November 26, 1998 AnchorPoints LETTERS Operation Whitecoat Structure—The Other Side to network among churches even if Bill Knott’s You printed a letter by Wayne Foster they aren’t computer-literate yet. detailed article (Sept. NAD Edition) suggesting that As for saving money, if we threw on Operation our church should combine or elimi- out the unions, much of the work they Whitecoat (see nate dozens of conferences and union are now doing would go to another “A Coat of offices in North America. He referred level, and that would cost something Many Colors,” to “layers of bureaucracy” and feels our anyway. Sept. 24 system is outmoded and anachronistic. AnchorPoints While I agree that we could com- —Leona Berglund Edition) was a bine or eliminate some departments at RIALTO, CALIFORNIA balanced and the union level, I don’t agree that the accurate picture of that very impor- whole system is outmoded. I certainly tant phase in the lives of the 2,300 don’t agree with someone else’s sugges- For the past 45-plus years the church participants. tion that all unions should be elimi- has given considerable time and Those who volunteered to join the nated. To put all the conferences study to evaluating church structure. operation rendered a service to directly under the North American I am sure the church will continue humanity, and for many of them the Division would make it very difficult to evaluate its operation and take alternative would have been to serve for the division leaders to become per- proper actions that will strengthen on the front lines as unarmed medics, sonally acquainted with the needs of and streamline the delivery system particularly in the controversial each conference and provide support. of taking the third angel’s message Vietnam conflict. Doubtless quite a I worked for some years as a secre- into all the world. number would today be resting in tary in both a union office and in the During the 1985 General some military cemetery. General Conference office. At both Conference session an action was For me, who served almost three places I was impressed that the men taken to merge a number of depart- and a half years as a 1-A-O in the there were not arrogant, autocratic ments into one large department at U.S. Army Air Corps during World bureaucrats, but were sincere each level of church organization. For War II after having been in the Christians eager to help others in the some unknown reason this merger was denomination’s Medical Cadet Corps church. Perhaps we could compare never accepted very well by the world for more than two years, the quoted them to college teachers who can give field and the North American statement that military service “made individualized instruction and help to Division. Now the church has gone one morally culpable for all that the each person in a seminar of nine or 10, back to the original individual depart- military did” was especially offensive, rather than try to lecture and supervise ments with new names, etc. and I am pleased that Elder Knott did a class of 800 or 1,000. In most union and many local not accept that premise. Foster refers to progress in trans- conferences this merger was never a Dr. and Mrs. Frank Damazo are to portation and communication. success. It has become a big hin- be commended for the interest they Improved communication allows drance to the church in communi- have shown to the ones who put their every church member (and lots of cating important church functions very lives on the line for the benefit of nonchurch members) to phone, fax, from the North American Division all of us as they participated in these or e-mail General Conference offi- to the local church. Because this defensive medical experiments. cers. How could they possibly have merger cut personnel in many unions time to reply if there were no other and local conferences, this caused a —Robert E. Osborn sources for information and help? The communication gap. The church has TAKOMA PARK, MARYLAND conferences and unions provide a way not recovered from this world church 2 (1602) ADVENTIST REVIEW, NOVEMBER 26, 1998 action on merger, and as a result of Functions are not duplicated here, good intentions, it has lost its system but are delegated to the place and of communication. level where they can be done—in It is true that modern technology most cases the only place they can has caused large corporations to “cut be done because of their nature. back.” Many large corporations have Apparently, these details are under COVER STORY had to “add on.” Today most corpora- constant study by our union and con- tions are “right sizing.” Many local ference committees. I think some 8 Thanks to . Our Thanksgiving tradition conferences and a few unions have sincere complaints grow out of mis- continues: meet more people who addressed the problem of communica- understanding about the nuts and made a difference. tion by right sizing their operation. bolts of our work. A COMPILATION Others, mainly unions, have not right sized their operations, thus leaving —Erma L. Landis ARTICLES their areas with a communication gap. SIMI VALLEY, CALIFORNIA Church leadership in North 15 Sister White’s America is aware of the conse- Thanksgiving Sermon quences of combining two unions Welcome Back? Even if we don’t have it all . BY ELLEN G. WHITE and many local conferences some 20- Wes Holden’s letter (Oct. NAD 25 years ago. The progress of the Edition) asked, “How well do we treat 16 My Christmas Angel work in these areas has suffered. I others who want to come back . ?” Did she intend to make such a would hope the church would never After my husband (a pastor) was thoughtful gesture? go to that extreme in its reorganiza- downsized, we relocated to another BY LINDA LEA tion again. God has given this state and attended the “newly planted” church a “divine” plan of organiza- church in our area. After three months 22 Parking Lot Hysteria How to disagree without being tion—may we never forget it! of a less-than-inclusive welcome, we disagreeable. stopped attending. Have any local BY JENNIFER JILL SCHWIRZER —W. Maurice Abbott, Jr. members called us since (two years)? CHURCH MINISTRIES DIRECTOR No. Have any of three area pastors 26 “We Are Not Legalists” SOUTHERN UNION CONFERENCE called or visited to offer concern? No. When Christians have the courage The only thing keeping bitterness to live their convictions. BY MARY JUNE FLAIZ-WILKINSON from overwhelming me is to ask myself Some laypeople and pastors are still how many members/visitors I over- DEPARTMENTS complaining that we are on the same looked during my years of regular administrative program our church church attendance. A haunting ques- 2 Letters established in 1901. Where have these tion. It is not enough to smile and 7 Give & Take people been? The church has made make polite conversation to new (even 13 Sandra Doran: Dialogues many changes in recent times. Some regular) members. We must quickly get have been beneficial; others have had them involved (feel needed), and fol- 18 World News & Perspectives to be reconsidered. low up if they stop attending. So sim- 25 It Seems to Me My husband and I are both lifelong ple, yet sometimes so hard. 29 Clifford Goldstein denominational workers, now retired. Our financial picture still reflects the —Name Withheld 30 Reflections results of downsizing done nearly 25 31 Children’s Corner years ago by which we were forced to ISC Letters Policy D make expensive moves. The Lord took EDITORIALS good care of us. Other workers have The Review welcomes your letters. HOTO 5 Thankful for Everything? had similar experiences. Young Short, specific letters are the most effec- / © P denominational workers are facing tive and have the best chance at being 6 The Possession Obsession changes in the retirement system. This published. Letters will be edited for space YMESON T is a fact of life today. We have seen and clarity only. Send correspondence to ILL NEXT WEEK B many changes in our conference and Letters to the Editor, Adventist Review, BY NET ’98 union, as well as in our educational 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver The initial reports from this year’s and medical institutions and our Spring, MD 20904-6600; Internet: global evangelistic initiative— DESIGNED media ministries. Money has dictated [email protected] CompuServe and what it means for the church. VER O belt-tightening. network: 74617,15. C ADVENTIST REVIEW, NOVEMBER 26, 1998 (1603) 3 “Behold, I come quickly . .” Our mission is to uplift Jesus Christ through stories of His matchless love, news of His present workings, help for knowing Him better, and hope in His soon return. The Adventist Review (ISSN 0161-1119), published since 1849, is the general paper of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It is published by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and is printed 40 times a year each Thursday except the first Thursday of each month by the Review and Herald® Publishing Association. Periodicals postage paid at Hagerstown, MD 21740. Copyright © 1998, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Publishing Board: Robert S. Folkenberg, chair; Phil Follett, vice- chair; Lowell Cooper; William G. Johnsson; A. C. McClure; Dorothy Watts; Ted N. C. Wilson; Martin Ytreberg; Robert Nixon, legal advisor Executive Publisher and Editor William G. Johnsson Associate Editors Roy Adams, Bill Knott Managing Editor Myrna Tetz News Editor Carlos Medley Assistant Editors Stephen Chavez, Andy Nash Editorial Assistant Ella Rydzewski Administrative Secretary Chitra Barnabas Editorial Secretaries Beverly Koester, Jean Sequeira Art Director Bill Kirstein Designer Bill Tymeson Design Assistant/Production Stephanie Kaping Ad Sales Melynie Tooley Subscriber Services Steve Hanson Marketing Coordinator Ray Tetz Consulting Editors: Robert S.