Canadian Union MESSENGER
Volume XL, No. 12 Oshawa, Ontario June 15, 1971
J. W. Bothe Re-elected To Presidency of the Canadian Union
Elder J. W. Bothe was re-elected to the presidency of the Also re-elected was Elder Carl Klam, secretary-treasurer. Canadian Union at the Ninth Quadrennial Session of the Ca- The officers and departmental leaders, as recommended by the nadian Union Conference held May 17-22, 1971 in Calgary, nominating committee, and elected by the delegates to the Alberta. union session, were as follows:
President J. W. Bothe Lay Activities, SS, Radio-TV, PR W. E. Kuester Secretary-Treasurer Carl Klam Health Dr. Hervey Gimbel Assistant Treasurer Mrs. Evelyn Bowles Ministerial G. E. Knowles Auditor L. D. Dunn Public Affairs D. L. Michael Association of Self-supporting Institutions J. W. Bothe Publishing 0. A. Botimer Education P. W. Manuel YPMV and Temperance R. J. E. Hillock
The following were named as members of the Canadian Union Executive Committee: J. W. Bothe, Chairman R. J. E. Hillock P. Moores Carl Klam, Secretary A. N. How E. Parchment Fred L. Bell Mrs. A. K. Jacobson W. G. Soloniuk L. F. Bohner A. W. Kaytor J. W. Wilson 0. A. Botimer G. E. Knowles Quebec Association president P. Burima W. E. Kuester Canadian Union College president W. Farag P. W. Manuel Kingsway College President H. W. Gimbel, M.D. R. A. Matthews North York Branson Hospital adminis- K. Hill D. L. Michael trator
The 131 delegates at large and regular delegates from the vision; L. L. Bock, associate secretary of the General Confer- General Conference, Union Conference, local Conferences, ence; N. R. Dower, secretary of the General Conference Min- publishing house, hospitals and nursing homes, and Andrews isterial Association; and G. E. Knowles, secretary of the Ca- University, as well as other ministers and laymen, attended nadian Union Ministerial Department. Following a full day of business, reports, committees, and the session which wan held in the Calgary Church, except for discussions, each day was climaxed with a powerful sermon, the Sabbath services, which were held in the Jubilee Auditorium. with the following speakers: Elder R. H. Pierson, president of Registration took place Monday afternoon and evening, with the General Conference; N. C. Wilson, N. R. Dower, and Dr. the business of the session occupying the first two days. On Raoul Dederen, professor of the Department of Theology of Wednesday noon the Ministerial Council began, with the cli- Andrews University. maxing sermon Sabbath afternoon. In separate sessions for the ladies, Elder Dower and Mrs. Every morning began with a devotional period. Speakers in- Lillian Logan shared ways for pastors' wives to help and en- cluded N. C. Wilson, president of the North American Di- courage their husbands in their ministry to the church. Day By Day Reports of the Session Monday Night and Tuesday
By THEDA KUESTER
Monday Night . .
Theda Kuester, Reporter and Co-ordinator of Session Reports
This was the beginning of the culmination of months of As the sun sank lower in the western sky, the sound of anticipation and work on the part of many who had been help- music drew us to the sanctuary for the opening meeting. ing to lay plans and prepare for this important event in the After beseeching God's blessing in prayer, greetings were Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada! extended to the assembled workers and laymen by Elder J. W. By early afternoon they had begun to arrive and congregate Bathe on behalf of the Canadian Union; by Elder A. W. Kaytor in the Calgary Church — ministers and their wives from all on behalf of the Alberta Conference; and by Elder D. D. seven conferences of Canada, two colleges, two hospitals, Devnich, on behalf of the Calgary Church. nursing homes, publishing house. Friends were meeting friends Elder Carl Klam then officially called the union session to whom they may not have seen since the last session, with joyous order, and Elder Bothe declared the meeting open for business. remembrances and reminiscences. The seating of delegates was the first item of business. "Aren't they cute!" Miniature cowboy hats, gay with a The reports which followed by the Canadian Union presi- ribbon and name plates, were pinned on each person as he dent, the treasurer, and the departmental leaders outlined four stopped at the registration table, presided over by Mrs. Evelyn years of advance in the work of the Lord in Canada. Details Bowles, chairlady of the Registration Committee, assisted by of these reports are printed in full in the special May 3 Quad- Mrs. 0. A. Botimer, Mrs. K. C. Davis, and Mrs. D. L. Michael. rennial Report MESSENGER. Newcomers to Calgary learned that the cowboy hat is symbolic Visual aids by the various departments added to the com- of this "Stampede City" of the west! prehension of these reports. The Publishing Department used Each delegate was given a warm welcome, and a packet large banners, showing the sales and deliveries during the four- containing the special MESSENGER of session reports, an agenda, yeai period. From the windows and door of a large paper a map of the city, and other helpful materials church front, posters burst forth giving facts concerning the And the Calgary Church was ready for the business at hand! education and activities of the MV and Temperance Depart- The MV-library room was supplied for secretarial work with ments. And circles and graphs mysteriously appearing from typewriter, stationery, and mimeograph paper, with the mimeo- previously blank poster boards depicted the expanding work of graphing done in another room of the church. laymen and faithful Sabbath School members across the Do- Below was the press room where electric typewriters, special minion. news release paper, and other necessary supplies provided local The large committee was appointed to elect the nominating and back-home newspapers, as well as wire services, with coyer- committee, as well as other committees necessary to the opera- age of session activities. tion of the session, and those not already deep in committees Passing through the foyer of the church, one entered the large were dismissed to go to their rooms for the night. room linking the church with the recreation building, and here The words of God to Israel of old applied to the reports the familiar and welcome Loma Linda dispenser, furnishing which had been presented at this opening meeting of Canada's refreshing drinks of boysenberry juice by courtesy of the food Ninth Quadrennial Session, "Speak unto the children of Israel company was found to be a popular spot! that they go forward!"
Mrs. Evelyn Bowles, chairlady of the Registra- Among those who wished Elder J. W. Bothe tion Committee, pins one of the miniature Cal- well upon his re-election to the presidency of gary hats, with identification card, on Elder the Canadian Union, was Elder R. H. Pierson, Heimo Heghesan. president of the General Conference of Seventh- Elder N. R. Dower gave the climaxing sermon day Adventists. of the session. Elder Bothe is in the background.
210 CANADIAN UNION MESSENGER
Session Reports (Continued) Tuesday — First Full Day . . . Tuesday — first complete day of the session! Elder Bothe was re-elected as his able assistant, in the role of secretary- served as chairman of the platform during the devotional, when treasurer. Elder N. R. Dower, secretary of the General Conference Min- After a full day of business, it was refreshing to gather in isterial Department, was the speaker. It was clear that even the evening and listen to Elder R. H. Pierson, president of the though the nominations, electicns, and reports are an important, General Conference. He declared that we are now entering the and often exhausting, part of this gathering together of workers greatest period of the church. He appealed to each not only and laymen, these should not supersede the main objective of to be, but to help prepare men truly fitted for heaven; that we the meetings; that of EVANGELISM in the churches and are not interested in quantity as much as quality; that we as communities of Canada. a denomination will not be remembered for beautiful hospitals From 10:00 to 12:00 a.m. session committees met in the and schools as much as for men and women who are truly like various rooms of the church. Many of the delegates were as- Christ. He declared that while we are moving ahead as a de- signed to these committees; the nominating committee, under nomination, we sometimes have to learn to stand still; that the chairmanship of Elder N. C. Wilson; the plans committee, God is looking for leaders not only to move forward, but who the committee on Constitution and Bylaws, and the committee know how to build barricades and stand firm. on licenses and credentials. Five discussion groups were set "I believe in progress," he declared, "But there are times up, and those not involved with committees were assigned to when it takes greater courage to stand firm and still!" one of these groups. The discussion groups covered the follow- In his final appeal, Elder Pierson asked, "Will you build up ing topics: pastoral evangelism, health and welfare evangelism, a barricade? Will you stand for the right when others may fail youth evangelism, lay evangelism, and media evangelism. and give up? Will you stand for the right though the heavens Anticipation ran high as the first report of the nominating fall?" committee was brought to the floor. It was good news that Pondering the depth of that question, we wended our ways to Elder Bothe was re-elected as our union president, and we our places of abode, and I am sure there must have been search- were pleased for this show of confidence in his leadership ing of souls that night in the privacy of rooms, with prayers of our great union! And we were also glad that Elder Klam of self-dedication and determination before sleep came.
Wednesday . . .
Reported by GORDON SMEDLEY Pastor in British Columbia Conference
Gordon Smedley
Sunshine, cheery voices, and sacred songs provided an in- for proposed changes of the constitution of the Canadian Union. spirational prelude to the 9:00 a.m. devotional. Pastor George Considerable discussion ensued concerning the changing of E. Knowles presented, from Exodus 18:14-22, two questions, the quadrennial term to a quinquennial one. The Union Com- four conclusions, three recommendations, and three results. mittee was authorized to set 1976 as the date for the next These emphasized that the church is looking for leadership to session. say, "Come with me in soul winning." We must have a har- A further report of the nominating committee was heard in monious moving ahead of God's people to accomplish the which the various departmental leaders were re-elected, along Great Commission. with the appointment of the union executive committee. A prayer session followed in which the audience was di- Then the Corporation of the Canadian Union College con- vided into prayer partners earnestly praying that all might be vened to consider proposed changes in its constitution, having used in this evangelical task. During the intermission which to do with greater western conferences and lay participation followed, I took the liberty of touring the Sabbath School in the affairs of Canadian Union College. classroom area. Closed doors bespoke of committees in action As I entered the 2:00 p.m. service, the audience was repeat- — the wheels of the session were running according to plan ing "And I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, and purpose. saying with a loud voice . . . ." Elder N. R. Dower was ad- But one door I found open revealed a committee of un- monishing the working together of the ministry and laity, in questionable importance under the able direction of Mrs. proclaiming the judgment hour message, and thus giving Viola Mabley, these ladies were preparing the noon meal; "wings" to the three angels' message of Revelation 14. Noodle casserole was at the head of the menu, I was told. Time after time I hear the theme repeated, "Ministers and When noon came, we would all rejoice to be the recipients of laymen working together." This was the essential theme of the the actions of this committe! program that followed. First reports were presented from the As I returned to the main sanctuary, the session had re- five special study groups. Elder Arthur Spenst reported for the convened. George Egolf, secretary for the Committee on Con- Pastoral Evangelism group, emphasizing the working together stitution and Bylaws, was presenting various recommendations of the pastor and the layman. The Health Evangelism group
Vol.. 40, No. 12, JUNE 15, 1971 211 urged a co-operative effort, taking the Spirit of Prophecy state- The feast of the evening brought to full the spirit of the day ment that says that the medical ministry and the preaching as Elder Dower spoke on Jonah the man, Nineveh the city, and ministry are not to be divorced. The group studying Youth God's mission. While we wonder at such a man running from Evangelism recommended the consideration of a youth pastor God when a city was under impending doom, do we remember for conferences or regions. Lay Evangelism and Media Evan- that our cities today are under similar threat — are we running gelism each presented further possibilities for total soul-winning from our heaven-appointed task? programs. All of these avenues and recommendations were With that challenge, we were dismissed to our places of rest further discussed and summarized by a panel chaired by Pas- — but who can sleep peacefully now? tor Knowles. That was Jonah's mistake!! A Few Pictorial Glimpses of the Session . . .