Text of the live on-line News Conference from Utrecht, Holland, with Ray Dabrowski (GC Communication Dept. Director) and Rick Kajiura (Assistant GC Dept. Director), and moderated by Sysop Ralph Blodgett (Assistant GC Department Director). Sunday evening, July 2, 1995, at 8 pm Utrecht time (2 pm ET). Sysop Ralph Blodget | Hi, everyone. Ray is working on his opening | statement. And will present that in a minute. | The proceedure we will be following will be as follows: | If you have a question, type "?"; if you have a | statement, type "!" (Then please type your statement | while wating for the Sysop to give you the Go.) Ray Dabrowski | Following a motion to discuss it in the | constitution and by-laws committee, several constitutional | items were sent for additional hearing and reviewed | by the committee. The committee received an | overwhelming number of delegates with | objections, suggestions, and both pros and cons. | The committee met at 5 p.m. and we don't know | what the results are. Sysop Ralph Blodget | (But wait until Ray is done.) Ken Ford | ? | Is Ralph here? Ray Dabrowski | In the afternoon , the delegates discussed | several items relating to Church Manual. One of them | had to do with the length of term for church elders. A | discussion was made not to extend it to two | years. At this very moment, Eastern Africa Division | is reporting the progress of their mission. | They just followed Euro-Africa Division report. Charles R. Taylor | ! Charles R. Taylor | ACN is wonderful | making sure I was on. Sysop Ralph Blodget | Go Charles Charles R. Taylor | Caucuses, not causes? Sysop Ralph Blodget | Go Rick Ken Ford | ? Cristina Grys | ? Rick Kajiura | Greetings Charles. Yes, caucuses! Sysop Ralph Blodget | Go Christiana | (John Guy) Cristina Grys | From which field do you find most of the | resistance coming for the proposed changes? | Yes, it is John! Ken Ford | ? | ! | Ralph, have you seen Ron Quick? Ray Dabrowski | Comments from all parts of the world. Most came | from Eastern Africa, NAD, SPD, and Europe. Sysop Ralph Blodget | Go Ken Ray Dabrowski | And IAD too. Sysop Ralph Blodget | If you have a question, type "?"; a | statement, type "!" (Then please | type your statement while wating for the | Sysop to give you the Go.) Ken Ford | Ralph etc., have you seen Ron Quick taking | pictures? Sysop Ralph Blodget | Yes Cristina Grys | Is the concern about reducing representation? Charles R. Taylor | ? Sysop Ralph Blodget | Great job! Rick Kajiura | Yes, Ron is taking photos for us and doing a | good job. Sysop Ralph Blodget | Go Charles Charles R. Taylor | Ken Ford from IAD years ago? Joseph Webb from | PUC 50 years ago? Ken Ford | ! Sysop Ralph Blodget | Go Ken Ken Ford | Ken Ford from Summerville, SC as a pastor | now. Recently also in Canada Ken Ford | ! Sysop Ralph Blodget | Go Ken (about Utrecht) Ken Ford | We are not able to get ACN downlink in these | parts. How do we do it? GC downlink Rick Kajiura | You should be able to get it if you have the | satellite dish and tune into the correct channel. Sysop Ralph Blodget | There are some files in the Church Resources | library check there. Search for "ACN" Cristina Grys | ? Charles R. Taylor | ! Yves Monnier | ? Sysop Ralph Blodget | Go Christina/John Cristina Grys | Does most of the discussion center around the | possible loss of represenation? Also, what is | the concern if an elder goes two years? Ray Dabrowski | Yes. However, today's discussion specifically | related to the elected/appointed approach to | choosing new leaders. Sysop Ralph Blodget | Just a minute Barry/Thelma Burton | ? Ray Dabrowski | Suggested consitutional changes refer to election of | GC personnel at the Session and appointing associates at | annual council. Sysop Ralph Blodget | Go Charles Charles R. Taylor | The Chaparal M200C receiver combined with a | good VCR and monitor do a beautiful job receiving Utrecht | broadcasts. receiving Utrecht broadcasts. Obtain from | NAD/ACN | ? | Have GC deparment peopl Ray Dabrowski | Yesterday's news conference covered some of | the Friday's discussion on the subject of representation on | the GC Committee. Sysop Ralph Blodget | Go Yves Yves Monnier | Was Mittleider's retirement anticipated? Ray Dabrowski | Yes Sysop Ralph Blodget | Go Barry/Thelma Barry/Thelma Burton | How long has the Constitution and Bylaws | committee been working this time? Ray Dabrowski | Several hours this afternoon -- they had two | sessions. Barry/Thelma Burton | ? Clarence Dunbebin | ? Ray Dabrowski | About 70 people came to the committee with | their comments. Sysop Ralph Blodget | Go Charles.------If you have a question, type | "?"; a statement, type | "!" (Then please type your statement while | wating for the Sysop to give you the Go.) Ken Ford | ! Charles R. Taylor | Have GC department people expressed | themselves on floor? As former associate, | head, and nominating committe member I favor | the change Ken Ford | ? Ray Dabrowski | Majority of those visiting the consititution | committee do not favor the propose | changes. Yes, departmental people spoke on the floor | against the changes. Sysop Ralph Blodget | Go Barry Barry/Thelma Burton | Are the members of the Constitution committee | from the whole world field? Ruth Swan | ? Ray Dabrowski | The members of the Constitutional Committee | come froma all over the world. Ken Ford | Who are the organist's this time? C. Warren | Becker? Sysop Ralph Blodget | Go Clarence--If you have a question, type | "?"; a statement, type "!" | (Then please type your statement while wating | for the Sysop to give you the Go.) Clarence Dunbebin | When debate comes to floor is there a limit | to the time being allowed for each subject? Ray Dabrowski | There are several organist. | Yes, two minutes Janet Hancock | ?Jan Hancock Sysop Ralph Blodget | Go Ruth Rick Kajiura | This afternoon they voted to limit time to | two minutes. Ray Dabrowski | Three minutes if they are translated. Sysop Ralph Blodget | Go Ruth Ruth Swan | On another note, what advice might you have | for those who plan to attend GC for the last | Sabbath, in light of the already unexpected crowd? Rick Kajiura | Bring comfortable shoes, food, and a water | bottle. Also lots of patience... Sysop Ralph Blodget | Go Janet/Jan Rick Kajiura | Come verrry early. Charles R. Taylor | ! Stan Jensen | ? Clarence Dunbebin | ? Janet Hancock | When was the last time if ever that the SDA Gary B. Walton | Greetings to everyone! When will they discuss | Women's Ordination? Janet Hancock | Constitution was changed? Ray Dabrowski | Last Sabbath we had approximately 33,000 in | attendance, estimated attendance for next | Sabbath is over 40,000. The organizers are prepared | with overflow halls. On Wednesday afternoon the ordination | question will come up for discussion. Ken Ford | ?Ken Ford Sysop Ralph Blodget | Go Charles Charles R. Taylor | I have work to do--goodbye, but thanks for this | splendid medium of communication and discussion! Sysop Ralph Blodget | Go Gary Ray Dabrowski | Bye Charles Geir Lisle | ? Janet Hancock | ?Janet Hancock Sysop Ralph Blodget | Janet--we missed you (not yet) Rick Kajiura | There are constitutional changes at most GC | Sessions. However, this is the most significant changes | since about 1901. Sysop Ralph Blodget | Go Geir | If you have a question, type "?"; a statement, | type "!" (Then please type your statement | while wating for the Sysop to give you the Go.) Janet Hancock | When was the last time it was changed? Geir Lisle | Could you repeat the GC officers elected | today, please? Gary B. Walton | When will the issue on Women's ordination be | discuss? Ray Dabrowski | Bediako, Ranzolin, Follette Rock, | Kloosterhuis, and Paulsen. Geir Lisle | ? Ray Dabrowski | Ordination issue on Wednesday as I said earlier. Sysop Ralph Blodget | Go Gary Ray Dabrowski | I am signing off. Goodbye from Utrecht! Geir Lisle | Paulsen re-elected as TED president, or | resident VP in Washington?? Gary B. Walton | The issue on women's ordination, when will it | be brought to the floor? Sysop Ralph Blodget | Still wednesday Rick Kajiura | On Wednesday. Gary B. Walton | Thanks Rick Kajiura | Jan Paulsen was elected as a GC vice | president, he will be coming to Maryland. Sysop Ralph Blodget | Well, the 30 minutes are up now. This will be | uploaded as a file in the Utrecht Session library. | We appreciated your questions Geir Lisle | Thanks, signing off from Pakistan!! Gary B. Walton | ? Ken Ford | Bye from Ken Ford Barry/Thelma Burton | Thanks Sysop Ralph Blodget | One more only: Go Gary Gary B. Walton | When is the next conference? Ruth Swan | Thanks! You're doing a great job. Gary B. Walton | You are doing a terrific job! Ken Ford | Yes, when is next conference, Ralph? Rick Kajiura | We are having these news conferences each | evening (afternoon EDT) at the same time. Sysop Ralph Blodget | Please come back again tomorrow evening | at 8 pm Utrecht time; or 2 pm ET; or 11 am PT? | Thanks again everyone | Bye now ********** 7/2/95 2:36 PM Forum CO