Stan Posted July 7, 2005 Posted July 7, 2005 ANN Bulletin Adventist News Network Seventh-day Adventist Church World Headquarters July 6, 2005 In This Issue: --------------------- * World Church: Jan Paulsen Re-Elected Adventist Church President * World Church: Bediako, Lemon Re-Elected at St. Louis Session * World Church: First Woman Vice President, Regional Presidents Voted In * Step in the Right Direction, Simmons Tells Church Press * World Church: Spirit of Prophecy Resolution Voted, Points Church to Bible * World Church: Delegates Restrict Top Post to Ordained Clergy * Adventists Aim to Make Poverty History * Church Releases Statements Reaffirming Tolerance and Respect for All Peoples * Iraq: The Church in Hard Places * Church's Mission is to Reach Out to the Community * No ANN on Tuesday, July 12, 2005 --------------------- ------------------------------------------------------- World Church: Jan Paulsen Re-Elected Adventist Church President St. Louis, Missouri, United States .... [Mark A. Kellner/ANN] ------------------------------------------------------- Pastor Jan Paulsen, 70, was re-elected July 1, 2005, as world president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church during the movement's 58th General Conference Session. He was elected by a unanimous vote of delegates to the church's 58th General Conference Session in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. "It is a privilege to serve the Lord and the Church in the leadership role that you have asked me to fulfill. It is an honor, and I want to express appreciation for the trust you placed in me. And I will do my very best to serve the Lord and His church," Paulsen said immediately after the vote. "I need to know that the Holy Spirit will be a constant companion and support, and I believe He will. I want to express my appreciation to the many, many of you who have, since I came here, offered their support," he added. "Thank you for continuing to remember us in your prayers." Pastor Jere Patzer, president of the church's North-West Pacific region in the United States, is chairman of the nominating committee, with Dr. Delbert Baker, president of Oakwood College, as the vice chairman. The panel is composed of 196 delegates from around the world. The Norwegian-born Paulsen, church president since 1999, has more than 40 years of service as a Seventh-day Adventist Church pastor, missionary, educator and church executive. He is an ordained minister and has served his church in many areas, beginning in the West Norwegian Adventist church area. He has been a pastor, a Bible teacher in Ghana, teacher and principal in Nigeria, teacher and principal of Newbold College in England, and general secretary and education director of the Trans-European region, headquartered in England. In 1983, Paulsen became president of that region, and was elected as general vice president of the General Conference in 1995, a position he held until he became world church president. Following early education in Norway and Denmark, Paulsen earned a bachelor's degree from Andrews University, a master's degree from Washington Theological Seminary, and a bachelor of divinity degree from the Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews. He earned a doctor in theology degree from Tubingen University in Germany. In addition to numerous articles and papers, Dr. Paulsen is the author of several books, including "Let Your Life So Shine" and "When the Spirit Descends." Paulsen's re-election comes on a day when he and his wife, the former Kari Trykkerud, are celebrating 50 years of marriage. The Paulsens have three adult children: Laila Paulsen Becejac, Jan-Rune, and Rein Andre. The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a mainstream Protestant denomination that has 14.3 million baptized adult members in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. A total of 25 million people worldwide attend Adventist worship services each week. ------------------------------------------------------- World Church: Bediako, Lemon Re-Elected at St. Louis Session St. Louis, Missouri, United States .... [Mark A. Kellner/ANN] ------------------------------------------------------- Pastor Matthew Bediako, who began his ministerial career in his native Ghana, has been re-elected as secretary of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, following a unanimous vote of delegates to the movement's 58th General Conference Session. Pastor Robert Lemon, world church treasurer since 2002, was also re-elected to a full term in that office. The elections complete the top tier of Seventh-day Adventist Church world leadership. Pastor Jan Paulsen was re-elected as president earlier in the afternoon of July 1. "I want to express my appreciation for the choices you have made," said Pastor Paulsen in remarks to delegates following the vote. "Pastor Bediako has served with distinction for the past five years, and will continue to do so." Responding, Bediako said he wanted "to thank God for His leading during the past five years." He added, "I appreciate your prayers; I receive e-mails every day from around the world, saying they are praying for us. Please keep praying for us." Of Lemon, Paulsen said he "has the heart of a minister" and is "one of the finest financial professionals that we have. Lemon told Paulsen and the delegates, "It's a humbling experience to be asked to be part of your great team of leadership around the world." The Seventh-day Adventist Church has 25 million weekly worshippers in more than 200 nations around the world, of which 14.3 million are baptized adult members. The church receives U.S. $5 million in donations every day, which is managed by a network of financial professionals led by the church's Treasury department. ------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------- World Church: First Woman Vice President, Regional Presidents Voted In St. Louis, Missouri, United States .... [Victor Hulbert/Braden Blyde/ANN] ------------------------------------------------------- In a historic vote, delegates to the 58th General Conference Session of the Seventh-day Adventist Church elected veteran educator Dr. Ella Simmons as a general vice president of the church. This is the first time a woman has been elected to this position and is an attempt by the world church to make the leadership more inclusive. Until recently, Dr. Simmons was provost and vice president for Academic Administration at La Sierra University in Riverside, California, United States. As part of the 10-member leadership team -- world church President Jan Paulsen and nine vice presidents -- it is expected Simmons will bring her skills in education and as an administrator to the job. Delegates responded very positively to the election of Simmons. Zeljko Porobija of Croatia stated, "I think it is a very, very good thing. As a matter of principle we should see more women in office." Owen Lloyd Bryar Gayle, a delegate from Inter-America, agreed. "It is wonderful to give females a part in church leadership." Anton Van Wyke from the church's South Pacific region believes "It is a breakthrough for our church in its standings with world organizations, and it will lead us from strength to strength in our mission." It took a long day in session before the nominating committee presented its third report at 4:45 p.m. Sunday afternoon, recommending names for the nine vice presidents as well as the presidents of the 13 divisions around the world. While six current vice presidents were returned to office, the three new officers demonstrate the emphasis on the church for both diversity and evangelism. Also newly elected is Pardon Kandanga Mwansa, currently president of the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean church region, who brings a wealth of experience to the world church leadership, having served in the Euro-Africa church region prior to his current position. The third new vice president is popular Adventist evangelist Mark Finley, currently director of Global Evangelism at the world church headquarters and speaker/director emeritus of the It Is Written television program. Emphasizing the need to raise the profile of evangelism both in head office and worldwide, Paulsen took time to emphasize that Finley "is so saturated in evangelism that it is the center of his life." Finley's new position is not a change of job so much as recognition of the importance of evangelism to the church, he said. Six incumbents were returned to other general vice presidential offices: Lowell C. Cooper, King-Yi Eugene Hsu, Gerry D. Karst, Armando Miranda, Michael L. Ryan and Ted N. C. Wilson. Paulsen also paid tribute to outgoing vice president Harold Baptiste. Having faithfully served the church for many years, he indicated his desire to retire at this business session. In the same report the presidents of 13 world church regions were elected. There were no surprises, with the only change being in the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division where, due to the election of Mwansa as a world church vice president, Pastor Paul S. Ratsara, current secretary of the region, was unanimously elected as president. The returned regional Adventist church presidents are: Geoffrey G. Mbwana, East-Central Africa; Ulrich W. Frikart, Euro-Africa; Artur A. Stele, Euro-Asia; Israel Leito, Inter-America; Don C. Schneider, North America; Jairyong Lee, Northern Asia-Pacific; Ruy H. Nagel, South America; Laurie J. Evans, South Pacific; D. Ronald Watts, Southern Asia; Alberto C. Gulfan Jr., Southern Asia-Pacific; Bertil A. Wiklander, Trans-European Division, and Luka T. Daniel, West-Central Africa. (For a complete list of elected church officials please see http://news.adventist.org/) ------------------------------------------------------- Step in the Right Direction, Simmons Tells Church Press St. Louis, Missouri, United States .... [Taashi Rowe/ANN] ------------------------------------------------------- "Pray that I will always hear God's voice and no others," Dr. Ella Simmons, the first woman vice president to the Seventh-day Adventist world church, asked church members at a press conference today. "Pray that I will always reflect and do the will of God." Simmons said that although the request may sound noble, it was necessary as she understood that her new position would at times be very difficult. She was elected in a historic vote July 3 during the 58th business meetings of the Adventist world church in St. Louis, Missouri. Simmons, 57, is a mother and grandmother and spent the past year traveling after leaving her post as the second in command at the Adventist-operated La Sierra University in Riverside, California. "I love my children, I love my grandchildren. I love my family. I want to spend all my time with them," she said. However, she said God called her out of her comfort zone and she had no choice but to accept. Simmons said although Pastor Jan Paulsen, president of the world church, has not apprised all the vice presidents of their duties, she expected her new assignment to incorporate her extensive background in education. Prior to her term at La Sierra as provost and vice president, Simmons served in other leadership positions, including vice president for academic affairs at Oakwood College in Alabama, associate dean at the University of Louisville, Kentucky School of Education, and chair of the Department of Education in the College of Applied Sciences at Kentucky State University. She received her doctorate in education from the University of Louisville and a masters degree from Andrews University, in Berrien Springs, Michigan. With her background working in both public school and Adventist schools, Simmons has a unique view of Adventist education. "My husband and I see education as a mission, a call from God," she said. "While I firmly believe in the in Adventist education ... the reality is there are large numbers of Adventist students who are outside that arena." She added that she hopes to focus on the "broader goal of salvation for all our children." In response to a question about her paving the way and being a role model to other women around the world, she agreed that she was comfortable and happy in accepting the role. She acknowledged that her first assignment this morning was to spend time with women having separate meetings at the world church's business session. "Women will look at me because of the position. I was raised as a little girl to reach out and reach back and reach over," said Simmons. A Louisville, Kentucky native, she also spoke of being one of the first African-American children to attend newly desegregated schools in the United States. "The church as an organization cannot be efficient until it allows all people to contribute in ways God called them to contribute. I think the church is taking a step in the right direction," she said. While a divinity degree and church ordination are often precursors to promotion in the church, Simmons said that her election did not mean the church will change it's stance against ordaining women pastors. "I do not feel that I have to be ordained to do the Lord's work." She added that she is not a pastor but believes that she is a minister. "I've always been a minister. I think pastoring is a unique work and while I have been prepared to nurture, to teach, I am not prepared to pastor." ------------------------------------------------------- World Church: Spirit of Prophecy Resolution Voted, Points Church to Bible St. Louis, Missouri, United States .... [Mark Kellner/ANN] ------------------------------------------------------- Delegates to the 58th General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church voted July 3 to approve a resolution acknowledging the writings of Ellen G. White, a pioneering founder of the church, as something that has "richly blessed" the movement and that continues to have an important role in nurturing the life of the church. At the same time, a July 1 resolution on the Bible affirms the Scriptures "constitute our supreme rule of faith and practice and [are] the standard by which all teaching and experience is to be tested." "We acknowledge that the Seventh-day Adventist Church has been richly blessed by the Lord through the gift of prophecy manifested in the ministry and writings of Ellen G White," the statement, passed without floor discussion, reads. "Through it the Lord guided the development of the Church from a small number of members to a worldwide movement entrusted with the proclamation of a message of salvation in Christ and the hope of His soon return in glory. Her ministry has directly contributed to the preservation of the unity of the Church and has sustained it in difficult times. Her writings continue to be a most positive influence in the life of the Church, providing for it comfort, guidance, instruction, correction, and theological stimulus." According to Dr. Gerhard Pfandl, associate director of the church's Biblical Research Institute, and who clarified for the delegates the document's purpose, noted the resolution, which has been a regular feature of several world church business sessions, reaffirms a fundamental belief of the church in the gift of prophecy. That belief states that gift "was manifested in the ministry of Ellen G. White." Pfandl said that those questioning the role of end-time prophets in the church are confronted both by the Bible, which says the gift of prophecy will be active in the church, as well as the work of non-Adventist theologians who advance a similar position. "Since the Bible itself predicted the gift of prophecy at the end of time, Adventists feel we are on solid biblical ground in accepting the ministry of Ellen G. White as a manifestation of [that] prophetic gift," he said. "Many evangelical churches claim the same gift for their churches," Pfandl added. He noted that, in comparison, one non-Adventist theologian, evangelical scholar Wayne Grudem "has developed a theology to justify the manifestation of the prophetic gift in the church today." The resolution, Pfandl added, is also "an expression of gratitude to God for the wonderful gift he has given this church" in Mrs. White's writings, as well as to encourage church members, especially young people, to make use of these writings in their study and devotional lives. It will also demonstrate that these writings, long cherished and studied by Adventists, are still considered relevant to the church today. The resolution notes the study of Mrs. White's writings "will constantly lead the Church back to the Bible as the very foundation of faith and practice." Dr. Angel Manuel RodrÃguez, Biblical Research Institute director, said that for Adventist Christians, the "Bible is the fundamental ground of the Adventist faith and practice." He added that the gift exercised by Ellen G. White "can enrich but not define our faith and practice." Other delegates to the Session endorsed the resolution. Edward Motschiedler, secretary of the church's Columbia Union Conference, said "this resolution clarifies that [the Spirit of Prophecy] is something for the present and the future of our church." -- Additional reporting by Angelika Grozdic ------------------------------------------------------- World Church: Delegates Restrict Top Post to Ordained Clergy St. Louis, Missouri, United States .... [Mark A. Kellner/ANN] ------------------------------------------------------- The world presidency of the Seventh-day Adventist Church will be held only by an "ordained minister of experience," delegates to the movement's 58th General Conference Session voted in a change to the church's constitution and bylaws on July 5. The vote comes barely more than 48 hours after delegates voted in Dr. Ella Louise Simmons, most recently a vice president and provost of La Sierra University, as the first woman to hold a general vice presidency of the world church. "Why vote a policy that from the beginning that excludes more than half our leadership; telling the church that even if God calls another Ellen White, she is excluded," asked Simmons' former colleague, La Sierra University president Larry Geraty. "Let us stand for inclusion, as has been advocated in our leadership session [today]. Let us not tie God's hands." Another delegate, Harlin Abayon, who is also assistant majority leader of the Philippines House of Representativea, told the session he opposed the move: "We were performing well even without this provision. We will foreclose the powers of the nominating committee to decide among the best to be the president of the [world church]." Others were supportive of the measure: Abraham Isaac Canteros Bascur from the Southern Asia church region noted that the writings of Ellen G. White "state clearly that God has a church and ministry designed by Him. All areas of the work of God belong in regards to supervision to the ministers, and when it talks about ministers, it speaks about ordained ministers." Among supporters, some said opponents of the restriction were attempting a backdoor entry for the ordination of women, a controversial issue in the Adventist world family. "I do not think we should sacrifice the need for ordination to the top leadership position by arguing for inclusion or by arguing that such a provision excludes the women. That issue must be addressed by revisiting the issue of ordination, if necessary," said John Fowler, associate education director of the world church. Opposing the measure, Dr. Lisa Beardsley of Loma Linda University said that a world church president "must have a shepherd's heart for the worldwide church, be a visionary, adept administrator, [and be a] compelling communicator." She asserted that such experience can come from experiences other than ordained ministry, such as chaplaincy, education and medical ministry. Despite such arguments -- and support from young delegates -- the definition change passed. ------------------------------------------------------- Adventists Aim to Make Poverty History St. Louis, Missouri, United States .... [Victor Hulbert/John Surridge/Volker Henning/ANN] ------------------------------------------------------- The Seventh-day Adventist Church is playing its part in raising the issues of world hunger in anticipation of next week's G8 summit at Gleneagles, Scotland. In Scotland itself, members of the Crieff and Edinburgh Seventh-day Adventist Churches were among the 225,000 anti-poverty campaigners who joined hands and formed a massive human white wristband around Edinburgh as part of the "Make Poverty History" demonstration. During the morning service at Edinburgh Seventh-day Adventist Church lay preacher Mike Lewis spoke of the Israelites marching around Jericho, its walls unable to withstand the onward march of God leading His people to victory. He drew a parallel with the walls of evil, corruption, poverty and oppression that encircle people today that will ultimately fall as God finally ushers in His everlasting Kingdom of peace. The Crieff church is the nearest Seventh-day Adventist Church to the location of the G8 Summit, just nine miles up the road at Gleneagles. Local Adventist member Steve Logan galvanized his church, along with a number of Christian groups, to coordinate locally the "Make Hunger History" protest in the run-up to the G8 summit. Included in the events will be a 12-hour Prayer Vigil on July 5 between noon and midnight. The church prepared a PowerPoint presentation in connection with the Prayer Vigil, which is available for free download from www.adventistinfo.org.uk/resources. Speaking of yesterdays demonstration, Lewis told ANN "I was proud to be there, part of the biggest demonstration ever to be held in Scotland. The group's longer term aim is to continue with MPH after the G8 and all the protesters have gone home, giving time and effort to a long-term project that will make a difference in developing countries." Meanwhile in Philadelphia, Adventists played a full part in the Live 8 concert, one of 10 concerts around the world prior to the G8 summit. The Adventist Humanitarian Resource Center of Philadelphia partnered with other Adventist entities to take charge of health care during the concert festival. Working out of a 60-foot (18 meter) trailer that had a big yellow and black banner with the words "THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCHES OF THE DELAWARE VALLEY," they passed out thousands of pieces of literature, provided health screening services, provided advice and collected names for follow-up. The team dealt in a real sense with poverty issues as many people who came to the screening could not afford medical insurance and were grateful for the advice. Bruce Atchison, community service director of the Pennsylvania Conference, stated, "It was a golden opportunity to reach thousands of people." Gerry Weathers, a registered nurse from 1st Adventist Church of Coatesville, was delighted to promote wellness from a holistic point of view. She emphasized that the entire family benefits from disease prevention, stating that "proper diet reduces stress and plenty of water will also reduce plaques of disease." The 58th world session of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in St. Louis, Missouri, is also taking hunger and poverty issues seriously. The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) international is protesting global poverty at its exhibit. Tereza Byrne, bureau chief for marketing and development for ADRA, hopes that exhibit visitors will partner with ADRA in fighting poverty. Locally, sales at the ADRA booth are being donated to local charities to deal with poverty and development issues in the deprived areas of St. Louis. Byrne states that, according to the World Bank, 2.8 billion people, about half the world's population, struggle to survive on less than U.S. $2 a day. ADRA's community development programs in food security, primary health, basic education, and economic development help address the debilitating effects of poverty. ------------------------------------------------------- Church Releases Statements Reaffirming Tolerance and Respect for All Peoples St. Louis, Missouri, United States .... [Wendi Rogers/ANN] ------------------------------------------------------- Three reaffirmation statements on subjects in which the church places high priority were released by the Seventh-day Adventist Church during the world church's business meetings: "On Being Transformed in Christ - an Affirmation of Christian Values and Quality of Life;" "Religious Extremism - A Danger to Religious Liberty;" "and Respect for all People - Making Churches and Community Safe." In introductory remarks to a press conference regarding the statements on July 5, Ray Dabrowski, director of communication for the world church, said the Adventist Church is saying "No'" to methods of religious extremism. "This is not the way society should relate to one another." On the statement of respect for all people, "We as Seventh-day Adventists have zero tolerance" on human trafficking, exploitation of women and children, sexual abuse and family violence, he said. And, in response to being transformed in Christ, Dabrowski said, "Quality of life is at the center of Adventism." "Seventh-day Adventists believe the Christian lifestyle is not simply a cognitive, intellectual experience distanced from, separate from, love," said Mark Finley, a general vice president of the world church, regarding the theme of the meetings and statement on being 'transformed in Christ'. "Adventists believe that the community will be a better place because we are here -- that's our goal." He added that Adventists "recognize the condition of the world, but we look optimistically to the future." Responding to a question on whether drug and alcohol problems persist among Adventist youth, Finley said there is a broader question. "Are Adventist youth immune" to such things? "Certainly Adventist young people are not immune." There is a strategy for educating and helping young people -- through the church's education systems, world youth departments, temperance societies and Pathfinder clubs, he offered. "The release of the statement is new," Finley responded to a question on why the statement is being released. "The values are not new. We felt we needed a clear statement, a restatement of the previous position ..." Jonathan Gallagher, associate director of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty for the world church, spoke on the statement on religious extremism. Two dangerous directions mentioned in the statement, he said, are an anti-religious kind of secularism and the growth of religious fundamentalism, or religious extremism. "Religion extremism infects all kinds of belief systems," he said. There can be a 'We are right, you are wrong' attitude, "and 'because we are right, we have the right to persecute you, to intimidate you, to harass you, to even kill you.'" He added, "When religion is hijacked, we see a great deal of impact on society." There are extremists in many religions, he said. "There are even extremist Adventists, but I hope none have endorsed violence." While Adventists promote freedom of belief, he said, that's not saying that the church agrees with the beliefs of others organizations. "We're not endorsing their beliefs, but endorsing their right to believe." "We call on everyone, both inside and outside our faith community, to work wisely and effectively to reduce religious intolerance and extremism," the statement reads. The statement on respect for all people says, "Seventh-day Adventists, as Christians, seek to live by the highest moral and ethical principles of conduct in their relationships with fellow human beings." "It means we must stand with others," against issues of human trafficking, exploitation of women and children, sexual abuse and family violence, said Karen Flowers, associate director of the world church's Family Ministries. "The church," she said, "does not intend to work only within its own parameters, but rather to network with the wider community." ------------------------------------------------------- Iraq: The Church in Hard Places St. Louis, Missouri, United States .... [Victor Hulbert/ANN] ------------------------------------------------------- The church bells ring out on Saturday morning across the city. The Vacation Bible Club is so popular that families book up one year in advance. The Community Services and Women's Ministries departments are appreciated by the community. Each Christmas a personal letter of congratulations comes from the country's president. That may sound an idyllic picture but, according to Basim Fargo, secretary-treasurer of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Iraq, that was the Adventist Church in Baghdad before 2003. The 500-member church in Iraq was one of 13 Christian denominations that were recognized by the government and had considerable religious freedom in the context of the Middle East, and in a country where Christians make up just 3 percent of the population. Today the story is different. Perhaps as many as 90 percent of the members have fled Iraq for greater security elsewhere. About 40 members remain in Baghdad with a further 10 in Mos?l. Security is the main issue. In September 2003 a car bomb exploded near the front of the Baghdad church causing U.S. $150,000 of damage. Thankfully there were no casualties and the church has been partially repaired. Fargo told ANN that there is still freedom of worship but evangelism is limited to church services only. Due to the security situation the church only meets on Sabbath, or Saturday, morning. The pastor and members of the Women's Ministries department do their best to visit and encourage the remaining families. "The situation is not normal. There are no evangelistic meetings. We cannot expose ourselves to the public." But for all the challenges of being Adventist in Iraq Fargo is not without hope. While things are difficult now he believes that, with the reorganization of the government in Iraq, within a couple of years the church may be able to resume more of its activities. As Fargo sits in the indoor stadium during the 58th business session of the world church, he rejoices in the reports of growth he hears from around the world, but is quick to point out that it is very different working in a country where Muslims who convert to Christianity would fear for their lives, and where the Christian community is mainly comprised of a very traditional form of inherited religion. Basim pleads, "Pray for us. We are living in very difficult times. We hope things will settle down and we can resume our work so that we can give our message of hope to the people of Iraq." Why does Basim stay there? "It is my responsibility that keeps me there. It is God's work. I cannot leave and go outside the country." ------------------------------------------------------- Church's Mission is to Reach Out to the Community St. Louis, Missouri, United States .... [Taashi Rowe/ANN] ------------------------------------------------------- The global Seventh-day Adventist Church cannot fulfill its mission without interacting with society, Pastor Michael L. Ryan, a vice president of the Adventist world church, told attendees at the church's quinquennial business meetings in St. Louis, Missouri. Citing Bible passages and the writings of one of the church's founders -- Ellen White -- Ryan said the church should emulate Jesus' example of "mingling" with members of the community. Saying, "It's time as a church that we honestly talk to each other," Ryan led a discussion that asked delegates at the church's meetings for solutions in making the church more interactive in the community. Today's discussion, "The Church and Society," is the second in a series of conversations aimed at finding solutions to what the church calls "challenges to mission." These discussions were instituted specifically to help the church plan new approaches to society, apostasy, secularism and cities. With more than 1 billion people around the world living in abject poverty, millions dying of hunger, 3 percent of the world taking to illicit drugs, and the AIDS epidemic, he pointed out that the problems of the world should be a cause of concern for the church. But, he said, only a fifth of the church is actively involved in community service. "If tomorrow the doors of the church closed in Israel, people in the community there would not miss it," said delegate and Pastor Richard Elofer, who works in Israel. He challenged the church to realize that with 24-hour-news and the Internet, the world is a small community. While the church has a wide community of outreach organizations, such as the Adventist Development and Relief Agency, and hospitals, clinics and volunteer service centers, Ryan said only a fifth of church membership is involved in social justice. "The official mission of the Seventh-day Adventists calls for a compassionate ministry for the poor, but there is such a focus on evangelism that there is a neglected theology of ministry to people's physical and human needs," said Kenneth Flemmer, who works for the Adventist Development and Relief Agency, following the discussions. "For the last 35 years I have traveled the world holding evangelism meetings," Mark Finley, evangelist and a vice president of the church, said. "The single fact that stands out everywhere I've been is that where the church is actively involved in the community, God does something special." Flavia Rwabuhoro Kabaherda said the fact that the church was holding meetings on a public holiday -- July 4, America's day of independence -- was a sign that the church is not ready to integrate with the general public. "As Adventists we cannot address the world's concerns if we are not ready to integrate with others," she added. Delores Richardson from North America suggested that the church try to partner with other service organizations already doing good work in the community. Others suggested that church members practice friendship evangelism, reach out to the scientific community, and appoint someone to the world church's office's whose sole responsibility will be for community service. "Our purpose here is more than just a mental relationship with God, but it has to result in a Christ-like compassion," Flemmer said. Ryan said he hopes there will be further discussions and action on this issue. ------------------------------------------------------- No ANN on Tuesday, July 12, 2005 St. Louis, Missouri, United States .... [ANN Staff] ------------------------------------------------------- The weekly ANN Bulletin will not be e-mailed on July 12, 2005. Copyright © 2005 by Adventist News Network. 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA 20904-6600 phone: (301) 680-6306. e-mail address: []adventistnews@gc.adventist.org.[/] ANN World News Bulletin is a review of news and information issued by the Communication department from the Seventh-day Adventist Church World Headquarters and released as part of the service of Adventist News Network. It is made available primarily to religious news editors. Our news includes dispatches from the church's international offices and the world headquarters. Adventist News Network is a registered trademark of the General Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists. Unauthorized use is strictly prohibited. Reproduction Requirements: Reproduction of information in this article is encouraged. When reproducing this material, in full or in part, the words "Source: Adventist News Network" must appear under the headline or immediately following the article. The words "Source: Adventist News Network" must be given equal prominence to any other source that is also acknowledged. ANN Staff: Ray Dabrowski, director; Mark A. Kellner, assistant director for news; Wendi Rogers, editorial coordinator; Taashi Rowe, editorial assistant; Lynn Friday, administrative assistant. Quote If you receive benefit to being here please help out with expenses. https://www.paypal.me/clubadventist Administrator of a few websites like https://adventistdating.com Â
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