This is a live News Conference held from Utrecht, Holland, Wednesday evening, July 5, 1995, with Rick Kajiura (Assistant Communication Director for the GC) and Owen Troy (Communication Director for NAD), and moderated by Sysop Ralph Blodgett (Assistant Communication Director for the GC). This conference was held on-line at 8 pm Utrecht time (2 pm ET) in the Main Conference Room. This is an unedited version (with some duplication removed): Sysop Ralph Blodget | I see we have about 25 people on line now, | and more coming in all the time. | Ray and Rick are coming on line in a couple | of minutes. Bob Folkenberg, Jr. | Ralph, thanks for the prompt and informative | newsflashes! Dawn Reynolds | We appreciate what you're doing! Sysop Ralph Blodget | You are welcome Bernard V. Bowen | Blessings on you Ken/Frances Schande | ? Sysop Ralph Blodget | We tried to break our record last Friday with | a 12 minute News Flash David Wolkwitz | We are praying for your physical health and | stamina Sysop Ralph Blodget | Today we got the news on-line in 10 minutes. | Thanks, David, my leg hurts a lot when I walk. I am | not 100% well yet, but doing the best I can. Sysop Ralph Blodget | Let's find out where you all are from--while | Rick prepares his opening statement. Dale R. Kongorski | Greetings from Super Natural British Columbia Jane M. Allen | Orlando Ken/Frances Schande | Niles, Mi David Ripley | Parkersburg, West Virgina Michael Kelsey | guess not, St. Louis Missouri Bernard V. Bowen | Madison, Tn., old Madison College Dawn Reynolds | Silver Spring, MD David Wolkwitz | Greetings from It Is Written Barry/Thelma Burton | Hellow from Denver Bill Bossert | Portland, Oregon David A. Jeffrey | Andrews Jon Turk | De Kalb Jct. New York rebecca clendenon | Hello from Portland OR Mark Fishel Carr | Charlottesville, VA Gregory Thompson | Manassas, VA Bob Folkenberg, Jr. | Orlando Patrick Benner/CRS | Lincoln, Nebraska Stan Jensen | From Toronto, Ontario Canada the Home of the | GC in the year 2000 Patti Guthrie | Fletcher, NC Douglas Devnich | orlando Loren Seibold | San Francisco Bay area, CA Clarence Small | Champaign, IL Marian Forschler | Seattle, WA USA Ruth Swan | Ruth Swan: Huntsville, AL Milton. W. Sterling | FT. LAUDERDALE Ken Osborn | South Lancaster, Ma Verland Erntson | GC office, Silver Springs, MD Dick E. Hanson | Dick Hanson, Portland,Oregon Geir Lisle | Lahore, Pakistan Sysop Ralph Blodget | Our rules for this News Conference are | simple: If you have a question, type "?",or a | statement, type "!" (Then type your comments | while waiting for a GO from the Sysop.) Rick Kajiura | As you know, the delegates voted by nearly a | two-thirds majority not to allow divisions to make their | own decision to ordain individuals without regard to | gender. Ken/Frances Schande | ? Rick Kajiura | This morning they voted constitutional and | bylaws changes to increase lay representation from | the world divisions. Sysop Ralph Blodget | Not q David Ripley | ? Sysop Ralph Blodget | Rick is still typing Rick Kajiura | Overall the executive committee will be | smaller than it was | but larger than the original proposal because | of the change which increase lay | representation from 2 to 3 lay persons. T. K. Lisle, Norway | Tor Kjetil Lisle, Lillehammer - Norway Sysop Ralph Blodget | We have Rick and Owen on line, and Ray in a | few minutes Bruce Moore | ? Richard Dower | ?What happened to David Newman, Editor of | Ministry and how was Dwight Nelson elected? Bob Folkenberg, Jr. | per Division Sysop Ralph Blodget | Rick Kajiura and Owen Troy that is Bob Folkenberg, Jr. | ? Sysop Ralph Blodget | Go David | If you have a question, type "?", or a | statement, type "!" (Then | type your comments while waiting for a GO | from the Sysop.) David Ripley | In the discussion on Ordination, what was the | predominate rationale? Hermenutics? Culture? | Fear of North America throwing it weight around? | Other? David A. Jeffrey | I don't have a question. Rick Kajiura | The delegates were not asked why they voted | the way they did. I believe the majority of the | delegates were voting for what they sincerely | believe to be right. Jim Greene | Greetings from Takoma Park Sysop Ralph Blodget | Go Ken Ken/Frances Schande | Has Dwight Nelson accepted the position of | Ministry editor? Dawn Reynolds | ? Douglas Devnich | ? Owen Troy | We don't know for sure if Dwight has accepted | or | not. Rick Kajiura | I believe most of them have a few days to | consider or | reconsider. Sysop Ralph Blodget | Go Bruce Bruce Moore | Can you or anyone give us an idea on the vote | split | within the NAD regarding ordination? Richard Dower | ? Owen Troy | There is no way to know from the area. Most | were | for it, but a few were against. It was a | secret ballot. Rick Kajiura | The vote was taken by secret ballot. I don't | know that any | division has a breakdown of the vote split. Sysop Ralph Blodget | Go Richard Dick E. Hanson | ? Bruce Moore | ? Sysop Ralph Blodget | If you have a question, type "?", or a | statement, type "!" (Then | type your comments while waiting for a GO | from the Sysop.) | Are you ready Richard? Richard Dower | If Dwight Nelson was elected, what happened | to David Newman? Owen Troy | He was not re elected Rick Kajiura | Dick, I'm not sure what the reasons were for | the change.Only that those are the names that came to | the floor. I guess David will be looking for another | assignment. Sysop Ralph Blodget | Go Bob Geir Lisle | ? Richard Dower | ? Bob Folkenberg, Jr. | Pass Sysop Ralph Blodget | Go Dawn Dawn Reynolds | Are you saying that there was no discussion | on this issue of ordination? How was it | presented? Approximately how long did the | session on this issue last? Jay E. Prall | ? Jim Greene | ? Owen Troy | The discussion was long and there were | several | hundred standing in line to talk, and most | were left | after a couple hours. Sysop Ralph Blodget | Go Dick Owen Troy | It was done fairly and Rock was chairman, the | best. Dick E. Hanson | Re: women's ordination...How many delegates | are from NAD, of the 2100+, since there were only | about 600 pro votes? Dawn Reynolds | ? Owen Troy | There were more in favor than there were | delegates | from NAD Sysop Ralph Blodget | Go Bruce Bruce Moore | How many voting delegates from the NAD would | you estimate there were who were present? I | think | Dick's question covered it. A number? Bob Folkenberg, Jr. | ? Owen Troy | I'm not sure of the number, but I'm sure it | is less than 600 Sysop Ralph Blodget | Go Geir Rick Kajiura | We don't have the figure with us at this | moment. Geir Lisle | Has the TED caucus elected dept directors | today? | If so, do you have som names?? Dick E. Hanson | ! Owen Troy | No departmental directors will be elected at | the GC | session, they will be appointed at the | yearend | meeting Rick Kajiura | Election results from today are in the | Utrecht library from | earlier today. Owen Troy | Their caucus may be doing it here. Sysop Ralph Blodget | Go Richard Rick Kajiura | There were none for TED today. Jane M. Allen | ? Richard Dower | ? Sysop Ralph Blodget | There Richard?? | Go Jay Jay E. Prall | Tell us about the process for adopting the new | communication initiative. Who created the | document? | Were there conference people involved, etc. | This is the | first I've heard of this outcome. Rick Kajiura | The document was created by the Commission on | Strategic Communication. The commission | included | division communication directors. Sysop Ralph Blodget | Go Jim Jim Greene | Any news on AID officer elections? Rick Kajiura | President is L. T. Daniel Owen Troy | Daniels from Nigeria is president, and the | secretary | is from Reunion Island. Rick Kajiura | formerly of the Nigerian Union. | Secretary is Charles Montille David Ripley | ? Sysop Ralph Blodget | Go Dawn Dawn Reynolds | Do you know if the Women's Ministries | Sessions are being video-taped and if so when | they will be available? Sysop Ralph Blodget | We don't know, check with Rose Otis after | Go Bob Bob Folkenberg, Jr. | I thought that it was agreed upon that the | dept. heads were to be voted in during the | Session but that they would not be a | part of the GC Exec. Committee? Rick Kajiura | I think audio tapes may be available, I don't | think video | tapes are available. Owen Troy | Bob, the Associate Sec. are not a part of the | GC | Com. The Departmental men are. Sysop Ralph Blodget | Go Dick Dick E. Hanson | Thanks Ralph, for posting the election | results, that | is very helpful. Keep them coming! This SDA | Online+ thing is terrific!!! Sysop Ralph Blodget | If you have a question, type "?", or a | statement, type "!" (Then | type your comments while waiting for a GO | from the Sysop.) Owen Troy | The GC Associates Dirs. are elected not | appointed, | but not members of GC Com. Sysop Ralph Blodget | Go Jane Jim Greene | ? Jane M. Allen | Was there anything new presented in the | discussion on women's ordination, or was it | more | of what we heard in 1990? Sysop Ralph Blodget | If you have a question, type "?", or a | statement, type "!" (Then | type your comments while waiting for a GO | from the Sysop.) Owen Troy | The Division Dept. Dirs are appointed. Rick Kajiura | I don't think it was anything new. Owen Troy | Yes a number of new items were presented. | Much | more detail than 1990 Sysop Ralph Blodget | Go Richard Douglas Devnich | ? Michael Kelsey | ? Ken Osborn | ? Sysop Ralph Blodget | Richard??? | If you have a question, type "?", or a | statement, type "!" (Then | type your comments while waiting for a GO | from the Sysop.) | Go David David Ripley | Could you give some idea as to the rationale | of the | disscussion preceeding the vote on | ordination? Two | hours were spent in discussion. It must have | had some | type of flavor. Owen Troy | There are two mics on the floor. One for and | one | against, and there seemed to be about 100 | behind | each one Sysop Ralph Blodget | Go Jim Jim Greene | Why NAD not electing departmental leaders at | this time? Owen Troy | Speakers were not doing a lot of repeating. | A Constitutional change was voted to have all | Division departmental directors appointed by | the | Division. Sysop Ralph Blodget | Go Douglas Douglas Devnich | With respect to the unfortunate decision on | Ordination, did | Presidential take a position to guide the | Church into the | 21st Century? Sysop Ralph Blodget | We have time for only two or three more | questions Owen Troy | The President did not take a position on the | floor, | except to plead for unity in the church. Sysop Ralph Blodget | Go Michael Michael Kelsey | What's the next move for the WO issue, any | word? Owen Troy | The attitude after the vote was commendable | and | restrained. | The next move is to work ourselves to death | finishing the presentation of the gospel, Sysop Ralph Blodget | Last question: Go Ken Ken Osborn | Could u describe reaction on floor when | result of ordination vote was announced? Owen Troy | It was restrained, and everyone was ready to | go eat. Sysop Ralph Blodget | Rick got knocked off line Owen Troy | The reaction was one that everyone could be | proud | of. Bill Bossert | What a sad day! Sysop Ralph Blodget | But we have been on for 30 minutes Dawn Reynolds | Thanks for the time and effort that goes into | holding a news conference like this. And | Happy Birthday to the SDA Forum! Sysop Ralph Blodget | We will see you all tomorrow | same time, same station Bernard V. Bowen | Thanx again, good job Sysop Ralph Blodget | One comment on reaction: Dale R. Kongorski | Thanks for the info Donald King | Thanks again for the info. Sysop Ralph Blodget | People were so stunned that there was really | little reaction | surprised by the largeness of the vote against Randy Terry | Thank you. Sysop Ralph Blodget | It was like 600 for, 1,400 against Bill Bossert | This, of course, is not the end of it. Sysop Ralph Blodget | Of course Bruce Moore | Thanks!! | Time tomorrow is what? ET.....? Sysop Ralph Blodget | But the proposal was defeated 5 years ago, Michael Kelsey | Why isn't this the end of it? Ted Mohr | ? Sysop Ralph Blodget | and now again 5 years later Michael Kelsey | on to 2000? Sysop Ralph Blodget | Our conference is at an end Ted Mohr | I realize Im late, Isnt it just a vote | against letting NAD make decision not against | WO? Sysop Ralph Blodget | Thanks for your interest and comments and | questions Owen Troy | Yes Dick E. Hanson | Good job! Ralph. Sysop Ralph Blodget | 5 years ago they voted down WO | This time they voted down the idea of NAD | doing something | different than the rest of the church on this | issue Ted Mohr | will you post the vote breakdown? Sysop Ralph Blodget | And the vote was very lopsided Mark Fishel Carr | Two hours seems an incredibly short time for | discussion.... Sysop Ralph Blodget | OK here is the votes: | 1,481 no | 673 yes Mark Fishel Carr | Was hunger for lunch really so terrible that | discussion couldn't continue??? Sysop Ralph Blodget | Percentages they are: | 68.75 no | 31.24 yes Owen Troy | Time was set to take the vote and 5:00, and | that is | just about what was done. Ted Mohr | Breakdown as per each division? Sysop Ralph Blodget | Roughly 2/3rd against | 1/3 for Owen Troy | It was voted to close discussion. Sysop Ralph Blodget | The discussion period was very fair Stan Jensen | In reality thought the discussion would have | very little effect, most had there minds made | up before they came... Sysop Ralph Blodget | Each speaker was given 2 minutes | or 3 minutes with translation | And they were stopped when the time was up' David Ripley | I still wonder what level the discussion was, | Was the | discussion Biblical or cultural? Dick E. Hanson | After all the pre-GC discussion hype, I am | sure the | delegates had a position and probably would | not | have changed much. Sysop Ralph Blodget | Ray will answer that question, David | (Even though we are done) Ray Dabrowski | Two presenters reviewed theological/biblical | aspects of the issue. Owen Troy | David the discussion was both. McClure gave | a 20 | minute statement. Darmstadt(SP) and Dederen | gave opposite sides. 20 min each. and then | the | discussion begain. Mark Fishel Carr | Who were they? Sysop Ralph Blodget | Dederen was Andrews University still (I think) | The Seminary Dan Hamstra | Dederen is retired dean of Seminary, still | teaches at AU (in retirement) Ray Dabrowski | In case you were wondering - Darmstadt is a | city in | Germany. Damsteegt is the name. | Both speakers are from AU. Sysop Ralph Blodget | Good one, Ray Dan Hamstra | P. Gerard Damsteegt is seminary professor at | AU Owen Troy | Never did good in German Lou Hersch | Will we be able to get a Div breakdown on the | vote ? Jay E. Prall | Any response yet from Columbia and Pacific | unions? They | have been most vocal. Bruce Moore | Which one spoke for and against the issue? Sysop Ralph Blodget | Church History | for Gerard Owen Troy | Hard to tell, but the Pacific union people | around me | were very pro the proposal Ray Dabrowski | Dederen spoke for. Sysop Ralph Blodget | Gerard spoke against Dick E. Hanson | I understand the pastors at Sligo have turned | in | their credentials and reverted to Missionary | Credentials so they would be on equal turf | with the | ladies there. Ray Dabrowski | How do you know that? Dawn Reynolds | the female pastors. Dick E. Hanson | I heard it on the grapevine... Ray Dabrowski | Can you verify this for us? Dick E. Hanson | No Sysop Ralph Blodget | This entire News Conference will be available | on-line (unedited) in | a few minutes this evening--since it is such | an important topic. | So if you came in late, look for it in | Utrecht library Jon Turk | Ralph, Thanks for your extra time this | evening! Dawn Reynolds | I'll check for verification on that, Ray Dick E. Hanson | Thanks, Dawn Sysop Ralph Blodget | Please send a copy to Ray, Ralph and Rick, OK? Ray Dabrowski | Let's not talk about unverified rumors. | Thanks, | Dawn, for checking. Sysop Ralph Blodget | Are we more or less done? Mark Fishel Carr | more Ray Dabrowski | I am signing off. Dorry I was late getting | in. I was | talking with Religion News Service in | Washingtob at | 8 PM when we began our conference. Sysop Ralph Blodget | We tried to keep it to 30 minutes, but this | is an important issue, | we realize Ted Mohr | Am I mistaken in saying this isnt a vote | against WO but just against letting the NAD | make its own decision? Michael Kelsey | Can we mill around in the hall, so to speak? Owen Troy | Dawn send it to me also. Dawn Reynolds | I will! Sysop Ralph Blodget | The vote against WO occured 5 years ago Dawn Reynolds | Thanks! Clarence Small | Thanks, Guys, for the good information, Sysop Ralph Blodget | This was another way to approach the issue | You are welcome | Thanks to you all for coming John Wesslen | Since I came late.... when will the file of | this discussion | be available. Sysop Ralph Blodget | See you tomorrow evening | Same time, same station' Dick E. Hanson | Dawn, Since I started it send me one also. Sysop Ralph Blodget | Go Bless All Owen Troy | Good night. Ted Mohr | I would like to see a division breakdown | sometime on this issue. Good night Sysop Ralph Blodget | 'Nite from the Sysop Dick E. Hanson | bye