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It has been a wonderful privilege for me to serve the Lord and the church in a very trusted role during the five years which are now ending. The colleagues I work with are the finest professionals, who love the Lord and are committed to the mission of the church. And therefore, in a way, the assignment, although a busy one, has been uncomplicated and immensely rewarding. Our emphasis has been on mission, for that, we hold, is our primary agenda. Annual Councils have consistently kept this agenda in focus and have during this period voted and supported a range of initiatives (Go One Million, Sow One Billion, 10/40 Window, Year of Evangelism, Elijah Project, etc) which have ensured that mission was the context for the decisions we made and for our use of resources.
We hold that when we engage in mission, the church comes alive, for then, and then only, the church becomes what she was designed to be. In the words of inspiration God says to His people: “I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and I will make you . . . to be a light for the Gentiles, to open the eyes of the blind, to free the captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness” (Isaiah 42: 6,7) and, more recently, to us as a people: “The church of Christ on earth was organized for missionary purposes, and the Lord desires to see the entire church devising ways and means whereby high and low, rich and poor, may hear the message of truth” (6T p. 29).
All that we are and do as a people finds its meaning in this. If we spend our resources and energies otherwise, we will have wasted them.
In looking back over the past five years I want to recognize and honor in particular the increasing number of lay members in our church who are engaged in mission. Whether it be in the building of churches or establishing communities of believers, in building schools or orphanages, in feeding the poor or healing the sick, or by being partners in a small-group evangelism, multiple thousands of lay-people are daily involved, as volunteers, in the mission of the church. Theirs is a service of love. They give it; and ask for nothing except to be allowed to take part. Our mission is broad and inclusive, and there is room for all. I thank you and I honor you for what you do. The agenda and the mandate for mission are Christ’s. And until he comes, this is what we will do—and we will do it together.
Among our institutions there are probably none that reach more people daily than do our educational centers. They touch one-and-a-half million students every day. I honor them for their ministry. And I say to them: We need you, and we cannot finish what we are here to do without you. So I encourage you to continue to love the Lord and to care for His youth by teaching them the values and identity that Christ has given us.
Now, a word about this particular session that we have now come to: Early in the history of General Conference Session major blocks of time were regularly set aside for considering spiritual and doctrinal issues. With the passing of time, maybe reflecting the increasing complexity of operating our global church, our agendas have been occupied largely by election issues, constitution and by-laws, and some Church Manual matters. That is important, and we will do also that this time. However, in planning this Session, we have set aside significant blocks of quality time to the consideration of some matters that are of critical importance to the spiritual life and values of our church.
Five mornings, from 10:45—12:00, beginning this Sunday, we will focus on the nature and character of Adventist Leadership. What makes Adventist leadership special? What are its hallmarks? What is its genius? There will be five different presentations followed by discussion and input from the delegates on the floor. These are five highly protected periods, and we want all delegates present in this hall. (Not even the Nominating Committee will meet then.) We want the leadership of the church, from all levels and organizations, employed and lay leaders, present to take part in these considerations.
This will be followed by five afternoon periods, also beginning this Sunday, from 2:00—3:00 p.m., which will focus on “Challenges to Mission: 2005—2010.” With you we will consider:
- The Church and Spiritual Life
- The Church and Society
- The Church and Apostasy
- The Church and the Cities
- The Church and Secularism
There will be short introductions of each of these topics, but most of the time will be reserved for comments from the delegates.
Careful notes will be taken of the comments you make so that these do not disappear with the air you breathe. They will have a life in influencing plans and programs that will be developed and presented to Annual Councils. We are serious about wanting to hear you on these matters. So, plan not to miss these sessions.
As I look to the future, among many things which occupy my thinking, can I mention just two?
1. The involvement of youth in the life and witness of our church; and
2. The need among our people for a much broader sense of ownership in everything that the church is about. The church is us; and it all has to do with what is going to happen to us.
I am very pleased with the increasingly strong and creative participation by laity in the governance, life, and witness of our church. They have resources and they have spiritual gifts; and clearly they know that they are going to answer to God for how they use them. That is good, for they are the church. It is good, but it is not enough. And I say to you: Don’t hold back!
But can I say this to you who are young—you who are between 15 and 30—a student or young professional: I want you to come in and to partner with the rest of us. I want to make room for you, for you have energies and ideas which no one can quite match. If you don’t find the church interesting, you can make it interesting. Just don’t walk away. That would be the worst possible. It is Christ we are talking about. Don’t turn your back on Him, for if you do all you are then left with is Peter’s question: “To whom shall we then go?” (John 6:68)
I want you who are young, I want the women, and I want laity—and these overlap—to claim and accept a much greater share of ownership in our church. Do not define the church as something other than yourselves; that would be a mistake. The church is not defined by election nor is it by who pays your salary. The church is defined by faith. You have faith? Then you are the church. So, I say to you—especially you who are young: “Come walk with me for Christ and His church.” I will do my best to make space for you, for you are my partner. Christ invites you. The church needs you. And we are all one family of faith.
As we continue the evening we will now share with you, not a comprehensive report of the church globally—that will come to you through the combination of the evening reports from the thirteen divisions—but some selected snippets of our global church as it witnesses for Christ and serves as His hand reaching out to humanity.
