The annual business meetings of the Seventh-day Adventist Church world leadership produce a large variety of actions and information—too much for a single weekly e-mail bulletin. The following stories may be found, in full (in English) on the Web site as linked with each item.
Audit Process Strengthened by Council’s Action
Financial audits of the Seventh-day Adventist Church world headquarters will now be more independent, following a vote to have the Church’s General Conference executive committee appoint a separate financial audit review committee that will not have church administrators as members, though they may be invited to some sessions. In addition, this restructured audit review committee will be able to discuss internal control issues without administrators present.
More information can be found at:
http://www.adventist.org/news/data/2003/09/1066083600/index.html.en<p>Tithe Up, World Mission Giving Down, Says Treasurer</p>While world mission offerings decreased, the total amount of money given to the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 2002 was more than in 2001 despite a decreasing market economy. Total tithes and offerings went from U.S. $1,718,230,383 in 2001 to $1,772,879,408 in 2002—a 3.2 percent increase. World mission offerings decreased from U.S. $48,038,299 in 2001 to $46,466,793 in 2002—a 3.3 percent decrease. </p>
More information can be found at: <a href="http://www.adventist.org/news/data/2003/09/1066083635/index.html.en">http://www.adventist.org/news/data/2003/09/1066083635/index.html.en<p> </p>
New Guidelines for Establishing Church Regions Voted</p>
Guidelines for growing a Seventh-day Adventist regional mission field into a full-fledged, self-reliant church region, or Union Conference, were approved following little discussion at the world church’s annual business meetings on Oct. 13.</p>
More information can be found at: <a href="http://www.adventist.org/news/data/2003/09/1066084030/index.html.en">http://www.adventist.org/news/data/2003/09/1066084030/index.html.en<p> </p>
Evangelism, Nurture Part of Sunday Business Session</p>
Bringing the gospel message to a hurting world, and nurturing those who respond, were the key elements of discussions in the Sunday, Oct. 12 morning business meeting of the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s Annual Council. Highlights of the session were the official launch of the Sow 1 Billion leaflet campaign and the debut of “HopeTalk.Org,” an Internet site that will lead people to online, self-grading Bible studies in their language.</p>
More information can be found at: <a href="http://www.adventist.org/news/data/2003/09/1065983627/index.html.en">http://www.adventist.org/news/data/2003/09/1065983627/index.html.en<p> </p>
Adventists Launch “Hope Channel” Television Service</p>
Television programming designed for in-home viewing was launched Oct. 10 by the Adventist Television Network, coinciding with church president Pastor Jan Paulsen’s opening address of Annual Council, one of two biannual meetings of the church’s executive committee. The new network, called “The Hope Channel” was turned up when Dr. Paulsen moved a switch on a digital console during the meeting.</p>
More information can be found at: <a href="http://www.adventist.org/news/data/2003/09/1065831765/index.html.en">http://www.adventist.org/news/data/2003/09/1065831765/index.html.en<p> </p>
Africa: World Church Votes to Establish Graduate School</p>
Seventh-day Adventists in Africa will soon have a ministry-related graduate program affiliated with a church-owned college or university there, following a vote by leaders at the annual business meeting Oct. 13, 2003. “The very thought” of a graduate program in Africa, said Pastor Jan Paulsen, president of the world church, “this is so obvious to me; we have to do it.”</p>
More information can be found at: <a href="http://www.adventist.org/news/data/2003/09/1066084594/index.html.en">http://www.adventist.org/news/data/2003/09/1066084594/index.html.en
