More than 200 leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church from around the world will meet at the church’s world headquarters starting Oct. 10 for an annual meeting of the movement’s Executive Committee. The event comes on the heels of the quinquennial world church session in St. Louis, Missouri, in July, and will address issues raised there as well as pending administrative matters.

One of the major aspects of the, gathering , will be continued presentations on “Tell the World: A Vision for 2005-2010.” At the first business session of the autumn meeting, the Executive Committee, composed of the elected world church officers, international church leadership, ministers and laity, will be briefed on how this program will impact various outreaches of church life.

Another major agenda item is the appointment of a “Commission on Ministries, Services and Structures,” which is expected to fulfill an earlier mandate to church leaders to “review all the ministries and services of the [church’s headquarters] to determine the most effective means of assisting the World Church to fulfill her mission,” as a 2004 Annual Council resolution called on leaders to do. The committee is expected to discuss the terms of reference and membership of this new body.

“I think it is a good idea for our church ... to have a standing [commission] to address the issues of our mission and organization,” said Pastor Jan Paulsen, world church president, at the April 2005 executive committee session. “We are becoming an ever larger, international community,” he added, noting that analysis of such matters is “something we should do regularly, routinely and normally.” Recognizing the fact that the church is growing around the world, Paulsen frequently said, “there must be a better, more effective and efficient way of doing church.”

Due for consideration by the committee will be a reworking of the terms for church employees to serve overseas. It is expected that an “International Service Employee Program” will be proposed to replace the current “Interdivision Employee Program.” however, details are currently unavailable.

Also due for consideration during the meetings are a formal merger of the church’s Global Mission office with the Office of Mission Awareness; constituency meetings for the Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies, Adventist World Radio, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency, Home Study International/Griggs University and Christian Record Services. Many other committees and boards are also expected to meet during the period.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church has more than 14.3 million baptized members, and some 25 million attending weekly worship in more than 203 countries and territories around the world. Organized in 1863, it is one of the fastest-growing Protestant movements, with a global network of hospitals, educational institutions and health food businesses dedicated to serving needs worldwide.