General Conference Reflections

June 18, 2010

Five years ago, one of the very first things I did after moving to Hollywood was to leave for St. Louis for the General Conference Session. Every five years the Seventh-day Adventist Church sends delegates from all the world fields to one location to do the business of the church. This is the 59^th such gathering in the history of the church. This the time when our General Conference President, Vice Presidents, and other Division level leaders are elected and changes to our Fundamental Belief and the Church Manual are made (if necessary).

Theoretically, General Conference Sessions are times when the church’s official position on things can change. There is a deep conviction in the Adventist psyche that God is present to lead and guide church leaders during GC Sessions, but this has not always been the case. Ellen White herself indicated that at times the men in leadership (always men) did not heed the voice of God in the decisions that they made.

Honestly, I’m not sure if any major decisions will be made this year during the GC Session.

Many people, including me, would like to see some official steps taken to ordain women to pastoral ministry, but that will not come up this year, I’m told. Please keep all the proceedings in prayer. I believe we have a very good General Conference President, but there could be change in this area, so please pray that God will lead in all the decisions.

As for me, I’ll be attending a pastors’ conference in Atlanta before the GC Session official starts. While there I’ll have the chance to speak to a group of pastors after a screening of our “Stained Glass” documentary that Melody George created. Later in the week I’ll be helping out with the Spectrum “Big Tent Adventism” booth in the exhibit hall. As a part of the “Big Tent” I’ll be representing our church’s production venture, New Name Pictures.

Thank you for your support and prayers while I’m away!

Peace be with you,

Ryan

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