Officers Elected
Michael Ryan, director of the church’s office of Global Mission, is now also a general vice president of the world church, with responsibility for strategic planning. Ryan’s election fills the position left open after Leo Ranzolin retired earlier this year. Ryan will continue to oversee the Global Mission activities.
Also elected were Joel Zukovsky as a director of the International Health Food Association, a network of Adventist health food companies. He is managing director of the Inter-American Health Food Company. Johan Johansson was elected as treasurer for the Trans-European Division, succeeding William M. Olson, who is moving to the Alberta, Canada, Conference as president. And James Standish, who represents the Adventist Church to the United States government and its Congress, was elected an associate director of the world church’s Public Affairs and Religious Liberty department.
They’ll Have This Hope
“Hope for the Big 13,” a church-planting effort to reach 13 of the world’s largest metropolitan areas—one in each of the world church regions—was approved during the annual business session. According to some estimates, in five years, half the world’s population will reside in urban areas. The world church Session 2005 Offering and other designated offerings will provide the seed money for this project.
Statement on Music Out for Study, Comment
A statement on “a Seventh-day Adventist Philosophy of Music” was distributed to delegates for their study and comment during the annual business meeting. The five-page document, which will only receive limited circulation to committee members, will be the subject of comments collected during the next 12 months, with a discussion of the statement at the 2004 annual session.
