As airlines in the United States struggle to return to normal after last week’s terrorist attacks, leaders at the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s world headquarters have announced a slimmed-down agenda for their international meetings scheduled for later this month.

Annual Council, a meeting that brings together some 260 delegates from every world region, was to take place September 25 to 30 at the church’s world headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States.

Acknowledging, however, that a significant number of delegates will probably not be able to attend, administrators announced September 17 that Annual Council will end at noon on Thursday, September 27, three days earlier than planned.

Church administrators have suggested that union presidents, lay delegates, and pastors need not attend the shortened Annual Council, unless they are already here and it is convenient for them to be present.

A number of agenda items will be moved to next year’s Spring Meeting, which is traditionally attended by a smaller number of delegates. But in light of the reduced attendance at this Annual Council, consideration will be given to convening the full executive committee for the 2002 Spring Meeting.

Most of the meetings scheduled prior to Annual Council will proceed as planned and any changes will be noted in the daily schedule of meetings released by Secretariat. For further information about scheduling changes contact +(301) 680-6652.