May 27, 2006 In this issue Update on Adventists in Iraq WAASA plans for future of outreach The hope of justice Women’s ministries directors Fua Gaia of the Sydney Samoan church, Marica Tokalau of the TPUM, Agnes Kola of the PNGUM, and Jan Greenaway of the SNZ Conference at the women’s ministry advisory held at the South Pacifi c Division headquarters. Women’s ministries examines inequality WAHROONGA, NEW SOUTH WALES omen’s ministries directors one of several dealing specifi cally with the of the South Pacifi c Division work of the Women’s Ministries Depart- (SPD) have agreed that the ment in the SPD. W issue of gender inequality and “The actions passed during our meet- low numbers of women in pastoral min- ing will make our jobs easier,” says Jan istry within the Seventh-day Adventist Greenaway, women’s ministries director church needed to be addressed during an of the South New Zealand Conference. “I GC considers advisory held at the SPD head offi ce from believe it will build awareness within the April 26 to 30. SPD and help us to function better since The vision is to encourage and enable barriers will be removed.” women to take up more active roles in Besides addressing the issue of gender church evangelistic outreach programs and the inequality in churches, plans by the wom- nurturing of the local church while con- en’s ministries leaders for the department tinuing to educate the public about the role this quinquennium included establishing structures of women in churches. The decision was (Continued on page 5) ISSN 0819-5633 2200 CCover.inddover.indd 1 115/5/065/5/06 55:41:45:41:45 PPMM editorial Many Adventists are failing to use this fl agship of church evangelism. After 120 years . ne hundred and twenty years that. And, like Noah, we have a duty to (page 131). She says the Signs of the Times is is as long as it took Noah to con- warn the world of what awaits them. an inexpensive publication even at its full struct the ark. That’s the same In its various incarnations around the price. (Currently our own Signs operates at O length of time it’s taken to build world, Signs does that systematically, just above break-even and at virtually no Signs of the Times magazine into what it is thoroughly and without bright lights and profi t, despite the huge annual investment today. And just as Noah began with a blue- whistles, quietly preaching to both the con- in it.) “The price of our papers should not print from God, so did the Signs. verted and unconverted. So why—in the be made so low that no margin is left to In 1902 Ellen White said, “The great ob- South Pacifi c and around the world—do work upon” (page 133). ject of our publications is to exalt God, to we see Signs subscription graphs trending In respect to content, she says our papers call men’s attentions to the living truths of downwards? Many Adventists are failing shouldn’t be “fi lled with long discussions His word” (Counsels to Writers and Editors, to use this fl agship of church evangelism or long doctrinal arguments.” This might page 12). She adds that we are to “call at- as a means to securing both their own and come as a surprise to some, who say Signs, tention to books dwelling on practical faith others’ salvation. with its less-than-comprehensive articles on and godliness,” specifi cally educating peo- As I write, subscriptions to Signs in Aus- doctrine and prophecy, has nothing to offer ple in the “word of prophecy.” “They need tralia and New Zealand stand as many as them. Articles should be “short and inter- to know,” she concludes, “that the signs of 4000 down on a year ago. On the other esting . and practical” (pages 132-3). the times are fulfi lling” (page 14). side of the ledger, thanks to the generosity In speaking plainly to Record readers, To this end, the church’s fi rst missionaries of visionary church members and the cor- I am probably speaking to the converted to Australia, when they began publication porate church, an additional 15,000-16,000 (subscription- and salvation-wise, I hope). of its fi rst outreach paper in Melbourne in Signs a month are going directly into homes Almost 15 years in such close association 1886, were faithful, even incorporating the through the “Go Signs, Go gospel!” project. with our papers has endeared them to me, philosophy into the name of that fi rst maga- This initiative aims to place a sample of the and each issue of Signs is like a new baby zine—Signs of the Times and Bible Echo. church in every home across the two coun- in my family. So to see a decline in the sub- When the ark was complete, it stood as tries over the coming decades. But, at the scriptions, albeit with an increase in circu- a silent witness to the words of God and present rate, given growth, it might take lation, brings sadness, for it means fewer the judgment to come. But despite its size us another 120 years to do that. of our Seventh-day Adventist fellowship and presence, it saved just seven souls. It Ellen White’s compilation Counsels to receiving it, fewer members sharing it. may be that others were converted and Writers and Editors contains a chapter de- Unlike Noah’s ark, during the past 120 died before the Flood, but for the most voted to “Periodical Circulation,” in which years many have found their way to truth part people didn’t avail themselves of this she offers timely advice. For example, she and entered the church through reading means of salvation. suggests that prices shouldn’t be lowered in Signs. Together, let’s all do what we can to Is it going that way with Signs? After 120 order to gain subscriptions. She says people, add to that number. years, is it likewise being ignored? including the ministry, rather than driving I admit the comparison is a stretch, but a hard bargain in order to get more for less, the Bible is quite clear that the times will should “seek to bring the minds of the peo- Lee Dunstan be similar, and Adventists haven’t missed ple to see the true value of the publications” Managing editor, Signs of the Times Offi cial Paper of the South Editor Nathan Brown Mail: Signs Publishing Company Pacifi c Division Seventh-day Senior assistant editor David Edgren 3485 Warburton Highway Adventist Church Editorial assistant Adele Nash Warburton, Vic 3799, Australia ABN 59 093 117 689 Editorial assistant Scott Wegener Phone: (03) 5966 9111 Fax: (03) 5966 9019 www.adventist.org.au Copyeditor Graeme Brown Email Letters: [email protected] Editorial secretary Meryl McDonald-Gough Email Newsfront: [email protected] Vol 111 No 20 Layout Nathan Chee Email Noticeboard: [email protected] Cover: Melody Tan Senior consulting editor Barry Oliver Subscriptions: South Pacifi c Division mailed within Australia and to New Zealand, $A43.80 $NZ73.00. www.record.net.au Other prices on application. Printed weekly. 2 May 27, 2006 2200 EEditorial.inddditorial.indd Sec1:2Sec1:2 115/5/065/5/06 55:42:09:42:09 PPMM news General Conference commission begins deliberations on church structures SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND, USA ing the church’s two most prominent values nia, on April 10, four presentations were of mission and unity. considered as a background for the future lobal unity of the church, its mis- Referring to the structures of the church, deliberations. sion and the best use of resources which “have served us well for a century,” The presentations, together with the ra- to achieve that mission were identi- Pastor Paulsen said these structures were tionale and reasons for the commission’s Gfi ed as three “big issues” to be con- set up “when our world membership was task, brought together a theological under- sidered by the Commission on Ministries, at 75,000 and were scattered thinly inter- standing of the church and its organisation, Services and Structures, established by the nationally, and we were vastly dependent the history of the church’s organisation and Seventh-day Adventist Church’s leadership on resources and ideas coming from the principles upon which it developed, and in October 2005. Western developed world. Is this adequate options for possible reconfi guration of de- Explaining the rationale for the com- for us to go into the 21st century with 25 partmental services that are focused on the mission’s appointment, Pastor Jan Paulsen, million or 50 million members?” ministry of the local church. General Conference (GC) president, said Though referring primarily to organi- In its fi rst action, the commission decided these three “big concerns will drive the sational structures, Paulsen recognised to focus on two topics for its deliberation commission’s considerations.” this issue affects ministries, departments and presentation at the next meeting in Pastor Paulsen, who is also chair of the and services of the worldwide church as October, prior to the GC’s Annual Council, commission, added, “Whatever comes out they fl ow from the organisational set-up namely, the concept of fl exibility in denomi- of the work of this commission, it would of the church. national structure—what are its boundaries probably be good to see it as a chapter in Among the issues for the commission’s and how could it operate, and; the place of the book of our church—a book that will consideration, Pastor Paulsen identifi ed “Unions of Churches” in denominational not be completed until the journey is over, an increased need for better, reciprocal structures.