The upcoming World Session of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is to feature five “Windows on Mission” as a major focus for future planning, says Pastor Jan Paulsen, president of the Seventh﷓day Adventist Church.

“The five planned ‘Windows on Mission’ will focus on how the church thinks, views, and plans in matters of importance to the life and witness of the church,” says Paulsen, who indicates that the church must act very intentionally in its decisions for the coming years. “The church must be thinking strategically as it clarifies its witness to the world in this new millennium. We must involve the whole membership of the church, provide training and opportunity for spiritual development, and share our resources as a means of accomplishing our mission and of developing unity.”

The five presentations, held during the business periods of the Session, will each be chaired by a vice﷓president of the World Church, and will give opportunity for comments and questions by the 2,000-strong Session delegation. The intention is not to make formal votes and recommendations, says Paulsen, but to stimulate constructive exchanges which will be filtered into the future strategic planning process by the whole church.

Paulsen comments that he believes this will be “a valuable experience for all delegates,” and will help the church address the many challenges of the contemporary world.

The World Session convenes June 29 through July 8 in Toronto, Canada, with an expected attendance of at least 60,000 Adventist visitors as well as the 2,000 Session delegates.