Prayerful Process Continues: GC ADCOM Embraces Unity

The following release was received from the General Conference Executive Committee Newsletter editorial team. ~ Editors

The General Conference Administrative Committee (ADCOM) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church recently took action to further support and embrace the unity of the global church, and to complement church policies already in place. 

The Adventist church operates in more than 200 countries, grows at more than four percent per year, and establishes more than 30 new groups of believers each day. Growth and diversity require flexibility, always in the context of holding fast to Biblical truth and best practices of operating. 

Decisions regarding agenda items are determined by majority vote. Most agenda items for the world church come from processes previously agreed upon or as a result of input from elected members of the General Conference Executive Committee.

On July 17, 2018, the General Conference (GC) ADCOM established five compliance committees to serve unity, helping retain voted church beliefs and operating procedures and process. The terms of reference for these committees are available here. The names of the committees and those elected to committee membership can be found at the end of this article.

Two Primary Expressions

The establishment of the five compliance committees resulted from two primary expressions of the world church:

1. A worldwide survey conducted by the church’s Office of Archives, Statistics, and Research of church leaders, including all union presidents, showed strong support for some type of consequences for entities not in compliance with voted actions of GC Sessions and of the GC Executive Committee. Results of the survey were published on March 23, 2018, by Adventist News Network (ANN) and Adventist Review, and in the April 2018 GC Executive Committee Newsletter (ECN).
2. For several years General Conference Executive Committee members have correctly observed that non-compliance to GC Session and Executive Committee actions can be found in several areas of church practice and operation. Repeatedly, questions have been posed asking why church leadership has not addressed these issues. This action by ADCOM responds to those concerns.

The purpose of these committees is to have a group of qualified people, upon the recommendation of GC ADCOM, look into reported non-compliant practices. The goal of each committee is to focus the church on its mission and message, using a redemptive approach to achieve church unity. In addressing compliance issues, this model could also be adopted by other levels of church organization.

As explained in the vote taken by the GC ADCOM, the subcommittee process begins with a referral from the GC ADCOM and thereafter follows the normal practice of gaining wide input, building a majority consensus through the GC ADCOM, General Conference and Division Officers (GCDO), and the General Conference Executive Committee.

A Common Understanding

Church authority is owned by the membership of the church. The decisions that come out of GC Sessions and Executive Committee meetings endorse Biblical beliefs and define church operating policy and practice. It is Biblical for people and organizations to work together with a common understanding that the message and mission found in God’s Word might circle the globe.

Hensley Moorooven, secretary of the GC ADCOM makes this prayerful appeal:

“What we really need is to have the church be found on their knees, praying for the Holy Spirit to draw us together. Regardless of where on the continuum we come from, we have a mission and we have a message, and that needs to become the focus of the church. That is the appeal of the leadership of the General Conference, of the divisions, unions, conferences, pastors, and members. Let us be on our knees.”

General Conference Compliance Review Committee with Doctrine, Policies, Statements, and Guidelines for Church Organizations and Institutions Teaching Creation/Origins 

MEMBERS 

Stele, Artur A, Chair 

Gibson, L James, Secretary 

Donkor, Kwabena 

Klingbeil, Chantal 

Nalin, Ronald 

Phillips, Suzanne 

Porter, Karen J 

Ryan, Michael L 

Standish, Timothy G

Thomas, John H 

Younker, Randall W 

LEGAL ADVISOR 

Woods, Jennifer 

EX OFFICIO 

Wilson, Ted N C
Ng, G T 

Prestol-Puesan, Juan R 

General Conference Compliance Review Committee with Doctrine, Policies, Statements, and Guidelines for Church Organizations and Institutions Regarding Homosexuality

MEMBERS 

Stele, Artur A, Chair 

Brasil de Souza, Elias, Secretary 

Beardsley-Hardy, Lisa M 

Blanchard, Gary T 

Landless, Peter N 

Mueller, Ekkehardt F R 

Nedley, Neil 

Oliver, Elaine 

Oliver, Willie 

Proffitt, Kathryn L 

Santos, Gerson P 

Yingling, Lori T 

LEGAL ADVISOR 

Wetmore, Thomas E 

EX OFFICIO 

Wilson, Ted N C
Ng, G T Prestol-Puesan, Juan R 

General Conference Compliance Review Committee with Doctrine, Policies, Statements, and Guidelines for Church Organizations and Institutions Regarding Issues of Ordination

MEMBERS 

Biaggi, Guillermo E, Chair 

Moorooven, Hensley M, Secretary 

De los Santos, Abner 

Finley, Mark A 

Hasel, Frank M 

Page, Janet R 

Page, Jerry N 

Ryan, Michael L 

Stele, Galina 

LEGAL ADVISOR 

Doukmetzian, Karnik 

EX OFFICIO 

Wilson, Ted N C
Ng, G T 

Prestol-Puesan, Juan R 

General Conference Compliance Review Committee with General Conference Core Policies

MEMBERS 

Wahlen, J Raymond II, Chair 

Orion, Daisy J F, Secretary 

Biaggi, Guillermo E 

Richli, Claude J 

Two additional members to be named 

GCAS Associate from the Region Under Review

LEGAL ADVISOR 

Pierre, Josue

EX OFFICIO 

Wilson, Ted N C
Ng, G T 

Prestol-Puesan, Juan R 

General Conference Compliance Review Committee with the Distinctive Beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church for Church Organizations and Institutions

MEMBERS 

Brasil de Souza, Elias, Chair 

Wahlen, Clinton L, Secretary 

Arrais, Raquel C 

Finley, Mark A
Goia, Pavel 

Moorooven, Hensley M 

Page Jerry N 

Small, Heather-Dawn K 

Simmons, Ella S
Thorp, Brad
Timm, Alberto R

LEGAL ADVISOR 

McFarland, Todd R 

EX OFFICIO 

Wilson, Ted N C
Ng, G T 

Prestol-Puesan, Juan R