World Church: Business Session Opens with Welcome, Remembrance
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An auditorium of delegates commenced the 58th General Conference Session of the Seventh-day Adventist Church on the afternoon of June 30, praying for God's guidance, remembering fallen colleagues, as well as recognizing and recording establishment or reorganization of the church's several regional organizational units internationally, including three regions in a rapidly growing faith community in Africa. |
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Matthew Bediako, secretary of the Adventist world church and Lowell Cooper, a general vice president. [Photo: Richard Dower]
An auditorium of delegates commenced the 58th General Conference Session of the Seventh-day Adventist Church on the afternoon of June 30, praying for God's guidance, remembering fallen colleagues, as well as recognizing and recording establishment or reorganization of the church's several regional organizational units internationally, including three regions in a rapidly growing faith community in Africa.
Along with opening remarks from Pastor Lowell Cooper, a general vice president of the world church, and Pastor Matthew Bediako, executive secretary of the church, initial business included the formal recognition and voting on several matters involving the organization of the Adventist world church. Cooper commented on the global nature of the delegates represented here, while Bediako said that all necessary requirements for holding the session had been met.
In devotional comments at the beginning of the meeting, Dr. Jo Ann Davidson, assistant professor of systematic theology at Andrews University, emphasized the centrality of the cross in Adventist belief. "What better time, than this world convocation of the Seventh-day Adventist church, to behold the Lamb of God which takes away our sin," Davidson said. "The Cross was the ugliest, most horrible instrument of torture that had yet been devised. But this is not what killed Him. Our sins did. And Christ was willing to bear our punishment to win the Great Battle with Satan for me and for you. And because of that, the Cross has been transformed into the glorious memorial of God's love. And now, we 'glory' in that old rugged Cross."
A much reflective moment came when delegates were asked to remember those who were killed while on church service during the past five years. Prayers were offered for the families of the slain. These included Pastor Ruimar Duarte DePaiva, his wife, Margareth Ottoni DePaiva, and their son Larisson Ottoni DePaiva who were killed Dec. 23, 2003, on the Pacific island of Palau.
Earlier that year, on May 20, 2003, Adventist pastor and missionary Lance Gersbach was murdered in an attack at Malaita, Solomon Islands. Kaare Lund, ADRA country director for Norway, and two colleagues, Emmanuel Sharpulo, country director for ADRA Liberia, and Musa Kita, chief driver for ADRA Liberia, were attacked and killed near Toe Town, Liberia in February 2003.
Recognizing that missionary service can be hazardous, Adventist lay members and pastors continue to go, as the Bible says, "into all the world," seeking to share God's love and message of hope.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a community of 14.3 million members in over 200 countries around the world.
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