It's a conversation you'd have with friends, family, peers -- and perhaps a very open and understanding pastor. Christians talk about gender and racial discrimination, how to deal with homosexuality and premarital sex, poverty and the pervasive influence of secular society on the church among themselves all the time.
On March 15, however, some 35 young people tackled a few of these hot button issues and more in a live broadcast with Pastor Jan Paulsen, the world president for the Seventh-day Adventist Church, on the campus of Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama. Aired on the Hope Channel, the world church's satellite television network, the "Let's Talk: Oakwood" event continued a series of unscripted conversations between the Adventist leader and young church members.
The very first question dealt with improving unity in the church. If the church is supposed to reflect Christ then why is it so divided? Is Christ divided? one young man asked.
"Is Christ divided?" Paulsen echoed, responding immediately with a "No! [As a global] church there are differences, there will always be differences in culture and appearance ... you are black and I'm white ... God has loved all of his created world and has one plan for our futures."
"The church is a global community and the world church has no program to do away with diversity of people," Paulsen continued. "We have to discover that unity transcends diversity and can hold together and bring us all into one."
The issue seemed to be particularly pressing on the heart and minds of this group of young people. Another student said it appears that the church is supporting institutionalized racism by supporting racially segregated church structures.
Paulsen admitted that segregation in the church does exist in many parts of the world. "In South Africa for example years ago during the time of apartheid everything was segregated and this was reflected also in the church administration. This was not good because God did not create segregation and as a church we should not go on carrying them. Our churches in South Africa are now meeting and discussing a merged organization for the church rather than a divided one."
He added that in North America there are local church administrative structures that serve specifically black congregations. "There was a good reason why they were established," he said. "I carry no agenda to ... change it. But I would say to my African American brothers and sisters, maybe you want to change it. I think African American members should evaluate [this] and tell me how you feel about it."
Throughout the conversation Paulsen, however, encouraged students as members of the church to not be exclusive of others based on how they looked, where they were from, what kind of music they liked or their sexual orientation.
"God loves everyone," he said in response to a question on homosexuality. "God wants to save every human being. As a church remember we should not be so selective that we exclude categories of people as ... the church will be an instrument to spread the gospel of salvation to everyone."
The diversity the church contains was evident in the makeup of the Let's Talk group: participants hailed from all over the United States, Canada, Belize, Puerto Rico, Jamaica and Zimbabwe.
One young man was especially concerned that the church's diverse membership was not being reflected in the leaders at the church's world headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States.
"The church has rapidly grown especially in Latin America and Africa," the man pointed out, "yet maybe only 20 percent of that is reflected at the world headquarters level."
"There are changes happening," Paulsen assured the young listeners. "Where there is rapid growth doesn't mean rapid development of leadership. All three [world regions] in Africa are in the hands of Africans and a number of individuals are coming to [the church's world headquarters]. Where we have rapid growth we also have a demand for these leaders to stay there and look after the church."
Paulsen often stated that many issues raised in the church should be addressed in the local congregations and are in the hands of individual members.
One young man asked what plan the church had for the difficult times that the Bible describes will happen right before Jesus Christ returns.
"Preparing for [this time] is a matter of your spirituality and mine. Yes pastors must prepare their congregations," he said "it is one thing to increase the awareness but how do you deal with personal spirituality when you know that these are serious times in which we are living? It is an individual matter. We cannot blame the pastor."
One student noted that the church seems to have moved away from its original goal of mission as it has grown bigger to about 25 million including adults and children.
Despite the church's growth, Paulsen said the church "has not lost its focus on mission. We began as a church focused on mission and remain focused on mission because we believe the church exists primarily to serve those who are not members. This drives our thinking and planning."
The conversation ended with the young people stating they wished the church would provide more resources for pastors, for members' emotional well-being, do more to help the poor and stay true to its biblical beliefs.
Despite the variety of questions Paulsen encouraged young people to become more spiritually grounded and to do so through service to their own church. Something that should be particularly relevant to a school community whose motto is: enter in to learn, leave to serve.
"Please look after your spiritual life," Paulsen concluded, "Nobody else is going to do it for you. Secondly become involved, become active in the church; the [Holy] Spirit gives you power, let Him use you."
Paulsen said he continues to do the broadcasts because points of views on some subjects differ from culture to culture.
Recent broadcasts of Let's Talk took place in Australia, Germany and the United States. Continuing internationally, Paulsen will travel to Brazil in April and to Cameroon and Uganda in August for similar televised conversations with the church's youth. Along with the broadcasts, Paulsen's office has set up a Let's Talk Web site. Young people can e-mail their questions directly to the Office of the President and receive answers from church leaders at www.letstalk.adventist.org.
Huntsville, Alabama United States,
Taashi Rowe/ANN
On March 15, however, some 35 young people tackled a few of these hot button issues and more in a live broadcast with Pastor Jan Paulsen, the world president for the Seventh-day Adventist Church, on the campus of Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama. Aired on the Hope Channel, the world church's satellite television network, the "Let's Talk: Oakwood" event continued a series of unscripted conversations between the Adventist leader and young church members.
The very first question dealt with improving unity in the church. If the church is supposed to reflect Christ then why is it so divided? Is Christ divided? one young man asked.
"Is Christ divided?" Paulsen echoed, responding immediately with a "No! [As a global] church there are differences, there will always be differences in culture and appearance ... you are black and I'm white ... God has loved all of his created world and has one plan for our futures."
"The church is a global community and the world church has no program to do away with diversity of people," Paulsen continued. "We have to discover that unity transcends diversity and can hold together and bring us all into one."
The issue seemed to be particularly pressing on the heart and minds of this group of young people. Another student said it appears that the church is supporting institutionalized racism by supporting racially segregated church structures.
Paulsen admitted that segregation in the church does exist in many parts of the world. "In South Africa for example years ago during the time of apartheid everything was segregated and this was reflected also in the church administration. This was not good because God did not create segregation and as a church we should not go on carrying them. Our churches in South Africa are now meeting and discussing a merged organization for the church rather than a divided one."
He added that in North America there are local church administrative structures that serve specifically black congregations. "There was a good reason why they were established," he said. "I carry no agenda to ... change it. But I would say to my African American brothers and sisters, maybe you want to change it. I think African American members should evaluate [this] and tell me how you feel about it."
Throughout the conversation Paulsen, however, encouraged students as members of the church to not be exclusive of others based on how they looked, where they were from, what kind of music they liked or their sexual orientation.
"God loves everyone," he said in response to a question on homosexuality. "God wants to save every human being. As a church remember we should not be so selective that we exclude categories of people as ... the church will be an instrument to spread the gospel of salvation to everyone."
The diversity the church contains was evident in the makeup of the Let's Talk group: participants hailed from all over the United States, Canada, Belize, Puerto Rico, Jamaica and Zimbabwe.
One young man was especially concerned that the church's diverse membership was not being reflected in the leaders at the church's world headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States.
"The church has rapidly grown especially in Latin America and Africa," the man pointed out, "yet maybe only 20 percent of that is reflected at the world headquarters level."
"There are changes happening," Paulsen assured the young listeners. "Where there is rapid growth doesn't mean rapid development of leadership. All three [world regions] in Africa are in the hands of Africans and a number of individuals are coming to [the church's world headquarters]. Where we have rapid growth we also have a demand for these leaders to stay there and look after the church."
Paulsen often stated that many issues raised in the church should be addressed in the local congregations and are in the hands of individual members.
One young man asked what plan the church had for the difficult times that the Bible describes will happen right before Jesus Christ returns.
"Preparing for [this time] is a matter of your spirituality and mine. Yes pastors must prepare their congregations," he said "it is one thing to increase the awareness but how do you deal with personal spirituality when you know that these are serious times in which we are living? It is an individual matter. We cannot blame the pastor."
One student noted that the church seems to have moved away from its original goal of mission as it has grown bigger to about 25 million including adults and children.
Despite the church's growth, Paulsen said the church "has not lost its focus on mission. We began as a church focused on mission and remain focused on mission because we believe the church exists primarily to serve those who are not members. This drives our thinking and planning."
The conversation ended with the young people stating they wished the church would provide more resources for pastors, for members' emotional well-being, do more to help the poor and stay true to its biblical beliefs.
Despite the variety of questions Paulsen encouraged young people to become more spiritually grounded and to do so through service to their own church. Something that should be particularly relevant to a school community whose motto is: enter in to learn, leave to serve.
"Please look after your spiritual life," Paulsen concluded, "Nobody else is going to do it for you. Secondly become involved, become active in the church; the [Holy] Spirit gives you power, let Him use you."
Paulsen said he continues to do the broadcasts because points of views on some subjects differ from culture to culture.
Recent broadcasts of Let's Talk took place in Australia, Germany and the United States. Continuing internationally, Paulsen will travel to Brazil in April and to Cameroon and Uganda in August for similar televised conversations with the church's youth. Along with the broadcasts, Paulsen's office has set up a Let's Talk Web site. Young people can e-mail their questions directly to the Office of the President and receive answers from church leaders at www.letstalk.adventist.org.
Huntsville, Alabama United States,
Taashi Rowe/ANN
