Adventist Leaders Face Tough Financial Times

[CGMedley]

When our church leaders met in Manilla, Phillippines for their Annual Council Session, discussed the serious impact that a slowing world economy has on the church. The leaders are faced with many tough decisions -- tweaked budgets, hiring freezes, etc. The Adventist Review has prepared a eyewitness reports from the meetings. Take a look.

http://www.adventistreview.org/article.php?id=2155

[Nan]

I am not a radical church member at all, but in times of major financial challenges, and vastly increased communication options, why is it necessary to go to the expense of such frequent major meetings as Annual Councils? We will probably not be told the total of the 10s of thousands of dollars the travel and accommodation for the delegates must have cost.

Why cannot such meetings be done via teleconference or video conference?

I know of various instances both in the home field and developing countries where people have been reluctant to give to the church because of what is seen as waste.

How do you justify to a poor member in a third world country the use to which his tithe is placed, if it takes the equivalent of several months tithe to pay for a restaurant meal for a travelling minister?

In this time the church authorities really do need to look at all areas of expenditure.

[BobRyan]

I heard that AIG is in fact the agency holding the retirement accounts for the ministers. What happens now that AIG went under?

in Christ,

Bob

[Woody]

I am not a radical church member at all, but in times of major financial challenges, and vastly increased communication options, why is it necessary to go to the expense of such frequent major meetings as Annual Councils? We will probably not be told the total of the 10s of thousands of dollars the travel and accommodation for the delegates must have cost.

Why cannot such meetings be done via teleconference or video conference?

I know of various instances both in the home field and developing countries where people have been reluctant to give to the church because of what is seen as waste.

How do you justify to a poor member in a third world country the use to which his tithe is placed, if it takes the equivalent of several months tithe to pay for a restaurant meal for a travelling minister?

In this time the church authorities really do need to look at all areas of expenditure.

You bring up some good issues Nan. But this one is small potatoes compared to the waste of having the Unions. Do away with the Unions and watch the money flow in. People would know they were serious about the good use of tithe monies.

[Tammy]

Originally Posted By: Nan

I am not a radical church member at all, but in times of major financial challenges, and vastly increased communication options, why is it necessary to go to the expense of such frequent major meetings as Annual Councils? We will probably not be told the total of the 10s of thousands of dollars the travel and accommodation for the delegates must have cost.

Why cannot such meetings be done via teleconference or video conference?

I know of various instances both in the home field and developing countries where people have been reluctant to give to the church because of what is seen as waste.

How do you justify to a poor member in a third world country the use to which his tithe is placed, if it takes the equivalent of several months tithe to pay for a restaurant meal for a travelling minister?

In this time the church authorities really do need to look at all areas of expenditure.

You bring up some good issues Nan. But this one is small potatoes compared to the waste of having the Unions. Do away with the Unions and watch the money flow in. People would know they were serious about the good use of tithe monies.

Excellent suggestion, Reddog!

[olger]

Hello Tammy, from a fellow buckeye.

Gerry

[Woody]

Originally Posted By: Redwood

You bring up some good issues Nan. But this one is small potatoes compared to the waste of having the Unions. Do away with the Unions and watch the money flow in. People would know they were serious about the good use of tithe monies. [/quote']

Excellent suggestion, Reddog!

I'm RED. And I have a dog ... But I am not REDDOG.

[Tammy]

Sorry about that! I didn't look close enough - REDWOOD it is

[Tammy]

Hello Tammy, from a fellow buckeye.

Gerry

Good Morning, Gerry! So what part of OH are you from? We live in the snowbelt, up by Lake Erie....supposed to snow tonight, in fact!

[Jeannieb43]

Originally Posted By: Nan

I am not a radical church member at all, but in times of major financial challenges, and vastly increased communication options, why is it necessary to go to the expense of such frequent major meetings as Annual Councils? We will probably not be told the total of the 10s of thousands of dollars the travel and accommodation for the delegates must have cost.

Why cannot such meetings be done via teleconference or video conference?

I know of various instances both in the home field and developing countries where people have been reluctant to give to the church because of what is seen as waste.

How do you justify to a poor member in a third world country the use to which his tithe is placed, if it takes the equivalent of several months tithe to pay for a restaurant meal for a travelling minister?

In this time the church authorities really do need to look at all areas of expenditure.

You bring up some good issues Nan. But this one is small potatoes compared to the waste of having the Unions. Do away with the Unions and watch the money flow in. People would know they were serious about the good use of tithe monies.

Amen to both of these ideas.

Trouble is, officers are loathe to vote themselves out of a job! If they vote not to meet in person for Annual Council -- or if they vote to disband the union conference organization -- they're afraid they'll become unemployed.

What we need are "men who are as true to duty as the needle to the pole" [per EGW, Education ] and who are not afraid to call these challenges "by their right names."

Soon -- even sooner than we realize -- our money will become worthless. And THEN what will be the benefit of having a "top-heavy" church organization? Those brethren should volunteer to find work in the public sector, and relinquish their paychecks to be used for missions. NOW.

[Woody]

Could you be a little more passionate and forceful Jeannie?

[Tammy]

Excellent post, Jeanie!

[olger]

Originally Posted By: olger

Hello Tammy, from a fellow buckeye.

Gerry

Good Morning, Gerry! So what part of OH are you from? We live in the snowbelt, up by Lake Erie....supposed to snow tonight, in fact!

We are in Piqua - 30 minutes north of Dayton. Throw another log on the fire..

Ger

[Tammy]

That is a pretty long way....we don't get that way very often....but if you all are ever up this way, please don't hesitate to stop in! It is always nice to meet our forum friends in person... Somehow, I think we have met before, perhaps at ASI or somewhere....I saw a picture of you and your wife, somewhere...and your wife looks very familiar...