NewsNuggets Page 49

07 Jul

BAPTISMS AT CAMP

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By Brandon Westgate – Ward, Colorado … Every year at Glacier View Ranch during our summer camp program, some of our campers decide they want to begin or better solidify their spiritual journey with God through baptism. These campers may be divided into a few different categories.

Some of these campers come to camp already prepared to be baptized. They have studied and have talked to their parents who are excited for their decision. There are others who have been involved in their local church and have grown up in a healthy faith community who have an experience at camp that compels them to decide to be baptized. Then there are some who come to camp with very little exposure to organized religion. They have not grown up in a faith community, yet because of what they learn about Jesus at camp, they decide to begin a faith journey with Jesus through baptism.

Some campers don’t fit neatly into any of these categories, yet because of what they have experienced at camp, they desire something greater for their life. Some of them desire to be baptized as well.

Some may say that these young people are not ready for baptism because they have not been led through a series of doctrinal studies. To this, I would simply say that baptism is the beginning of a faith journey, not a graduation ceremony for having completed a theology degree. In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus said we should make disciples. We do that by modeling Jesus to the people we encounter. We endeavor to do that at camp for our campers. Matthew quotes Jesus as saying that we should then baptize them and teach them (in that order) which is why we recommend to our campers and their parents to connect with a spiritual leader who can guide them in their new faith journey.

Some may argue that these young people are having an emotional response to God. I would affirm this to be true. I would further submit that anytime we encounter a God who is for us, who loves us with WILD* love, who has done everything He can do to save us and who desires to be with us eternally, it should evoke an emotional response! Baptism is emotional in the same way a wedding is emotional. The person being baptized is entering into a covenant relationship with Jesus and that is reason enough to rejoice and to be overcome by His WILD love!

*WILD is a theme for the GVR 2022 camp season

Brandon Westgate, RMC youth director. Photo by Rajmund Dabrowski

07 Jul

PASTORAL CALLED CONVENTION

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RMCNews with Shayne and Gabriela Vincent – Lexington, Kentucky … After the hustle of preaching at their churches on June 18, Pastor Shayne Vincent and wife Gabriela made their way to the Denver airport from Wyoming for a 3 a.m. flight to Lexington, Kentucky. This was their first quinquennal North American Division (NAD) pastoral meeting, and it was a huge blessing.

Shayne met with old friends he had not seen in nearly two decades. Gabriela visited with her family who pastor there in the NAD. They also enjoyed meeting with friends they had come to know only through social media. More than 5,000 pastors and their families came from all over North America.

Among the many daily classes provided, issues from technology in ministry to budgeting in pastoral families were covered. Classes were also tailored for the pastor’s spouse and for their children, which led to 14 baptisms among the pastors’ children.

Gabriela stated, “I was blown away by the transparency and the willingness of our denomination to address tough issues such as mental health, LGBTQ, equality, and balancing family life in ministry.”

And Shayne noted, “I was encouraged to see so many pastors in the tech session who had successfully made community the center of their churches and online ministry. It reaffirmed that I am on the right track and gave me many new ideas for my own ministry”.

Along with the many break out classes, there were also main auditorium presentations that highlighted many well-known Adventists, including George Knight. Pastor Ted Williams from the Southeastern Colorado District shared with Shayne, “It was such a blessing to see the exclusive focus of the convention be Jesus!”

The convention ended by noon on Wednesday, affording enough time for many pastors to travel an hour north to “The Ark Encounter,” where they were blessed to experience a full-scale replica of Noah’s Ark. “It had the size of a cruise ship if you smooshed the top down,” commented Shayne. Inside were four massive floors, each one exploring a different aspect of the animals, the judgment in the Bible, and a deep dive into creation science.

The RMC Pastors were blessed with a luncheon put on by the Conference where we met and took time to fellowship together, break bread, and remember Pastor Tom Tupito, who sadly passed in his hotel near the beginning of the convention.

Both Pastor Shayne and Gabriela are grateful for those who made this possible. It is encouraging to see such Christ-centered leadership at the North American Division that prioritizes not only the holistic needs of pastors, but also the needs of their spouses and children, Shane and Gabriela expressed.

RMCNews with Shayne and Gabriela Vincent. Photo supplied.

07 Jul

ADVENTURES OF A LIFETIME

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By Samantha Nelson – Cody, Wyoming …What happens when two Pathfinder Teen Leaders in Training (TLT) team up with their pastor and his wife? The adventure of a lifetime!

From June 12-28, Pastor Steve Nelson and wife Samantha took Dean and Cedar Jeffers, two teens from the Cody Seventh-day Adventist Church on an incredible adventure they likely will never forget!

As part of achieving their Pathfinder advanced honors, Cedar and Dean were to learn more about church history and how the church operates. They drove to the top of Pike’s Peak before sitting in on the Rocky Mountain Conference Executive Committee meeting in Denver the following morning. Committee members were very welcoming as the teens experienced the Conference-wide “church board meeting,” as it was described to them.

Traveling from Denver, the teens were able to see several historic sights—the Buffalo Bill Cody Scout’s Rest Ranch in Nebraska, St. Louis Gateway Arch in Missouri, Churchill Downs and the Louisville Slugger Museum in Kentucky, Stone’s River Battlefield, and the burial location of Beautiful Jim Key, the world’s smartest horse in Tennessee—all along the route to Lexington, Kentucky where they would be part of the North American Division pastor’s meetings at the Called Convention.

This was the first time the youth had been in such a large group of Adventists, and pastors at that! It was a little overwhelming, but they did enjoy seeing the exhibits and learning about the various ministries within the church. They also were very grateful for their PK gifts—a nice backpack, hoodie, T-shirt, and more. It was an entirely new experience for them to worship with hundreds, if not thousands, of other young people, as well as pastors.

The next stop was the Ark Encounter, where Cedar and Dean were able to ride a camel for the first time. This was followed by the Creation Museum in Kentucky.

“The Ark was my favorite experience of the trip!” said Cedar.

“The Creation Museum was really interesting and seeing the Ark helped me to picture how big Noah’s Ark would have been,” Dean commented.

Sounds like a full trip, doesn’t it? Well, it was far from over! From Kentucky, the field trip carried on to a visit to Andrews University in Berrien Springs and the Historic Adventist Village in Battle Creek, Michigan where they saw firsthand what living conditions were like for the founders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and heard stories about these incredible pioneers in ministry.

The last major stop before heading back to Cody was the Oriental Institute of Chicago. This museum claims to house “10,000 years of human history under one roof.” Many of the museum’s artifacts can be tied to people, places, or events mentioned in the Bible.

Pastor Steve commented, “Our goal for this trip was to deepen the love for God the young people already have, show them a broader perspective of the church and its operations and help them grow in their leadership skills as TLTs for the Cody Cowboys Pathfinder Club.”

He added, “God helped us achieve those goals and blessed us all with safe travels and health throughout the trip. Naturally, we were all grateful to be back home in Wyoming, although they have already started talking about what the next adventure might be.”

Lord willing, there will be more adventures coming up as this trip proved very beneficial for the spiritual growth and nurture of the youth.

—Samantha Nelson, text, and photos

07 Jul

COMMENTARY: IN HIS IMAGE

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By Doug Inglish … “So, God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:27, NIV)

I am sure we have all contemplated what it means to be made in the image of God. Mostly, I think we consider it in terms of having been formed to physically resemble the Creator, in that we walk upright, have opposable thumbs, etc. So far, so good, because there are indications in Scripture of our physical resemblance.

But it goes well beyond that. Compared to the rest of earthly creation, we have higher cognitive abilities, more complex speech, and so many other advantages that can only come from being made in the image of God. Even in our fallen condition, that image is unmistakable.

Have you ever considered that part of His image He passed on to us are those certain qualities that go beyond physical or mental characteristics? Things like mercy, forgiveness, or compassion. Yes, there are scattered examples of what at least appear to be some of these qualities within the animal kingdom, and I too enjoy stories of an elephant showing gratitude, an act of kindness, or a dog facing danger to protect its family.

But even if we admit that human-like (or even God-like) qualities can occasionally be displayed in animals, there is no doubt that God gave us the ability to possess and expand these qualities on a scale that is incomparable to any other created beings on earth. Truly, the psalmist was right when he declared,

“You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor.” (Psalm 8:5, NIV)

I am certain that one of the ways in which we carry the image of God is in our capacity to be generous. Bees may indicate to the rest of the hive where flowers are located, and wolves bring food back to the den for their pups, but these are actions of instinct. We creationists understand this in terms of God granting to His creation a means of perpetuating their kind, but even evolutionists have an explanation that amounts to survival of the species. True generosity only exists within the human species, and there is no adequate explanation for this apart from God having made us in His image.

We bring glory to God when we develop the qualities of His character, He placed within us at our creation. Along with improving our exercise of mercy, forgiveness, kindness, grace, compassion, and so many other of these wonderful qualities, He has given us the privilege of experiencing generosity. It can be practiced in the home, on the playground, and at work. It comes in charitable acts of giving to our church and to causes that are worthy of our generosity. It can be of our time, of our abilities, or of our wealth. But whatever form we use to express our generosity, it is always a declaration that we are created in His image.

–Doug Inglish is RMC vice president for administration and stewardship director; photo by Nathan Dumlao/Unsplash.

30 Jun

MIGUEL “MIKEY” ARCHIBEQUE ORDAINED AT DENVER SOUTH CHURCH

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RMCNews with Mickey Mallory – Denver, Colorado … In his response following the ordination to the gospel ministry on June 25, Mikey Archibeque, associate pastor at Denver South Church, said that “from the beginning of following Jesus into ministry, it has been my dream to know him in a way like Moses. Exodus mentions that he entered the tent of meeting and spoke to God as to a friend. And it is my dream that others come to know the intimacy of knowing who God is in the same way. And today, the Adventist Church is recognizing the ministry that Christ began in me.”

Pastor Mikey shared that his ordination ceremony was a perfect day because he got to be with the people he loved. Everyone who showed up has been a teacher, friend, and sister or brother in Christ and has helped me in my ministry, he remarked. His candidacy was presented by two colleagues in ministry, Pastors Brooke and Ricky Melendez from The Adventure Church in Greeley.

Referring to his colleagues and mentors, he commented, “they have all been ordained for ministry. And all these people–friends, family, church members–have all come because they have been changed by what Jesus has continued to work in my life. I am excited to see how Christ continues to lead as I head to seminary in August,” he said in his ordination response.

Since his arrival four years ago, the Denver South Church has provided Pastor Mikey with many opportunities to put his spiritual gifts into action. His lead pastor, Evgeni Kovachev, and head elder, Pat Bernal, have especially been supportive.

The ordination address was given by Pastor Pedro Perez, who happens to be Pastor Mikey’s uncle and the Pathfinder and Adventurer director for the Florida Conference. Because Pastor Mikey resonates most with the Bible character of Moses, Pastor Perez chose to share a message based on leadership lessons from the life of Moses.”

“When a pastor is ordained at his local church, it gives the church members a chance to celebrate with the pastor all the things that God has done to bring the pastor to this point in ministry,” said Mickey Mallory, RMC ministerial director.

“As Moses was in the mountain with God, it has been Pastor Mikey’s desire throughout his life and ministry to stay close to God.”

“It has been good to share this journey, to walk with you, talk with you, hopefully to make you laugh, hopefully to bring you joy, and to see the face of God,” Pastor Mikey commented.

Pastor Mikey’s first experiences with Jesus happened at Broken Arrow Ranch Summer Camp in Kansas. Jesus became real as I worshiped, performed skits, rode on go-carts, and shot bows and arrows. I found lifelong friends, ministry partners and, most importantly, mentors that continue to help in my ministry journey. My camp experience opened me up to a life of service in ministry.

He attended Union College where he was approached by a friend from camp to serve as the men’s dorm pastor for Campus Ministries. In the following years, he served in many roles in Campus Ministries eventually becoming the student chaplain. At Union College, he found joy in serving, raising leaders, building relationships, and caring for people. What began at summer camp continued to blossom into year-round ministry.

In his Life Sketch, he wrote about falling in love with service and eventually switching his major to theology to become a pastor. After graduating, with no youth or associate pastor positions offered, he took a job as an associate dean and assistant to the chaplain at Blue Mountain Academy. He felt like a failure, he wrote, because he wasn’t where he thought he was supposed to be; not a pastor, single, didn’t love my job, and far away from everyone I knew. These feelings persisted into his next position as an intern youth pastor in Hawaii. And what was supposed to be a 6-month stint turned into a 2-year transformation.

Serving in Hawaii changed his attitude, he shared. The weight of proving himself to others and God fell away. He could finally practice and enjoy ministry. After accepting the call to the Rocky Mountain Conference, he was ready to minister in confidence.

“I have been at Denver South over four years and God continues to reveal his power, love, and courage to me. No matter where I serve, I know I am rooted and established in His love,” Pastor Mikey stated.

The ordination ceremony included Rocky Mountain Conference leaders, among whom was Pastor Mic Thurber who offered the ordination prayer.

RMCNews with Mickey Mallory. Photos by Susan Inglish.

30 Jun

FRANKTOWN CHURCH MEMBERS PARTICIPATE IN BOULDER SUNRISE TRIATHLON EVENTS

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Matt Moreland with Rajmund Dabrowski – Boulder, Colorado … “Oh, my word, I loved it. Next time I want to do the whole thing,” said Kelli Carlson, a member of a Franktown Adventist Church group that participated in the Boulder Sunrise Triathlon.

It all started in January 2022 when church member, Derek Watson, began talking to a few others about wanting to do a triathlon. After that, it gained interest from many members. Some wanted to join a team, and some wanted to go solo.

By race day, Franktown church had 12 athletes ready to race.

“I was so proud we all finished. We all worked so hard training together and pushing each other. We had a great time cheering for each other. I can’t wait to do it again!” said Matt Moreland.

The ladies teamed up to tackle the Relay Sprint Triathlon. In the 1st team was Keli Carlson, Jen Larossi, and Katie Watson; and the 2nd team included Erin Houghton, Jamie Ragsdale, and Sharise Moreland.  A Sprint triathlon includes a 1/2-mile swim, 17.3-mile bike ride, and 3.2-mile run. Grant Moreland, David Thiel and Jonathan Carlson participated in and came in first in the Duathlon, which included a 17.3-mile bike ride and two 3.2-mile runs. Hernan Block, Derek Watson and Matthew Moreland, each competed solo in the Olympic Triathlon which included a 1-mile swim, 26.4-mile bike ride, and a 6.2-mile run.
When asked if they would do it again, several of them did not mince their excitement. “The race pushed me to maintain an exercise program and I would do the race again in a heartbeat!” said David Thiel. “People were nice, swim was long, bike was fun, and run was painful. It was an overall great experience, would do it again,” commented Derek Watson

Thirteen-year-old Grant Moreland, Matt’s son, was excited to participate this year. He said, “I had a lot of fun. I was really surprised we won! I want to make a team again next year.”

Matt Moreland added that it would be exciting to see “other churches participate in such a great community event.”

— Matt Moreland with Rajmund Dabrowski. Photos supplied.

20 Jun

PASTOR TOM TUPITO FROM AURORA FIRST CHURCH PASSES AT NAD CONFERENCE

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RMCNews with Joanne Smith – Denver, Colorado … Tom Tupito, senior pastor of Aurora First Adventist Church passed away June 19 after suffering a heart attack while attending the North American Division ministerial CALLED conference.

“This is a huge loss for Tom’s family, the Aurora First Seventh-day Adventist Church, and all of the workers in the Rocky Mountain Conference who loved and appreciated Tom,” said Mickey Mallory, RMC ministerial director.

“We are eternally grateful for the wonderful impact Tom made on his family and church. He will be missed greatly. His friendly demeanor always made interacting with him enjoyable.”

Born in Taputimu, American Samoa, Tom has been with Aurora First since January 1, 2017.

Commenting on this tragic news, Aurora church head elder, Boima Sonii said, “Our hearts are broken by the sudden passing of our dear pastor. Words alone can’t express how much we are going to miss him. Our prayers and thoughts are with his sons, Esmond and Evron, and the entire Tupito family.”

Addressing the church, Sonii said, “My beloved Aurora First family, let’s keep the faith. Our God will certainly get us through these difficult times.”

Tom endured the loss of his wife, Fuiono Gingerlei, in August of 2019, and just last month, lost his sister in California.

“Our sincere gratitude to all who have reached out to express their love and condolences,” said Tom’s son, Esmond. He added, “In lieu of having visitors at our house, we’ve decided to meet at the church gymnasium on Wednesday and Thursday, June 22-23, from 6 to 9:30 p.m., for anyone who would like to come and share their sentiments and condolences.” The Aurora First address is 11400 E Mississippi Avenue, Aurora, CO 80012.

Information about the memorial service will be announced.

RMCNews with Joanne Smith; photo of Tom and Fuiono Gingerlei supplied.

16 Jun

RMC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE REVIEWS PREPARATIONS FOR CONSTITUENCY SESSION

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RMCNews – Denver, Colorado – During what was likely the last meeting of the RMC Executive Committee before the 2022 Quinquennium Session of the Conference, the Committee reviewed preparations on June 14 for its upcoming session. Reports are being finalized, it was shared, both in print and video, and the session program as well as materials for the delegates, are nearly ready.

Regular agenda items included the treasury report prepared by Darin Gottfried, RMC VP of finance, and presented by Jodi Coulter, associate treasurer, who reported that the base tithe for the Conference is currently up .23% over the previous year, though we currently have one Sabbath more in 2022 than we had in 2021. Commenting on the effect of inflation on the conference finances, the treasurers reported a 9.92% tithe increase over the past 10 years when adjusted for inflation. But we are down 8.07% so far in 2022.

We are currently more than $428,578 below budget, it was reported. In summary, treasurers stated that while non-tithe and even tithe numbers can be somewhat discouraging, it is always hard to follow a strong year of tithe gains-– 18.60% in 2021 through April. We still have 2/3 of the year to go and seeing some of what has been coming in for May remittances has given much hope for the reminder of the year.

Darin Gottfried expressed his gratitude to church members for their support of God’s work in RMC. “We are in a strong financial position,” Gottfried concluded.

After his return as delegate to the General Conference Session in St. Louis, Missouri, Mic Thurber, in his President’s Report, briefly shared a few reflections about what he termed as “global Adventist camp meeting. “When you see a worldwide family of believers, it does something to you,” he said.

It never ceases to amaze me how impressive it is to meet with Adventist Christians from around the world when we gather for General Conference. We may not speak each other’s language, but we share each other’s Savior! And you can just sense it wherever you go among those who come,” Thurber said.

He was impressed by how congenial the sessions were, even when there was strong disagreement evident. “That’s a testament to how the Holy Spirit works among God’s people,” he added.

“I will confess to greatly missing the exhibit hall with all the booths from around the world where people shared stories of what God is doing in their territories, along with a slew of ministry materials and resources. The exhibit hall added much value to the session, making it feel like an Adventist, world-wide camp meeting. I hope in three years when we hold our next session, that the exhibit hall will be back.

“Though we didn’t always agree on the particulars of bylaws and church manual changes, we were truly united in our desire to see Jesus come quickly and for each of us to be involved in helping others get ready. In the end, that’s what matters most!” Thurber said.

Thurber also recognized that Literature Ministry is starting again with the natural enthusiasm of young people engaged in the ministry. He expressed his appreciation for meeting the LE team when they visited the RMC office the day before.

Among the decisions passed, the Executive Committee voted to grant company status to The Mile High Indonesian Fellowship. They are meeting in Aurora, Colorado.

Reporting for the education department, Dianne Harris, education superintendent, reported on teacher openings and the difficulties the education department has had with a severe teacher shortage. At the end of Spring, the schools had 17 teacher openings. She said that there are currently five to six openings to be filled and there is hope that these can be completed in time for the new school year.

Dianne Harris also informed the committee that Sandy Hodgson, who has been Vista Ridge Academy’s head teacher and principal, will join the education department as assistant director on July 1. She said “As we look to the future of RMC education, we are blessed to bring Sandy Hodgson’s 24 years of experience to broaden our teacher support. As we increase our professional development opportunities and bring added resources to our small schools, I know that Sandy will be a blessing to our teachers.”

The Committee passed a motion expressing appreciation to Pat Chapman for her 25 years of service to RMC as she is retiring, and, in particular, for her meal preparation at various events, especially for executive committee meetings.

The personnel report indicated that Michael Shannon is moving to Greeley on August 1. to take over as pastor there. Windsor/Elmshaven is now separated from that district, and Matt Hasty is the pastor there in addition to his duties as director of the Literature Ministry program. Pastoral openings exist in Littleton (senior and associate), Colorado Springs (senior), Franktown (associate), as well as the Glenwood Springs district.

The committee also voted to invite Nathaniel Gamble to serve as religious liberty director at RMC.

The Committee recognized with appreciation members whose service will be ending following the Constituency Session. They are: Morre Dean – Newday Christian Adventist Church (PorterCare representative); Meridee Mason – Cheyenne Adventist Church; Keith Messersmith – Lamar Adventist Church; Wayne Morrison – Brighton English Adventist Church; Lynn Nicolay – Palisade Adventist Church; Ron Price – Piñon Hills Adventist Church.

Doug Inglish, RMC VP of administration, commented that “this committee has exhibited the spirit of Christ in all its work. When there is disagreement within the body it has been respectful. When receiving disappointing reports, they have been understanding. When required to demand accountability they have been fair and compassionate. Whatever success has come during the quinquennium is in no small part a reflection of their leadership. Those who are leaving will be missed.”

RMCNews; photo by Mickey Mallory. Pictured is speaker of the devotional message, Daniel Birai, lead pastor of LifeSource Adventist Fellowship.

16 Jun

PRAYER SUSTAINS YOUNG LITERATURE EVANGELISTS

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Rajmund Dabrowski – Denver, Colorado … Participation in regular morning worship at the Rocky Mountain Conference office increased by 18 visiting participants on June 13, representing a group of young literature evangelists.

“Our office leadership team had a serendipitous encounter with the LE team that leader Matt Hasty put together for this summer,” explained Mic Thurber, RMC president.

Joining in prayer, the RMC leaders “were so impressed by their dedication and excitement for the work ahead. As we prayed with and for them, we were deeply impressed that God will use them in powerful ways,” he added.

In preparation and planning for the 2022 summer canvasing, the group meets in Greeley, Colorado and a visit to the regional church offices gave them an opportunity to get acquainted with the head-office and its activities. The LE group regularly meets to pray, study to be better equipped in their work for the Lord, one participant explained. Canvassers also shared their witnessing stories with the RMC group.

“It was a huge blessing having our conference administration show support for our LE students and the hard work they are doing,” said Matt Hasty. As they meet people and share the gospel message, they will have many stories to share, Hasty added.

Noemi Borjon, RMC HR director, provided HR training for our Youth, which was well received, and she treated the LE team to lunch.

The RMC Summer 2022 itinerary is chiefly zeroing in on the State of Wyoming, including the following areas and dates: Greeley, Colorado–until June 24; Cheyenne–June 24 to July 1; Laramie–July 1-9; Casper–July 9-17; Sheridan/Buffalo/Gillette—July 17-22; Cody/Riverton/Rock Springs–July 22-29; and Star Valley Ranch–July 29-31.

Rajmund Dabrowski, RMC communication director; photo by Rajmund Dabrowski

10 Jun

General Conference Session 2022 – Day 4

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Thursday, June 9th, 2022 marked the fourth day of the hybrid General Conference (GC) Session in St. Louis, Missouri. It was also the final day of scheduled business meetings. The day began with a digital concert featuring linguistically diverse musicians from around the globe. The business session followed with a warm welcome from Stephen Apola, associate director of the GC. Charissa Torossian, Prayer Ministries Director from the North New South Wales Conference, virtually shared a compelling message entitled “The Life and Ministry of Mary Magdalene,” reminding listeners that when we are devoted to Jesus, we live for Him, learn from Him, seek to listen to Him, and long to be in His presence. She reviews the life of Mary, noting how Jesus was worth everything to her. Torossian asked the question, “What is Jesus worth to you?” The morning worship came to a close with a time of prayer.

Morning Business Section

A point of order was raised by Tim Standish who shared concerns of the limited time allowed for delegates to complete the registration process to share their opinion during discussion time, as he was unable to share his opinion regarding Nominating Committee Report #9. For this reason, Standish requested that the report be sent back to the committee. His request was denied as it was already passed.The morning business meeting was chaired by General Vice-President of the GC Guillermo Biaggi. The following agenda items were addressed:

Church Manual Amendments – Church Offices and Departments

  • Motion to delete section of “Ministry to People With Disabilities” in Chapter 8 from the Church Manual as a new section of Adventist Possibility Ministries has been added (item 420).
    • 1155 voted yes (95.1%); 60 voted no (4.9%)
  • Motion to amend chapter 8 of the Church Manual to allow the auditing of church membership records (item 428).
    • This item was sent back to the committee as delegates expressed concerns with the word “auditing” for a previous item.

Church Manual Amendments – Discipline and Christian Living

  • Motion to add a new chapter to the Church Manual in chapter 6 on making disciples (item 429).
    • Several delegates expressed a desire to refer this item back to the committee for review requesting clarification on the definition of “discipleship” and translation challenges.
    • Motion to cease debate and vote.
      • 1332 voted yes (93.7%); 89 voted no (6.3%)
  • Motion to amend chapter 10 of the Church Manual regarding making disciples to make this section consistent with the new mission statement of the World Church, voted by the 2018 Annual Council (item 430).
    • Motion to cease debate and vote on previous motion.
      • 1397 voted yes (96.2%); 55 voted no (3.8%)
    • Motion to accept item 430.
      • 1413 voted yes (95.9%); 61 voted no (4.1%)
  • Motion to amend chapter 7 in the Church Manual on “No Additional Tests of Fellowship” to simplify the language of this section (item 431).
    • Due to delegate concerns with terms in the suggested amendments, many referred items back to the committee.
  • Motion to amend chapter 7 of the Church Manual to clarify that written notice should be given prior to both the church board meeting and church business meeting before voting to discipline a member (item 432).
    • Motion to cease debate and voting.
      • 1396 voted yes (97.6%); 34 voted no (2.4%)
    • Motion to accept item 432.
      • 1364 voted yes (97.1%); 41 voted no (2.9%)
  • Motion to amend chapter 12 of the Church Manual to add a direct quotation from the Bible regarding Sabbath-keeping (item 433).
    • 1363 voted yes (94.6%); 78 voted no (5.4%)
  • Motion to amend chapter 13 of the Church Manual to add a new section regarding premarital education and counseling to emphasize its importance (item 434).
    • Motion to cease debate and voting.
      •  1292 voted yes (95.1%); 62 voted no (4.9%)
    • Motion to accept item 434.
      • 1333 voted yes (98.3%); 23 voted no (1.7%)
  • Motion to amend chapter 3 of the Church Manual on missionary purposes of organization to express the importance of finding new ways to reach the diverse cultures of the world with the Gospel, including the formation of new mission groups (item 435).
    • Delegates motioned to reconsider item 435 by referring it back to the committee for review.
    • Motion to cease debate.
      • 1280 voted yes (98.7%); 17 voted no (1.3%).
  • Motion to amend chapter 6 of the Church Manual allowing the church board to recommend the removal of a member from membership to a business meeting but without discussion, debate, or the need to vote (item 426).
    • 1289 voted yes (99.2%); 11 voted no (0.8%).

AFTERNOON BUSINESS SESSION:

General Vice-President of the GC Geoffrey Mbwana chaired the afternoon’s business session, where the following agenda items were addressed:

Nominating Committee Vote for GC Corporation Board

The Nominating Committee presented the following votes for GC Corporation Board:

  • Vote to approve Ted Wilson (chair), Daisy Orion, Timothy Aka, Guillermo Biaggi, Dennis Carlson, Scot Coppock, Paul Douglas, George Egwakhe, Erton Köhler, Thomas Lemon, Geoffrey Mbwana, Hensley Moorooven, J Raymond Wahlen II, Josue Pierre, James Winegardner, Saw Samuel, Audrey Andersson as GC Corporation Board.
    • 525 voted yes (97.8%); 12 voted no (2.2%)

Three Angels Messages Project

A video presentation, hosted by Justin Kim, GC editor and assistant director of Sabbath School and Personal Ministries, recounted many individuals’ testimonies about how they encountered Jesus and now live to share the Gospel truth, the Three Angels’ Message, with others. It also shared several initiatives young people can become involved in to be part of this gospel sharing movement. We are the people who have been called to spread this message of hope before the end of time.

Resolution on the Holy Bible

Director of Biblical Research Institute Elias Brasil De Souza read the resolution of the Holy Bible found in the session agenda as item 124.

  • Due to the need for clarification and risk of possibly misunderstanding some sections of the statement, several delegates expressed the desire for the statement to be referred to the committee.
    • Motion to refer “Resolution on the Holy Bible” to the GC Administrative Committee.
      • 650 voted yes (59.1%); 449 voted no (40.9).
    • Motion to call the previous question (item 124) and cease discussion.
      • 1101 voted yes (88.9%); 137 voted no (11.1%).
    • Motion to reconsider the referral of the statement of the Holy Bible item 124.
      • 815 voted yes (62.5%); 488 voted no (37.5%).
    • Motion to cease all debate.
      • 1166 voted yes (91.3%); 111 voted no (8.7%).
    • Motion to refer item 124 to the committee.
      • 427 voted yes (31.9%); 911 voted no (68.1%).
    • Motion to call previous question and cease debate.
      • 1234 voted yes (94.1%); 77 voted no (5.9%).
    • Motion to approve item 124.
      • 1249 voted yes (88.8%); 157 voted no (11.2%).

Statement of Confidence in the Writings of Ellen White

Associate Secretary of the GC Elbert Kuhn shared the GC Statement of Confidence in the Writings of Ellen White as found in the session agenda as item 125.

  • Due to the need for clarity within this statement, a desire to refer the statement back to the committee was expressed by delegates.
    • Motion to cease debate.
      • 1052 voted yes (87.7%); 148 voted no (12.3%).
    • Motion to refer item 125 to the committee.
      • 507 voted yes (41.2%); 723 voted no (58.8%).
    • Motion to table item 125.
      • 642 voted yes (50.9%); 619 voted no (49.1%).
    • Motion to remove from the table item 125.
      • 1117 voted yes (82.0%); 246 voted no (18.0%).
    • Motion to cease debate.
      • 1224 voted yes (90.7%); 125 voted no (9.3%).
    • Motion to approve item 125.
      • 1189 voted yes (84.9%); 212 voted no (15.1%).

Biblical Hermeneutics: An Adventist Approach

Frank Hasel, director of the Biblical Research Institute, shared information with attendees about the book entitled Biblical Hermeneutics: An Adventist Approach. He noted the importance and value of understanding Biblical Hermeneutics and added that it is a helpful resource to consider adding to your library! Learn more about it here.

Constitution and Bylaws and Church Manual Amendments

Undersecretary of the GC Hensley Moorooven shared an updated and revised agenda after committee review which was sent to delegates via email regarding items 206 and 208. He made the following motions:

  • To remove the phrase “frontline denominational employee” for clarity and to add section 2 regarding minutes of the GC Executive committee (item 206).
    • Motion to cease debate and call the previous question.
      • 1155 voted yes (98.5%); 17 voted no (1.5%).
    • Motion to amend item 206.
      • 1166 voted yes (98.6%); 16 voted no (1.4%).
  • To amend item 208 allowing the GC Executive Committee to review and extend the postponement of GC Sessions and determine the timing for a subsequent session after a postponement.
    • Motion to cease debate and call the previous question.
      •  1066 voted yes (95.3%); 52 voted no (4.7%).
    • Motion to amend item 208.
      • 1054 voted yes (97.1%); 32 voted no (2.9%).

*All items regarding the Constitution and Bylaw Amendments have been completed. 

EVENING BUSINESS SESSION:

Due to a change in schedule, the evening session began with worship which included the deeply engaging message entitled “In the Beginning, There was Love.” Noemi Duran, director of the Geoscience Institute, recounted multiple examples of how animals’ capacity to be altruistic magnifies how the love of God is intended to be planted and demonstrated all throughout His creation. As a result, when we treat others poorly, we will never be able to reach their hearts. “Love, in contrast, can melt armors and turn walls into bridges,” she stated. This message was followed by a moment of prayer.

The meeting chair for the evening session was Thomas Lemon. The following motions agenda items were addressed:

Church Manual Amendments – Referred Items

Associate Secretary of the GC, Gerson Santos noted that all delegate comments regarding the referred items were taken back to the committee. As such, changes to the items were made and were again presented. He made the following motions:

  • To amend chapter 10 of the Church Manual to add the term “should be” in the place of “typically are” and “chosen” rather than arranged (item 405).
    • 899 voted yes (99.1%); 8 voted no (0.9).
  • To amend chapter 9 of the Church Manual regarding when and how the Nominating Committee is to be appointed, procedure for filling vacancies in the case of a standing nominating committee, and appropriate representation within members of church nominating committee (item 412).
    • 952 voted yes (98.6%); 14 voted no (1.4%)
  • To amend chapter 8 of the Church Manual to allow for three-year terms of office in exceptional circumstances, if approved by the conference (item 413).
    • 948 voted yes (98.9%); 11 voted no (1.1%).
  • To amend chapter 8 of the Church Manual regarding several changes to the Youth Ministries section with the intent to clarify and simplify points including age changes for Adventurers (4-9) and Young Adults (22-30) (item 421).
    • Motion to cease discussion and call the previous question.
      • 958 voted yes (96.7%); 33 voted no (3.3%).
    • Motion to amend item 421.
      • 940 voted yes (93.6%); 64 voted no (6.4%).
  • To amend chapter 10 of the Church Manual updating the list of church departments that should be represented in the local church board (item 422).
    • 1029 voted yes (98.5%); 16 voted no (1.5%)
  • To amend chapter 6 of the Church Manual to add a new section on Redemptive Membership review (item 427).
    • 1013 voted yes (98.9%); 11 voted no (1.1%).
  • To amend chapter 6 of the Church Manual to change the word “audit” to “review” to make it consistent with the rest of the document (item 428).
    • 1052 voted yes (99.2%); 8 voted no (0.8%).
  • To amend chapter 6 of the Church Manual by adding a section on discipleship (item 429).
    • 1042 voted yes (98.5%); 16 voted no (1.5).
  • To amend chapter 7 of the Church Manual to simplify the language of this section (item 431).
    • 1047 voted yes (98.9%); 12 voted no (1.1%).
  • To amend chapter 3 of the Church Manual to add a section regarding reaching the diverse cultural groups of our world (item 435).
    • 1038 voted yes (99.1%); 9 voted no (0.9%).
  • To amend chapter 8 of the Church Manual to include the use of electronic payments as a proper method of returning tithes and offerings (item 436).
    • 1017 voted yes (99.2%); 8 voted no (0.8%).
  • To amend chapter 1 of the Church Manual to allow for the principles in the manual to also be followed by a company without the need to repeat the word “company” throughout the manual (item 437).
    • 1052 voted yes (99.4%); 6 voted no (0.6%).

*All Church Manual items have been reviewed and voted on. 
The recorded livestream of today’s opening remarks, worship, and business meeting can be viewed on Youtube here. You can also access more information regarding GC Session, including the session agenda here. For information on the GC Session 2022 app, go to: https://adventist.news/news/2022-gc-sessions-first-official-app-goes-live.

This article was originally published on ANN website
photo courtesy of Tor Tjeransen / Adventist Media Exchange

 

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