Adventist News Network Released by: Rick Kajiura Phone: +31-30-955-324 (June 29-July 8) or +301-680-6300 Written by: Herb Ford FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 4, 1995 SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CONGRESS, DAY 6 Utrecht, The Netherlands ... Delegates attending a world congress of one of the fastest growing Christian denominations learned, Tuesday, July 4, that whereas it took 107 years to baptize the first million persons to become members of their faith, the latest million joined the church in 2.4 years. F. Donald Yost, Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S.A., director of Archives and Statistics of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, presented the growth statistic at the 56th World Congress of the denomination now in session at The Royal Dutch Fairs (Jaarbeurs) here. And, predicted Yost, "If this rate of increase continues, we expect 4 million persons to be added to the Church during 1995-1999, or an average of 2,195 a day, compared with about 1,700 now." Speaking at a 10 a.m. session of the congress, Yost also said that during 1994 tithe (one tenth of one's income), offerings, and special donations to the Church amounted to more than U.S.$1.2 billion. "On average," he said, "every Adventist member across the world gave U.S.$168.66 in 1994." Assets of the denomination at the close of 1993 totaled U.S.$10 billion, and liabilities totaled U.S.$4.7 billion. In a morning business meeting of the congress, the 2,600 delegates representing the 8.5-million worldwide membership voted to change the official Church Manual so that church members who divorce would not be disfellowshiped. "The Church sees offense to its standards not through divorce as such much as it abhors such dissolution but only if remarriage to another partner after divorce occurs," explained Kenneth Mittleider, Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S.A., a general vice president of the Church. "In some cases there is actual danger to one of the partners if they continue in the marriage. Certainly it would not be right to disfellowship the endangered partner. The Bible does not counsel such." Ray Dabrowski, communication director for General Conference, unveiled a new and innovative strategy of communication. The 17-minute video report focused on hope in Jesus Christ as the primary message and mission of Seventh-day Adventists. "Seventh-day Adventists will communicate hope by focusing on the quality of life that is complete in Christ," is the overall strategic statement to govern communication both inside and outside the Church. The strategy calls for communication focused on the local church, enabling congregations and Church members to be effective communicators with the context of their communities. "In order to best communicate hope, all Seventh-day Adventists need to be more effective communicators," says Dabrowski. The new strategy revolutionizes the way Seventh-day Adventists will approach communication. "We have relied on designated people to be responsible for communication within the Church and outside. This is going to change. Every believer is a communicator. This is what we want to achieve." A request from the floor called for copies of the video report to be made available in other languages. Delegates also elected a partial slate of world church officials at the morning business meeting of the congress: Charles D. Brooks, Gary B. Patterson, George W. Reid, and Ralph S. Watts, Jr. were reelected as world general field secretaries of the church. Pyung Duk Chun, Republic of Singapore, was reelected president of the Asia-Pacific Division of Seventh-day Adventists. Elected world Public Affairs and Religious Liberty director of the Church was John Graz, Berne, Switzerland. He was communication and youth director of the Church's Euro-Africa Division. James Zackrison, Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S.A., was elected world Sabbath school and personal ministries director of the Church. Baraka G. Muganda, Harare, Zimbabwe, Africa, was elected world youth director of the Church. Muganda was formerly an official of the Church's Eastern African Division. Reelected to world church departments were Eric A. Korff, auditing service; Rajmund Dabrowski, communication; Humberto M. Rasi, education; Albert S. Whiting, health and temperance; James A. Cress, ministerial; Rose M. Otis, women's ministries; Ronald E. Appenzeller, publishing; Ronald M. Flowers, church ministries; Benjamin C. Maxson, stewardship; and G. Tom Carter, trust services. All are from Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S.A. Michael F. Kaminsky, Moscow, Russian Federation, was elected secretary of the Euro-Asia Division of Adventists. Reelected treasurer of that Church division was Juan R. Pestol. Carlo Puyol, Madrid, Spain, was elected secretary of the Adventists' Euro-Africa Division. Erich Amelung, Berne, Switzerland, was reelected treasurer of the Church division. Agustin Galicia was reelected secretary of the Inter-American Division of Adventists, and Ramon H. Maury was reelected treasurer of the Church division. Both men are from Coral Gables, Florida, U.S.A. Elected secretary of the South American Division of Adventists was Roberto Gullon, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Alipio da Rosa, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was elected treasurer of the Church division. Reelected secretary of the South Pacific Division of Adventists was Laurie J. Evans. Elected division treasurer was Warwick H. Stokes. Both men are from Sydney, Australia. Elected secretary of the Church's Trans-European Division of Adventists was Reinder Bruinsma, former field secretary of the division. Reelected as division treasuerer was Graham Barham. Both are from St. Albans, England. Reelected secretary of the North American Division of Adventists was Harold W. Baptiste. George H. Crumley was reelected treasurer of that division. Both men are from Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S.A. Two statements of Church belief on areas of universal concern tolerance, and religious liberty were issued from the world congress today. "We recognize the need to champion freedom of conscience and religion as a fundamental human right, in harmony with the instruments of the United Nations," says the statement on religious liberty. "As loyal citizens, Adventists believe they have the right to freedom of religion, subject to the equal rights of others. This implies the freedom to meet for instruction and worship, to worship on the seventh day of the week (Saturday), and to disseminate religious views by public preaching, or through the media," says the statement. "This freedom further includes the right to change one's religion, as well as respectfully inviting others to do so. Every person has a right to demand consideration whenever conscience does not allow the performance of certain public duties, such as requiring the bearing of arms. Whenever churches are given access to public media, Adventist should in all fairness be included." The Church's statement on tolerance says "Dialogue is certainly much better than diatribe. Human beings must learn to agree or disagree without violence; they must be able to discuss varying viewpoints without hate or rancor. Every person has the right and the responsibility to express both ideas and ideals with verve and vigor, but without reaching the boiling point of violent words or actions." In evening reports on mission, Israel Leito, Coral Gables, Florida, U.S.A., president of the Inter-American Division of Adventists, said Church membership in his division at the end of 1994 was 1,520,588, a 21 percent increase over the previous quinquennium. Although the North American Division also includes Canada and Bermuda, it seemed only fitting to have that division's report on the Fourth of July, Independence Day in the United States. Alfred C. McClure, Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S.A., president of the North American Division reported an 11 percent gain in membership since 1990. Five years ago, North America's membership was 743,023. As of December 31, 1994, the division membership had reached 822,150. The session, which began June 29, ends July 8 with a Mission Pageant highlighting the unity of the Church in the diversity of the various cultures of the world. -end-