaim our expe- thrilling summary: "So the Lord gave to Israel all the land of rience of righteousness by faith, that we trust not in our which he had sworn to give to their fathers, and they took own works, but in the finished work of Christ on our possession of it and dwelt in it. The Lord gave them rest behalf. The Sabbath becomes the outward sign of the "rest imenuchahl all around, according to all that He had sworn to of grace" (Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, their fathers" (Joshua 21:43, 44). p. 928) that believers in Christ may experience all week The people of God had entered His rest! True, they had long.

ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 3, 1005 (1025) 9 Rest in Christ who labor and are heavy laden, and I As we welcome the Sabbath, I invite The precious thought that we can will give you rest" (Matt. 11:28). you to contemplate this multifaceted "rest in Christ" by faith and have The message of confidently resting rest. assurance of our acceptance with Him in Christ's righteousness does not lead We have already spoken of the is wonderful news. I dared not believe to cheap grace. Rather "its fruit is unto spiritual rest. it even as a theology major in college, holiness" (Selected Messages, book 1, p. A second facet God offers us is as a seminary student, or even as a 359; cf. Rom. 6:22). Only as I trust physical rest. On the seventh day of young pastor. wholly in the merits of Christ, my sub- Creation week God "rested . . . from As a young pastor I preached ser- stitute and surety, can I truly obey God all His work which He had done" mons full of Christ, yet devoid of the in the spirit as well as the letter of the (Gen. 2:2). The verb for "rest" used assurance that we could rest in Him. law. here is shabbat, which means "to pause, But through a chain of marvelous, to cease." In the fourth commandment providential leadings, the simplicity Other Dimensions of Sabbath Rest we are invited to follow God's exam- and beauty of the gospel began to The apostle assures us in Hebrews ple, to pause, cease from our weekday dawn before me. I was "surprised by 4:9: "There remains therefore a work. joy" with the clear scriptural testimony [Sabbath] rest [Greek sabbatismos] for The fourth commandment also that I could have the assurance of the people of God." This word, sab- indicates that God rested mentally as entering His rest: "Most assuredly, I say batismos, refers not only to the spiritual well as physically. The verb for "rest" to you, he who believes in Me has rest of grace, but to an actual weekly used here is not shabbat, as in Genesis everlasting life" (John 6:47). "These observance of the seventh-day 2, but nuach; it means to "be tranquil, things I have written to you who Sabbath, a multidimensional rest in a state of repose and peace." After believe in the name of the Son of available to God's people. creating in six days, God sat back in God, that you may know that you I have found seven dimensions of tranquil repose, mentally rejoicing in have eternal life" (1 John 5:13; cf. Sabbath rest highlighted by the various the world He had created. On Sabbath verses 11, 12). "Come to Me, all you Hebrew verbs in the books of Moses. He invites us to join Him in that sense of restful repose and peace. Exodus 31 adds a fourth dimension of Sabbath rest where it says God "was refreshed" (verse 17). The verb liter- ally means He "took on new soul or life" (nephesh) . Even though God was obviously not tired, He took on new life; He experi- enced emotional rest. On Sabbath God longs to recharge our emo- tional batteries, to refresh and restore THE FOUR WHO'VE COME TO MORE: Searching for those who have attended the most General Conference ses- our souls. sions, including the current session, the Adventist Review found the following four contenders: (from left) Neal C. A fifth dimen- Wilson, former president of the General Conference, has been present at the last 15 consecutive GC sessions; his sion of Sabbath rest first was in 1941. Kenneth H. Wood, chair of the Ellen G. White Estate board of trustees and former editor of the is creative, celebra- Adventist Review, has attended 14 GC sessions. He was a young boy when he went to his first in 1926. Bert B. tory rest. In Exodus Beach, director for Interchurch Relations of the General Conference Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Department, 31 God pro- is credited with being present at 14 consecutive sessions. He and his wife, Eliane, spent their honeymoon at the 1954 session. Roscoe S. Lowry, former president of the Southern Asia Division, has attended 10. nounced: "The chil- Wilson voiced his hopes for the 58th General Conference session: "Somehow this session needs to help hold the dren of Israel shall church together in these times of great fragmentation, and help the members become better prepared to fulfill . . . observe the God's mission and be ready for the Lord's great appointment for His second coming." Sabbath throughout

10 (1026) ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY i, 2 0 0 5 their generations" (verse 16). We are into the heavenly sanctuary in the conduct spiritual warfare against our to "make" the Sabbath as God made heavenly Jerusalem. In these passages spiritual enemies (Eph. 6:10-17); and the heavens and the earth—with all there is a call to more than metaphori- receive our spiritual inheritance (Acts the creativity and energy that God dis- cal lip service to the sanctuary doc- 20:32; Eph. 1:11, 14, 18); and, praise played in His creative process. This trine. This is what I like to call an God, we enjoy the spiritual rest of verse in the New International Version invitation to "sanctuary life." grace in His presence (Heb. 4:9-11). captures the meaning by using the When faced with difficulties, what- What is ours to enjoy now, as a word "celebrating" instead of merely ever the pressures of life, you can enter faith experience of entering God's rest, "observing" the Sabbath. God offers us God's rest. The "rest of grace" is the will one day reach its ultimate fulfill- on the Sabbath a chance to source of "mercy and . . . grace to help ment in connection with the Second exuberantly celebrate His goodness. in time of need" (Heb. 4:16); it is "an Advent and beyond. The author of The sixth dimension of the Sabbath anchor of the soul" (Heb. 6:19); it is Hebrews points to God's "rest" not is that it is filled with power. In connected with the privilege of "hav- only as a present experience but as a Hebrew thought, for God to bless ing our hearts sprinkled from an evil future hope: "Let us therefore be something is to empower it to fulfill conscience and our bodies washed with diligent to enter that rest" (Heb. 4:11). the function for which it is designed. pure water" (Heb. 10:22); it is vitally There will be a final, literal con- That sabbatic empowerment spills out linked with joyous celebration and quest of the enemies of God. We will into all the other days of the week. worship in the presence of "an innu- enjoy our ultimate inheritance (Matt. The seventh dimension of Sabbath merable company of angels" (Heb. 25:34; Col. 3:24; Rev. 21:7). And yes, rest is captured in the words "God 12:22). we will enter God's glorious, eternal blessed the seventh day and sanctified In a word, Jesus, the New Joshua, rest. May that day come soon! Amen. it [or made it holy]" (Gen. 2:3). How makes available to us the antitypical does God make something holy? By fulfillment of all that was implied in His presence. The gift of Sabbath rest God's rest in the history of ancient is not just the gift of a day, but the gift Israel. We can come by faith to the *Bible texts in this devotional are quoted from the New King James Version. of a Person, filling the day with His heavenly Canaan (Heb. 12:22-24); we loving presence. ] The Heavenly Sanctuary and Rest 2 s University In the Old Testament the main Providing Educational noun for "rest" [Hebrew menuchah; 'MU Greek katapausis] also means "resting xcellence Around the World place," and is equated with Mount Zion (the city of Jerusalem), and in Griggs University offers an ideal solution for particular, with the place of God's iMICqW:I throne in the sanctuary or Temple. students without access to an Thus it's no wonder that in the dventist college campus. c. Epistle to the Hebrews, immediately r ;Accredited in the United

after mentioning the Sabbath rest in o Hebrews 4, the author invites us to States and recognized

"come boldly to the throne of grace [in esu by many national the heavenly sanctuary, God's "resting

es. .governments, Griggs place"], that we may obtain mercy and • find grace to help in time of need" n University prepares g (verse 16). This is not just a metaphor students for service for prayer. We are invited to actually to their church, come to the throne of grace in the heavenly sanctuary by faith. Three community, C) more times in the Epistle this invita- a and society. tion is given: Hebrews 6:19, 20; 10:19-

22; 12:22-24. Four times we are invited .n now, by faith, to enter God's rest (i.e., An AN\ ,,11,, His "resting place") in the heavenly r, - , • • Adventist Education MT .ADVENTIST AJOURXEr TO EX,ELLEN, GGS UNIVERSITY I I I sanctuary. lik 44lb( glib' HOME STUDY INTERNATIONAL 12501 Old Columbia Pike These passages repeatedly call us to jmIrw Since 1909 Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600 consider that we actually come by faith

ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 3, 2005 (1027) 11 REPORT PREPARED FOR THE GC SESSION

Treasurer's Report Presented Friday, July 1, 2005

Robert E. Lemon Treasurer, General Conference

n preparing this report, it was tions represents a reduction of approxi- revenue grew by an average of almost inspiring to reread some of the mately 18 percent, or $6 million in the 1 percent per year. Total net assets treasurers' reports from past headquarters' annual operating budget. increased in each of the five years of General Conference (GC) ses- It was hoped that the annual increase the quinquennium, and working capital sions. It is impossible to read in tithe would offset the reduction in increased by $17 million between 2000 1these reports without sensing the mar- tithe percentage each year during the and 2004 to meet the increased velous way God has led through diffi- five-year phase-in period so that appro- requirement. Appropriations to divi- cult times and thanking Him for His priations to divisions and GC institu- sions and GC institutions were not blessings and for the faithfulness of His tions would not need to be reduced reduced, and the GC has not had to children. and employees would not have to he dip into its working capital as originally In Elder Rawson's report to the laid off at the GC headquarters. In projected. 2000 General Conference session, he preparation for the change, the GC Maintaining appropriations at the pointed out, "The GC Executive took major steps to reduce costs at same level in U.S. dollars throughout Committee met on April 19, 2000, headquarters and was already operating the quinquennium meant that many and in a historic decision dramatically well below the old cap by the time the organizations received less in local cur- revised the funding formula for sharing new formula was voted. A freeze on rency because of the weaker U.S. dol- expenses of the worldwide church." new positions under the cap was put in lar. We have appreciated the spirit of The new formula calls for all divi- place and has been strictly adhered to collegiality in working through this sions to contribute 2 percent of gross throughout the quinquennium. period, and we thank the officers of tithe for the operation of the world This quinquennium has seen great the recipient organizations and their headquarters and, in addition, for the economic turmoil in the world. committees for the way they dealt with North American Division to contribute Financial markets have been on a these budgetary realities. an additional 6 percent of tithe to assist roller coaster, the events of September We also thank the General with the world missions program and 11, 2001, war, SARS, the tsunami, and Conference departmental directors, with the support of GC institutions, others have affected the economies of staff, and others who have worked most of which are located in North various parts of the world. As we look hard to stay within budget and America. Other divisions provided back at the increases in tithes and accepted that some positions were not additional funding directly to the mis- offerings during this difficult period, we filled when vacancies occurred. sion territories within their divisions. can only say, "Praise the Lord for the Everyone's combined efforts kept the The reduction from 10.72 percent to 8 faithfulness of His people and for His average annual increase in costs at the percent of tithe from the North bountiful blessings!" GC headquarters to less than 3.3 per- American Division and the increase Tithe increased worldwide by an cent during the quinquennium, in from 1 percent to 2 percent from the average of 5.9 percent per year during spite of a 5.7 percent average annual other divisions was projected to result the quinquennium. Because of this increase in the Washington area remu- in a net reduction in funds available to increase, and even though mission neration factor under policies set by the GC World Budget of $12 million offerings remained essentially flat and the North American Division. The per year, which is approximately 10 the new Tithe Sharing Formula increase in the remuneration factor percent of the world budget. reduced the percentage of the gross was the result of rapid escalation of The new cap of 2 percent of world tithe coming to the General housing costs in the area. Although we tithe for the GC headquarters' opera- Conference, the GC's total unrestricted have completed only the fourth year of

12 (1028) ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 2005 the five-year phase-in, in 2004, the Local church funds have kept pace planned and funded for long periods of GC headquarters operated on only with tithe increases and have actually time, as no local organization or mem- 2.04 percent of world tithe. This is increased from around 25 percent of bership exists to carry them forward. only .04 percent above the fully tithe during the 1930s, 1940s, and They are of a nature that any commu- phased-in cap objective of 2 percent. 1950s to more than 35 percent of tithe nication to supporters about the since the early 1960s. Mission offerings progress made can itself put the work The Big Picture over that same period have decreased at risk. We must do a better job of The work of the church is carried from approximately 60 percent of tithe communicating the continued and on through so many varied organiza- in the 1930s to 3.8 percent in 2004. increased need for support of the mis- tions, institutions, initiatives, and pro- This steady decline has dramatically sion offerings to finish the work in "all grams that it is difficult to find a mean- affected the ability of the church to the world." Remember, none of us are ingful way to report the total financial provide funds for entering new areas. "going home" until we all "go home." picture. The majority of the revenue of A major shift in recent years toward the church's nontithe-based organiza- more project giving has helped stimu- General Conference Revenues tions comes from earned income rather late interest in missions and has been a and Expenditures than from donations or operating great blessing in many areas. Various During this quinquennium the appropriations. The summary of ministries and groups have taken on General Conference's average annual audited financial statements received projects and helped strengthen the revenue, gains, and additions were by Archives and Statistics for 2003 work. We praise the Lord for this! $152 million, and annual expenditures shows the following revenue by line of Each of us who supports these projects were $146 million. These are broken work: and ministries does so with the desire down in the charts on page 15. Total net assets of all General Conference funds increased from $167 million to By Line neWo4( d SPet ng hiCome Net Opeeiting $198 million, and working capital, as Health-care Institutions $5,166.669,302 $16,368,343 of December 2004, totaled $110 mil- B8ucational Institutions 854,508,822 199,265,907 lion, 104.7 percent of the amount Food Industries 426,378,507 1,308,902 recommended by policy. Publishing Houses 118,907,943 3,135,617 Media Organizations 10,031,641 22,469,813 During the Quinquennium Adventist Book Centers 63,222,771 5,499,514 • Trust Services reported that matu- rities passed the $1 billion ($1,000 million) mark since The Adventist Development and to see souls saved in the kingdom. One reporting began in 1968, $263.2 Relief Agency's revenue totaled of the drawbacks of an excessive million of it coming in this $74,834,363, and Adventist Risk reliance on project giving is that atten- quinquennium alone. Management's was $16,348,487. tion spans can be short. When there is • In 2004 ADRA's annual operat- In 2003 the total revenue of local greater need in another area, most of ing revenues exceeded $100 churches and tithe-based organizations the support is shifted to the new area, million for the first time. (local conferences/missions, unions, often leaving the local organization (if • A new Philosophy of divisions, the General Conference and there even is a local organization) to Remuneration Policy was associations) was $2,321,902,969. maintain the project or outreach with- approved. out sufficient resources. Sometimes we • The Conflict of Interest Policy Tithes and Offerings lose all the progress that has been was revised to be more compre- Tithe increased worldwide 29.6 per- made. We still need a strong program hensive and prospective rather cent, from $1,029,257,377 in 1999 to of mission giving administered by the than retrospective. $1,333,482,562 in 2004. Local church Executive Committee of the General • Approximately 10,200 audits funds increased 17.7 percent over the Conference to make sure the work were completed by the General same period and totaled $486 million progresses in all areas, and not just in Conference Auditing Service in 2004, which was equal to 36 per- the areas where projects have been (GCAS), the largest number in cent of tithe. In 2004 World Mission successfully promoted. its history. offerings totaled $50,523,551. Over A strong mission offering program • lngathering during this quinquen- the past 25 years, the World Mission that can sustain major long-term ini- nium totaled $47.4 million, com- offerings have remained basically static tiatives is doubly important as we focus pared to $58.1 million during the at around $50 million per year, while on the 10/40 window area. Many of past quinquennium. tithe has increased from $398 million the most effective outreaches in this • 5,049,157 individuals joined the to $1.3 billion, a 226 percent increase. area are ones that must be carefully church, and membership grew by

ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 3, 2 0 0 5 (1029) 13 27.4 percent, from 10,939,183 to and encourage all to help with major software development company, 13,936,932. this great challenge. cited for having one of the best • Approximately 400 million peo- • Increase the role and participa- employee benefit programs in the ple were born, and 160 million died tion of young people and women United States, was asked in an inter- in the 10/40 window, which has an in the life and leadership of the view why his company provided such estimated population of 4.2 billion. church. excellent benefits to its employees. • Reduce exposure to ascending lia- "Ninety-five percent of my assets Our Financial Future bility without sacrificing unity. drive out the front gate every What shall we do for the future? • Strengthen the Adventist evening," he said. "It's my job to • "Vigorously continue our world education system and focus its bring them hack." evangelistic mission," as Elder mission. The real assets of the church—its Gilbert put it in his 1995 report. • Continue our mission of mercy to members walk out the front door of • Find better, more efficient and a hurting world through our the church every Sabbath. It's our job effective ways to administer the health message and institutions not only to make sure they return the church. and through our humanitarian next Sabbath but also to help them • Focus all levels of the church on outreach programs. maximize their effectiveness during the mission-driven budget allocations. week. The greatest contributions from • Continue to increase trans- The Real Big Picture church members are not tithes and parency and accountability at all One of the duties of the Treasury offerings, but donated time and ser- levels. Department is to protect and maxi- vice. Think, for example, of the hours • Encourage financial maturity and mize the value of the church's assets. spent each week by the Sabbath school greater self-support, particularly We have talked about the financial teachers in preparing for their impor- in areas where we already have a assets of the church, but the real tant work in the children's divisions. major presence. assets are not in the form of bank Add to that all the hours given by the • Increasingly focus the resources of accounts, investments, buildings, or others who help out in Sabbath the world budget of the General equipment. school, Pathfinders, community ser- Conference on the 10/40 window The chief executive officer of a vices, witnessing, etc. Multiply that by

A season for everything and a time for every purpose.

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SEVENTH-1 )AY ADVENTIST Cl IURCH Trust Services

14 (i 0.30) A 1)VENTIST REVIEW. JULY 2 0 0 5 what it would cost to hire silver with us—hearses don't the work done and you get come with luggage racks. In an idea of the value of those General Conference Revenue 1979, in a country where my services. (Annual Average for 2000.2004) wife, Sherry, and I once served, the currency was Transferring Funds suddenly changed, and the As we look at the figure old currency became worth- of $1,991,426,655 of tithes, less overnight. It couldn't be offerings, and donations changed even at the bank. received during 2004, it is During the next few weeks easy to lose sight of the sac- large amounts of the old cur- rifice and faithfulness repre- rency were placed in offering sented by each individual plates, but they could dollar. We have shown the accomplish nothing. total tithes and offerings to The only treasure that the dollar and not rounded we can "transfer" to heaven them to the nearest million. is that which is converted We did that deliberately to into saved souls. There will remind us of the sacrifice come a time when our and faithfulness represented General Conference Expenditures money will no longer be by each kwacha, peso, ruble, (Annual A\ erage for 2000-2004) "transferable," even if given dollar, and lira. to God's cause. The Lord does not look The real report on the t , 111111 at the size of the offering, ,, ,,11\1111t11 , assets of the church has Anion but at the sacrifice on the already been given by Elder part of the giver. Someone Bediako, General Confer- has said: "Giving is not ence secretary, as he God's way of raising money; reported how the "Lord it is God's way of raising added to the church daily people into the likeness of such as should be saved." His Son." After God promised to Jesus admonished us: Joshua "every place that the "Lay not up for yourselves sole of your foot shall tread treasures upon upon, that have I earth, where given unto you" moth and rust (Joshua 1:3), we doth corrupt, and find these sad where thieves words: "The Lord break through Mission and Local Offerings said unto him, and steal: but lay as Compared to Total Tithe Thou art old and up for yourselves stricken in years, treasures in `s1.400 ' and there heaven, where remaineth yet '4,1.200 neither moth nor . very much land rust doth corrupt, 1.000 1T to be possessed" and where `800 (Joshua 13:1). thieves do not (s600 May we not hear break through those same words 4100 nor steal: for 4 in reference to where your trea- ) 2()0 the half of the sure is, there will (Y) • world (10/40 your heart be • 1970 1990 2004 window) that is also" (Matt. 6:19- still practically 21). Mission Offerings a Local Offerings S untouched by We cannot the gospel. take our gold and

ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 3, 2005 (1031) 15 REPORT OF THE TRANS-EUROPEAN DIVISION Pressing Ahead, Despite War, Intolerance, and Persecution Presented July 2, 2005

Bertil Wiklander Increased Growth and Some net membership growth of 20 percent President Challenges (3,460 baptized new members). More As of December 31, 2004, the num- than 300 new church plants and ber of churches and companies in the groups have been established. division had grown to 1,777 (from The union launched in 2001 its 1,537 five years ago). In the past five boldest evangelistic initiative, he Seventh-day Adventist years the membership increased by 12 LIFEdevelopment.info, to engage basi- Church in the Trans- percent, and the total number of mem- cally secular minds. Two TV programs European Division has a bers at the end of 2004 was 98,575. in the series have been produced and strong sense of enthusiasm The largest number of baptisms uplinked in 2003-2005, providing and urgency for God's were in the Middle East Union needed relevant resources for mission. Tmission to lost people. This is coupled (6,110), British Union (3,460), with careful reflection on the secrets of Pakistan Union (2,616), and South- The Middle East Union growth. Growth in numbers is subject East European Union (1,552). Because Some 40 percent of people living in to spiritual growth in unity. Our work of emigration caused by war and politi- the Trans-European Division live in this quinquennium was therefore cal tensions, some areas do not show a the Middle East Union, which consists founded on a comprehensive plan corresponding growth in total member- of 14 countries. More than 90 percent named Growing Together, which ship. However, the highest percentage of the population follow the teachings guided our priorities and activities. of membership growth has occurred in of Islam. While in the world there is God has blessed it. (The plan and a the Israel Field (79 percent) and the one Adventist per 468 people, and in PowerPoint report are found at Greek Mission (78 percent). the Trans-European Division there is www.ted-adventist.org.) While there is also growth in the one per 6,000, in the Middle East it's The vast territory of the Trans- Hungarian Union, Netherlands Union, one for every 16,000. European Division has an extreme cul- Polish Union, and Icelandic And yet this is where our division tural and national diversity and a com- Conference (attached field), the statis- has had the largest number of baptisms plex structure of scattered small tics suggest challenges in six unions. In (6,110) and a 38 percent growth in churches divided into 13 unions and the Adriatic and Baltic unions, bap- membership, giving a total of 14,166 three attached fields. In membership tismal numbers have increased by 10 members at the end of 2004. This numbers it is the smallest world divi- percent and 15 percent respectively, growth occurred mainly in south Sudan sion, with an enormous target popula- but the number of lost members is also among Christian and animist peoples, tion: 6,000 people for every Seventh- high. The Nordic unions, covering and in the Persian Gulf sections, where day Adventist. Particularly challenging Denmark, Finland, Norway, and many immigrants live and work. targets are the unchurched secular Sweden, have dropping membership Here are some other highlights: Europeans, and Jewish and Muslim numbers, but the church planting • The Adriatic Union (Albania, peoples. Most receptive of the gospel movement and the involvement of Croatia, Slovenia) had 3,988 members, are immigrants in Europe and the young people in evangelism give cause and 392 baptisms were held during the Middle East, and specific people groups for optimism. period. The largest-ever youth evange- in Sudan and Pakistan. However, by listic campaign (with pastor Juneroy changing our own attitudes, through The British Union Nugent, from the U.K. at the time, as church planting and friendship evan- The British Union is the largest in guest speaker) was held in February gelism in small groups, we now see that the division, with more than 24,000 2002, with up to 300 young people in the gospel may reach everywhere, even members. The rich diversity of the attendance. Forty-two young people to secular Europeans and people in union and the spread of nurturing and surrendered their hearts to Jesus, and Islamic countries. outreach activities have resulted in a Nugent returned three months later to

16 (1032) ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 3, 2005 baptize another 17 individuals. increased from 488 to 874 (79 per- blessed the work in the past five years, .• The Baltic Union (Estonia, cent). The churches and companies despite the political unrest caused by Latvia, Lithuania) conducted nearly have grown from 14 to 29. In the past the 9/11 event, which led to the 1,000 baptisms. But the church was five years 526 people were baptized. evacuation of all expatriate workers. also challenged by emigration, a more • Despite various challenges the However, national leadership was affluent "Western" lifestyle, and an Netherlands Union is growing, with strengthened by this setback, and God aging membership. The union con- 382 baptisms bringing the total mem- has blessed their efforts, with 2,616 ducted a program of intense training of bership to 4,507. In the month of baptisms leading the church in its laypeople under the umbrella of Go October 2004 about 60 baptisms took Pakistan to a membership of 9,168 (a One Million. The successful church place—a remarkable event for western growth of 38 percent). The church plant Korinta was recently established Europe. The church planting movement operates four institutions: Pakistan in Riga, Latvia, where many lost young is gaining momentum. Adventist Seminary, Karachi people are now being led to Jesus. Adventist Hospital, Qasid Publishing • Evangelism is the main topic on House, and the Peshawar Dental the agenda in the Danish Union, Clinic. where the church now has 2,667 • The Polish Union also experi- members. Many Bible study groups enced growth, with 881 baptisms were established, and 155 people bringing the membership to 5,691. baptized. Benefiting from the Sow 1 Billion • The Finnish Union operates a program, the union was able to print viable church planting program 3 million leaflets, and 2 million of involving many young people. those were quickly distributed. More Eleven new churches have been than 630 volunteers are involved in planted or are about to become the Go One Million program. planted, and 453 baptisms have led • The South-East European the church to a membership total of Union (Bosnia and Herzegovina, 5,264. Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro) • For a long time the Greek has grown significantly through 1,552 Mission (attached field) had a baptisms in the past five years, giving declining membership. Eight years a total of 8,335 members at the end ago, however, a different evangelistic of 2004. This is the fruit of a combi- emphasis was made. Since then there nation of public meetings and church has been a 375 percent growth in Evangelist Juneroy Nugent baptizes Petra Krajna in planting. About 20 new churches members and a 600 percent growth the Adriatic Sea (Croatia). were planted across the whole union in tithe. In the past quinquennium territory in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the mission increased from 254 to 454 • The Norwegian Union is strug- Macedonia, and Serbia and members. gling with declining membership in a Montenegro. • The Hungarian Union is reach- post-Christian and secular society. • The Swedish Union has empha- ing unentered people groups through a While 90 percent of the population sized church planting, church renewal, dynamic church planting strategy. New formally belong to a Christian organi- and the involvement of young people media products have been translated zation, only 5 percent are active in these spiritual movements. After into Hungarian because the necessary church members. Despite 242 bap- 144 baptisms, the total membership is technical equipment has been made tisms, the membership has dropped to now down to 2,767. The international available. Baptisms and confessions of 4,697. But there are positive signs: an church plant in Stockholm and the faith have resulted in a net growth of annual increase in tithe, a church church renewal in SkellefteA are exam- 164 members. school system that remains strong and ples of outreach to "new Swedes," who • The Icelandic Conference viable, and young people who are are becoming integrated into church (attached field) is the only Nordic increasingly becoming involved in fellowship in significant numbers. country that shows an increase of church planting. The church has also Some young people initiated an annual members, which is a trend shift. The established a Norwegian television spiritual renewal conference during conference now has 563 members. ministry, which daily transmits one Ascension Weekend, and participant There is a growing involvement of hour of religious programming. numbers went from 90 the first year to youth and laypeople who actively • The Pakistan Union covers the 240 in 2004. Club 39 in Linkoping is share their faith with friends. Islamic Republic of Pakistan, inhabited an after-school club in the basement of • The Israel Field (attached field) by 166 million people, 90 percent of the church that reaches out success- had significant growth. Members whom are Muslim believers. God has fully to teens in the neighborhood.

ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 3, 2005 (1033) 17 Ministries and Departments* secular evangelism. significant impact on soul winning. As a A host of seminars, advisories, Through the Family Ministries fruit of 277 evangelistic meetings, 345 councils, and symposiums were held Department the annual leader- new members were added to the church across the division. Here are a few certification program (CFLE) is grow- and 364 former members brought back. other highlights: ing in strength as more countries send Nearly 10,000 women participated in ADRA and Ingathering keep our their directors for training. More than 320 retreats, 1,278 of whom were non- division among the three most promi- 900 Global Mission projects have been members. The Youth Department reports nent contributors to the world church. worked on, including some 70 church an increased involvement of youth in ADRA/Trans-Europe operated 1,900 buildings. church planting and evangelism, with projects and processed $121,300,000 Because health institutions find it 108 youth sent as missionaries to various through 25 country offices. difficult to operate in Europe, the focus parts of the world. Adventist World Radio (AWR) is of the Health Department has been to The Education Department also supporting language production for train the health directors and to pro- played its role in the division. Through Pakistan in Urdu, Pashtun, and vide seminars in local churches to fos- the evangelistic work of our educa- Punjabi. Arabic programs are continu- ter greater health awareness and sup- tional institutions 533 students were ing to be aired daily into the Middle port projects of health evangelism. baptized. The total student enrollment East. For South Sudan, AWR is assist- The Ministerial Association has increased from 13,905 to 17,649. From ing the production of Moru, Bari, local engaged in the training and support of our senior college, Newbold, 254 grad- English, and Juha Arabic. pastors—for example, through the pas- uates emerged. Newbold College is The Children's Ministries Department tor's council in 2001, in which 900 pas- connected to a set of union institutions reports that 11,613 children attended tors participated. An Adventist-Muslim providing pastoral training in the 860 Vacation Bible Schools in the past symposium was also arranged in Cyprus Adriatic, Hungarian, Polish, and five years, and 586 children were bap- in 2003, which attracted international South-East European unions. In 2002 tized as a result of various kinds of out- participation from within our church. the first 10 graduates received their reach. The GraceLink material is now The Personal Ministries Department Griggs University B.A. degree in theol- translated and used in 12 unions. (including Sabbath School) has orga- ogy through an ongoing pastoral The Communication Department has nized seminars to train laypeople for extension program in Riga, Latvia. not only issued news and information evangelism. The quinquennium saw Middle East College became the first through its weekly newsletter ANR 500 small groups established across the institution in our division to achieve and the Trans-European Division Web division. university status (2001), and Newbold site, but has established the Music Besides holding many training semi- College was able to forge a partnership Ministry and the Adventist Music nars, the Publishing Department has with the University of Wales, Lampeter, Association (AMA), and has cooper- developed a promising book project in in order to offer, for the first time, ated with the British Union in the which a book set will target health, chil- European-based Ph.D. research degrees LIFEdevelopment.info program, dren, and the Adventist message. The in theology (2004). producing a multimedia package for Women's Ministries Department made Conclusion The Trans-European Division family express thanks to God for His unfailing grace and constant blessing, in the face of war, intoler- ance, and persecution. We thank the world church for its generous support and assistance in countless ways. And we thank numerous members and friends for their prayers and for outstanding fellow- ship and unity. We commit our- selves to continue serving our Lord Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit, serving Him faithfully until He comes.

*Detailed reports of the division depart- ments are displayed on our Web site at www.tedadventist.org. A group of church planters at the European Church Planters X-change conference

18 (1034) ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 3, 2005 PROCEEDINGS First Business Meeting 58th General Conference session, June 30, 2005, 3:00 p.m.

PHYLLIS WARE: [Offered the opening in the heart of America. [Applause.] I bring an art museum, a science center, a Missouri prayer.] greetings to the chairman and the presi- history museum, and a 12,000-seat outdoor DAVID OSBORNE: What God wants dent, Jan Paulsen, and distinguished dele- theater. St. Louis has many, many more the most from us is for us to have a rela- gates and to all of our guests here for the attractions for all ages and all interests, and tionship with Him and to be close to His fifty-eighth General Conference session of we hope that you will have time in heart. Seventh-day Adventists from Mayor between some of the business sessions and COPPERBELT HERITAGE SINGERS: Francis Slay, St. Louis executive Charles your worship services to visit them. We [Sang "There Is a Land Which Is Rich."] Duley, the St. Louis Convention and know that you will find the people of St. JAIME JORGE: [Rendered a violin Visitors Commission, and the entire St. Louis to be warm and friendly and repre- solo, "Near to the Heart of God."] Louis hospitality industry. sentative of the real America. We invite JIM HOEHN: [Read the Scripture read- We are so honored to have the eyes of you to return to St. Louis again and again ing from Romans 8:38, 39.] the world on St. Louis for the next several to enjoy the many reasons nearly 17 mil- WILLIAM K. MILLER: [Offered days as we host the General Conference of lion people visit each year. Thank you for prayer.] Seventh-day Adventists. We have been visiting St. Louis, and we do look forward DAVID OSBORNE: The theme for this looking forward to this day for quite some to your return. Thank you. [Applause.] General Conference session is "Transformed time, and our staff even attended your con- LOWELL C. COOPER: Brothers and in Christ," and we are delighted that we ference in Toronto five years ago so that we sisters, we have been welcomed to the city have the first presentation by Dr. Jo Ann could be better prepared to welcome all of of St. Louis. We have assembled here in Davidson. Dr. Davidson is an associate pro- you. this city from all directions of the compass, fessor of systematic theology at the In 1764 French fur traders from New from all continents of the globe, from all Seventh-day Adventist Theological Orleans founded our city and named it paths of human experience, to reaffirm, to Seminary at Andrews University. We arc after Louis IX, a king of France. Napoleon demonstrate once again, that we are a delighted that she is going to speak to us, sold the Louisiana territory to President global family of faith. We have had an because she is not only an inspiring teacher Thomas Jefferson in 1803, and overnight opportunity, as a prelude to our business and friend but also an inspiring speaker. the size of the United States doubled. St. session, to spend time in worship and med- She has been a professor at the Seventh- Louis was the center of the fur trade in itation and in fellowship to gain perspec- day Adventist Theological Seminary for America in 1804 when President Thomas tive about our purpose and our priorities. eight years, and we are delighted that she is Jefferson sent explorers Meriwether Lewis And building on the platform of that here to speak to us today on the subject and William Clark to chart the new understanding and in continuing the spirit "Behold the Lamb." Louisiana territory. Last year we celebrated of these moments that we have spent Before she brings God's message to us, the bicentennial of this historic event. together thus far, we are gathered here this let us worship as we listen to that beautiful This year we celebrate the fortieth anniver- afternoon to address organizational busi- song "How Great Thou Art." sary of the Gateway Arch. This beautiful ness. For many delegates this is the first JANICE CHANDLER-ETEME: monument was built to symbolize the role opportunity to attend a General [Rendered a vocal solo, "How Great Thou that St. Louis played in the westward Conference session. So I suppose it might Art."] expansion of the United States. be appropriate that we take a moment or JO ANN DAVIDSON: [Presented a You have come to St. Louis at a very two to share some procedural information. devotional message.] exciting time. Our downtown has been Now, even for those who have been to ses- JOHN GRAZ: Mr. Chairman, brothers experiencing a renaissance over the past sions before, there are some new things and sisters, dear friends, it is a privilege for three years, and nearly $3 billion have here, so I request your ear for a moment or me to introduce Carol A. Moody, president been spent on new hotels, restaurants, two. [The chairman explained the purpose of the St. Louis Convention and Visitors retail shops, condos and apartments, and and use of the badge and how to use the Commission. Carol Moody and her team treescaping. Another $1 billion will be microphones.] have been a continual support to our meet- invested in downtown developments dur- We will turn to General Conference ing planning team. They have opened ing the next year, which will include the secretary Matthew Bediako to lead us into doors for the General Conference and rep- renovation of the old post office, the bottle the agenda. resented our interests through the city. In district just north of the Edward Jones MATTHEW BEDIAKO: Thank you, some difficult situations that arose during Dome (where we are here today), and the Mr. Chairman. I want to extend a happy the planning process they stood firm for the new St. Louis Cardinals ballpark and ball- welcome to all our delegates and their wishes of Seventh-day Adventists. We rec- park village. spouses. It is good to see you here. ognize, Carol [applause], that such a meet- You can zip to many St. Louis attrac- The General Conference Constitution, ing would have been impossible without tions on the Metrolink light rail, and I Article V, Section 1, reads as follows: your support, and we want to thank you understand that many of you are doing "Section 1. The General Conference shall very much for all you have done. that. Outside downtown you will find city hold quinquennial sessions at such time [Applause.] neighborhoods with great restaurants, and place as the Executive Committee CAROL MOODY: Thank you very shopping and entertainment, and many shall designate and announce by a notice much, but I must also thank my staff who other places of interest. Forest Park has published in the Adventist Review in three are seated in the audience here. Thank you been restored to its former glory with a $94 consecutive issues at least four months very much, C.D.T. Singh. [Carol Moody million facelift in time for the 100th before the date for the opening of the ses- expressed her thanks in several different anniversary of the Louisiana Purchase sion. In case special world conditions make languages.] Welcome to St. Louis, here on expedition last year. Within the park you it imperative to postpone the calling of the the banks of the mighty Mississippi River will find the world-famous St. Louis Zoo, session, the Executive Committee, in Continued on page 26.

ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY i, 2 0 05 (1035) 19 TRANSFORMED IN CHRIST

Don't Give Up Sermon presented Sabbath morning, July 2, 2005

n 1986 I was invited by the South Pacific I ended our conversation with the verses Division to visit the Cook Islands and hold "let us hold fast the profession of our faith a two-week revival. without wavering; (for he is faithful that The night I presented the message on promised;) . . . . For yet a little while, and he the blessed hope, I noticed a woman wip- that shall come will come, and will not tarry'" 1ing tears from her eyes. After the meeting she (Heb. 10:23-37). came and asked me to pray for two children. Then, before leaving, she said, "I'll be expecting The Danger Facing Us you at lunch tomorrow." (Arrangements had There may be somebody here this morning been made for me to have meals at the members' under the stress of life, disappointments, and dis- homes.) couragements, wondering how long we will have The next day when the pastor came to pick Matthew A. to wait. There may be those who believed and me up, I asked him to tell me a little bit about Bediako broadcast the message of the Second Coming the family. After a momentary pause he told me Secretary, General who have become cynical about it. They were that one day her husband told her he was going Conference confident that Christ would come in their youth. fishing and would be back soon. Five years later But now, decades later, they have become he had not returned. Nobody knew what had disillusioned. happened. A search team had looked for him, but they had Even Christian preachers—including some Seventh-day found nothing except his boat. This woman spent hours Adventists—have decided that they will not preach on the every week sitting at the place where they found his boat, topic of the Second Coming. waiting, expecting that someday she would see her husband. Fifty-three years ago, as a young boy, I heard the message That afternoon, after the meal, she told me her story. of the second coming of Jesus. I still remember how the None of us could keep back the tears. She said to me, preacher narrated the events. I believed that Jesus was com- "Pastor, I don't know what happened to my husband. ing soon; that I was not going to finish high school or col- Friends have advised me to forget this incident and go on lege; that there would not be time to marry and have a with my life. family. "Last night you assured us that Jesus will keep His Yet here I am, and Jesus is not here. promise to take us home. I have looked forward to that day But I am not ready to give up. I am not disillusioned. I for 10 years. Should I continue to believe His promise?" am not embarrassed to tell people that not only do I believe I sat on the chair next to her. I opened my Bible and read in the second coming of Jesus, I am eagerly waiting and the promise "'Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in watching for it. By God's grace I cannot, I will not, give up. God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many What is the alternative? What hope do I have other than mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to the hope promised by Jesus? prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that A Lesson From the Past where I am, there ye may be also"' (John 14:1-3). The Jews in A.D. 27 looked hopefully toward the fulfill-

20 (1036) ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 3 , 2005 ment of Malachi's prophecy: "Behold, I our relationships with one another in Exceeding Our Expectations will send you Elijah the prophet before this family of faith? If you have doubts about the soon the coming of the great and dreadful Are you surprised by the problems coming of Jesus, or feel that Jesus did day of the Lord" (Mal. 4:5). They in some of our churches? Are you sur- not mean what He promised, read the longed for the coming "day of the prised about name-calling among us? story of Lazarus (John 11). Lord," when everything would be set We identify some as liberals and some The chapter begins with the sad right in Israel. When God would come as conservatives; progressives and non- news that Lazarus was sick. Lazarus and suddenly and purify His people and progressives. Are you surprised that in his two sisters, Mary and Martha, were restore their former glory. every world division, every union, and among Christ's best friends on earth. If you had stopped at random any conference "concerned Adventists" are Because Jesus was known as a great person on the street in Jerusalem to reporting fellow members to govern- healer, they sent a messenger to Him: inquire, "Do you believe in the coming ment authorities? "Your friend, Lazarus, is very sick." of the Messiah?" the answer would I am not surprised at the rise of trib- The sisters expected that Jesus have been a positive "Yes." Everybody alism, nationalism, regionalism, racism, would drop everything and hurry to be knew about it; it was part of their tra- and congregationalism even among with them. Or that He would speak a dition. Yet only a handful was ready to God's people. word of healing. They had faith in receive Him. The debate still continues about the Jesus. In Luke 2 we read about a devout proper style of worship. We fuss about But Jesus' response was, "This sick- man in Jerusalem whose name was the rigidity of our standards, or the ness is not unto death" (verse 4). This Simeon. He was waiting for the increasing lack of them. We spend was good news to the messenger. He consolation of Israel. time arguing about who is right and returned the following day to tell Mary Then a woman—Anna—"spoke of who is wrong. It's hard to believe that and Martha the good news. him [the Messiah] to all those who we are looking forward to the soon As the messenger approached looked for redemption in Jerusalem" return of Jesus Christ. If we cannot get Bethany he heard weeping. He must've (verse 38, NKJV). along here on earth, how can we live said to himself, "They are not mourn- These individuals never lost hope together in heaven? ing Lazarus; it must be another person. in the promise of the Messiah. They Dr. Paulsen, our president, in his Jesus said Lazarus' sickness would not believed the promise of God and built book Let Your Life So Shine makes the end in death." He soon discovered, their lives around it. following appeal: "It is late in the day, however, that Lazarus was indeed dead. But the priests, the scribes, and the and we are almost home. We cannot Mary spotted the messenger and Pharisees were unprepared for the now become reckless and careless. We asked, "Did Jesus come with you?" coming of the Messiah. It was not owe it to the church, which is His Then Martha, running after Mary, because they did not know. The prob- body, to shore up and strengthen the asked, "What did Jesus say?" lem was that they had heard of it far whole body—the international family." The messenger knew the relation- too long and had become used to it. He continues, "I pledge to do what ship between these women and Jesus, I can to make our church a loving and the trust they had in Him. Finally The Faithful and Evil Servants community in which we support each he gathered his strength, looked down, It is against this attitude that Christ other—carry each other, if need and said, "He said that the sickness told His parables about watchfulness be—lift up our Lord, and seek to live would not end in death." and readiness (Matt. 24:45-51; 25:1- our lives in obedience to Him; and Mary and Martha then faced 13; Mark 13:34-37; Luke 12:42-45). arrange our lives, values, and choices, the greatest contradiction and Faithful servants, while waiting and personally and in the church, accord- disappointment of their lives. expecting the master to return, do not ingly. Now, let us embrace and hold Confused, Mary and Martha were in sit idly, but continue to serve with hands firmly, let us 'press together,' despair. Was Jesus what He claimed to expectation. Christians have duties as we move forward to finish the be? They had trusted Him, but He had and ethical responsibilities as we watch journey!" let them down. and wait. I pray that in our Seventh-day Two days passed. Suddenly Jesus On the other hand, evil servants Adventist Church in Ghana we will suggested to His disciples that they neglect their responsibilities and mis- no longer speak about Ashantis, or should go to Bethany. When they behave because of the unfortunate Gas, or Ewes; in Rwanda, no Hutus or objected, He said to them, "Our friend delay. In the parable of the faithful and Tutsis; in South Africa, no Blacks, Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am evil servants the evil servant beat his Whites, or Coloreds; in America, no going there to wake him up" (verse 11, fellow servants, ate and drank with the Blacks, Whites, Asians, or Latinos. But NIV). drunkards because he assumed there that we will speak about the members "Well, Lord," they said, "if he is was plenty of time to change. of God's church as the children of asleep, he will wake up." Could the Lord's delay also affect God. Finally, Jesus informed them that

ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 3, 2005 (1037) 21

Lazarus was dead. He added, "And for When the vehicles were unloaded, revelator wrote: "Every eye will see your sake I am glad I was not there, so the commandos got into the Land him" (Rev. 1:7, NIV). that you may believe" (verse 15, NIV). Rover. Inside the Mercedes-Benz was a We are almost at the end of our Martha was the first to hear of the man who looked like President Amin. journey. Don't give up! Jesus will not arrival of Jesus. She ran to Him, and The car was like the one he used, only fulfill our expectations; He will with a voice full of disappointment adorned with the Ugandan flag and exceed them. and frustration she said, "Lord, .. . if coat of arms. We might have to weep sometimes, you had been here, my brother would The vehicles proceeded toward the but don't give up. We might face tough not have died" (verse 21). building where the hostages were held. times, but don't give up. We might Mary soon joined them, and Jesus When the Ugandan security forces saw have some questions that have no wept with them. In the eyes of the sis- the vehicle, they stood at attention and immediate answers, but don't give up. ters Jesus had proven to be unfaithful saluted. When the vehicles stopped We might be disappointed by the to His word. near the building where the president brothers and sisters, but don't give up. But when they got to the grave, Jesus always stopped, security forces rushed We might even disappoint ourselves, spoke, and Lazarus rose from the dead. to open the doors. The commandos fol- but don't give up. Jesus not only met their expectations; lowed, and, if I remember correctly, it Today God is inviting a people who He exceeded them. took less than 10 minutes for the are willing to live by faith in His Word Yes, it has been a long, long wait. hostages to be rescued. and proclaim by faith the nearness of Jesus' delay has raised doubts in our Friends, about 6,000 years ago the His coming. minds and has affected the way we live. devil hijacked this planet. He is holding Are you ready to respond to God's But don't give up; don't look hack! us hostage. call to play your part in announcing Jesus will exceed our expectations. But the good news is that our rescue the glorious reunion with our Savior, team is on the way—led by Prince Jesus Christ? Rescued Emmanuel, our Lord and Savior Himself. He says, "I am coming quickly." During the presidency of Uganda's Our rescue team will not be camou- Let us respond by saying, "Even so, Idi Amin, an Air France plane was flaged. It will not be in secret. John the come, Lord Jesus" (Rev. 22:20)! hijacked and diverted to Kampala, Uganda. Almost 100 Israeli passengers on that plane were detained by President Amin. WISH YOU COULD SHARE The governments of Israel and GC SESSION WITH FRIENDS France condemned the hijacking, and WHO COULDN'T MAKE appealed to Amin to release the pas- sengers. They were soon joined by TRIP TO ST LOUIS? protests from the United Nations. But the more the Western press criticized Idi Amin, the more he threatened to execute the hostages. He visited them and told them that their government didn't care about their safety. Finally Amin threatened that on a SOUVENIR MEDIA certain date, if the Israeli government had not complied with his demand to RECORDINGS release some Palestinian prisoners, the hostages would be killed. • SABBATH SERVICES Meanwhile, Israel was working on - DEVOTIONALS a plan. They sent spies to Uganda to observe how Idi Amin visited the air- - EVENING REPORTS & MORE port. The military put together a res- cue team of commandos. Two C-130 GC Session ograms are availa son the following day planes took off for eastern Africa. One at the AdventSource booth the exhibit hall. of the planes carried a rescue team, rder complete sets of devotionals at the AdventSource booth by noon the other a black Mercedes-Benz Friday, July 8. For after-Session sales call 800-328-0525. sedan and a Land Rover. The planes managed to land at the Entebbe Not all evening reports and musical presentations will be recorded for sale because of copyright restrictions. However, Airport undetected. every effort is being made to make available as much as possible. Visit the AdventSource booth for availability.

22 (1038) ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 2005 REPORT OF THE NORTH AMERICAN DIVISION

Faithful Stewards of God's Blessings Presented July 2, 2005

America, received during the first week movie The Passion of the Christ, which Don Schneider of March 2004 an average of 20 calls and depicts the last hours in Christ's life, President 120 cards per day requesting Bible stud- grossed more than $370 million in the ies. This is the result of many churches U.S. and Canada, awakening many and members adopting this project. For spiritually. Realizing the impact this want our members in the North instance, a three-church district in film was having on moviegoers, many American Division (NAD) to be northwest Montana mailed 15,000 Sow Adventists in North America distrib- focused on the mission of Christ 1 Billion cards to their entire district and uted the booklets Passion of the Ages, as reflected in Jesus' words: "For then coordinated newspaper advertising printed by the Review and Herald, and even the Son of Man did not and evangelistic meetings as a part of the The Passion of the Messiah, published Icome to be served, but to serve, and to follow-up to those expressing interest. In by Pacific Press and Signs of the Times, give his life as a ransom for many." a Houston, Texas, suburb, 2,300 people both comprised of material excerpted (Mark 10:45, NIV). gathered at a conference center for lay from Ellen White's book The Desire of During the past five years church training and equipping—which included Ages. To date, more than 800,000 members helped pastors baptize various evangelism seminars for Sow 1 copies of the The Passion of the Messiah 153,000 new converts into the Billion. By the end of 2004 the Voice of booklets have been distributed, and Seventh-day Adventist family in the Prophecy had received via mail and tele- Pacific Press will be printing 50,000 5,066 churches and 613 companies phone approximately 27,360 invitations more. Each book takes its readers on a spread across North America. The for Bible study. The request cards from journey through the Garden of division passed the one-million mem- churches and conferences also included Gethsemane to the ascension of Jesus. bers milestone at the end of 2004. materials in different languages. Members engaged movie patrons in New members feel it is an answer to conversations about the book and their prayers to join the Adventist Net Evangelism movie while providing Bible studies at family. "The Lord has blessed me with In addition to the efforts of the Sow their local churches. a lot, and I love Him and owe the 1 Billion initiative, NET 2004 planners whole world to Him," said Rene also contributed to bringing more peo- Adventist Chaplains Rodriguez, who joined the church in ple to the church. "Experience the Approximately 21 Adventist mili- 2004. "That's why I am committing my Power," the NET 2004 evangelistic tary chaplains served in Iraq in 2004. life to Him." series presented by the Breath of Life These reserve chaplains served as pas- telecast director and speaker, Walter L. tors, teachers, or other religious work- Sow 1 Billion Pearson, Jr., became a powerful force ers until their units were activated. Adventist Church leaders declared during the Year of World Evangelism. Ten active duty Adventist chaplains 2004 as the Year of World Evangelism The 21-day series was uplinked from were deployed, serving at airfields, on and challenged its constituency to dis- Baltimore, Maryland, to approximately ships, at command headquarters, or tribute 25 million Bible study invita- 1,600 downlink sites all over the world undisclosed locations. Currently, the tion cards as part of the world church's and translated into Spanish, Portuguese, Seventh-day Adventist Church has 50 Sow 1 Billion project. From the first and Swahili. At the "home site" in chaplains serving on active duty, with two cards received from the Carolina Baltimore, Maryland, ministers baptized another 34 in the reserve forces in Conference to the Wisconsin 149 people. North America. Conference's mailing 500,000 tracts In November 2004 Arthur Branner, and handing out an additional Taking Advantage of Unique pastor of the Fairfield, California, 100,000, the program saw results. Opportunities church, was one of these chaplains The Voice of Prophecy, the The increase in membership can assigned for duty in Iraq. He consid- California-based ministry coordinating also be attributed to unique evangelis- ered his move to Iraq as a transition the Sow 1 Billion responses for North tic opportunities in 2004. Mel Gibson's into a different phase of his personal

ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 3, 2005 ( [039) 23 ministry. "I feel that the two most cent, compared to a 4.8 percent important positions in the Army are increase in 2004. Tithe for this quin- the medic and the chaplain," said quennium in the North American Branner before he left. "While the Division totaled more than $3.5 bil- medic works on the physical injuries, lion-58 percent of the total tithe for the chaplain works on the injured the worldwide church. Total giving to souls to make sure they are equipped to the church for 2004—including tithe, make the most important decision of offerings for missions, and local church their lives." funds—approached $1.2 billion. The conviction to help our neigh- Embracing Service bors in our communities encourages Inspired by those committed to Seventh-day Adventist Church mem- serving throughout the world, many bers to join national efforts. Each year NAD programs within the past five the North American Division's philan- years similarly embraced the idea of thropic arm, Philanthropic Service for service. This included the Pathfinder Institutions (PSI), invites employees at

Camporee, held August 10-14, 2004, One hundred thirty pastors baptized more the General Conference complex to at the Experimental Aircraft than 290 Pathfinders during a mass participate in a worthy cause through Association (EAA) Campgrounds in baptism at the Faith on Fire Camporee. this national celebration. Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Approximately "We want our colleagues to cele- 30,000 Pathfinders attended the Faith brate the spirit of the day that encour- on Fire Camporee and participated in trained and certified more than 5,000 ages others to give," said Ken Turpen, pin trading, honor learning, march- members for community health out- director of PSI. In 2003 proceeds went ing/drilling exhibitions, archery, a tal- reach. We lift up Jesus in health by to fund a "goat bank" in Laos, ent showcase, and sporting activities. learning how to care for our bodies," Southeast Asia, and in 2004 to help Perhaps more important, they says Williams. "There is a need for Adventist World Radio send radios to impacted the local community through ministering to those who are not aware rural areas in Madagascar, Cambodia, service assignments. Pathfinders helped of the advantages of good health. Masai lands, and the Philippines. in neighborhood cleanup initiatives, We've had four national Health painting, and restoration projects. Summit training sessions with the Committed to Global Mission As a result of nightly spiritual meet- Inter-American Division and will be Other NAD ministries are dedi- ings 130 pastors baptized more than having the second Health Summit cated to assisting globally as well. 290 Pathfinders on the Sabbath of the West this year." Adventist-Laymen's Services and camporee. Thousands more committed Industries (ASI) is an organization of themselves to study toward baptism. Financial Support Seventh-day Adventist business men For an Adventist Church commit- This notion of service was also seen and women, professionals, and lay ted to service, the Faith on Fire theme in members' tithing and offerings. In ministries dedicated to sharing the applied equally well a few months 2002 NAD tithe increased by 3.3 per- love of Christ and supporting the later. When the terrible tsunami global mission of the Seventh-day hit southern Asia, Adventists in Adventist Church and its out- North America opened their reach programs. Members recog- hearts and wallets, contributing , nize their stewardship of time, tal- more than $500,000 through their t ents, and treasures given them by local church in January and God. Under the motto "Sharing February alone to aid those Christ in the Marketplace," they affected by this tragedy. The continually look for ways to live Adventist Development and the gospel commission in daily Relief Agency (ADRA) received business dealings and personal millions of dollars from others contacts. throughout North America. In addition to inspiring its You can't tell people about sal- members to service, ASI has vation and Jesus Christ until you made a tradition of taking a pro- address their practical needs, jects-centered offering at its Adventist Community Services specializes in disaster states DeWitt Williams, director response by managing warehouse operations where volu n- annual convention. The offering of the Health Ministries teers sort, package, and store emergency relief supplies in 2004 totaled $2.3 million to Department. "That's why we have for distribution to disaster victims. fund 45 different projects. During

24 (1040) ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 2005 the past five years some 175 entities for Christ. The festival featured 150 course geared toward Native have received support. These included seminars, including "Winning Souls Americans in the Pacific Northwest in projects in nations as far away as via the Bible Marking Plan," "Eight March. The course introduces Native China, Africa, Norway, Brazil, and Habits of Highly Successful Bible Americans to Christ and the Poland and places as close as Arkansas, Students," "Creative Outreach and Adventist Church. Native Americans Washington, Virginia, and Michigan. Discipleship," and "Soul Winning can request a free course packet, and Examples include a clinic in Made Easy." the Voice of Prophecy will mail them Madagascar; a boys dormitory at Women's Ministries departments the materials, including lessons and Holbrook Indian School in Arizona; across the division held 1,832 full-day quizzes. roofs for churches in Africa; billboards leadership events during 2004. Some "This is the first time that there's advertising Christian radio in South 91,000 people attended, with 10 per- ever been anything out there that is Carolina; an all-terrain vehicle for a cent being individuals who were not specifically [designed for] Native peo- school in the Dominican Republic; members of the church. This depart- ple, and written for Native people," bicycles for Burundi, Rwanda, said Monte Church, director of Uganda, and the Congo. Native ministries for the North Pacific Union and Canadian Union Family Life conferences. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the total num- Use of Media ber of divorces in the United States Radio and television, and increas- reached 957,000 in 2000. The report ingly the Internet, continue to be also revealed that 43 percent of first effective evangelistic vehicles for the marriages end in separation or church. From Florida Hospital a divorce within 15 years. Christmas special aired on more than During the quinquennium 18 150 television stations in 2004, From This Day Forward marriage including worldwide distribution on conferences took place across North the Trinity Broadcasting Network Kendall Pendergrass, 11, and Harrison Hosteter, America. Hundreds of couples and the Adventist Television 11, from the Gentry, Arkansas, Travelers Pathfinder attended, many of them non- Network. Club repainted fire hydrants in Menasha, The number of churches Adventists. More than 200 Wisconsin, during the Faith on Fire Camporee in using Web sites showed dramatic requested Bible studies after com- August 2004. This was one of 23 community ser- pleting the conference. Some of the vice projects sponsored by ADRA. increases in the past five years. The attendees shared that they were "on division recognizes one church per their way to divorce court but year for having the best Web site. For changed their plans because of the ment's belief in the power of prayer is 2004 the recipient was the Camelback conference." demonstrated in its Web site www. Adventist Church in Phoenix, Arizona. The Department of Family nadwm.org. You can view the church's site at Ministries of the Seventh-day The Adventist Volunteer www.camelbackchurch.net. Adventist Church believes that Ministries Network reached record NAD's Adventist Media Center, stronger marriages develop into numbers in 2004, with more than located in southern California, houses stronger families that form stronger 70,000 people participating in volun- the Voice of Prophecy, Faith for Today, churches and communities. "If our teer ministries. The Adventist La Voz de la Esperanza, It Is Written, marriages are healthier, there is inten- Volunteer Ministries Network is the and Breath of Life. Additional min- tional discipleship of children taking official agency responsible for leader- istries such as LifeTalk Radio and place, more faithful stewardship prac- ship and networking of volunteer out- Amazing Facts mean more people are tices, and a stronger witness to the reach ministries in North America. reached with the excitement of the world," says Willie Oliver, director of This means that churches, schools, Adventist message. the Family Ministries Department. conferences, and supportive organiza- The way that the North American tions deploying volunteers for min- Division continues to expand in such Lay Involvement istry can be a part of the growing vol- new and exciting ways shows God's The first-ever Festival of the Laity unteer ministries movement both here incredible blessings. I know that the was held in April 2002 in Orlando, in North America and abroad. mission is not yet done, but I hope Florida. Attended by approximately In an effort to tell other more- each of us will know that we have had 8,000 members, this convention specialized groups about Jesus, the a part when the final report is pre- affirmed and empowered the laity to North American Adventist Church sented and we are told, "Well done, continue witnessing and winning souls launched a first-of-its-kind Bible study thou good and faithful servants."

ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY , 2005 (1041) 25 PROCEEDIN GS

Continued from page 19. gates. Mr. Chairman, I move that these and approved.] regular delegates be seated at this hour. MATTHEW A. BEDIAKO: Mr. regular or special council, shall have LOWELL C. COOPER: Thank you Chairman, by adding 1,240 regular dele- authority to make such postponement, not very much. gates to 760 delegates at large, we have a to exceed two years, giving notice to all MATTHEW A. BEDIAKO: Mr. required grand total of 2,000 delegates. Mr. constituent organizations." Chairman, Article V, Section 7(a), of the Chairman, this is a group of delegates pro- Mr. Chairman, I am happy to tell you constitution provides that all members of vided by the constitution to initiate the that the following notice appeared three the General Conference Executive work of the session. And so, Mr. Chairman, times in the Adventist Review: Committee shall he delegates at large. The I present this delegation to you at this first General Conference Session present membership of the General meeting of the fifty-eighth session of the Official notice is hereby given that the Conference Executive Committee is 290. General Conference of Seventh-day fifty-eighth session of the General Section 7(b) says that all associate direc- Adventists. Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists tors and secretaries of General Conference This group of delegates present is now will he held from June 29 to July 9, 2005, departments and associations are also dele- empowered to act on behalf of the General in the America's Center Convention gates at large. This number amounts to 27. Conference of Seventh-day Adventists at Center in St. Louis, Missouri. The first Section 7(c) says that 20 delegates selected its fifty-eighth session. I must hasten to say, meeting will begin at 15:00 hours, June 29, by the General Conference Executive Mr. Chairman, that I have just received an 2005. All duly accredited delegates are Committee shall also be delegates at large. account of those who have already regis- urged to be present at that time. This number is 20. This gives us a total of tered. We have 1,458 delegates who have Jan Paulsen, General Conference 337 delegates for Section 7(a), Section registered. Registration will continue President 7(b), and Section 7(c). Section 7(d) says tomorrow morning, and I am sure that by Matthew Bediako, General Conference that 10 delegates from each division shall the end of tomorrow we will have almost Secretary be designated as delegates at large. That all of our delegation. Mr. Chairman, we Mr. Chairman, Article V, Section 4, gives us 130 delegates. Section 7(e) pro- now await your call to order. provides that the delegates to a General vides for other representatives of the LOWELL C. COOPER: Thank you, Conference session shall be designated as General Conference and division institu- Mr. Secretary. On the basis of the informa- follows: tions and other entities, and for those tion that you've presented regarding the Regular delegates not to exceed 1,240. employees, field secretaries, laypersons, and composition of the delegation and the Delegates at large not to exceed 760. pastors selected by the Executive numbers of delegates who have registered Mr. Chairman, Article V, Section 5, Committee of the General Conference and and are present, I have the liberty of provides for the appointment of regular its divisions. The number of these delegates declaring that the fifty-eighth session of the delegates by union conferences, divisions, shall be determined as the difference General Conference of Seventh-day and the General Conference. These dele- between the sum of all the other categories Adventists is open for business. [Applause.] gates have been duly appointed in harmony of delegates at large and 760. MATTHEW A. BEDIAKO: During this with the constitution. The secretaries of Mr. Chairman, Section 7(a), Section quinquennium, Mr. Chairman, there has the divisions have reported to me the fol- 7(b), Section 7(c), and Section 7(d) give been a reorganization on the continent of lowing numbers of regular delegates from us a total of 467. The difference between Africa and in several divisions. I now call their respective organizations, and I shall 760 and 467 is 293. The distribution of 293 on the associate secretaries responsible for read the numbers, Mr. Chairman: East- delegates have been made as stipulated by these divisions to present these organiza- Central Africa Division, 130 delegates; the constitution. Mr. Chairman, I move tions and bring their recommendation for Euro-Africa Division, 51 delegates; Euro- that these delegates at large be seated at them to be accepted into the sisterhood of Asia Division, 52 delegates; Inter- this time. [Motion was moved, seconded, unions and divisions. I now call on Claude American Division, 188 delegates; Delegation Registration Stats * North American Division, 110 dele- Total Total Entity name Section 6 Section 7 Total Men Women Lay PTA* GC gates; Northern Asia-Pacific East-Central Africa Division 130 35 165 133 20 16 113 0 Division, 42 dele- Euro-Africa Division 61 20 81 63 13 21 21 0 gates; South Euro-Asia Division 62 18 80 62 16 20 20 0 American Division, Gen Conf ADCOM/Insttns/Services 0 65 65 39 14 8 9 0 134 delegates; Gen Conf Dept Assoc Directors 0 27 27 19 7 0 1 0 South Pacific Gen Conf Executive Committee 0 290 290 257 21 5 2 0 Gen Conf Office Appointed Staff 0 20 Division, 55 dele- 20 13 6 0 0 Inter-American Division 188 38 226 36 46 40 gates; Southern 173 North American Division 110 68 178 130 43 47 35 0 Africa-Indian Northern Asia-Pacific Division 42 20 62 55 4 15 20 0 Ocean Division, South American Division 154 38 192 163 25 46 62 0 108 delegates; South Pacific Division 65 11 76 57 17 20 29 0 Southern Asia Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division 108 32 140 110 27 31 31 0 Division, 74 dele- Southern Asia Division 74 19 93 79 15 18 19 0 gates; Southern Southern Asia-Pacific Division 105 20 125 96 16 34 15 0 Asia-Pacific Trans-European Divison 65 18 83 50 26 27 23 0 Division, 105 dele- West Central Africa Division 76 21 97 87 10 23 13 0 gates; Trans- Total 1,240 760 2,000 1,5136 316 377 453 0 European Division, 55 delegates; West- * As of May 19, 2005 Central Africa * Pastors, Teachers, and Administrators Division, 76 dele-

26 (1042) ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 2005 PR 0 C E E D I N G S

Sabot to present the reorganization of the in the Euro-Asia Division into the world South Central American Union continent of Africa, the three divisions. sisterhood of unions of the Seventh-day Conference of the Inter-American Division CLAUDE SABOT: Mr. Chairman, it is Adventist Church. into the world sisterhood of unions of the with pleasure that I move to recognize and AGUSTIN GALICIA: I move, Mr. Seventh-day Adventist Church. I so move. record the reorganization of the former Chairman, to recognize and record the AGUSTIN GALICIA: Mr. Chairman, Africa-Indian Ocean Division and the reorganization of the former North it is nay pleasure also to move to recognize Eastern Africa Division into three new Mexican Union Conference and South and record the organization of the Ecuador divisions known as the East-Central Africa Mexican Union Conference into three Union Mission, effective July 1, 2001, and Division, the Southern Africa-Indian unions, known as the interim Inter- to accept the Ecuador Union Mission in Ocean Division, and the West-Central Oceanic Mexican Union Mission, the the South American Division into the Africa Division, effective January 1, 2003. North Mexican Union Conference, and world sisterhood of unions of the Seventh- To accept the East-Central Africa Division the South Mexican Union Conference, day Adventist church. I so move. into the world sisterhood of divisions of the effective May 15, 2001. And to accept the AGUSTIN GALICIA: It is my pleasure Seventh-day Adventist Church. To accept Inter-Oceanic Mexican Union Mission in also to move to recognize and record the the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean the Inter-American Division into the world reorganization of the former Central Brazil Division into the world sisterhood of divi- sisterhood of unions of the Seventh-day Union Conference and the South Brazil sions of the Seventh-day Adventist Adventist Church. And to accept the Union Conference into three unions Church. To accept the West-Central North Mexican Union Conference in the known as the Central Brazil Union Africa Division into the world sisterhood Inter-American Division into the world sis- Conference, the South Brazil Union of division of the Seventh-day Adventist terhood of unions of the Seventh-day Conference, and the West Central Brazil Church. Adventist Church. And to accept the Union Mission, effective January 1, 2005. LOWELL C. COOPER: With the plea- South Mexican Union Conference in the And to accept the Central Brazil Union sure of the body, we will hear now a series Inter-American Division into the world sis- Conference in the South American of motions respecting the recognition of terhood of unions of the Seventh-day Division into the world sisterhood of unions to be brought now into the sister- Adventist Church. I so move. unions of the Seventh-day Adventist hood of unions in the General Conference. AGUSTIN GALICIA: I move to rec- Church. And to accept the South Brazil If it meets with your pleasure, we will vote ognize and record the reorganization of the Union Conference in the South American on these as a block. But each one will he former Central American Union Mission Division into the world sisterhood of presented as a motion. We'll take a into three new unions known as the North unions of the Seventh-day Adventist moment to call question on the motion Central American Union Mission, the Church. And to accept the West Central and to recognize the delegation from that Mid-Central American Union Mission, Brazil Union Mission in the South particular entity. When we have completed and the South Central American Union American Division into the world sister- the list of unions, we will invite a vote on Conference, effective April 20, 2003. And hood of unions of the Seventh-day the block of motions. We turn hack to to accept the North Central American Adventist Church. I so move. microphone 1, Agustin Galicia. Union Mission in the Inter-American CLAUDE SABOT: Mr. Chairman, it's a AGUSTIN GALICIA: Mr. Chairman, I Division into the world sisterhood of pleasure to move to approve the organiza- would like to move to recognize and record unions of the Seventh-day Adventist tion of the Botswana Union Mission in the the merging of the West Russian Union Church. And to accept the Mid-Central Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division, Conference with the Trans-Caucasus American Union Mission in the Inter- consisting of the South Botswana Field and Mission to form the Caucasus Union American Division into the world sister- the North Botswana Field, effective Mission, effective November 1, 2001, and hood of unions of the Seventh-day January 1, 2004. 1 move it. Mr. Chairman. also to accept the Caucasus Union Mission Adventist Church. And to accept the CLAUDE SABOT: Mr. Chairman, it is a pleasure to move to grant Delegation Composition* the Zambia Union Mission Pastor/Tchr Gen Conf the status of union confer- Entity Name Laity Non-Admin. Admin. Total Male Female ence, effective August 12, 2004. I move it, Mr. East-Central Africa Division 16 113 24 1 154 133 20 Chairman. Euro-Africa Division 21 21 34 0 76 63 13 LARRY R. EVANS: Mr. Euro-Asia Division 20 20 41 0 81 62 16 Chairman, it is a pleasure to Gen Conf ADCOM/Insttns/Services 8 9 16 5 38 39 14 move to recognize and Gen Conf Dept Assoc Directors 0 1 0 13 14 19 7 record the merger of the Gen Conf Executive Committee 5 2 40 260 307 257 21 Trans-Australian Union Gen Conf Office Appointed Staff 0 0 0 1 1 13 6 Conference with the 40 204 173 36 Inter-American Division 46 118 0 Australian portion of the North American Division 47 35 82 0 164 130 43 Trans-Tasman Union Northern Asia-Pacific Division 15 20 18 1 54 55 4 Conference to form the South American Division 46 62 80 0 188 163 25 South Pacific Division 20 29 26 0 75 57 17 Australian Union Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division 31 31 42 1 105 110 27 Conference, effective Southern Asia Division 18 19 54 0 91 79 15 January 1, 2001, and to Southern Asia-Pacific Division 34 15 61 0 110 96 16 accept the Australian Union Trans-European Division 27 23 26 0 76 50 26 Conference in the South West-Central Africa Division 23 13 44 1 81 87 10 Pacific Division into the world sisterhood of unions of Total 377 453 706 283 1,819 1,586 316 the Seventh-day Adventist * As of May 19. 2005 Church. I so move. LARRY R. EVANS: I do, and I'm also very pleased to

ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 2 0 0 5 (1041) 27 PROCEEDIN GS move to recognize and record the reorgani- CLAUDE SABOT: It's with pleasure mittees. These are the Church Manual zation of the former Central Pacific Union that I move to recognize and record the Committee, Constitution and Bylaws Mission and the Western Pacific Union reorganization of the former Nigeria Union Committee, Nominating Committee, and Mission into two new unions known as the Mission into two unions known as the Seating of Additional Delegates and New Zealand Pacific Union Conference Eastern Nigeria Union Mission and the Additional Standing Committee and the Trans-Pacific Union Mission, effec- North-Western Nigeria Union Mission, Assignments. I would like to move that we tive January 1, 2001, and to accept the effective December 18, 2004. approve these committees, with their New Zealand Pacific Union Conference in CLAUDE SABOT: Mr. Chairman, I respective chairs and secretaries. [The the South Pacific Division into the world move to accept the Eastern Nigeria Union motion was seconded and voted.] sisterhood of unions of the Seventh-day Mission in the West-Central Africa MATTHEW A. BEDIAKO: Mr. Adventist Church. And to accept the Division into the world sisterhood of Chairman, I would like to point out that Trans-Pacific Union Mission in the South unions of the Seventh-day Adventist with these standing committees approved, Pacific Division into the world sisterhood Church. all changes suggested by individuals from of unions of the Seventh-day Adventist CLAUDE SABOT: Mr. Chairman, I the floor will be referred to these standing Church. I so move. move to accept the North-Western Nigeria committees for study. BARRY OLIVER: There should be Union Mission in the West-Central Africa Now, Mr. Chairman, a word about the some additional wording after the words Division into the world sisterhood of unions General Conference Rules of Order. Each "Western Pacific Union Mission." It should of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. one of you should have received one in read, "... and the New Zealand portion of LOWELL C. COOPER: Does that com- your bag. I would like you to turn to the the Trans-Tasman Union Conference." plete the presentation of union structures? central page, where we need to make one That portion of that union is also included All right, we've had a whole series of correction. [The correction was noted.] Mr. in the new New Zealand Pacific Union motions presented to us. We've called ques- Chairman, as we have done in the past, Conference, Mr. Chairman. tion on each one, and we'll presume that these will be the rules that will guide the LOWELL C. COOPER: Thank you; we are now ready to vote on the whole and running of this session. Mr. Chairman, the we've received that information from the to seat the delegates from these entities. General Conference Administrative secretary of the South Pacific Division, and [The motion approved.] Committee has recommended that Walter that will he added to your motion. MATTHEW A. BEDIAKO: Mr. E. Carson, who served as parliamentarian TED T. JONES: Mr. Chairman, I am Chairman, at this time I would like us to at the previous session, serve in that same delighted to recognize and record the reor- take our program hook and turn to pages capacity at this session. I move that under- ganization of the former Central Indian 33 to 43, where we will find the daily pro- standing. [The motion was voted.] Union Mission and the South Indian grams. Mr. Chairman, I move that we MATTHEW A. BEDIAKO: Mr. Union Mission into five unions known as accept the daily program as listed in the Chairman, as we get ready to do business the East-Central India Union Mission, program book. [The motion was approved.] for the Lord and His church at this fifty- South-Central India Union Mission, MATTHEW A. BEDIAKO: Mr. eighth session, I would like to quote a Southeast India Union Mission, Southwest Chairman, at this time I would like to turn statement from the Church Manual, page India Union Mission, and Western India to the agenda hook and call your attention 149, regarding the duty of delegates. It Union Mission, effective April 1, 2002. to the agenda itself. [An explanation was reads as follows: "A delegate to a confer- And I move to accept the East-Central made concerning the various sections of ence/mission session or constituency meet- India Union Mission in the Southern Asia the agenda. The motion was made and ing is not chosen to represent merely the Division into the world sisterhood of voted to approve the agenda.] church or conference/mission. A seated unions of the Seventh-day Adventist MATTHEW A. BEDIAKO: Mr. delegate should view the work as a whole, Church. Chairman, in the agenda book, pages 17 remembering that he/she is responsible for TED T. JONES: Next, I move to accept and 18, we find the list of standing com- the welfare of the work in every part of the the South-Central India Union Mission in the Southern Asia Division into the sisterhood of Delegation by Age Group* unions of the Seventh-day Entity Name Under30 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70+ Total Adventist Church. East-Central Africa Division 2 18 59 47 17 3 146 TED T. JONES: Our next item Euro-Africa Divisfon 14 22 18 6 0 62 is to accept the Southeast India 2 Euro-Asia Division 4 33 15 1 3 79 Union Mission in the Southern 23 Gen Conf ADCOM/Insttns/Services 5 3 9 19 12 5 53 Asia Division into the world sister- Gen Conf Dept Assoc Directors 0 0 1 14 6 2 23 hood of unions of the Seventh-day Gen Conf Executive Committee 2 12 62 114 61 17 268 Adventist Church. 3 7 0 19 Gen Conf Office Appointed Staff 0 1 8 TED T. JONES: I move to Inter-American Division 8 38 83 51 18 3 201 accept the Southwest India Union North American Division 1 3 35 69 49 5 162 Mission in the Southern Asia Northern Asia-Pacific-Division 1 1 12 23 17 2 56 Division into the sisterhood of South American Division 1 35 72 52 20 8 188 unions of the Seventh-day South Pacific Division 3 14 28 24 4 0 73 Adventist Church. Southern Africa-indian Ocean Division 2 20 72 26 13 1 134 Southern Asia Division 1 2 33 50 7 1 94 LOWELL C. COOPER: • Southern Asia-Pacific Division 0 7 34 15 2 109 Question is called. 51 Trans-European Division 2 17 18 28 6 2 73 TED T. JONES: Finally, I move to accept the Western India Union West-Central Africa Division 0 10 33 38 13 0 94 Mission in the Southern Asia Total 218 609 647 272 54 1,834 Division into the sisterhood of unions of the Seventh-day * As of May 19, 2005 Adventist Church.

28 (10441 ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 20 05 PR OCEEDINGS field. It is not permissible for church or We have completed the formal actions that INTER-OCEANIC MEXICAN UNION MIS- conference/mission delegations to organize were needed to open the session. We are SION—NEW UNION MISSION or attempt to direct their votes as a unit. about ready to adjourn this meeting. Our VOTED, 1. To recognize and record the Nor is it permissible for the delegates from next item of business will he to meet in the reorganization of the former North Mexican a large church or conference/mission to various division delegations. You will see in Union Conference and the South Mexican claim preeminence in directing affairs in :a a moment on the video screens a list of the Union Conference into three unions conference/mission session. Each delegate room assignments for the various division known as the Inter-Oceanic Mexican should be susceptible to the direction of delegations to conduct their meetings for Union Mission, the North Mexican Union the Holy Spirit and vote according to per- the selection of Nominating Committee Conference, and the South Mexican Union sonal convictions. Any church or confer- members. [Delegates were informed of the Conference, effective May 15, 2001. ence/mission officer or leader attempting to various rooms to which they should go.] I 2. To accept the Inter-Oceanic Mexican control the votes of a group of delegates invite you now to stand as we have our Union Mission (lAD) into the world sister- would be considered disqualified for hold- benediction for this first business session. hood of unions of the Seventh-day ing office." JAMES BRAUER: [Benediction.] Adventist Church. Mr. Chairman, I think that this is a LOWELL C. COOPER, Chair good counsel. MATTHEW A. BEDIAKO, Secretary NORTH CENTRAL AMERICAN UNION Now, Mr. Chairman, at every session we BILL BOTHE, ATHAL TOLHURST, MISSION, MID-CENTRAL AMERICAN take note of those who have passed away. FRED THOMAS, and CLAUDE UNION MISSION, AND SOUTH CENTRAL The delegations to this session represent SABOT, Proceedings Editors AMERICAN UNION CONFERENCE—NEW about 14 million members and about UNION MISSIONS AND NEW UNION 268,730 employees. Some of these workers CONFERENCE fell asleep in Jesus during the past five VOTED, I. To recognize and record the years. Also many retired personnel have reorganization of the former Central died. We miss their friendship and their fel- Session American Union Mission into three new lowship, their support and dedication to unions known as the North Central the cause they so much loved. We look for- American Union Mission, the Mid-Central ward to meeting them again on the resur- Actions American Union Mission, and the South rection morning. Central American Union Conference, Mr. Chairman, at this time it would he Fifty-eighth General effective April 20, 2003. appropriate for us to stand for a few Conference session, June 30, To accept the North Central American moments of silence to remember these Union Mission (IAD) into the world fallen soldiers of the cross. Now we will ask 2005, 3:00 p.m. sisterhood of unions of the Seventh-day you, Mr. Chairman, to pray for the loved Adventist Church. ones who have been left behind. EAST-CENTRAL AFRICA DIVISION, To accept the Mid-Central American LOWELL C. COOPER: I invite the SOUTHERN AFRICA-INDIAN OCEAN Union Mission (IAD) into the world delegation and guests and visitors to stand DIVISION, AND WEST-CENTRAL AFRICA sisterhood of unions of the Seventh-day for a moment of silence, which I will con- DIVISION—NEW DIVISIONS Adventist Church. clude with prayer. [His prayer followed.] VOTED, 1. To recognize and record the To accept the South Central American MATTHEW A. BEDIAKO: Mr. reorganization of the former Africa-Indian Union Conference (IAD) into the world Chairman, I have deliberately left this next Ocean Division and the Eastern Africa sisterhood of unions of the Seventh-day item for last. Some of you were witnesses to Division into three new divisions known as Adventist Church. what happened at Toronto. During many of the East-Central Africa Division, the the business sessions we had few people Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division, ECUADOR UNION MISSION— present. We have talked about this, and I and the West-Central Africa Division, NEW UNION MISSION want to plead with all delegates—if you are effective January 1, 2003. VOTED, 1. To recognize and record the a delegate, regular or at large, we plead To accept the East-Central Africa organization of the Ecuador Union Mission, with you to make sure you attend the ses- Division into the world sisterhood of divi- effective July 1, 2001. sions. We need you in order to do business sions of the Seventh-day Adventist 2. To accept the Ecuador Union Mission here. And I have asked the division secre- Church. (SAD) into the world sisterhood of unions taries to take record of those who are To accept the Southern Africa-Indian of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. absent. So I am pleading with you once Ocean Division into the world sisterhood more. On Wednesday afternoon there will of divisions of the Seventh-day Adventist WEST CENTRAL BRAZIL UNION be no business session. This will enable you Church. MISSION—NEW UNION MISSION to go to the exhibitions—so you don't need 3. To accept the West-Central Africa VOTED, 1. To recognize and record the to rush off to the exhibitions. Wednesday Division into the world sisterhood of divi- reorganization of the former Central Brazil afternoon the exhibition area will he closed sions of the Seventh-day Adventist Union Conference and the South Brazil to the public, and only delegates will be Church. Union Conference into three unions able to attend. So you have Wednesday known as the Central Brazil Union afternoon to go and get all the gifts from CAUCASUS UNION MISSION—NEW Conference, the South Brazil Union the divisions and from the various organi- UNION MISSION Conference, and the West Central Brazil zations. But during the rest of the days, VOTED, 1. To recognize and record the Union Mission, effective January 1, 2005. morning, evening, and afternoon, we merging of the West Russian Union 2. To accept the West Central Brazil expect every delegate to he here to do the Conference with the Trans-Caucasus Union Mission (SAD) into the world sister- business of God's church. Mission to form the Caucasus Union hood of unions of the Seventh-day Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It has been Mission, effective November 1, 2001. Adventist Church. wonderful to work with you this afternoon. 2. To accept the Caucasus Union Mission LOWELL C. COOPER: Thank you, (ESD) into the world sisterhood of unions of BOTSWANA UNION MISSION— Mr. Secretary, and thank you, delegates. the Seventh-day Adventist Church. ORGANIZATION

ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 2005 (1045) 29 ACTIONS

VOTED, 1. To approve the organiza- Union Mission (SUD) into the sisterhood Baptiste, Bert B Beach, Wesley M Beene, tion of the Botswana Union Mission, in of unions of the Seventh-day Adventist James A Cress, Belzezar Denila, Larry R the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Church. Evans, Nicodernos Falcao, Agustin Galicia, Division (SID), consisting of the South 4. To accept the Southeast India Union Raul E Gomez, Roscoe J Howard III, Botswana Field and the North Botswana Mission (SUD) into the world sisterhood Yutaka Inada, Michael F Kaminsky, Dennis Field, effective January 1, 2004. of unions of the Seventh-day Adventist C Keith Sr, Linda Koh, Israel Leito, Dalbir 2. To accept the Botswana Union Church. Masih, Gabriel E Maurer, Kalapala J Mission (SID) into the world sisterhood of 5. To accept the Southwest India Moses, G T Ng, Stanley Wai-Chun Ng, unions of the Seventh-day Adventist Union Mission (SUD) into the sisterhood James R Nix, John S Nixon, Salomey N Church. of unions of the Seventh-day Adventist Okwubunka, Barry D Oliver, Elizabeth E Church. Ostring, Paul S Ratsara, Angel M Zambia Union Mission—Conference 6. To accept the Western India Union Rodriguez, louliia Roussina, Blasious M Status Mission (SUD) into the sisterhood of Ruguri, Mozart S Serrant, Pavel Simek, VOTED, To grant the Zambia Union unions of the Seventh-day Adventist Heather-Dawn Small, T V Thompson, Mission the status of union conference, Church. Gilbert Wank Harald Wollan, Rita effective August 12, 2004. Zirimwahagabo NIGERIA UNION MISSION—NEW AUSTRALIAN UNION CONFERENCE— UNION MISSIONS CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS NEW UNION CONFERENCE VOTED, 1. To recognize and record the Gerald D Karst, Chairman VOTED, 1. To recognize and record the reorganization of the former Nigeria Union Eugene Hsu, Vice-chairman merger of the Trans-Australian Union Mission into two unions known as the Larry R Evans, Secretary Conference with the Australian portion of Eastern Nigeria Union Mission and the Barbara Dickey, Recording Secretary the Trans-Tasman Union Conference to North-Western Nigeria Union Mission, form the Australian Union Conference, effective December 18, 2004. Members: Lucio Altin, Niels-Erik A effective January 1, 2001. 2. To accept the Eastern Nigeria Union Andreasen, Delbert W Baker, Bert B 2. To accept the Australian Union Mission (WAD) into the world sisterhood Beach, Matthew A Bediako, Lyn Behrens, Conference (SPD) into the world sister- of unions of the Seventh-day Adventist Jannie Bekker, Guillermo E Biaggi, Steven hood of unions of the Seventh-day Church. N Bina, Lisa Burrow, Thomas Davai, Adventist Church. To accept the North-Western Nigeria Garland C Dulan, Laurie J Evans, Agustin Union Mission (WAD) into the world sis- Galicia, Joy Gashaija, Raul Gomez, Roscoe NEW ZEALAND-PACIFIC UNION CON- terhood of unions of the Seventh-day J Howard III, Daniel R Jackson, M C John, FERENCE—NEW UNION CONFERENCE Adventist Church. Michael F Kaminsky, Peter R Kunze, VOTED, 1. To recognize and record the Robert E Kyte, Harold L Lee, Jose R reorganization of the former Central Pacific DELEGATES FROM NEW UNIONS Lizardo, Gabriel E Maurer, Eric P Monnier, Union Mission and the Western Pacific WELCOMED Kalapala J Moses, Pardon K Mwansa, G T Union Mission and the New Zealand por- Matthew A Bediako welcomed the del- Ng, Stanley Wai-Chun Ng, Robert W tion of the Trans-Tasman Union Confer- egates from the new unions to the fifty- Nixon, Mario Ochoa, Barry D Oliver, ence into two new unions known as the eighth General Conference session. Orville D Parchment, Ruth E Parish, Juan New Zealand-Pacific Union Conference O Perla, Juan R Prestol, Ted L Ramirez, and the Trans-Pacific Union Mission, GENERAL CONFERENCE SESSION Paul S Ratsara, Donald E Robinson, effective January 1, 2001. 2005—DAILY PROGRAM Blasious M Ruguri, Mack Tennyson, G 2. To accept the New Zealand-Pacific VOTED, To approve the daily program Ralph Thompson, Jansen E Trotman, Union Conference (SPD) into the world for the 2005 General Conference session as Gilbert Wari, Bertil A Wiklander, Harald sisterhood of unions of the Seventh-day it appears in the session program booklet. WoIlan Adventist Church. 3. To accept the Trans-Pacific Union GENERAL CONFERENCE SESSION NOMINATING COMMITTEE Mission (SPD) into the world sisterhood of 2005—ADOPTION OF AGENDA As provided for by the General unions of the Seventh-day Adventist VOTED, To adopt the agenda for the Conference Constitution and Bylaws Church. 2005 General Conference session as it appears in the session agenda notebook, PLANS KARNATAKA-GOA UNION MISSION, with the understanding that the order of Ted N C Wilson, Chairman KERALA UNION MISSION, AND WEST- business will be decided by the session Harold W Baptiste, Vice-chairman ERN INDIA UNION MISSION—NEW Steering Committee and the chairmen of Douglas Clayville, Secretary UNION MISSIONS the business meetings. Patti Banks, Recording Secretary VOTED, 1. To recognize and record the reorganization of the former Central India GENERAL CONFERENCE SESSION Members: Emmanuel 0 Abbey, Harold Union Mission and the South India Union 2005—STANDING COMMITTEES W Baptiste, George Baxen, Wesley M Mission into five unions known as the VOTED, To approve standing commit- Beene, Adrian Bocaneanu, Joy M Butler, East-Central India Union Mission, South- tees for the 2005 General Conference Eugene Daniels, Larisa G Demerji, Central India Union Mission, Southeast Session, as follows: Gwendoline Desmicr, Melchor A Ferreyra, India Union Mission, Southwest India Danforth Francis, Jane Froma, James W Union Mission, and Western India Union CHURCH MANUAL Gilley, Eugene K Y Hsu, Alvin M Kibble, Mission, effective April 1, 2002. Armando Miranda, Chairman Hudson E Kibuuka, Thundiyil P Kurian, 2. To accept the East-Central India Eugene Hsu, Vice-chairman Peter R Kunze, Jose R Lizardo, Eric P Union Mission (SUD) into the world sis- Vernon B Parmenter, Secretary Monnier, Mutuku J Mutinga, Wendell R terhood of unions of the Seventh-day Janet Upson, Recording Secretary McMillan, Donald E Robinson, Claude Adventist Church. Sabot, Takashi Shiraishi, Heather-Dawn 3. To accept the South-Central India Members: Rosa T Banks, Harold W Small, Ken Stanton, Remelito A Tahingo,

30 (1046) ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY ACTIONS

Yulia Tousina, Bill Townend, Orville GENERAL CONFERENCE RULES OF Woolford ORDER By common consent it was agreed to Nominating SEATING OF ADDITIONAL DELE- approve the General Conference Rules of GATES AND ADDITIONAL STANDING Order to govern the business meetings of COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS the 2005 General Conference session. Committee Eugene Hsu, Chairman Claude Sabot, Secretary GENERAL CONFERENCE SESSION Report I. 2005—CARSON, WALTER E—PARLIA- Members: Roscoe J Howard III, Paul S MENTARIAN Ratsara, Agustin Galicia, Matthew A Walter E Carson, Associate Director of VOTED, To approve Bediako the General Conference Office of General the following partial Counsel, will serve as parliamentarian at AMENDMENTS—REFER TO STANDING the business meetings of the 2005 General report of the Nom- COMMITTEES Conference session. inating Committee: It was noted that all recommendations Lowell C Cooper, Ted N C for amendments or substantive changes to Wilson, Chairmen the Constitution and Bylaws or to the Matthew A Bediako, Secretary GENERAL CONFERENCE Church Manual will he referred to the Larry R Evans, Actions Editor respective Standing Committees. Janet C Upson, Rowena J Moore, President: Recording Secretaries Jan Paulsen

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