General Conference 2010 - #4

What a day of church business! Let me just note some of the major points: There was a proposal to have the Associate Directors of the GC be elected at the Autumn Council by the GC Executive Committee because the lack of time to do a thorough job by the Nominating Committee here at the Session. Quite a spirited discussion! Many felt that such a move would take away the power of the 2,400 delegates and give it to a smaller group of 300. There was concern regarding the slippery slope. One delegate suggested that the Nominating Committee should begin its work 2 days prior to the Conference. As a constitutional amendment, it needed a 2/3^rd majority (approximately 1,400 votes). It got 828. This seemed to be a major defeat.

This afternoon they began to address 95 additions or deletions from the Church Manual. Two elicited significant discussion and both, on close votes, were referred back for more work. The first stated that the Church Manual “is to be followed by every church [‘organization’ – this was deleted in an amendment from the floor], congregation, and member.” The second proposed addition stated: “No Church organization or institution assumes responsibility for the liability, debts, acts or omissions of any other Church organization simply because of its Church affiliation.” The point was to avoid the higher organization being part of the “deep pocket” in a legal suit.

Other major highlights of the day included the release of the following statements: 1) On Nurture and Protection of Children; 2) Creation: The Bible’s Worldview; 3) Seventh-day Adventists speak up for ending violence against women and girls; 4) Seventh-day Adventist on freedom of Speech and “defamation” of religion; 5) Seventh-day Adventist Statement on Global Poverty. On the last one someone objected to us getting involved in social concerns! On the 3^rd one, some objected to its singling out just female. But the response was that this was intentional because of the severity of the crisis. On the Creation statement, I suspect that the right and the left will have something to take home: One paragraph states: SDA “believe that the biblical events recorded in Genesis 1-11, including the special creation of human beings, are historical and recent, that the seven days of creation were literal 24-hours forming a literal week, and that the Flood was global in nature.” Another paragraph stated: SDA “recognize that the biblical record of creation does not answer all questions that can be asked concerning origins. Our comprehension of such mysteries is limited. We anticipate that continued study of both the Bible and nature will deepen our understanding of God’s power and strengthen our faith in His Word and the creation account it contains.”

There was a special promotion and presentation of the Study Bible. And another great highlight was a speech by the United States Surgeon General, Dr. Benjamin. She received numerous applauses during her brief speech and a standing ovation at the end. I almost missed the Nominating Committee Report when I slipped out for a brief moment and bumped into many of my former students who are now pastors and leaders throughout the world. Here are new pics: http://www.wallawalla.edu/campus-life/spiritual-life/gallery/general_conference_2010. Among the nominations that were important to me were: Delbert Baker (President of Oakwood University) and Geoffery Mbwana (was President of Tanzania when I did a evangelistic meetings there some years ago) as Vice Presidens. Also our Upper Columbia Conference President, Robert Folkenberg Jr., was nominated an Associate Secretary. There were a number of civic leaders at the meeting tonight: A Chief from Nigeria, and other big officials from Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Papua New Guinea, and Chad. A good feature that will be part of the program each night is a focus on Education. The NAD’s video spent much time highlighting Kirsten, the Student Missionary who died in Yap. There was one quick shot in the presentation of Austin and Beverly Archer’s daughter, Jaclyn, who is a student at Walla Walla University. Oh I almost forgot to mention that the greatest surprise was to see our “brother” Stephen Barnett. We grew up together at 13 Mountain View as little boys. He has been living in Bahamas for decades.