Seventh-day Adventist Church leaders for the Trans-European region met November 20 to 23 to discuss policy changes, process church business, and engage in strategic planning for the next five years.

Leaders voted to accept a strategic plan for the years 2001 to 2005 entitled “Growing Together.”  The plan encompasses the three focus points of the world church: growth through evangelism and witness; growth in quality of life; and growth through unity.

“I am excited to work with dedicated leaders, pastors, and members across the entire division to change the focus and way we do our work, so that we allow God to make things grow,”  said Dr. Bertil Wiklander, president of the Adventist Church in the region.

Dr. Reinder Bruinsma, executive secretary of the Adventist Church in the region, reported a net growth in church membership over the past year of 2 percent.  A study of membership reports over the past 10 years shows some clear trends: limited but continuous growth in Britain; slight growth in the Netherlands, mainly due to immigration; slow but consistent erosion of membership in Scandinavia; a declining growth rate in southeastern Europe; and a significant growth in Israel and Pakistan and in parts of the Middle-Eastern region (Sudan).

Peter Roennfeldt, Global Mission coordinator, reported plans for the establishment of 300 news churches throughout the Trans-European region, which includes countries from the United Kingdom, to Sudan, to Finland.

Gerry Karst, a vice president of the Adventist Church worldwide, also attended the meetings.  “During these year-end meetings, I have seen effective strategic planning, observed a spirit of cooperation and unity, and listened to exciting reports of the growth of the church,” he said.  “The future is in good hands.”