TED News Bulletin
Trans-European Division of the
Seventh-day Adventist Church

19 December 2007


In this issue:
-------------------------
* England: Adventist Woman Receives National Honour
* Finland: Interim Accreditation Visit at Toivonlinna Junior College
* England: Focus on Faith Freedom since 9/11
-------------------------


ADVENTIST WOMAN RECEIVES NATIONAL HONOUR...[BUC News/TED Staff/TED
News]

London, England - A Seventh-day Adventist woman has received the
Queen of England's recognition for her community service. Joan
Saddler, recognized for her promotion of volunteer service, equality
and diversity in healthcare, and for her work with the Adventist
Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), on 6 December received the
Order of the British Empire from Queen Elizabeth II during a ceremony
at Buckingham Palace.

The award was created in 1917 and is the order of chivalry of British
democracy. "Valuable service is the only criterion for the award,"
states the Buckingham Palace Web site.

Joan Saddler, who has served for several years in the voluntary
sector mentoring ethnic minorities and publicizing healthcare
information for citizens, amongst many other community
responsibilities, is the second Adventist to receive the order in the
last two years.

During a post award celebration with friends and church leaders at
London's Advent Centre, Saddler said: "As Adventist Christians we
must live our values and put our faith into practice and God will
bless us."


INTERIM ACCREDITATION VISIT AT TOIVONLINNA JUNIOR COLLEGE...[Daniel
Duda/TED News Staff/TED News]

Tampere, Finland - The Adventist Accrediting Association (AAA) made
an interim visit to Toivonlinna Junior College 6-8 November, 2007.

Since the previous visit in April 2005 the school has gone through
several major changes. The school had been in a difficult situation
with low enrolment, financial difficulties and other problems, so to
save the school from being closed down, the Finnish Union Conference
(FINUC) started a three-year School Development Project in April
2006. One of the major goals was to increase student enrolment in
order for the school to be able to function on Governmental subsidies
without the financial support from FINUC.

During the first year of the Project, new marketing strategies
promoted the school to a wider audience, and included Christians who
desired faith-based education. This resulted in an immediate growth
in enrolment from 150 to 180 students in the first year. In addition,
new study lines were introduced to meet the academic needs of
students; and teachers were given a stronger voice in
decision-making. The influx of new faculty and students have
stimulated the school to reconsider their mission and market.

In their Exit Report the Committee commended the administration of
the school for the steps taken to save the school and for providing a
positive Christian environment for the students in addition to a good
quality of education. The Committee recommended that the AAA
accreditation of Toivonlinna Junior College be continued through 31
December, 2010.

"This is a great encouragement to us all and the Finnish Adventist
church especially. This institution plays a vital role in fulfilling
the mission of the church in Finland. I was very pleased by the
progress that was made in the last two years." Dr Daniel Duda
commented.

Atte Helminen, the FINUC president said: "We are thankful for the
report received from the AAA-visit. Although it takes time and
enormous effort to see all the positive results of the development
work that was started in Toivonlinna, there are signs of hope and a
better future. We will continue to provide Adventist excellence in
Christian education and implement the recommendations that will help
us to move ahead with confidence. We need continuous support with
many prayers and courageous steps in order to reach out the hearts of
young people at Toivonlinna. "


FOCUS ON FAITH FREEDOM SINCE 9/11...[Newbold News/TED News Staff/TED
News]

Berkshire, England - Church leaders and religious freedom experts met
on 25 November for the "Religious Freedom in Europe Since 9/11"
conference held at Newbold's Centre for Religious and Cultural
Diversity. The one-day conference addressed responses to
anti-terrorism laws -- including privacy and hate speech law
proposals -- that could affect freedom of religion in the workplace
and society.

The roundtable meetings of 40 experts and academics included a member
of the House of Lords, professors from renowned universities in
England, along with church leaders from the United Kingdom and the
church's world headquarters near Washington, D.C.

Some presenters focused on instances of countries adopting or
considering hate speech legislation, including religious hate speech.
Critics of such laws have said religion should not be exempt from
scrutiny.

The group also voiced concern for new resistance to religious
practices, including wearing the Islamic veil in some European
schools.

"The responsibility for supporting religious freedom lies with all
concerned," said Jonathan Gallagher, the Adventist Church's United
Nation's liaison. "The denial of religious freedom to another is a
denial of religious freedom to oneself."

British House of Lords Deputy Speaker Baroness Caroline Cox described
her visits to Nigeria, Sudan and Indonesia and her observations
concerning the effects of jihad in those countries. "The Christian
churches have been slow to respond to the issue of child slavery and
the manipulation of humanitarian aid as weapons of Islamisation," she
said.

Don McFarlane, president of the Adventist Church in Great Britain,
cited Adventist responses to the sexual orientation legislation in
England as a case study to consider the church's response to threats
of freedom of belief, especially in hiring practices at church
institutions.

McFarlane said he was encouraged to see "a varied group of Adventists
-- both professionals and members from different countries-- showing
concern for religious freedom in [the United Kingdom] and abroad.
Seventh-day Adventists have a history of taking the lead in this
subject and we should continue to do so."


END OF YEAR MESSAGE

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May your holiday break be a rewarding one, and may God bless the New
Year to you.

Sincerely yours, for Him

Paul R Clee, Editor
_________________________________________________________________________
TED News Staff:
Paul Clee, News Director and Editor
Heidi Kamal Kendel, Editorial Assistant
119 St Peter's Street, St Albans, Herts.
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