Joe_in_RP Posted March 8, 2009 Posted March 8, 2009 The earthly ones. There are no books of SDAs in Heaven. Are you sure? Quote
Woody Posted March 9, 2009 Author Posted March 9, 2009 Yes. I am quite certain. The book of life lists all those who have ever accepted Christ. Not just SDAs. Quote May we be one so that the world may be won. Christian from the cradle to the grave I believe in Hematology.
Members phkrause Posted March 9, 2009 Members Posted March 9, 2009 pk Quote phkrause When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan. Proverbs 29;2
Administrators Tom Wetmore Posted March 9, 2009 Administrators Posted March 9, 2009 My experience with the Unions is that they are essential, and it is just a fraction of the total expenses... Training.. The Union provides CPA/CA professional auditing of the Universities, Academies, Industries and Conferences... They own/manage the Universities... They provide the Union papers and various other Communication 'things'... Some Unions now are able to do payroll for their conferences, saving $$$ The Unions manage the sessions for the election of Conferences officers... They give the final approval for the ordination for those recommended by the Conference folks... In some cases they look after the Health care plans for the employees... The list goes on and on... - - - - - - - - - Wonder which of the above folks would want to cancel? Many years ago while discussing this same idea of eliminating the unions to cut out organization fat, one wise person suggested that if cost cutting was the objective, the layer of structure we could most do without and which would realize the most cost savings would be to cut out the local conferences. There are 9 Unions in NAD and 55 local conferences, so closing down 55 offices vs. 9 would save substantially more $$$. Recognizing the technology of our day vs. when this whole system was designed, it makes sense. In the 19th Century (horse and buggy days before even telephones) a local conference territory put the administration within a days journey of all its territory. Now with vastly improved communication and transportation technology, there is no reason that the work of the local churches and schools cannot be coordinated from a geographic territory the size of most Unions. Sure there would be an increase in the size of the staff at that level but it would cut out significant duplication and redundant overhead of 55 local conferences and overall would be a huge reduction in administrative overhead. The annual operational savings and the sale of the local conference office buildings would be very substantial. This idea has gained some attention as evidenced by it being included in one of George Knight's books. The economic times may give an opportunity for this sort of idea to actually get some traction. Tom Quote "Absurdity reigns and confusion makes it look good." "Sinless perfection is such a shallow goal." "I love God only as much as the person I love the least." *Forgiveness is always good news. And that is the gospel truth. (And finally, the ideas expressed above are solely my person views and not that of any organization with which I am associated.)
Woody Posted March 9, 2009 Author Posted March 9, 2009 Yes, my local conference president actually proposed this idea to the GC. He would be axing his own job. I guess I am greedy. I like having the conference close. I was more interesting in axing something more distant like the Unions. But I guess I am just going to have to be more open to a better cost cutting measure. Good point Tom. I would add that after reading what George Knight said in the book that you were referring to ... I was inspired. But he also said in that book that his law ... or KNIGHT'S LAW as he put it is: Quote: " It is impossible to arrive at your destination unless you know where you are going." Good Advice. We can't just cut here and there and everywhere without a plan and vision. Quote May we be one so that the world may be won. Christian from the cradle to the grave I believe in Hematology.
Woody Posted March 9, 2009 Author Posted March 9, 2009 http://www.adventistreview.org/2000-1544/devil.html Quote May we be one so that the world may be won. Christian from the cradle to the grave I believe in Hematology.
Joe_in_RP Posted March 10, 2009 Posted March 10, 2009 Quote: depending on how you measure costs. Wait a minute ! Are you advocating measuring costs? And would we measure results? If we measured how much money and volunteer efforts we spend on "Christian Education" and compared it to the results, like how many are in the church at age 30 say, it would be shocking. But we can;t touch the holy grail of schooling !! No No cuts there. Shame on you for suggesting that! In the fastest growing (hey maybe the only growing) countries of the church they have little if any "Christian Education". The retention of the youth is extraordinary. The contrast is so overwhelming no one would dare to look at it. But it does not matter. We will never measure and compare. We will never consider cutting the local church schools. That is blasphemy. Shame on me for suggesting it. Just remember I have 3 children under 10 an a wife who is an Adventist teacher. . . . I await your wrath. Quote
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