I

WEEKLY NEWS AND INSPIRATION FOR SEVENTH-,

GC BULLETIN

.United inChrist

The Day in Utrecht 2, 7 Reelected President of Change 3

Images of the Session 4

Officers' Reports 9,12

Proceedings and Actions 26 hey came from east and west, registration, or to buy meal tickets. from north and south, from In welcoming the audience on vast urban centers, small Thursday afternoon, Jan Paulsen, presi- towns and villages, from rural dent of the Trans-European Division, T the host division, said many delegates farming districts, and the South Pacific islands. and visitors from the former Soviet They represented dozens of nationali- Union incurred numerous problems in ties, ethnic groups, and languages. getting visas and passports. "Many Some, who traveled internationally for Adventists who have resided under [for- the first time, overcame enormous merly] repressive regimes had never obstacles and endless delays to make traveled out of their home countries their trip possible. before," he said. "Our office was del- However, despite numerous difficul- uged with calls for help." ties, the thousands of delegates, visitors, Paulsen said that "mote than 400 per- and guests who have come to the fifty- sons, mostly from the Ukraine and sixth General Conference session in Moldova, were delayed until June 28." Utrecht, the Netherlands, are finding One group didn't arrive until June 30. joy, fellowship, and community. "The foreign ministry of the Organizers and planners for the Netherlands worked with us very Adventist Church's quinquennial busi- closely to assure those attending the ness session were overwhelmed by the meetings that they would obtain the nec- large crowds that began gathering at the essary travel documents," Paulsen said. Jaarbeurs Convention Center days "The Netherlands government, known before the meetings started. for protecting the liberties of its citizens, Karl H. Bahr, session manager and an did not want to be perceived as a gov- associate treasurer of the General ernment that restricted the rights of Conference, estimated that more than those [within the former Soviet Union] 12,000 persons attended meetings who had been repressed for niany Thursday night, June 29. Of these, more years."

Big screen coverage, video clips, satellite transmission, live choirs and interviews—all amplified and expanded the message that Robert S. Foikenberg presented on opening night for the President's Report. The SBA Student Association Choir from Soweto. than 4,000 persons are residing in Unfortunately, session organizers had makeshift dormitories at the convention depended on many of these members center site. from the former Soviet Union to help By Carlos Medley "This seems to be a larger first-night set up equipment, distribute materials, news editor of th crowd attendance than at any previous and help with session preparations. As a Adventist Revie session," Bahr said. The rush of visitors result, many areas were not completed ci brought long lines at the cafeteria, for when the meetings started. Yet a spirit 2 (730) ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 2,1995 of excitement and anticipation with new intentions unless they filled the air as the session's start are undergirded by a new experi- drew near. ence—the Holy Spirit." It appears that the Nominating Call to Unity Committee caught the spirit of In the opening devotional on unity on Friday morning, June 30, Thursday afternoon, Oakwood when they quickly recommended College president Benjamin reelection of Robert S. Folkenberg Reaves challenged the delegates to as General Conference president. make the theme of the meetings, The delegation overwhelmingly "United in Christ," a reality in their approved the recommendation. own lives. (See related story, "President of "Our church, in too many dis- Change.") turbing ways, mirrors the frag- The report came shortly before mentation of society, even while Arlene Acosta, 9, joined Robert S. Folkenberg in singing "When noon and surprised some dele- we sing the songs of faith, fellow- He Cometh, When He Cometh" as a feature in the President's gates, including session chair ship, and the family of God," Report on Thursday night, June 29. Calvin Rock, a general vice presi- Reaves said. "We are keenly aware of "The unity [of Christ's disciples] is dent of the General Conference, who the fragmentation and division in the not institutional or organized. It is a liv- was not expecting a report so soon. In human family. The blessed tie does not ing, organic oneness that flows out of 1990, when Elder Folkenberg was first bind us together, and 'what a fellow- the action of God. It will not be enough elected, the report didn't come in until ship' is more like 'what fellowship?' to leave this General Conference session about 5:00 Friday afternoon. • President of Change BY WILLIAM 6. JOHNSSON Editor, Adventist Review atapulted into leadership of the world Seventh-day comes on the table. CAdventist Church at the last General Conference session, His great energy and outpouring of ideas keep those who Robert S. Folkenberg was elected Friday, June 30, to a second assist him hopping. To dream is one thing—to implement term of service. altogether another. Folkenberg has brought tremendous energy to the office. The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a huge, complex, The job is complex and enormously taxing; his predecessor, diverse organization. Adventists tend to be ruggedly individ- Neal C. Wilson, worked incredibly long hours, and other ualistic. Change doesn't come easily, or quickly. Yet presidents poured themselves into the task. I Folkenberg already has made a mark. wonder if any traveled so widely or spoke so His ringing emphasis on assurance of sal- frequently as Robert Folkenberg during the past ANALYSIS vation in Christ sounded a clear signal to five years. 11111111111111111111111111 Adventist leaders worldwide and gave hope to He has been continually on the go. He has many thousands. His efforts to reorganize the been the peripatetic president. He has not spared himself— General Conference headquarters and the church worldwide individuals, groups, and organizers have been amazed at brought the most far-reaching structural recommendations how readily he has accepted invitations for dialogue or to since 1901. His prioritizing of Global Mission raised the address gatherings large or small. sights of the people and impacted the money flow. And in Folkenberg seems to thrive on meeting the people—on North America he goaded Adventist health-care personnel cutting through the layers and communicating directly via and educators to take a hard look at their work to see if mis- voice, print, radio, or television. He is the communication sion is uppermost. president par excellence: his forte is one-on-one rather than All change is difficult. The fact of change and the pace of the wheels within wheels of boards, committees, and coun- change during the past five yeadhave upset some Adventists. cils. But the world church, meeting in general session, and, I He is a president of change. Ideas continually flow from believe, with the Spirit's presence, has decided that this presi- his fertile brain, and he hands them on to others to test, to dent of change should continue to lead for another five years. follow through. He delegates widely, isn't threatened by After five grueling years, his hair is a little whiter now. His contrary opinions. He quickly drops an idea if a better one energy seems undiminished as does his well of ideas. He is 54.

The Adventist Review (ISSN 0161-1119) is published 40 times a year, each Thursday except the first Thursday of each month, plus 5 extra issues during the second week of July 1995 total 45 issues. Copyright ©1995 Review and Herald® Publishing Association, 55 West Oak Ridge Drive, Hagerstown, Maryland 21740. Postmaster: Send address changes to Adventist Review, 55 West Oak Ridge Drive, Hagerstown, MD 21740. Second-class postage paid at Hagerstown, Maryland 21740. Editorial office fax number: (301) 680-6638. Texts credited to NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright @ 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers PRINTED IN U.S.A.

ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 2,1995 (731) 3 Every visitor to the ses- sion, int,r in91011"" gets to a owntag.e

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4111.1111•11111. A commercial supplier even added the session logo to its truck.

4 (732) ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 2, 1995 110

TO O PH NN A ICK/ OU RON

Hundreds of people sleep on air mattresses in makeshift dormitories within the convention complex.

Thousands of delegates and visitors jam the entrance to the auditorium for the opening session Thursday evening.

ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 2, 1995 (733) 5 In accepting the new vote of confi- Adventist Church is affirming the dence, Folkenberg said, "Five years ago Bible's assertion that no one knows the I stood here in a state of shock. In look- time of Christ's return." Session Schedule ing at the past five years, I've learned The other statement released to the ■ THURSDAY, JUNE 29 one thing. Nobody is smart enough to press asserts that the Bible is the 3:00 p.m. lead this church. It can be led success- foundation of the Seventh-day Adventist Session opens fully only by the Lord Jesus Christ. I Church's "purposes, message, and Introduction of honored guests thank you for the privilege of service. mission." Devotional—Benjamin Reaves It's a Wonderful thing to serve in God's The statement continues, "We respect Seating of delegates church." the Bible as the message of God trans- Moment of silence for church employees and retirees who died in the past five mitted through human writers. Although years Press Statements the format of the Scriptures manifests Welcome of 11 new unions into the Away from the session floor, the first itself in human language, background, church's sisterhood of unions full day at the General Conference ses- and historical setting, its content con- Breakup into division caucuses to choose sion marked the release of two state- sists of divine messages conveyed to nominating committee members ments to the press by church officials. humanity as a whole, and especially to 6:30 p.m. One first warned against setting dates believers in God. Music Program Welcome by Queen's Commissioner for the Province of Utrecht President's Report—including a live trans- mission from Australia. ■ FRIDAY, JUNE 30 7:30 a.m. Morning Devotional—Willard Regester 8:30 am. Business session Nominating committee begins work Secretary's report Treasurer's report Devotional—Gordon Bietz Nominating committee Report #1— President Robert S. Folkenberg reelected 2:00 p.m. Business session Discussion of constitutional amendments Nominating committee Report #2— Using both wit and the Bible to make his points, the Queen's Commissoner for the Province of Utrecht, Secretary G. Ralph Thompson Jhr. Pieter Baelaerts van Blokland, challenged delegates to make a difference in the world and espe- reelected, Robert L. Rawson elected cially to care for the world's children. treasurer for the return of Jesus. According to the "Above the diversity reflected in 6:30 p.m. statement,'"the approaching end of the human language stands the unifying Music program Devotional—Mark Finley second millennium of the Christian Era truth that ties together the whole into the undoubtedly is leading some misguided Word of God." ■ SABBATH, JULY 1 persons to propose date-setting schemat- Karst says, "The secularization of 8:30 a.m. ics and events tied to the year 2000, the society has had an influence on the Music program end of the world, and the return of Jesus. church. With this secularization has Sabbath School for all age groups "Adventists have no confidence in come a worldview that states that there Divine worship service—G. Ralph such speculative efforts, for they violate is no objective standard of truth, that Thompson, speaker Christ's explicit statements that truth is subjective and different for each 2:30 p.m. although humans may indeed recognize individual. This statement asserts that Music program when His return is near, they cannot God's Word as recorded in the Bible Members' witnessing emphasis Global Mission report know the exact time." provides an objective standard of truth." Gerry Karst, assistant to the General A call to unity, reaffirmation of the 6:30 p.m. Music program

H Conference president, says, "This state- Bible, and the reelection of a president

/R& highlighted the sessOn's first 24 hours. International Festival of Mission ER ment is important because there are con- Trans-European Division NG stantly people who claim to be prophets However, there are still many weighty South Pacific Division SPRI

D. and messiahs who predict the return of issues to come, and the air of anticipa-

JOEL Jesus. In releasing this statement, the tion continues. 6 (734) ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 2,1995 onight as I watch the people stream into Prince of TOrange Hall to hear Mark Finley speak, I'm reminded of potato soup. Most Friday nights as I was growing up we had potato soup. As in millions SABBATH, JULY 1 of other Adventist homes, Friday night at our house was special. It was the only time we sat down in one place with one common goal—to worship God. Tonight, as thousands of people pour in to the Jaarbeurs Convention Center, I know that although I'm gathered with a larger family we still have one common goal—to wor- ship. This church, these people, are part of my his- tory and heritage. Whether or not I agree with every- thing that happens during the business meetings at the High drama at the session: Dr. B. Lyn Behrens, secretary of the session or with the ideas, Nominating Committee, reads the name of Robert S. Folkenberg as president of the General Conference, as Nominating Committee philosophies, and opinions chair Dr. Benjamin F. Reaves looks on. of those I worship with here, they are still my family. as a Seventh-day Adventist Christian. And heritage is nice, isn't it? Lots of Finley reminded us that Jesus prays for warm, fuzzy feelings. A link to the past us, that He is praying for us now. And and a sense of belonging. We know that although we are a diverse family— where we come from. But where does from many countries, outlooks, and feeling nostalgic take us? As I listen to opinions—we are still united through a the music prelude I have no idea that I common Messiah, a common message will find the beginning of the answer to share, and a common mission. during the next 24 hours. Sabbath morning. I stop by the Tonight is the first time I've heard kindergarten, primary, and youth Mark Finley speak in person—although Sabbath schools. The little kids are I'm still watching him on a TV adorable in their "Bible-time" head cov- screen—a very large one! Working at erings. They visit Bethlehem and seem the General Conference, I've been hear- in awe of the ancient world created just ing about the session for the past year. for them. Rumors were everywhere. What would In one of the kindergarten rooms I happen? Who would be voted in? What hear Rudi Henning, associate director of policies would change? Things became the General Conference Publishing quite tense before the session. I began Department, sharing a story with the to wonder what was happening to my kids. It's good to see someone regularly church. Where was God? involved in administrative decisions and

Jodi Pharo Listening to Pastor Finley's sermon, meetings taking the time to reach out to H

nagement assi "Unity in His Supplication," I began to the youngest members of our church /R& ant for publications realize that the answer to my question family. GER SPRIN

at ADRA International had to begin with me—with my dedica- Beatrix Hall, across from the conven- D.

tion to study, prayer, and living my life tion center, is dark when I enter the JOEL

ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 2, 1995 (735) 7 The view from the audience: eyes on the speaker (here Gordon Bietz) if close to the front, or on the big screen if farther back.

youth Sabbath school. Uriah Smith, tures, all live together on this world. We deep in prayer. I don't know why James and Ellen White, and other too have come from every continent they're praying. Perhaps it's for a family Adventist pioneers are on stage. As the around the world. We've gathered here member or a friend; perhaps it's a skit ends, I begin talking to a young with one thing in common: We are prayer of thanks by two friends being nurse from Australia. She shares some Adventists. reunited, but it's such a strong part of of her beliefs and thoughts with me. I'm As I rush back to the quiet Adventist being an Adventist—prayer, friendship, surprised to realize how much we have Development and Relief Agency office trust, faith. in common. I'm touched by her sincer- Global Village, Mark Finley, the play ity about making decisions based on her at the youth Sabbath school, G. Ralph own study and beliefs, instead of just Although I'm gathered Thompson's message to the more than upon what she's been told or on how 25,000 people gathered for the 11:00 she was traditionally brought up. She service—and other things I heard, saw, knows who she is and where she is with a larger family we and experienced today—have reintro- going. And she is proud to be an duced me to my Adventist family. Many Adventist. members I have met today I will never My last stop before sitting down to still have one common talk to or see again, even during the write this article is Werelddorp (Global coming week. Village). If you want a quick look at I still have questions, concerns, wor- what the General Conference session is goal—to worship. ries about my church. And questions all about, stop by the parking lot outside about God. But I must fmd the answers the main entrance to Jaarbeurs. You'll for myself, under the guidance of the see a Masaii kraal from Kenya, a stilt Spirit. The answers must begin with house from the Far East, a run-down to write this article, I see something that me—with my dedication to study, to tenement from Philadelphia. Here on encompasses the session for me. Tucked prayer, and to living my life as a this small parking lot are habitats from away in a corner are two elderly ladies, Christian and as a Seventh-day z nine different countries and cultures. hands clasped together, heads bowed Adventist, encouraged by the memory Yet they, and thousands of other cul- and close together. It's clear they're of potato soup, family, and worship. 8 (736) ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 2,1995 Report presented at the General Conference session Muslims and Hindus, to the potential audi- ence of AWR. A third transmitter has been installed for AWR-Asia, adding to the impact of broadcasts reported to be China's most-listened-to religious broadcast. Four new transmitters and powerful antennas in The Challenge of the Costa Rica give a loud cry to the nations of By G. Ralph Thompson the Americas. AWR broadcasts in 37 lan- Unfinished Task Secretary of the General guages, 140 hours a day, more than 1,000 Conference hours per week, using 1.35 million watts of power, and receives more than 100,000 let- ters a year. he years following our last General division counterparts throughout the world So while there have been tragic, terrible Conference session in 1990 in field should be in every Seventh-day things happening in the world, in the TIndianapolis have been momentous Adventist home. And the Adventist church great things have also been happen- and eventful, with tragic events on land and Review's On-Line Edition has been met ing. The Advent movement is on the sea, and in the air. In our church worldwide with widespread acceptance throughout the march, with 1,725 people joining our ranks God has been doing marvelous things for church. every day. us despite great social upheavals. To name 7. ADRA, the Adventist Development just a few: and Relief Agency, is making a fantastic To Every Kindred and People 1. Thousands of people have joined the impact all over the world. The total value of While occupying country after country church in the former Soviet Union. goods and services supplied through for Christ was a remarkable achievement 2. Great accessions to the faith have ADRA in just one year following the last for a small church during the first 75 years been made in China. General Conference session was a whop- of its existence, this statistical measure did 3. In North America the church gar- ping US$85 million. Since then, with work not go beyond the prediction of Matthew nered tremendous exposure for its disaster in the refugee camps as the result of the 24:14 to the all-encompassing challenge of relief effort during Hurricane Andrew. Rwanda crisis, and in other areas of the Revelation 14:6—that the gospel should go 4. Worldwide baptisms increased to the world, multiplied millions of dollars of to not only every nation, but every tribe, rate of one baptism every 50 seconds. goods and services have been given language, and people. 5. Maranatha Volunteers International through ADRA. ADRA has also been the But our Global Mission initiative has mounted one of the largest lay-operated entering wedge in many erstwhile closed addressed this challenge. It has called upon building projects in our history, building 25 countries. us all to examine regions, areas, cultural churches in the Dominican Republic in 8. In 1994 world membership topped groups, and language groups within each record time. the 8 million mark. country. When we first began with the 6. Something new appeared in the 9. Festivals of the Laity. I wish all of us statistics of Global Mission, there were Adventist Review. While seeking to be the could attend the Festivals of the Laity in the about 5.25 billion persons in the world. For church paper for all groups regardless of Inter-American Division. Our dedicated outreach purposes, these billions were race, color, language, age, or background, laypeople give of their time, talent, and grouped into 5,257 geographical regions of the editors of the Review decided to refocus treasure to witness for their faith. They give about 1 million persons each. We found the church paper to show more clearly the Bible studies; preach in halls, tents, and the that we had organized churches among fundamentals of the Seventh-day Adventist open air; hand out literature; walk many 2,972 of these population segments, but no Church—articles that would emphasize miles; ride bicycles, trucks, cars, whatever churches among the remaining 2,285. positive, Christ-centered, Bible-based, the means of transportation—all to share However, latest reports indicate that since practical truth in delineating these distinc- the everlasting gospel. As a result, multi- 1990 the church has established a presence tive elements. And all across the church we plied thousands are joining the Advent in 179 of these formerly unentered popula- have enjoyed these AnchorPoints. movement in its march to the kingdom. tion segments. And Global Mission activity I congratulate our Adventist Review edi- 10. Adventist World Radio. In one of is in progress in an additional 380, leaving tors as they've sought to show that these the great miracles of our day, transmitters 1,726 where plans have yet to be devel- great truths—such as the Sabbath, the once dedicated to atheistic propaganda are oped. Second Coming, the heavenly ministry of now broadcasting the three angels' mes- Christ, the judgment, the non-immortality sages. Adventist World Radio now broad- To Every Language of the soul, the Spirit of Prophecy, casts daily to the Middle East, Africa, Seventh-day Adventists are a publishing prophecy, the remnant, the call to godly liv- Europe, Russia, and Slovakia in 15 lan- people. We have seen to it that a growing ing—are of life-transforming significance guages. Listeners in countries such as number of language groups throughout the for today. And I believe the entire world of Libya, where the church has little or no world have access to Seventh-day Adventism, in its readership of the presence, are responding to the everlasting Adventist literature. In 1993 the total num- Adventist Review, has been greatly blessed. gospel. Fifteen new languages have added ber of languages in which the Seventh-day I believe that the Adventist Review and its more than 1.3 billion people, largely Adventist Church was conducting work

ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 2, 1995 (737) 9 orally and in print was 713. called Christian world and go Mission agencies and Bible 11111111111111111111111111111111111•111111111 into the three major unreached translation societies list almost blocks in our world. The number 7,000 languages that must be used of non-Christians in our world to reach the world population. today is mind-boggling-out of a From a list of 1,264 languages spo- world population of approxi- ken by more than 50,000 people mately 5.8 billion, more than 3.8 each, Seventh-day Adventists are billion. These include more than using a little more than 700, and in 1 billion Muslims, nearly 1 bil- some areas of the world we are lion people with no religion using a number of languages spo- (mostly secularists), about 780 ken by smaller populations. million Hindus, about 350 mil- lion Buddhists, and about 100 The Spread of Congregations million people practicing tribal One hundred years ago there religions. were 1,225 churches serving We have already taken the first Seventh-day Adventists. That is The Lord Mayor of Utrecht, the Honorable No Willem Opstelten, wel steps along this line by the almost the same number as now corned delegates to Holland and to his historic city on opening night o founding of Muslim, Hindu, and the 56th General Conference session, Thursday, June 29. exist in the Inca Union in the South Buddhist centers for mission. We American Division! I find the growth in the 1890, one for every 52,000; in 1900, one for must highlight these centers and their work number of Seventh-day Adventist churches every 24,000; in 1910, one for every and let them lead us in deliberately choos- around the world fascinating. Here are 19,000; in 1920, one for every 10,000; in ing to work in non-Christian areas. The some figures: in 1900, 1,892; 1910, 2,769; 1930, one for every 6,600; in 1940, one for work will be challenging and new. Creative 1920, 4,541; 1930, 6,741; 1940, 8,924; every 4,500; in 1950, one for every 3,300; ideas are called for, and numbers will be 1950, 10,237; 1960, 12,975; 1970, 16,505; in 1960, one for every 2,400; in 1970, one small at first. But whatever the cost, we 1980, 21,555; 1990, 31,654; 1993, 36,920. for every 1,800; in 1980, one for every must go. The average membership of our Adventist 1,250; in 1990, one for every 800; and in churches worldwide is 215.66 each. 1994, one for every 670. As I read these fig- The 10-40 Window Throughout the world field, however, ures I feel like shouting, "Glory, hallelujah Missiologists have called to our attention there, is a vast difference in the distribution of for what the Lord has done and is doing!" the 10-40 Window-the geographical area these churches. For instance, in Jamaica there of our globe from 10 degrees north to 40 is one Seventh-day Adventist church for The Next Step degrees north of the equator in the Pastern every 8.3 square miles of the island. But in Celebrating the past is crucial, but we Hemisphere. The window stretches from Sweden there is a church for only every are part of a dynamic movement, and as North Africa, through the Middle East and 3,700 square miles. If our churches were such we have a vision for the future. We central Asia, to include most of the Asian evenly distributed among the world's popula- must move on to ask if we simply are to subcontinent. Sixteen out of the 19 poorest tion, there would be seven churches in every keep doing things as we do them now, or is evangelized countries are in this area. population segment of 1 million persons, or there another step we should take? Is busi- Ninety-nine percent of the least evange- an Adventist church for every 142,000 peo- ness as usual satisfactory, or is there a new lized, poorest people live here. Eighty-four ple in the world. Yet there are hundreds of vision for us to pursue as we look ahead? percent of the people with the lowest qual- millions of earth's inhabitants who have We live in an era of rapid change, and as ity of life live here. In spite of this, less than never seen an Adventist church building or God's people we must adapt our mission to 10 percent of Christian missionaries work known of a group who worshiped together as fit the times. As we face new challenges, in this 10-40 Window. Therefore, the next a part of the remnant people. new dreams are needed; new trends in the step for us is not only to target specifically world encourage us to take new steps in non-Christians, but to position missionaries Church Membership giving the gospel message, targeting in this 10-40 Window. Each church member is a messenger of unreached areas. the gospel, and our membership has In the past we developed most of our Urban Mission increased exponentially throughout our Bible studies and evangelistic methods in Then there is the challenge of the great history. We are now doubling our mem- the context of the Christian world. Our unevangelized, massive asphalt jungles of bership every 11 years. Our rate of growth early missionaries went to Christian coun- our cities. Fifty percent of the world lives in is now about 6.5 percent a year, while the tries. Some non-Christians have been won. cities, and the other 50 percent are strongly world population is growing at only 1.6 But in most places we are in the minority. influenced by them. In the past, we have percent a year. Adventism began as a rural movement, and not shrunk from sending missionaries into Notice these fascinating ratios of in most parts of the world has not been par- jungles, and we must not shrink from call- Seventh-day Adventists to world popula- ticularly strong in urban areas. ing true believers to minister in these tion. In 1880 there was one Adventist for As the next step, by specific design and sophisticated, upscale jungles called cities. every 93,000 inhabitants in the world. In planning, we must move beyond the so- Just as special education, care, and plan- 10 (738) ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 2, 1995 ning are needed for other new types of mis- try. But times have radically changed. run the church—not tradition or money. sions, so it must happen with urban mission Those who once viewed themselves as mis- Another area of concern and challenge as well. We must specifically plan to reach sionary-receiving countries must now begin that we face is the legal one. The church the cities for God. to see themselves as missionary-sending must abide by laws, and it must protect countries. The goal "From Everywhere to itself from those who would wrongly seek Various Mission initiatives Everywhere" must become a reality. to acquire its funds. We should listen care- In the past all types of foreign missions, So I would say to our church family in fully to our lawyers as they advise us. On and any mission outside the local church, Inter- and South America, you have done the other hand, fear of moving forward were under the direct auspices of church marvelously well in reaching your Jerusalem should not control this church. Mission organizations. Missionaries going overseas and Judea, your own cities and countries. should. were all sent by the General Conference. You have even gone to some nearby coun- At times a certain kind of theology gets Over the past 10 years or so, however, we tries of similar culture. It is now time to take in the way of mission. There are those who have seen numerous mission initiatives on the utmost parts of the world. I can only are so concerned about dotting the i's and that have arisen in the church. This is a faintly imagine what might happen if you crossing the t's of theological truth that challenging new trend. Some may see this turned your energy and enthusiasm to reach- they forget those who have never heard the development as a threat to good, smooth ing North Africa or India. basics of the Christian message. A mission- organization. Rather, I think, it is a sign of And what about my brothers and sisters driven theology is more concerned with life. The world is so big that it certainly in Africa and India? You too are to see the theological proclamation than even theo- can have room for all types of mission ini- world as your mission field. You have logical preservation. tiatives whose goal is to work coopera- received, so now you must give. We must never forget that we are a mul- tively with the established church in We all have to recognize that mission is tiracial, multiethnic, multilinguistic, and a bringing the gospel to the world. Any a calling, not a career. We must find a way multinational family. A mission-driven church whose members care enough to to create a mission ethos in our youth. ethic sees the whole world as its family and pour life and fmances into mission is still Many countries require military service of fellow believers as sisters and brothers. very much alive. two to four years for all citizens. Could we This takes precedence over tribe, ethnic We must fmd ways to encourage mis- not teach our young people that one to two background, gender, race, or politics. If we sion initiative while at the same time pre- years in the Lord's army is the best thing truly act from a mission-driven perspective, serving unity, order, and fmancial support they can do to prepare for a life of service? we will love others. God loves them, and so for the basic church structure. We must Students have in the past been a powerful must we, if we expect to share God's love institute some kind of structure or force for world mission. We must create an with them. umbrella that enables these various groups avenue where all young people can serve. I'm sure that we are all deeply grieved by to talk, coordinate strategy, and share overdrawn nationalistic feelings that set one plans and ideas so the church at large can Educate and Inspire Our Church With group over against the next. Whether they work together. And we must break away Needs of Mission are Tutsi and Hutu in Rwanda, Serb and from the idea that the church must have While we tell the story about our tri- Croat in the former Yugoslavia, Iraqi and every missionary on its payroll. We need umphs, we must try to educate our people American in the Persian Gulf, White or self-supporting missionaries who may be concerning the continual challenge of mis- Black, Brown or Yellow, Eastern or employed by IBM, Mobil, some univer- sion outreach. Throughout all of our won- Western, these feelings show that those who sity, or even supported by their own funds, derful educational system, in which we are have them are not mission-driven, but tribe- trained and commissioned by the church. careful to teach our doctrines and our his- or nation-driven, or race-driven. If we are They should serve as missionaries in tory, we must somehow interweave into the mission-driven, we would see each other as places where church-supported workers curriculum the sacred call to mission. brother and sister, as fellow believers, for could never go. If we expect to reach all People are rarely inspired to dedicate their there are Adventists on both sides of all the these non-Christians, we must try new life to something they know little or noth- groups mentioned. We would see ourselves ways to do it. The time for tent-making ing about. So the challenge comes to all of as people whose calling it is to share Christ's missionaries, or what we now call Global us to inform our people about mission love with others. In every case when conflict Partnerships ministry, has arrived. needs, theology, strategy, and challenges. arises, we would hate the conflict itself This is why just recently an Office of rather than those on the opposing side. All Ages, Classes, and Countries Mission Awareness has been established at This holds true for all people in need. We have reached the place in our world the General Conference, headed by Dr. and Mission-driven people should feel compas- mission program where we must engage all Mrs. Gary Patterson. sion for the hungry, the poor, the ages, classes, and countries in people-to- One special area of concern is fmances. oppressed, refugees, lepers, and those suf- people world mission. In the past North How we allocate and spend our money fering from AIDS. Such people also need America, Europe, and Australia were mis- speaks louder than a million words. How the love of Christ demonstrated to them. sion-sending organizations furnishing most much of our finances really go to outreach What a testimony we could bear to the of the funds. Missionaries were career peo- mission and helping others? What does world, if we were truly mission-driven in ple who encouraged the local people to do our fund allocation say about our mission our church organization, our theology, and home missions in their native area or coun- and our commitment to it? Mission should our ethics. ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 2,1995 (739) 11 Report presented at the General Conference session ments—comprise the General Conference source of nontithe funds. Divisions, unions, conferences, local fields, and local churches also use desig- nated nontithe funds for specific pur- poses. Those organizations retain these Financing funds according to policy. By Donald F. Gilbert Total world mission offerings, includ- God's Mission Treasurer ing Sabbath school, increased 2.59 per- cent from 1990 to 1992. However, these same offerings declined 3.6 percent in 1993 compared to 1992. Thankfully, we eporting on the fmances of the tive January 1, 1994, the NAD retained had a 5.6 percent increase in 1994 over Seventh-day Adventist Church 9.40 percent (9.65 percent in 1995) of 1993. Rmeans reporting on God's work their total tithe and passed on to the While world mission offerings through His people. I find joy in seeing General Conference 11.60 percent increased only 4.4 percent over five God lead His people as I witness His (11.35 percent in 1995) of total division years, local church offerings increased blessings on them as they place their tithe receipts as their designated share 22 percent from 1990 to 1994. Local trust in a covenant relationship with respectively. Today the NAD operates church funds totaled more than six times Him. as other divisions (except for sharing a as much as world mission offerings in Unprecedented growth in membership larger percentage of tithe with the 1994. A world church cannot meet the and changing financial trends have General Conference). demands of a world mission with these greatly influenced the Seventh-day During the past five years combined kinds of figures. Adventist Church in recent times. world tithe increased by 21.9 percent. Sabbath school offerings form the Without a single world currency, strict However, world per capita tithe largest unrestricted, nontithe gifts of the year-to-year comparisons become diffi- decreased from $122.25 in 1982 to church for world missions. Sabbath cult. During 1994 a serious weakening $109.35 in 1985, and then showed an school offerings increased 10.9 percent of the U.S. dollar against most major increase to $110.97 in 1994. The tithe from 1990 to 1994 and supply 90 per- world currencies occurred. A weak dol- belongs to God and is holy (Lev. 27:30). cent of the nontithe funds. These unre- lar does bring more dollars to the Its use must be in keeping with this con- stricted Sabbath school and world General Conference for world missions dition. Tithe is the basic fmancial provi- mission offerings are absolutely neces- from other currency areas. But General sion for church support and growth. To sary for continued outreach, expansion, Conference appropriations to countries direct tithe to other activities greatly and support of church growth. where the currency remains strong restricts God's work in the church. To our detriment, these offerings against the U.S. dollar result in less local have not grown at the same level as currency for the support of God's work. World Mission Offerings tithe, inflation, or local church support. In this report we will use the U.S. World mission offerings declined on We can only speculate what the church dollar currency to provide financial a per capita basis from $8.36 in 1990 to could have accomplished if they had comparisons of the activities of the $6.76 in 1994. During 1993 North multiplied. General Conference and the world American world mission funds declined The Seventh-day Adventist Church church. by 4 percent. Six world mission offer- operates as a financial unit and not as ings come to the General Conference for separate congregational entities. If we Tithing—Is It on the Decline? distribution to the world field. The move toward congregational-type financ- This report shows a decline in per General Conference divides these non- ing, the capability of the church to capita tithe received by the General tithe contributions into two basic accomplish the Lord's command to "go Conference, but one major change classes—restricted and unrestricted. into all the world" will be jeopardized. makes comparisons with previous years Restricted offerings include Adventist difficult. From the original organization World Radio, Disaster and Famine Global Mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church Relief, Annual Sacrifice (for Global Global Mission is a program of until 1991, we included North American Mission), Missions Extension, and advance—of reaching the unreached. Division financial operations in the Health and Temperance (10 percent of Through the General Conference Global General Conference operating state- which goes to the General Conference). Mission Office $10,158,000 has been ment. In 1991, NAD fmancial records We transfer these offerings to the activi- distributed to the world divisions. Direct were separated from the General ties for which they were solicited. gifts, General Conference appropria- Conference, and now the NAD has its Sabbath school offerings, including tions, and the Annual Sacrifice Offering own financial statements. General Birthday-Thank and Investment, are provided these funds. Support for Conference appropriations funded NAD unrestricted. Unrestricted world mission Global Mission Office staff comes from operations through 1993. Then, effec- offerings—plus earnings from invest- the net sale proceeds of Loma Linda 12 (740) ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 2, 1995 Foods and LaLoma Foods by our own auditing team. The companies. These proceeds are 1111180 11 General Conference Auditing held in a special endowment Service performs audits as fund for Global Mission. The internal auditors for all other market value of the endow- denominational entities around ment as of December 31, 1994, the world. These capable pro- was $11,070,116. This pro- fessional auditors contribute to gram does not provide continu- membership confidence in the ing support for pastors, church's financial administra- teachers, Bible instructors, tion. They assure that finances health-care employees, admin- are correctly received, used, istrators, or publishing pro- and accounted for. Church pol- grams. icy provides a system whereby administrative committees, Other Church Ministries constituencies, and administra- and institutions tors have accurate financial Not only are contributions to information on which to base Global Mission increasing, but Building a booth requires caring for thousands of details. Here workers administrative decisions con- from the Euro-Asia Division (the former U.S.S.R.) prepare materials to other outstanding organizations, display in their exhibit. cerning programs of the such as ADRA (Adventist Seventh-day Adventist Church. Development and Relief Agency Conference, many gifts go directly from The increased independence of the International), are gaining the attention donors to other divisions for special General Conference Auditing Service and financial support of the membership. projects. If the donor-restricted dona- from the world church gives confidence ADRA fulfills a specific commission. It tions were added to the regular offer- in the auditors' reports and resultant deserves to be supported by members of ings, there would be a combined growth information available to constituencies. God's family, who live in a world filled of 17 percent for the five years. with calamities and hunger. Members We assure God's family that their spe- Retirement Funds and Investments have also raised their financial support cific gifts made through regular church Each division maintains its own for Adventist World Radio, Adventist channels go through the church financial retirement funds, as established by Media Center Ministries, and Christian system in their entirety. We make no church policy, to assure continuation of Record Services. But this support does deductions for administrative handling or retirement benefits to retired denomina- not hold true for all entities. processing. The church family is respond- tional employees. The retirement pro- Through their sales, publishing ing to specific programs with a generous gram provides modest assistance to houses remain self-supporting church hand, while continuing a modest support those who have spent their lives as entities. Most health-care institutions for regular world mission needs. employees of/the Seventh-day Adventist also remain self-supporting, providing At the General Conference, projects Church. Retirement funds come from a health outreach programs necessary for supported by specific gifts have esca- percentage of tithe received by confer- spiritual and physical healing. The lated. This appears to give us unshack- ences and a percentage of institutional health-care institutions maintain health led ability to move the work of the payrolls. Retirement funds constitute the science education with a minimum of church into new areas. However, this largest block of investable resources church financial support. Operated as threatens the long-term stability of our maintained by the church. In general, businesses, these types of institutions financial resources because it leaves no these fund balances are less than the provide employment for dedicated provision for the continuing support of church policy minimum standard of Seventh-day Adventists. the work in these new areas. three times the current year's (12 Ingathering funds distribution now months') expenditure. Most govern- Designated Gifts follows receipt of the funds. Ingathering ments require fully funded retirement There is a recent trend for members to is also subject to specific programs, with programs. The lack of adequate retire- designate their nontithe gifts for specific a direct relationship between source of ment fund balances is a serious weak- projects. The sum total of those specific funds and the ultimate usage. Donor ness throughout the world church at a project gifts and the unrestricted non- divisions (not all divisions are permitted time of escalating costs. Actuarial stud- tithe gifts increased during the past five by law to solicit Ingathering funds) have ies are being conducted to provide guid- years. The total of donations for specific the privilege of cooperatively determin- ance in determining future contributions projects processed through the General ing projects and their priorities. to the retirement fund. Conference was $41,106,542 from 1991 Management of church assets is an to 1994. Stewardship of giving through Auditing increasingly complex responsibility. trusts and wills is another important The General Conference financial Prudent investment of retirement funds, growing source of support. In addition records are audited by an independent restricted donations, and working capital to funds coming through the General certified public accounting firm, assisted held as per church policy is important ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 2,1995 (741) 13 for retention of the funds' value and tion we cannot neglect educational support to provide for the needs of a the safety of earnings. The General institutions. Seventh-day Adventist larger membership. Conference manages retirement funds children need a Christian education. 3. Continued development of world for NAD and its health-care institu- As thrilling as it is to see church mem- communication capabilities for evange- tions. Several other divisions have bership grow through evangelism, lism and church unity. also placed significant amounts of many new members do not have the 4. Increased unrestricted resources retirement money with the General privilege of Christian education. They supplied by both new and present Conference. Other managed funds need to be educated in biblical doc- members. include those designated for future trines and Christian lifestyle, and to 5. Increased outreach and support of use by specific committee action support the church's fmancial system. church programs such as Adventist and/or donor requests, and funds While our membership grows, the Development and Relief Agency Inter- invested at the request of various number of schools is not keeping pace. national, Adventist World Radio, and union and local conferences and insti- Educational costs have escalated, but other evangelistic media. tutiqus. Total investments equal about membership support has not. So I ask, 6. Increased self-support by all $1 billion. Associate treasurer Robert "Shouldn't our priority be our most church entities. E. Osborn, along with a professional valuable asset—our children?" 7. Increased participation in the world staff, has carefully and skillfully man- General Conference sessions remain financial support system of tithe and mis- aged the investment funds for nearly important to the unity of more than 8 mil- sion offerings by all church members. 30 years. lion people. We chose the Netherlands in Undesignated earnings from invest- 1995 to enable members from Eastern An Appeal to a Growing Church ments provide nontithe funds for special Europe, Asia, and Africa to be with us. In The church's capability to expand and nonoperating appropriations. General previous years they have not had the priv- still provide growth and nurture programs Conference funds available for investing ilege of attending and participating in a depends upon the God-ordained tithe and have declined in recent years. As a con- General Conference session. When we offering program. We even need gifts sequence, investment income and capi- chose Utrecht for the 1995 session, the equal to a second tithe to support the tal gains have also declined. In order to currency exchange rate was much more work. We encourage all our members— meet current fmancial obligations, some favorable than it is now. After several young and old—to be part of this stew- investment capital has been converted careful reevaluations of the benefits ardship relationship with the Lord. into cash, thereby eroding a base from resulting from this location and consider- During this quinquennium we have which we previously derived funds for ing other less favorable alternatives, we seen the following increases: distribution to the world field. are here today. We pray for God's guid- Distribution exceeded receipts during ance and trust that this meeting will help Church membership 25.8 percent 1994. When disbursements exceed to hasten our Saviour's return. Tithe 21.9 percent income, it is axiomatic that funds must World mission be provided from reserves—a poor Our Financial Future offerings 4.4 percent long-term solution. What shall we do for the future? Global Mission $10,158,000 —Administer church operations in Specific purpose donations Reevaluating Financial Strategies the most efficient manner possible, (four years) 37.0 percent At the beginning of the quinquennium all the way from the local church to Local church the General Conference reduced signifi- the General Conference. offerings 22.0 percent cantly their total number of employees. —Utilize modern technology. This staffing level has been closely mon- —Share responsibility. The church has more calls, more itored during the quinquennium. —Vigorously continue our world openings, more needs, more results, and Changing world needs have resulted in a evangelistic mission. more hope than ever in its history. change in emphasis on various programs —Strengthen and maintain our educa- "Unmistakable evidences point to the as well as staff requirements. The Global tional program. nearness of the end. . . . Let not our Mission strategy created new manage- —Fully utilize the medical mission- church members complain because they ment needs to meet specific goals. ary program as a healing ministry are so often called upon to give. What is Global Mission programs have influ- and "right arm" of the church. it that makes the frequent calls a neces- enced the church to focus on its mission. —Educate members regarding their sity? Is it not the rapid increase of mis- In 1994 we reevaluated appropria- privilege and responsibility. sionary enterprises? Shall we, by tions to world fields. We gave strong —Improve communication around the refusing to give, retard the growth of emphasis to increasing self-support so world between church members. these enterprises? Shall we forget that that missions and fields could become Current needs of the world church are we are laborers together with God? conferences. Available resources for as follows: From every church, prayers should local conferences and churches, as 1. More church buildings for new ascend to God for an increase of devo- well as for the growing world church, members. tion and liberality" (Testimonies, vol. 9, are a vital need today. In this reevalua- 2. Educational facilities and operating p. 55). 14 (742) ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 2, 1995 UNITED IN CHRIST The Insistent Imperative

y brothers and sisters worldwide, I rather, of what should be, could be, can be, must greet you in the name of our Lord be, shall be, will be . . . and Saviour, Jesus Christ. We gather We need to hear this insistent imperative as: M here captured by a powerfully com- pelling theme—"United in Christ." While this is A Challenge to Be Faced surely an appropriate theme for a world church, I "For in Christ Jesus you are all children of God would contend that these words are much more through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Benjamin Reaves than a theme. They are an insistent imperative. Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is President, Oakwood Insistent against the backdrop of a fragmented no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or College, Huntsville, world. Whether in Bosnia, Somalia, the Middle free, there is no longer male and female; for all of Alabama, U.S.A. East, Ireland, or America, there is fragmentation you are one in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:26-28). between races and peoples, between denomina- This section of Galatians is the climax of the tions, indeed, within denominations. Epistle. From the beginning Paul has championed Insistent, for our church in too many disturbing the cause of unity in Christ. But we need to be ways mirrors the fragmentation of society. Even clear on what sort of unity Paul is contemplating. while we sing hymns of faith, fellowship, and the What happens to ethnic and social and sexual dis- family of God, we are keenly aware of the frag- tinctions between people? mentation and division in the family. The "blessed The unity he speaks of is not one in which eth- tie" does not bind, and "What a fellowship" is nic, social, and sexual differences vanish, but more like "What fellowship?" rather, one in which the barriers, the exclusion, the United in Christ. hostility, the chauvinism, and the sense of superi- Insistent, yes! ority between categories are destroyed. And imperative, in that the words "United in Now, in what sense is that true? Clearly, it does Christ" reflect a vital biblical principle that con- not mean differences of pationality, status, and sex fronts, disturbs, and cannot be ignored. cease to exist. One des not lose identity by That imperative led Paul to set out an agenda of becoming Christian. priority in Ephesians 4:3, making every effort to While being one in Christ does not do away maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, with these differences, being one in Christ makes "until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of them irrelevant. Those distinctions are not the the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the basis of exclusion or inclusion, superiority or infe- measure of the full stature of Christ" (Eph. 4:13).* riority. The differences—those minor things which Here the apostle enjoins possession of those must be subservient to the major—yield a higher graces that promote and sustain the unity of the unity among the children of God. church. In Ephesians 2 Paul had already spoken on Paul means that, having become one with God as the import of union as a doctrine. Now in His sons and daughters, Christians now belong to Devotional Ephesians 4 he endorses unity as a practice. each other in such a way that the distinctions that message As we open these critically important days formerly divided them now lose significance. These together, days that place us at the vestibule of the do not matter when men and women treat each presented kingdom, we gather in the revealing light of this other as brothers and sisters not just on Sabbath, but insistent imperative, "united in Christ." How will in the total affairs of life—secular and sacred. We Thursday we respond to these words? They are familiar. are not brothers and sisters in the church context if afternoon, We've heard them before. we are not brothers and sisters outside of it. Nevertheless, we honestly and painfully sense It is instructive to note the emphasis: "one" in June 29, 1995 that these words are not a description of what is; Christ uses the masculine form of the numeral (in

ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 2,1995 (743) 15 Greek). However, the distinction is not between masculine and feminine, but rather between masculine and neuter— between a unified personality and a uni- fied organization. Not one in structure, but one in the organic, living body of Christ. All are one in and with another. This is not a unity of administration or organization; the emphasis is a unity of personal relationship, played out in every area of life. "United in Christ!" , - A Sign to Be Sought We need to hear this insistent impera- tive as a challenge to be faced, but we also need to hear this insistent impera- tive as a sign to be sought. It was an Delegates and visitors from around the world were pouring into Utrecht on opening day. While awaiting awkwardly painful time. It was their last word of their accommodations many clustered in the shade of the sign leading into the convention cen- meeting—Jesus and His disciples. Soon ter on an unusually hot summer day. they would not only be without Him; they would be horrified at the tragic turmoil. The measure in which believers Ellen White writes: "When the reli- events they would witness. fail in love to each other is the measure gious experience is devoid of love, Jesus Yet Jesus did not focus on Himself. to which the world does not believe in is not there; the sunshine of His presence Rather, His thoughts and concerns were them or their Christianity. It is the acid is not there. No busy activity or Christless 4 for them, for their unity. "I give you a new test of discipleship, and it gives an zeal can supply the lack" (Thoughts From commandment, that you love one another. unmistakable message to the world. the Mount of Blessing, p. 126). Just as I have loved you, you also should Francis Schaeffer, in his book The The mark of a child of God, and the love one another" (John 13:34). Church at the End of the Twentieth evidence of a saved condition, is a per- Strange, these were disciples. Why Century, speaks of love as the "mark of son who is a habitually loving Christian. speak to them of love? Surely it was out the Christian." Only with this mark may "United in Christ." of place in that group! The people of the world know that Christians are hate were out there in the night, circling indeed Christians and that Jesus was A Gift to Be Received around in the darkness like wolves. At sent by the Father. A challenge to be faced. such a crucial time, when so many criti- It is a sign to the world. A sign to be sought. cally important things needed to be dis- It also is a sign that speaks to us. "We The insistent imperative is most prob- cussed, why discuss this? Was this the know that we have passed from death to ingly personal and profoundly powerful most important thing to be said? And life because we love one another. as these words, "United in Christ," are what was so important about it? Whoever does not love abides in death" heard as a gift to be received. In words unmistakable in their definite- (1 John 3:14). When we see it as a challenge, we are ness and almost frightening in their The love John addresses in these tempted to work harder. directness He said, "By this everyone will verses originates in God and indicates When we see it as a sign to be sought, know that you are my disciples, if you the existence of a bond with God. Here we become more determined. have love for one another" (verse 35). John detonates an explosion that But that still leaves us divided and "By this everyone will know . . ." destroys the myth of neutrality, the idea loveless. Not by creed, clothes, hymns, or ritu- that I can tune out all this talk about Only as we see it as a gift to be als. unity and love. There are only two received can it be truly received. "And Ellen White writes: "There can be spheres—no middle ground. this is his commandment, that we nothing in the world that is so dear to God However, active love is a sign of life, should believe in the name of his Son as His church. . . . Nothing offends God not the ground of life. This is not some Jesus Christ and love one another, just more than for the church to be in a dis- erratic experience—some start and stop, as he has commanded us. All who obey united state, because it bears to the world now and then. The present tense of the his commandments abide in him, and he a very bad testimony and example" verb we love indicates that the need for abides in them. And by this we know (Manuscript Releases, vol. 18, p. 208). love of others as a mark of Christians is that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he It is still true today. Nothing is more constant. The verb is in the perfect tense has given us" (1 John 3:23, 24). impressive than a church that is a fam- in speaking of a past completed act. As Who is this speaking with such con- ily. Conversely, nothing more grossly Kenneth Wuest states, this is "habitually viction? Could this be John? What misrepresents our Lord than a church loving." This sign is absolute proof of John? Surely not the "old John"! torn by division, discord, tension, and the passage from death to life. "Old John" had serious defects: he 16 (744) ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 2,1995 was proud, self-assertive, impetuous, a and when each is in tune with the stan- intentions unless they are undergirded "son of thunder," evil tempered; he dard pitch, they are in tune with each by a new experience with the Holy wanted the high place and had no regard other. Only when they are in tune with Spirit—the gift to be received. for Samaritans. Christ are they in tune with each other." God is waiting. We are wanting. Let Here in John's words is lifted up the In Christ we will be united in every way the fire fall. idea of a mutual abiding. Christ in the we could possibly be divided. My mind goes back to the incredible Christian and the Christian in Christ— This is a promise, a gift to be claimed showdown on Mount Carmel. When _ and this is effected through the gift of only in Christ. There is no automatic Elijah repaired a broken-down altar, had the .Holy Spirit. Only the Spirit brings unity because we belong to the church, a trench dug, wood prepared, a sacrifice "supreme love for God and unselfish or even because we claim Christ as offered, and then—the incredible. love for one another" (The Acts of the- -'Saviour. That unity in Christ comes as After three and a half years of Apostles, p. 551). Christ—through the presence of the drought, when no rain had fallen, when When John says "He that loveth not Holy Spirit—is in us. water was the scarcest and most pre- knoweth not God" (1 John 4:8, KJV), he However, that promise to be claimed, cious thing, Elijah poured it—four, is emphasizing that love can come only that gift to be received, is not unity. It is eight, 12 barrels—on the altar. After a by the action of God. There can be no not love, but rather the Spirit, which simple, fervent prayer, fire fell; flashing unity without love, no love without God. brings unity. When I receive the flames licked up the water. Love is the seed of unity; without love promise—the gift of the Spirit—it If we would receive the gift of the there can be none. Unity on any other changes the way I walk, talk, behave, Spirit, which brings unity, we must offer basis is not satisfactory to God—whether relate, and fellowship. that which is most precious and dear to unity in theology, doctrine, or belief. And the=unity the Spirit brings is not us—on a repaired and prepared altar. It is possible for Christians to be some general camaraderie, or friendli- We must offer that which is the most orthodox in theology, moral in behavior, ness, or some common commitment. precious in our lives and experiences: and yet dismally lacking in love. But it This unity is a living, vital, vibrant love for position, obsession with power, is through love that the church becomes unity. If the Holy Spirit is in you and the sense of exclusiveness, festering hate, God's call to the world. same Spirit is in me, we are conscious beloved hidden sin. In the power of God, "United in Christ"—a gift to be of the bond of unity. For where the pour it out, all on the altar—and the fire received. Spirit reigns is unity. It is internal reality will fall. There is no better way to start It will be received. Will you receive it? with external expression. this meeting than with all on the altar. It's a fact. In Christ there is unity, and Then "United in Christ"—a challenge our only hope of unity is in Christ— Let the Fire Fall to be faced, a sign to be sought, a gift to united in Christ, by Christ, with Christ. TI4 unity the Spirit brings enriches be received—will be most powerfully "The secret of unity is found in the our diversity and nourishes maturity and true. equality of believers in Christ. The rea- growth. It is not enough to leave this * Unless otherwise noted, texts in this article are from son for all division, discord, and differ- General Conference session with new the New Revised Standard Version. ence is found in separation from Christ" (Selected Messages, book 1, p. 259). What did Christ mean when He spoke ------of our unity as His and the Father's? . • co o... . s.er ,:. The unity of His disciples is not institu- Investing tional or organized, but a living organic She's blind. in. p; dneness that flows from the action of •t)...Potentut • God. Then truly the whole family of God is a beautiful montage of differing And she needs cultures and temperaments, colors and to know Jesus. A faith ministry gifts, offered to God in worship and of the General ministry, that He may be glorified. Conference of "United in Christ." It must be a com- Seventh-day mitment from us to a challenge from Adventists God that is attainable by His grace. However, if His grace is sufficient, why H elp us tell her are we still calling for unity? The promise is that we will be united. And that unity will be in Christ, by its gob did/ 15 4444 South 52nd St. Christ, and through Christ. As Vance Lincoln, NE 68516 (402) 488-0981 Havener reminds us: "One does not tune 20 pianos by harmonizing each with the Christian RecordRecord Services Reaching the blind and the deaf for Christ other; they are tuned to a tuning fork,

ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 2, 1995 (745) 17 Report of the Trans-European Division union with more than 18,000 members. presented Sabbath, July 1, 1995 In 1993 more than 500 persons were bap- tized; in the third quarter of 1994, 176 persons joined the church—significant statistics in a country in which most The Flame churches face a constant decline and only 2 to 3 percent of the population attends By Jan Paulsen church on a regular basis. The picture is similar in the Netherlands, with its Still Bums President almost 4,500 members. The Netherlands Union continues to experience a net annual growth of 1 to 2 percent. n many ways the Trans-European Mission, directly attached to the divi- In terms of percentages the growth of Division (TED) is unique. After sev- sion, be formed. But in part it was also the church is strongest in Estonia, Ieral territorial realignments in the the joyful result of evangelistic progress. Latvia, and Lithuania (the Baltics). In past decade it comprises no less than 25 When, just 18 months ago, the Baltic early 1990 there were a little more than countries; when this report is read by the countries were joined to the TED, there 2,700 members in these three small readers of this Bulletin, an additional 14 were just a handful of members in countries. Less than five years later the countries in the Middle East will have Lithuania. Rapid growth soon led to the membership has more than doubled to been added. Granted, many of these organization of the Lithuanian Field. The more than 6,500 at the end of 1994. The nations under the TED umbrella do not establishment of an Adventist presence rate of growth has accelerated over the have a large Adventist membership. But in Albania likewise resulted in the birth past two years, in particular in in many ways that fact just increases the of a new mission organization. Lithuania. From less than 50 members challenge the division faces in-fulfilling just two years ago the church is now, its mission. A Growing Church with almost 1,000 baptized members, Few world divisions must respond to At the beginning of 1990, member- well established. such enormous diversity. Our territory ship in the division (including the parts The reopening of the work in Albania stretches from Iceland and Greenland in of the Baltic Union that are now part of after 50 years of hard-line Communism the remote northwestern corner of the TED) stood at 69,179. At the end of is, no doubt, one of the highlights of our Europe to parts of Western and Eastern the third quarter of 1994 it had climbed report. Sister Meropi Gjika had held on Europe, the Balkans, Greece, Israel, and to 78,956. For the four-year period to her faith, hoping that one day she Pakistan, and now also includes most (1990-1994) the baptismal goal was set would be reunited with the Adventist countries of the Middle East. The reli- at 16,615. We thank God that this goal family. Having saved her tithes through gious and cultural diversity is at least as was not only met but even slightly all these years, she was overjoyed when striking as the political and economic exceeded. she could finally hand them to the first differences. On the one hand, there is Significant growth took place in church representatives visiting the coun- utter secularism, while on the other, Pakistan. When 10 years ago the Trans- try in the early 1990s. Just a few years in a number of countries, Roman European Division assumed the respon- and a great deal of evangelistic effort Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy sibility for that predominantly Muslim later, the Albanian Mission has almost demand a new role in the post- mission field, there were about 5,000 200 members in two organized churches Communist re-creation of Eastern members. Now the Pakistan Union is and a few companies. The first church Europe. And to make things even more approaching the 11,000-member mark. building was officially opened on complicated, Israel and Pakistan are the Most of this growth has been the direct August 27, 1994, in the city of Korce. domains of two major non-Christian result of Global Mission thinking in the ADRA has built a modem warehouse world religions. Religious involvement past quinquennium. and plots of land have been purchased in of the population varies all the way from In spite of all the hardships the the capital of Tirane, where a church and what appears to be total indifference to Balkan countries have suffered, there a headquarters building are planned, and dangerous fanaticism, while economi- has been consistent church growth. The in Rheshen for another church building. cally the pattern varies from unparal- story of the church in war-tom Sarajevo Evangelism has received high priority leled affluence to abject poverty. is a resounding testimony to the power in the past few years. Numerous major During the past quinquennium the of the gospel. At the outbreak of the war campaigns have been held throughout number of entities the division has to the majority of the members of the the division by the division Ministerial administer has continued to grow. In part Sarajevo church fled the city, leaving Association director as well as by many this was because of the tragedy in the behind 20 to 30 church members. But evangelists from outside the TED, in former Yugoslavia. Political circum- more than 150 have been baptized since, particular from North America and stances and ethnic consciousness and many more are worshiping in the Australia. Some supporting ministries demanded that a separate Croatian- Sarajevo church every Sabbath! from across the Atlantic have also Slovenian Conference and a Macedonian Britain continues to be our largest invested considerable personnel and 18 (746) ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 2, 1995 means in the soul-saving efforts. These tion. Unfortunately, the fate of the share of institutional problems was pub- have been a major inspiration and have largest health-care institution in the divi- lishing. No longer will one and the same served as valuable role models. sion—the prestigious Skodsborg program succeed in every country. Local evangelists have eagerly Badesanatorium, about 20 miles north Colporteur work has become extremely adopted and adapted some of their of Copenhagen—was linked to that of difficult in many Western countries, and methods. They have held hundreds of the health food company. In July 1992 it new and creative marketing methods are campaigns, large and small. In the North passed into the hands of a new owner. A needed to supplement or replace tradi- Conference of the South-East European further downsizing of the health-care tional ones. The Stanborough Press in Union (the northern section of work in Norway was to follow. Britain has embarked upon such new Yugoslavia), for instance, more than In the aftermath of these traumatic initiatives and has recently published 100. evangelistic efforts were held events special constituency meetings in dozens of new titles that it sells, within a one-year period. The regret- both Norway and Sweden concluded together with many imported products, table fact that in a number of our fields that the church would be in a better to more than 1,000 Christian and gen- the harvest has remained small results position to deal with the financial and eral bookstores. Sweden, Denmark, and neither from lack of effort nor lack of other consequences of the new realities, the Netherlands have downsized their experienced workers. Innovative adver- and would be more effective in refocus- publishing operations, not with the idea tising in G6teborg, the second-largest ing on the essential mission of the of abandoning this avenue of witness, city in Sweden, brought more than church in their respective countries, if but with every intention of relaunching 2,500 people to public meetings. In the West Nordic Union were replaced a publishing ministry that is more many countries this would have brought by two separate unions. As a result, clearly focused on the real needs of the a harvest of several hundred souls, while from October 1992 onward there have church and the public at large. In the in Sweden it resulted in just 14 bap- been the Norwegian Union Conference Eastern European countries and the tisms. We praise the Lord for those pre- and the Danish Union of Churches. Baltics opportunities for literature evan- cious 14 people, but this is a clear Though not all the pain has subsided, gelism are still wide open. The indication of how difficult it is to "win" both fields have experienced a remark- Hungarian Union built and equipped a people in some parts of our division. able turnabout in their financial difficul- modem publishing house that was offi- ties, partly because of assistance from cially opened in 1991. Institutional Concerns higher organizations, but more signifi- It was a gigantic blow to our church cantly as a result of sacrificial giving by Communicating as Never Before in the Nordic countries when the Nutana their members. The British Union also After 15 years of local radio, the health food company in Denmark and found it prudent to divest itself of its many volunteers in the Nordic countries its sister companies in Norway and interests in the health food sector and who invest countless hours in this long- Finland collapsed under the pressure of sold its Granose plant. term, low-key witnessing project cer- high debts and ever-stronger competi- Another sector with more than its tainly deserve our admiration. In several cases the studios not only produce pro- grams for a local station but make them available to other stations as well. The Finland Union, in particular, is very active in that respect. A network of modern, well-equipped studios in the countries of Eastern Europe and the Balkans produces programs for Adventist World Radio (AWR), which are then broadcast toward their respec- tive areas by transmitters in Slovakia. These studios also produce quality pro- grams that are used by local, regional, and (as is the case in Poland) national stations. Major funding from AWR sources and training provided by AWR staff have helped to professionalize the work of these studios. This is also true for Pakistan, where &H

in late 1994 the locally produced twice- R daily AWR programs in Urdu could fast R/ RINGE

be heard. Plans are well under way to P S

Security guards helped patrol the convention center—such a large site that bicycles were invaluable establish studios in Latvia and Estonia D.

for getting from place to place. OEL and possibly in Lithuania, where the J (747) 19 ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 2,1995 the new Yugoslavia. The million- $12 million of aid passed through the dollar facility was purchased and ADRA warehouses to provide relief in equipped through private dona- various war-stricken areas of the tions, mainly from fellow citizens Balkans. In both, instances the interna- living elsewhere in the world. tional media covered the ADRA The church in Hungary decided to involvement extensively, in particular no longer send its ministerial the crucial role of ADRA in Sarajevo. In recruits to an ecumenical church the past quinquennium aid for countries seminary, but to establish its own within the TED amounted to $18 mil- ministerial training center. A mod- lion, while donor countries within the 'est but efficient facility, the TED channeled $48.5 million through Hungarian Theological Academy ADRA/TED for ADRA's relief efforts was opened in September 1992. and development programs in other parts of the world. ADRA Hundreds of ADRA projects Yes, the Flame Still Burns around the world have profited The TED has been stretched to the from funds coming from TED limit in providing the resources, person- donor countries. These vary from nel, and fmances that the fields require. At one of the commercial booths in the GC exhibit area large school building projects in We wish more could have been done. Mrs. de Ruiter is selling clothing and souvenirs for the Uganda to latrine projects in rural But far from only concentrating on our Modecentrum de Jonge, a shop owned by Carla de Jonge, a Seventh-day Adventist from Rotterdam, the Pakistan; from assisting the problems, we count our many blessings. Netherlands (where the shop is located). Masanga Leprosy Hospital in The Lord has been good to the TED. Sierra Leone with its outpatient Through His grace the flame of the church has recently been offered its own program to delivering medicines in gospel commission, which He has FM frequency. In Greece we are able to Jericho. More than $2.2 million of aid entrusted to us for our part of the world, utilize a Christian TV station that covers was given to Albania, while more than still burns brightly. Athens and parts of Thessaloniki. Not without opposition from the Greek Orthodox authorities, the station is still on the air broadcasting some of the pro- grams (with Greek subtitles) of Faith Fascinating story of for Today and Breath of Life.

Training for the Future Newbold College, the division's insti- OLOCAUST tution of higher learning, has embarked on a spectacular new venture. In 1993 an agreement was signed between the college and the British Open University HERO that allows Newbold to grant a British arrow escapes from bachelor degree to students who suc- Nazi terror highlight cessfully complete their course in this gripping story of John Henry Weidner, a Pastoral and Biblical Studies. Other dis- member of the Dutch- ciplines will in due time also be NParis underground. This hero of included under this agreement. The very history's greatest holocaust saved useful link with Andrews University the lives of 800 Jews, more than will, however, continue to exist. After a 100 Allied aviators, and many few lean years student enrollment was others who fled Nazism. sharply up, reaching an all-time high By Herbert Ford. Paper, 373 during the 1994-1995 academic year. pages. Regularly US$12.95, After the breakup of former Cdn$18.80. Introductory offer, Yugoslavia, the ministerial training US$10.95, Cdn$15.90 (expires 8-31-95). school in Marusevec, Croatia, could no This Review and Herald. book is longer serve the same extended territory available at your Adventist Book Center. as before. A modern, well-located semi- Call 1-800-765-6955. Canadian prices do not include GST and may vary nary with highly qualified staff was according to currency fluctuation. opened in Belgrade to train ministers for 20 (748) ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 2, 1995 Report of the South Pacific Division have been held within the territories of presented Sabbath, July 1, 1995 these two unions in the cities of Sydney and Melbourne during this period. Membership: During this quinquen- nium 77,465 new members were added to the church throughout the SPD, bring- Toward ing the division membership to 277,799 By Bryan Ball at the end of 1994. President 2000 2. A Sound Financial Base Tithe for 1990 amounted to A$40,549,695 rising to A$48,888,330 by n 2000 the city of Sydney will host Mission evangelistic meetings on the December 1994, an increase of 20.5 per- the Olympic Games and thousands of French-speaking island of Tahiti cent, or a little more than 4 percent per ivisitors from around the globe. The resulted it 100 baptisms. In Suva, cap- year. In the same period mission offerings church in the South Pacific Division ital of Fiji, 600 people were baptized increased only marginally, from (SPD) anticipates the Olympics as a focal following an evangelistic series by A$4,219,155 in 1990 to A$4,763,042 in point for witness and outreach, with spe- Geoff Youlden of the Adventist Media 1994 (12.9 percent increase). While this cial opportunities for communicating the Centre. Fulton College theology stu- approximates the annual inflation rate, gospel message. We believe that God's dents, under the leadership of Gary other sources of income were affected by blessings in the past give us a strong basis Webster, conducted three campaigns the extended recession in Australia and from which to plan for this and all future with 138 people baptized. In the New Zealand and fluctuations in currency church activities. We look forward with Western Pacific Union Mission some rates. confidence to the future on the basis of: 10,000 people live on the island of Reflecting this situation, the divi- Nauru. In 1994 the first four indige- sion's annual budgeted income and 1. A Growing Membership nous Nauruans were baptized. The expenditure increased by only 1.1 per- Global Mission has provided opportu- Papua New Guinea Union Mission, cent in the five-year period, from nity for a massive outreach program to supported by several local missions, A$22,685,849 to A$23,975,098. With a people groups in which the church previ- embarked on a comprehensive out- substantial increase in membership, par- ously had no formal presence. More than reach program along the border ticularly in the union missions, this 200 projects, many involving local between Irian Jaya and Papua New modest increase necessitated study being churches, have been approved and Guinea. Attendances of more than 500 given to nurture the members adequately funded. The church's work has been are reported, with 150 people baptized while still maintaining an evangelistic established on many new islands and in and another 200 in baptismal classes. thrust. many new districts. One of the most During this quinquennium the Trans- All unions, conferences, and missions thrilling stories is that of the Kwaio peo- Tasman Union Conference recorded a net in the SPD now provide an annual per- ple on the island of Malaita, previously growth in membership of 5.57 percent to a centage of budget for Global Mission. resistant to the gospel. They are now total of 38,123 members. Baptisms and New stewardship initiatives approved turning to the church and its message. accessions by profession of faith totaled during the quinquennium will help many The many Global Mission projects 6,652. In the Trans-Australian Union fields toward financial self-reliance. that have caught the imagination of lead- Conference, membership is now steady Despite some slowing in giving patterns, ers and members include outreach to above the 20,000 mark, at 20,432, a net the division remains financially strong, the Jewish population in Melbourne, the increase of 2.4 percent. with the Sanitarium Health Food targeting of Christmas Island, special Major citywide evangelistic programs Company continuing to be a major initiatives to reach Aboriginal communi- ties, and outreach to the Torres Strait island people. UNION Members as of Accessions Ratio of Involvement of the laity has been one Dec 31., 1994 1990-1994 Baptisms to Members of the by-products of Global Mission. One action plan provided a modest sum Central Pacific 26,712 10,026 1 to 2.7 (US$1,513) for a three-week evangelis- Papua New Guinea 157,696 49,051 1 to 3.2 tic campaign and follow-up by layper- Trans-Australian 20,432 2,800 1 to 7.3 sons in the Gabadi district on Papua Trans-Tasman 38,123 6,652 1 to 5.7 New Guinea. Eight hundred people wor- Western Pacific 34,836 8,936 1 to 3.9 ship in five companies as a result. Public evangelism is still a powerful TOTALS SPD 277,799 77,465 1 to 3.6 means of spreading the gospel in the SPD. In the Central Pacific Union

ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 2, 1995 (749) 21 provider of funds for the church in the SPD. SCHOOLS, TEACHING STAFF, AND ENROLLMENT

3. A Strong Educational Program Elementary Secondary Tertiary/W. Tr. Totals The church operates an extensive edu- Schools 217 39 6 262 cation program throughout the division, Teaching staff 742 508 175 1,425 offering academic training at the ele- Students 17,371 7,092 1,808 26,271 mentary level, and academic, profes- sional, and vocational programs at both the secondary and tertiary levels. By the close of the quinquennium all elemen- Adventist Church. In 1994 a total of ► The Adventist Media Centre con- tary and secondary schools in Australia 1,371 young people were baptized as a tinues to reach into the community and New Zealand and all secondary direct result of the Christian influence of through radio and television. In 1994, a schools in the three mission unions were our schools. typical year, 58 radio stations broadcast accredited. Significant achievements Life Talk spot messages. A break- include: 4. Established Institutions and through came when FM stations invited ► The development of 125 curricu- Services the centre to advertise the Discovery lum documents designed specifically for ► Sydney Adventist Hospital cele- series. A total of 34 channels broadcast use in mission areas. brated its ninetieth year of service during messages and 15,500 positive responses ► The preparation of elementary and this quinquennium; during that period were received. In the video area the secondary curriculum materials with a 110,762 inpatients were admitted, surgi- Keepers of the Flame set has been distinctly Adventist bias for use in the cal operations totaled 66,076, and dubbed in six languages. K-12 schools in Australia and New 11,453 babies were delivered. ► The South Pacific Division claims Zealand. Departments benefiting by major reno- the highest per member usage of Trust ► Academic and professional upgrad- vations included the obstetrics, physio- Services in the world field. Currently an ing programs for approximately 100 therapy, cardiac rehabilitation, cardiac average of A$1.55 million matures teachers. catheter laboratory, and radiation oncol- annually from the bequests of members. ► Avondale College has introduced ogy centers. Hospital chaplains made ► ADRA/South Pacific continues to Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of 105,047 patient visits, and more than hold its place as one of the top five Arts degrees and has also received full 33,000 business and local community nongovernment overseas aid agencies accreditation for a postgraduate members attended health education and operating in Australia. During the quin- diploma in nursing as well as two mas- assessment programs. quennium, aid has amounted to ter's degrees in theology. Staff and stu- ► The Signs Publishing Company has A$43,691,580, an increase of 77 per- dents have cooperated in a variety of remained viable despite intense pressures cent over the previous five-year period. community projects, including five "fly on the printing industry. Several factors ADRA services have impacted on 20 and repair" projects in the South made total sales of A$23,760,317 possi- developing countries during the quin- Pacific, assistance in a drug rehabilita- ble, with 1994 the Signs' best year ever. quennium. tion center and a women's refuge. In The publishing department was totally ► Risk Management Service employs the past five years more than 100 adults restructured and now operates as a multi- three full-time risk controllers involved have been baptized as a direct result of level marketing organization, directly with the reduction of risk and the preven- the outreach work of theology students. under the control of the company. tion of loss by property conservation, ► Pacific Adventist College is recog- ► The Sanitarium Health Food personal safety and health, and emer- nized by charter from the Papua New Company is the oldest SDA institution gency planning. The catastrophic losses Guinea government to offer academic in the South Pacific, currently operating sustained by the church in Fiji as a result and professional diplomas and degrees. 10 manufacturing plants and seven dis- of Cyclone Kina in January 1993 made it During the past quinquennium student tribution branches, employing 1,400 practically impossible to purchase insur- numbers in this 10-year-old facility staff and holding 68 percent of the New ance coverage for cyclone damage. increased from 121 to 195, a 60 percent Zealand cereal market. The company ► Volunteers make a significant con- increase. In the same period 234 students has exceeded all expectations by captur- tribution to the church's program in the have graduated from theology, educa- ing a 70 percent market share in SPD. Seven hundred volunteers engaged tion, business, or agriculture programs. Australia with its "So Good" soy milk in 42 Fly 'n Build projects, 52 volun- The following table presents the num- beverage and has produced 323,500 tons teers are serving for 12 months or more ber of schools, number of teachers, and of quality foods over the quinquennium. in other divisions, and 72 are long-term students enrolled in the schools, worker Currently under construction is a mod- volunteers. training institutions, and colleges in the ern, expanded head office facility that South Pacific Division. will enable the company to take advan- 5. Focused Departments All 1,425 teachers and lecturers are tage of both the domestic and overseas All departments have contributed to baptized members of the Seventh-day markets well beyond the year 2000. the major initiatives of the church during 22 (750) ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 2, 1995 this quinquennial period. and Tongan languages. The Institute of 6. Strategic Initiatives for the Future ► The Health Department has pro- Church Ministry and Evangelism, also Growing out of the world church sur- duced a series of booklets and videos for coming under the purview of the vey as conducted in the South Pacific nutrition education and stop-smoking Church Ministries Department, is a ser- Division, the church has embarked on a programs and has developed statements vice to local churches to prepare mem- strategic planning and budgeting process on AIDS and sexually transmitted dis- bers for ministry in the community. both to nurture members and to reach eases. The department has taken the Sabbath school continues to be crucial out to the non-Adventist community. lead in tobacco control in the South to the identity and nurture of our peo- This process was further informed by Pacific and Asian areas, resulting in leg- ple. Activities during the quinquen- other major studies and surveys con- islation on tobacco control in Australia, nium include the issue of a training ducted within the division, including the Fiji, Solomon Islands, and Western manual for Sabbath school teachers, Valuegenesis (SPD) survey and the Ad- Samoa. together with five companion manuals ventist lifestyle survey. These studies, Under a radical new management adapted from the NAD series for local coupled with the strategic planning structure approved in 1993 for Australia use. reports from each of the unions in the and New Zealand, the Publishing Family ministries cares for and nur- division, provided data to address the six Department has become more stream- tures people. The year 1994 was desig- focus issues identi- lined and efficient. The new program nated the International Year of the fied by the General began with 95 literature evangelists and Family and highlighted the need to be Conference just two years later had increased to 145. more responsive to the needs of the fam- through its strate- Sales for the quinquennium were more ily. An international conference was gic planning pro- than A$10 million. In the five-year held in Sydney and regional family life cess. period 1,966 people accepted Christ as conferences in Port Moresby and The church in their Lord and Saviour as a result of the Honiara. SPD is now firmly publishing work. In 1992 the South Pacific Division committed to stra- ► The division ministerial secretary established an Office of Women's tegic planning, and his colleagues at the other levels of Ministries, initially to serve the two which will con- administration have held special meet- unions in Australia and New Zealand. tinue as a means of ings for ministers that included a divi- An advispry committee authorized the addressing the sion-wide evangelism council, combined establishment of a resource center, the issues and chal- meetings for ministers at three locations preparation of a database of Adventist lenges the church in the two home conferences, and early women, and participation in the General faces as we move The 56th General in 1995, Bible conferences for all minis- Conference Women's Scholarship pro- toward the twenty- Conference session ters in Australia and New Zealand. gram. Several women's retreats have first century. appears to be the most The Church Ministries Department been held, and women's ministries is One of those international ever. ► Translation of meetings has made an invaluable contribution to beginning to find an identity in other challenges is the is available in approxi- the church in the development of parts of the division. successful com- mately one-dozen lan- resources and in conducting training ses- The image of the church is enhanced munication of the guages. Delegates and visitors check out head- sions for both workers and laypersons. through the activities of the Commu- gospel to an in- phones so they can fol- This quinquennium saw the appoint- nicatiok Department. During 1990 and creasingly secular low events in their own ment of the first full-time division chil- 1992 the island countries of the South society. An advi- languages. dren's ministries director. A network of Pacific Division, to which the mission sory committee on support now extends to 80 percent of the ship Pitcairn sailed 100 years ago, found mission to secular society has been unions and 70 percent of local confer- the centennial anniversaries a major pub- working for much of the quinquennium ences and missions. This has required lic relations opportunity. Communication and has just presented its report to the the training of personnel and the prepa- secretaries and directors have been division executive committee. ration of suitable resources. trained through the use of the Fascinating Mission and evangelism are the The youth director has been busy with World of Communication training videos. lifeblood of the church, and the year a youth commission and youth evange- Public Affairs and Religious Liberty: 1997 has been set apart as a year for a lism training congresses in the island In 1991 the first division-sponsored division-wide emphasis on outreach and unions. A master's degree program in religious liberty council was convened mission. youth ministry designed specifically for at the division office under the aus- The strategic planning process will the South Pacific Division has been pro- pices of the director. The most signifi- continue to address these and other sig- vided by La Sierra University. cant achievement of the quinquennium nificant issues as the church in the Personal ministries activities was the convening of the IRLA Pacific South Pacific moves toward 2000 and included the development of the Region Congress on Religious to the completion of the task committed Pacific version of the Friendship Freedom in Suva, Fiji. More than 180 to it by the Lord. And we move forward Evangelism Manual with translations delegates attended the three-day together into the future and toward the into the Fijian, Samoan, Cook Island congress. coming of Jesus. ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 2, 1995 (751) 23 PROCEEDINGS

for that powerful message. We want to say to all of you how exciting it is to see this great First Business Meeting family together. Fifty-sixth General Conference session, June 29, 1995, 3:00 p.m. Welcome, fellow delegates, to the fifty- sixth session of the General Conference of JAN PAULSEN: It is my very special priv- general. As we begin this fifty-sixth session of Seventh-day Adventists in Utrecht, the ilege to welcome all of you. Welcome to the General Conference, we are honored to Netherlands. I'd like to give a special welcome Europe, to the countries of the Trans- have in our midst a distinguished public ser- to our members of the Eastern European coun- European Division, to Holland and Utrecht in vant and representative of the city of Utrecht, tries who are attending a General Conference particular. Some of you have come from the Honorable I. W. Opstelten, the mayor of session for the first time. countries very, very far from this place. Some Utrecht. Mr. Opstelten served for a number of At the beginning of this century we had of you encountered difficulties in making the years as the mayor of several Dutch munici- only 66,547 Adventists in the whole world. journey; you had problems obtaining visas, palities. For the past five years he has served Today we have a membership of more than and this added to your anxiety and your stress, here, but he's also served in the Ministry of 8.5 million. Every 52 seconds a new and for that we are sorry. Interior. It is a great pleasure and honor to Adventist Christian is born in Jesus Christ. I want to use this opportunity to thank the present to you the Honorable I. W. Opstelten, Our ratio today is one Adventist for every ministries and government officials who have mayor of Utrecht. 669 inhabitants. Imagine in 1900 how it was. been extremely helpful during the past few I. W. OPSTELTEN: On behalf of the One for every 24,341. What a difference! days and weeks to try to make sure that all our inhabitants of this city, I would like to wel- There were 1,892 churches in 1900. But just people had the necessary travel documents to come you to Utrecht. We are very honored in the past five years, through the program of come to attend this session. They have been that you have chosen our city for your fifty- Global Mission, there were 8,105 new congre- very, very helpful. I also want to thank our sixth world session. You have come here in gations added to this church. church in the Netherlands for the enormous such large numbers to reaffirm religious val- We came here from all corners of the earth, amount of work they have given to ensure that ues, report on church growth, choose new reli- united in Christ. And I pray that through the our gathering here would be successful. gious leaders, make plans for the coming five grace of God we will leave the Netherlands By coming to Europe, many of you are years, promote a worldwide missionary pro- more united than ever in Christ Jesus. G. Ralph returning to a part of the world from which gram, and be with other members of your uni- Thompson, secretary of the General you or your forebears once came. versal church. Conference, will give the official call. The Netherlands is a very open country. The You have come to a city in which religious The General Conference Constitution, people are very friendly and warm, and we are experience has played a central role through- Article IV, Section 1, reads as follows: "The confident that these 10 days that we will have out the centuries. From here Christian laws General Conference shall hold quinquennial together will be enriched in the national fellow- and values were disseminated far beyond our sessions at such time and place as the ship in which the worldwideness of our family borders. In 1973 the meeting of the Central Executive Committee shall designate and can be experienced and that the Lord will be in Committee of the World Council of Churches announce by a notice published in the our midst and bless us. was held here. Utrecht also played an impor- Adventist Review in three consecutive issues RUTH D. CORTEZ: [Read the Scripture tant role in the establishment of the World at least four months before the date for the reading in Spanish.] Council. The many medieval churches in our opening of the session." Elder Thompson MALCOLM D. GORDON: [Announced old city center are a daily reminder of a flour- reported that the official call was published the opening song, "We Have This Hope."] ishing religious life in former days. The Dom January 26, February 2, and February 9, 1995, LALCHANSANGA COLNEY: [Opening Tower, dating from 1382, the highest steeple in the Adventist Review. prayer.] Our kind and loving heavenly Father, in the Netherlands, dominates the city silhou- Article IV, Section 7(a), of the constitution we are so grateful to Thee for bringing us ette, and can be seen as a symbol of ecclesias- provides that all members of the General together in this place from all over the world. tic life through the centuries. The city Conference Executive Committee shall be With our hearts filled with joy and gratitude nourishes the idea of thinking and working delegates-at-large to this session. The present we come to Thee as our Father. We pray Thee together to achieve a world in which tolerance membership of the General Conference that Thou will bless each one of us as we con- of and respect for others reign supreme. This Committee is 353. Of this number, 274 are tinue to worship Thee. We thank Thee also for year we commemorated our liberation 50 present at this time. Article IV, Sections 5 and the goodness and the kindness of this great years ago from a period of repression and a 6, provide for the appointment of regular dele- country for hosting us and allowing us to have form of society in which these values were gates by union conferences, divisions, and the this peaceful time throughout this gathering. trampled on. General Conference. These delegates have Be with the leaders of this nation. We also Utrecht wants to help you feel welcome been duly appointed in harmony with the con- pray that as we continue our meetings, Thy during the coming days. Utrecht wants to con- stitution. A total of 1,004 delegates have been Spirit will be poured out• upon each one of us, tribute all it can to ensure that the session accredited by their respective organizations. In so that this meeting will be not just a business meets your expectations. Utrecht is pleased to all, 1,278 are present at this time. meeting, but a meeting wherein Thy Spirit offer you every hospitality. On behalf of all This is the basic group of delegates provided will come upon God's people. In Jesus' name the inhabitants of my city, I wish you a suc- by the constitution to initiate the work of the we pray. Amen. cessful conference. session. We present this delegation to you at B. B. BEACH: We are in the city of BENJAMIN REAVES: [Gave the opening this the first meeting of the fifty-sixth session Utrecht, one of the great historical centers, not devotional, which is found on page 15.] of the General Conference of Seventh-day only of the Netherlands but also of Europe in LEO RANZOLIN: Thank you, Dr. Reaves, Adventists.

24 (752) ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 2, 1995

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LEO RANZOLIN: We hereby declare that Vondenhoff.] onded, and voted.] this group of delegates present is now actually We now have a number of unions to be We recommend the assignment of the terri- empowered to act on behalf of the General received into the sisterhood of unions. tories of the Middle East Union Mission that Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Lowell Cooper, associate secretary of the comprise the Iran Field, Turkey Section, and G. RALPH THOMPSON: Article IV, General Conference, will bring the recom- the unentered country of Libya to the Euro- Section 7(b), provides that four delegates-at- mendations. Africa Division, effective July 1, 1995. large shall be appointed from each division, LOWELL COOPER: The first recommen- [Motion was made, seconded, and voted.] without regard to membership, and one addi- dation is to recognize and record the reorgani- MARIO VELOSO: We recommend that we tional delegate for each 100,000, or major frac- zation of the former Zaire Union Mission into recognize and record the reorganization of the tion thereof, of the division membership. These two new union missions, known as the East former Russian Union Conference into two delegates by constitutional provision are to be Zaire Union Mission and the West Zaire Union new unions, known as the East Russian Union appointed by the division committees, and their Mission, effective January 11, 1995, and Mission and the West Russian Union credentials ratified by the General Conference January 4, 1995, respectively. Conference, effective July 13, 1994. [Motion in session. The divisions have appointed a total Also we recommend that we accept the East was made, seconded, and voted.] of 122 delegates under this provision. Zaire Union Mission and the West Zaire Union We also recommend that we recognize and There is one further group of delegates pres- Mission into the world sisterhood of unions. record the reorganization of the former ent. Article IV, Section 7(c), provides for the [The motion was made, seconded, and voted.] Antillian Union Conference into two new appointment of delegates representing the It is recommended to recognize the reorga- unions, known as the Dominican Union General Conference and division institutions nization of the former East German Union Mission and the Puerto Rican Union and other agencies, general workers, field sec- Conference and the former West German Conference, effective January 15, 1994. retaries, laypersons, pastors, and other interests Union Conference into one new union confer- [Motion was made, seconded, and voted.] of the church. The constitution provides that ence known as the North German Union We also recommend that we recognize and the number of delegates thus seated shall not Conference, effective April 24, 1992. [The record that the former Colombian Union exceed 20 percent of the total number of both motion was made, seconded, and voted.] Mission has been granted union conference sta- regular delegates and delegates-at-large other- It is recommended to approve the transfer of tus by the General Conference Executive wise provided for. the unentered territory of Afghanistan from the Committee and is now known as the The number of delegates otherwise provided Pakistan Union Section of the Trans-European Colombian Union Conference of Seventh-day for in harmony with the constitution is 2,219, Division to the Euro-Africa Division. [The Adventists, effective January 11, 1992. and the maximum number of delegates that can motion was made, seconded, and voted.] [Motion was made, seconded, and voted.] be appointed under this 20 percent provision is G. RALPH THOMPSON: M. T. Battle, asso- We recommend that we recognize and therefore 444. We bring you the recommenda- ciate secretary for the General Conference, will record the reorganization of the former Inca tion of the General Conference Committee that bring a recommendation to us. Union Mission into two new unions known as these delegates be seated under this constitu- M. T. BATTLE: We recommend the trans- the Bolivian Union Mission and Peruvian tional provision and report to you that of this fer of the Baltic Union, with its territory of Union Mission, effective January 1, 1996. number, 243 are present at this time. At this Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, from the Euro- [Motion was made, seconded, and voted.] time there is a grand total of 1,609 delegates in Asia Division to the Trans-European Division, G. RALPH THOMPSON: We now consider attendance at this fifty-sixth General effective January 1, 1994. [The motion was the Southern Africa Union Conference. Athal Conference session. [The motion to ratify these made, seconded, and voted.] Tolhurst, undersecretary, will bring the recom- delegates' credentials was made, seconded, and The recommendation is to recognize and mendation to us. voted.] record the reorganization of the former West A. H. TOLHURST: The year 1991 was his- The next item on the agenda is for us to vote Nordic Union Conference into two entities toric in South Africa because in that year God's the daily program. [The motion to approve the known as the Norwegian Union Conference, people, who had been separated on racial lines daily program was made, seconded, and voted.] composed of the country of Norway and com- in South Africa for many years, came together The next item of business is to approve the prising the East Norway, North Norway, and in fellowship and unity and merged two unions agenda. [The motion to approve the agenda West Norway conferences, and the Danish into one. Our recommendation is that we rec- was made, seconded, and voted.] Union of Churches, composed of Denmark, ognize and record the reorganization of the for- The next item of business is the election of Greenland, and the Faroe Islands, effective mer South African Union Conference and the the standing committees. [The motion to October 1, 1992. [The motion was made, sec- former Southern Union Mission into one new approve the standing committees was made, onded, and voted.] union conference known as the Southern Africa seconded, and voted.] G. RALPH THOMPSON: A very important Union Conference, effective December 10, At the conclusion of this session, the divi- recommendation concerning the Middle East 1991. [Motion was made, seconded, and sions will be meeting to nominate their quota Union Mission reorganization and transfer will voted.] of the Nominating Committee. be made by M. T. Battle. G. RALPH THOMPSON: We now ask the G. RALPH THOMPSON: It would be M. T. BATTLE: The recommendation is as various organizations to go to their respective appropriate for us to stand for a few moments follows: That the territories of the Middle East places for caucusing. of silence in memory of fallen warriors of the Union Mission that comprise the Cyprus G. RALPH THOMPSON: [Benediction.] cross and to their families. I would like to pro- Section, East Mediterranean Field, Egypt Field, LEO RANZOLIN, Chair pose that we do so and remain standing until Gulf Section, Iraq Field, and Sudan Field be G. RALPH THOMPSON, Secretary the call of the chair. [After a few moments of transferred to the Trans-European Division, D. A. ROTH and L. R. COLBURN, silence, "Taps" was played by Marc effective July 1, 1995. [Motion was made, sec- Proceedings Editors

26 (754) ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 2, 1995 PROCEEDINGS

1,000 people, including at least 800 Jews and Five years ago in Indianapolis I stood before First Business many downed Allied pilots. you as your newly elected General Conference Throughout his life John Weidner lived a president in a state of shock. A thousand ques- Meeting life of service for others, and during the war he tions raced through my mind. At the theologi- Continued not only helped survivors escape almost certain cal seminary, I had neglected to take the course death, but also carried important messages for on how to be president. Fifty-sixth General Conference session, his own church and for other Christian bodies. Today I stand before you not so much in a June 29, 1995, 7..00 p.m. He would be meeting with us here today had he state of shock as with a heart filled with thanks- not passed away in May of last year. giving. I am thankful for the hundreds of thou- HARRY MAYDEN: [Directed the song Through the years numerous grateful gov- sands of lay members I have met. And in fact I service.] ernments and many Jewish organizations have have seen your faces and I have shared your [HAY MON WONG prayed in Chinese; showered honors and medals on him. The hospitality in the 100 plus countries Anita and I VINCENZO MAZZA prayed in Italian; and Seventh-day Adventist Church at this session have visited in every division of the world SVEIN JOHANSEN prayed in English.] honors the memory of John Weidner as we church. HARRY MAYDEN: [Announced special pause for a moment of silence, thanking God I am also thankful for the thousands of pas- music: vocal soloist Wintley Phipps, "He Is for John Weidner's life and his willingness to tors and elected leaders whom I have met in the Coming Again."] risk his own life repeatedly in order to save past five years. These are men and women who B. B. BEACH: [Introduced Johnkeer Pieter other lives. have dedicated themselves to a host of min- Baelaerts Van Bloklands, the queen's commis- ANTOINE OCULI: [Made a call for an istries in local congregations and conferences sioner for the province of Utrecht.] The city in offering.] and missions and union conferences and mis- which you are meeting, Utrecht, is an educa- HARRY MAYDEN: [Announced the sions. tional center, and we have many universities theme song of the session, "We Have This So we meet here in Utrecht for this session and institutes of science in the province of Hope."] of the General Conference. We come as more Utrecht, which is in the heart of the ROBERT S. FOLKENBERG: Before I pre- than 2,600 delegates. We have no king. We Netherlands. When you have seen the province sent my report of the past five years, I would have no small group of men who rule over us. of Utrecht, you have seen the Netherlands. like to share a few words from my heart. Here We come as representatives of nearly 9 million Utrecht is also the railway center in the we are g4ered in the beautiful and historic members. With the blessings of God's Spirit, Netherlands. city of Utrecht in the Netherlands. We repre- assembled together and working in unity, we I admire what you do with the Adventist sent a large, wonderful, and growing family in (all the delegates—not a handful of leaders) Development and Relief Agency. What you do more than 200 nations. We have come together have full measure and authority to plan for the is give people water, health care, and educa- from the ends of the earth. It makes me want to prosperity and advancement of His work. I tion. I am the president of the UNICEF in the sing the song "What a Fellowship, What a Joy pledge to you tonight that this session will be Netherlands, and I know what it means to work Divine." Thousands have come from countries open and fair. in our so-called cultivated, civilized world. of Eastern Europe that only a few years ago did [The report of the General Conference presi- There is still a lot to do in the world. not enjoy the freedom to travel to a General dent can be found in Bulletin #1. His live report My suggestion to you is this: Be alive, be on Conference session, and I welcome you espe- included a interview by satellite from the watch, and be firm in your faith. This week cially, dear friends. [Applause.] Cambodia with ADRA missionaries Tim and you are looking forward to meeting with thou- I am sure that you have feelings of excite- Wendy Maddocks.] sands and thousands of people here in Utrecht. ment and expectation. So have I. I believe the LEO RANZOLIN: What an exciting climax You have also come to fmd the Lord, and to try Lord will do great things among us dining the for the first business meeting of the fifty-sixth to find the truth and to translate it. The most next 10 days. I am looking and waiting to see session of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. difficult job we have is to translate what we His mighty hand manifested here in our midst. As I was listening to this report, I thought of know. I think, fellow believers in all the world, I expect that some of you also have feelings our pioneers. What would they think if they that we have to stand firm for truth. May peace of apprehension. We have weighty items to had the opportunity to be here tonight. Thank be with all of you regardless of whether you are consider at this session. The agenda is unusu- you, Elder Folkenberg, for this report. Black, or White, or Brown. We need peace ally heavy. Some people have bombarded dele- Remember that today is a worldwide day of together for the world, for our children. gates with all kinds of material. I have been prayer, and as you go home, join our brothers B. B. BEACH: We thank the queen's com- saddened and troubled because some of these and sisters in many parts of the world who are missioner for his very kind and generous and appeals have made strong accusations about the praying for this session. We do have a couple very challenging message he has given to us agenda. business items this evening. this evening. We have prepared long and hard for this ses- G. RALPH THOMPSON: From the Inter- While the commissioner is in our midst, our sion. The recommendations have been care- American Division there are two names that world president has authorized me to say a few fully worked out, processed through will replace, under the 20 percent provision, a words regarding John Henry Weidner, a distin- appropriate committees, and we welcome full couple others who apparently did not arrive. I guished Seventh-day Adventist who was a discussion. would like to recommend that the names of Dutch citizen. He was proud to be a Dutch citi- Above all, remember that this is your Ada M. Barrientos and Cornelio Corrales be zen. He was a friend of mine for 60 years. He church. We want you to make the decisions in accepted and seated as delegates under the 20 was a great Dutch citizen who organized the an atmosphere of free and open discussion. Let percent provision assigned to the Inter- Dutch Underground during World War II and me repeat, this is your church, not a church of American Division. [It was moved, seconded, was responsible for saving the lives of some just administrators. and voted.] [The official record for the General

ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 2,1995 (755) 27 PROCEEDINGS

Conference session delegates is found in the tunity to acknowledge the General Conference stood as easily as possible. J. E. Powers, audi- minutes as recorded by the Secretariat.] treasury staff. [Elder Gilbert introduced D. E. tor of Maner, Costerisan, & Ellis, will intro- The various divisions have met, and they Robinson, R. E. Osborn, K. H. Bahr, R. R. duce the auditor's financial statement at this have made their recommendations. I move that Rick, and F. M. Ytreberg.] [The full text of time_ these names comprise the Nominating the treasurer's report appears in Bulletin 2. A J. E. POWERS: I appreciate the opportu- Committee for this session. [Motion was made, motion to accept the report was moved, sec- nity to present the auditor's report to the dele- seconded, and voted.] onded, and voted.] gates of the fifty-sixth General Conference ROBERT PECK: [Benediction.] D. F. GILBERT: A couple items I want session. As a member of the Seventh-day LEO RANZOLIN, Chair you to recognize concerning the audited finan- Adventist Church, I consider it a great privi- G. RALPH THOMPSON, Secretary cial statement: It is in U.S. dollars, and it is in lege to be able to serve the church and to D. A. ROTH and L. R. COLBURN, a very abbreviated form so it can be under- attend this session. Maner, Costerisan, & Ellis Proceedings Editor., Second Business Meeting Fifty-sixth General Conference session, June 30, 1995, 8:30 a. m.

TAWFIC MADANAT: [Opening prayer.] Gen a.n W. G. JOHNSSON: For 120 years the Gencon record of General Conference sessions has been preserved in the daily bulletins of the Risk Ma Adventist Review. A bulletin will be pre- sented free to delegates later this morning. For the first time in the history of the church we are preparing this bulletin totally on site here in Utrecht. Elder Folkenberg, it is with great pleasure that I present to you Bulletin 1. [The first daily Bulletin was received by Adve, tist Ris Robert S. Folkenberg.] 12501 0 is Pike, Sil C. B. ROCK: We will begin our session this morning with reports by the General Conference secretary and General Conference treasurer. The auditor's report will follow. But first we have an item of business from our General Conference secretary. Howtogetthe IL Check the type of subscription you prefer. G. RALPH THOMPSON: We now have LI 40 weekly issues, U.S. only, US$38.97 the recommended list of the members of the CI 12 NAD monthly issues, U.S., US$12.OQ* ADVENTIST Li 52 issues (combines first two editiori), US$50.97* session Nominating Committee. I move that LI 40 weekly issues, overseas, US$46.76 we record these names as comprising the ses- ❑ 12 NM) monthly issues. overseas, US$22.20 sion Nominating Committee. [Motion was REVIEW Li 52 issues overseas, US$61.17 LI 52 issues overseas, airmailed once a month, US$112.00 seconded and voted.] 'The .VAD molt)* edify," rifler in mast local conferences' inNorth America I am pleased to present the report of the Follow these Secretariat of the General Conference. I have four simple steps k Check the payment methoiyou prefer. the privilege of working with a great group in to get the Li Check or money order enclosed. Secretariat. [Elder Thompson then introduced CiVisa/Masteirard Exp.Date ADVENTIST REVIEW, No. members of the Secretariat staff: A. H. and we'll keep you Tolhurst, H. W. Baptiste, M. T. Battle, L. R. I Fill in the blanks. Colburn, L. C. Cooper, and Mario Veloso.] I in touch with the Name want to thank and acknowledge all of the events in our Secretariat staff. Now to our report. [The full growing world Address text of the secretary's report appears on pages church. ayistwizip 9-11 in Bulletin 2. A motion to accept the report was moved, seconded, and voted.] Country C. B. ROCK: We will now receive the Prices in effect until December 31, 1995. L Mail to your local Adventist Book Center, or: treasurer's report 580-01-0 subsaihersenkes, PO. Roy 1119. I lagerstown. D. F. GILBERT: I want to take this oppor-

28 (756) ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 2, 1995 Vision for the future. Value for life.

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ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 2, 1995 (757) 29 PROCEEDINGS

is an independent certified public accounting field there has been a significant increase in this project—I'm going to give to that." The firm headquartered in Lansing, Michigan, in the the change of missions and fields to confer- strategy is to continue to develop a program United States. I am not an employee of the ences that have become self-supporting. for increasing nontithe, unrestricted sources General Conference, but we work very closely KENNETH WATSON: I have two ques- of income for the world church in the future. with the General Conference Auditing Service tions for Elder Gilbert. I am truly grateful for And to help you know how to control your in conducting the audit from which we express the Lord's blessing and guiding our financial own area, we of course would work with the our opinion. [Mr. Powers then gave the audi- management, but I would like to know what division in connection with that. tor's statement, which was accepted.] strategic plan the General Conference Treasury RUTH CORTES: I am a representative of ROLAND NICKEL: How does the weak has designed to cope with the challenges of the the lay members in Bolivia, and we lay mem- dollar affect the church finances, and how do future. As you have mentioned correctly, the bers are very much concerned about the way you deal with the weak dollar and with the specific purpose donations are increasing and moneys are being handled. We would like to exchange currencies? therefore, in my opinion, could limit future see a clear system of control so that all han- D. F. GILBERT: The weak dollar affects freedom for the general management of the dling of money could be clearly checked. For the finances in a very significant manner. Executive Committee. How do you plan to han- us to have more confidence, it is necessary When the dollar is weak, the amount of dollars dle this challenge? The second question is that I that we receive more information about the that are exchanged from currencies outside the as a member of the executive committee in the way money is handled. United States increase. In other words, a weak Netherlands Union have noticed that in the past D. F. GILBERT: I fully agree with this del- dollar means that local currency will buy more the General Conference has had to reduce egate. She is absolutely accurate. It is our weak dollars for funds that transfer to the appropriations to the division immediately, encouragement and support that we provide General Conference. This is a problem that is which has affected union activities. Is it possi- regular fmancial information to the appropriate hard to control. ble to outline a more elaborate strategy? How committees, to the constituencies, and to the CLAUDE LOMBART: The word "self- we can manage our union effectively? members. An informed constituency can feel support" has been mentioned on several occa- D. F. GILBERT: In the tithe area we have comfortable and can also make better deci- sions. I understand this is a General not had a reduction, and this is the largest sin- sions, and we fully agree that the absolute Conference policy, and I also understand that gle source of resources for the General integrity of those of us who handle the at the Annual Council in Bangalore, India, Conference. But in the nontithe area, which is resources of the church must be maintained. there was a powerful statement that was made available for mission development and for C. B. ROCK: With that we'll complete the in that direction. My question is Are we nontithe purposes, we have struggled at the motion. [Motion to accept the report was implementing it, and if so, can we have a General Conference. When it comes to con- made, seconded, and voted.] report of how we are doing in terms of its tinued management and operations, as you IVY PETERSEN: [Benediction.] implementation around the world field? have referenced, this makes it very difficult, C. B. ROCK, Chair D. F. GILBERT: It is being implemented. and most donors do not really know what the MARIO VELOSO, Secretary The best report you can receive on the activi- needs in the world field are. The distribution D. A. ROTH and L. R. COLBURN, ties of self-support will be given in each divi- and management is much better done by the Proceedings Editors sion. I will tell you that throughout the world church than by individuals who say "I like Third Business Meeting The Cry Heard Fifty-sixth General Conference session, 'Round the World June 30, 1995, 12..00 p.m. C. B. ROCK: Dr. Reaves is chair of the Hear, see, and experience the agony Nominating Committee and will present the and ecstasy of our movement's fore- secretary of the committee, who has a report of William Millet runners in The Midnight Crg, a new the committee. knd the Entl ot the World video documentary on the life and times BENJAMIN REAVES: The Nom-inating of William Miller. Stunning visuals and Committee met this morning in full awareness well-researched narrative combine to of the solemn and weighty responsibility that provide a captivating picture of what it rested upon them. After careful deliberation was like for the people who urged a and prayer the Nominating Committee now nation to prepare for the end. presents its first report. That report will be pre- This is a viewing experience that sented by the secretary of the Nominating every Adventist will treasure. VHS, 2 Committee, Dr. Lyn Behrens. hours. US$29.95/Cdn$46.15. DR. B. LYN BEHRENS: The Nominating Committee recommends to this body for the Available now at your Adventist position of president of the General Conference Book Center, or call toll free 1-800-765-6955. EP) the name of Robert S. Folkenberg. I move that ©1994 Pacific Press Publishing Association #733/9833 his name be presented for a vote. [The motion

30 (758) ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 2, 1995 PROCEEDINGS

was seconded and voted.] out and grasp the incredibly complex and the kingdom, and it will be entirely for God's C. B. ROCK: I'm pleased to present to you diverse pressures that tend to fragment. glory. I thank you for the privilege of service. the president of the coming quinquennium, This is truly God's church, and it can be led It's wonderful to be a part of this family. It's Elder Robert S. Folkenberg. [Applause.] successfully only by our Lord Jesus Christ. All wonderful to serve. Thank you. [Applause.] ROBERT S. FOLKENBERG: As I men- I can do is confess that I don't have infallibil- JOYCE MAPIGANO: [Benediction in tioned last night, five years ago I stood here in ity, and pledge that these feet of clay will walk Swahili.] C. B. ROCK, Chair a state of shock. Today I stand here with an that best if they can work with a group of wise, MARIO VELOSO, Secretary even more profound sense of humility. The dedicated leaders. D. A. ROTH and L. R. COLBURN, reason is that during these past five years, I I simply pledge, under God's grace and with Proceedings Editors learned that nobody is smart enough to lead prayerful communion with Him, to do the best I this church. Nobody is wise enough to reach know how. Success will come when we reach Nominating Committee Report-1 A MATTER OF COMMITMENT Voted, To approve the following partial report of the Nominating Committee: The Church of Tomorrow is dependent upon the education we provide children today. Not all families GENERAL CONFERENCE have access to Seventh-day Adventist church schools. For some it is a matter of money, for others it is a President: matter of commitment. Robert S. Folkenberg Home Study International is not a competitor to traditional schools, but a vehicle by which more families can be encouraged to provide Seventh—day Nominating Committee Adventist education to children. Too many of our Report-2 children are in need of Christian education and too many families are unaware of the access to HSI. Voted, To approve the following par- Thank you for your commitment to Adventist education. tial report of the Nominating Committee:

Alfred C. McClure GENERAL CONFERENCE NAD President Secretary. HOME STUDY INTERNATIONAL G. Ralph Thompson 12501 OLD COLUMBIA PIKE • SILVER SPRING, MD 20904 • 1-800-782-GROW • INTERNATIONAL: 011-301-680-6570 Treasurer: Robert L. Rawson The International- ADVENT'S 1 Adventist Musicians Association General paper of the Seventh-day Adventist Church An organization for Adventist musicians Editor William G. Johnson Associate Editor Roy Adams and those interested in Adventist music Associate Editor Myron K Widmer News Editor Carlos Medley Assistant Editor Stephen Chavez Assistant Editor Kit Watts Editorial Assistant Ella Rydzewski Administrative Secretary Chitra Barnabas Membership includes a subscription to Editorial Secretaries Mary Maxson, Jean Sequeira Art Director Bill Kirstein Bulletin Designer Bryan Gray 716to Design Assistant Ged W. Busch Ad Sales Melynie Tooley a magazine about music in the Adventist Church Subscriber Services Steve Hanson

Subscription prices: US$38.97 for 40 issues. US$50.97 for 52 issues. Membership information: US$61.17 for addresses outside North America. To place your order, send your name, address, and payment to your local IAMA Adventist Book Center or Adventist Review Subscription Desk, Box 1119, Box 476 Hagerstown, MD 21741. Prices subject to change without notice. Subscription queries and changes of address: Call toll-free 1- College Place, Washington 99324 800-456-3991 or 301-791-7000, ext. 2436.

Vol. 172, No.27.

ADVENTIST REVIEW, JULY 2, 1995 (759) 31

ewlsonWkeels provides food to area shut-ins. Students literally give of themselves to the community during oit

ssurAnce drives. Many children at schools and shelters are cheered by Purr eiM; n; s ir; es volunteers. Stuc

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.nts enjoy staying after ve5

r APierllow singing, sharing, music, readings,

.ayers. Volunteers in the Sour Kiicken feed the homeless at the Chattanooga C

unity Kitchen. Teenage boys at AgilvenilAome are eager for attention from older peers. Spreading smiles at g homes through songs and personal c t' the goal of skinel3Anals. Short term mission trips are offered

arsuchasarrisiwiwsinAno which offers refreshment hristian music after vespers. The entir ee D 4 y off from classes to assist n the local area. Col leii Ate Cow hi 4im 01c trial is held at the year's start t ncourage students ti volved in sei l . d to Oupport each c

entally and s al e oget cou isikg God's v uring visits to the Cliww.61 ;SS Siielier students spend time talking and playing with children waiting to be plac ster care. African-Americans involved in BPI w c k Ciirisiiwn Union share the gospel together through music

inistry. In addition to 25 "redo+ ckurclies, students can walk tc olle9e.441e Cliurc, participate in • KoinoniA Sabbath School/Church SOUTHERN COLLEGE impletely for and by students, or attend the COLLEGEDALE. TENNESSEE 37315 SrAnIsk—AwberscAn Cliurc CALL I -800-SOUTHERN