GC Sessions

[Gregory Matthews]

We probably spent some $25,000,000 on the recent General Conference Session.  Could we afford it?   Yes.  Was it a wise expenditure of our funds?  This question is worthy of consideration.  If not, ow would we replace it?  The following article considers these questions and is well worthy of our time and consideration.  It also includes consideration how some other denominations, both Catholic and Protestant operate.

https://spectrummagazine.org/views/four-ways-adventism-can-stop-holding-tedious-predictable-gc-sessions/

 

[Asia Joe]

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Some GC Sessions stand out in Adventist history because of the important decisions that were made—either positive or negative. And the St. Louis GC Session, in part, figures among these historic occasions.

I agree. 

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The crucial question is whether the current GC Session model is still the most efficient mode of decision making and strategizing for a global religious organization.

This is his opinion. I can assure you, this is not the opinion of delegates from the Global South. 

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Hopefully, during this session the denomination will be able to take steps forward on some of the issues that have polarized the church for too long and have for decades frustrated many people around the globe.

That polarization is only in NAD and EU. a very small part of the church. Less than 10% I believe. 

People in these places, need to understand, they are not in charge anymore.  They are now a troublesome minority. 

But people like this, writing in publications like this, think they are some sort of think tank. Or some kind of thought leaders.

I am sorry, but that period has passed.   I am not trying to be rude. Just brutally honest. 

Here is an idea. If we want to save money, why not move the GC to the Global South?   

I have never heard one Conference or Mission president (outside NAD) comment on the cost of the GC session.  It's just seen as a necessary thing to do. Get the people together once every 5 years to meet and discuss. 

The criticisms I hear, is about those people who continue to bring up woman's ordination or other non-misson issues.

This church continues to grow, as it does, the NAD and EU continue to shrink, except for the minorities, Latinos and Asians. The NAD EU voice becomes weaker and weaker. 

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[Gregory Matthews]

You are not being rude and your opinions are worthy of consideration.

I have been to two or three, I have forgotten which.  I believe that major changes should be made.  The question is; What?

[Asia Joe]

Gregory

I think there will be changes made. The new leaders will bring a new style.  That will be healthy. I think many will agree with that. 

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The agenda for the session’s meetings was extraordinarily unexciting,

I expect this to change. Often in NAD the agenda is to prevent healthy discussion of issues that the leadership wants to avoid.  I hope that the next GC session will be filled with an uplifting agenda reflecting the growth and progress of missions. 

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The result? A continuing imbalance between men and women, and little opportunity for new, young talent to surface.

This is the future, an imbalance between men and women. Because this is the way of the global south. I think we will see new young talent surface. Just not in the areas we are familiar with. 

I suspect the agenda will be circulated ahead of time. Some may be disappointed with that. 

I expect it to be more of a celebration of our efforts. 

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Whatever we think about our GC tradition, we will have another quinquennial Session in mid-2030. During the 2022 Annual Council, the GC Executive Committee chose Indianapolis, Indiana, and the contract has been signed with the Lucas Oil Stadium—a venue that seats some 70,000 people.

I am not going to make plans for Indy. A lot can change between now and then. I expect extraordinary worldwide change (outside of the church) between now and then. Change like none of us living have ever seen. War in many places. I will make another post on that. 

This division in the NAD cannot last. Something is going to happen. I don't feel good about the way NAD is headed. 

This polarization in the Lake Region churches is disturbing. I talk to my white friends in the USA, and they talk about severely declining church attendance. That is not true in the NAD Latino and Asian churches. These groups are going to continue to push for more leaders in NAD to reflect their numbers. 

I suspect US politics will cause more division in NAD. As President Trump makes more changes, I expect more division in the NAD church. 

It might surprise people here to learn that the Global South does not support Pres. Trump. However, they do not see him as an enemy. Just as a fact of life. 

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“The single most important practice in Stoic philosophy is differentiating between what we can change and what we can’t. What we have influence over and what we do not.”³

We all spend too much time and energy worrying about things outside of our control. And how much time is too much time? Well, anything more than zero, the Stoics would say. Why? Because trying to influence things outside of your control is a futile effort that comes at the expense of taking action on the things you can influence.

Furthermore, just fretting about such things causes unnecessary distress. Here Stoicism aligns with Buddhism, which teaches that suffering = pain x resistance. Acceptance of the things you cannot change is the only logical choice.

“A flight is delayed because of weather—no amount of yelling at an airline representative will end a storm. No amount of wishing will make you taller or shorter or born in a different country. No matter how hard you try, you can’t make someone like you.”³

This is the major difference I see between NAD/EU and Global South. GS is in a world in which they have little control. Powerful leaders run the world, and they are completely excluded from that.  They accept, that there is so much they can't control. So they don't get frustrated by that. Instead, they focus on what they can do. They can do the mission, and not many can stop that. It is not that they are trying to be great Stoics, it is just reality for them.  In life, they have no control over their governments, and just accept the fact. It is an obstacle to move around, not fight. 

Another major factor in the next GC meetings will be confrontation. GS people are uncomfortable with confrontation. It is popular in the West, but not GS. In GS, confrontation brings hard feelings. Pastors and administrators work to avoid confrontations here. 

[Asia Joe]

The GC session was less than  8 mil. 

Brother Lawrence has a summary here: