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Twenty-Sixth Meeting

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 12, 1913

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 90, No. 24.

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Twenty-Sixth Meeting

June 1, 10 A. M.

I. H. Evans in the chair.
N. Z. Town offered prayer.
Chas. Thompson: Two delegates from the Northern Union, Dr. C. W. Heald and J. W. McComas, have had to return home. Our committee has taken action substituting as delegates B. A. Wolcott, educational secretary of Iowa, and Sister J. W. Dorcas, of Iowa.
The Conference voted to seat these delegates.
The report of the committee on plans was called up, and recommendation 19 was discussed.
H. W. Carr: Item 4, under recommendation 19, reads: “That candidates for the ministry be encouraged to take a course of study in one of our training-schools, as a necessary preparation for their work.” Do we understand that any candidate for the ministry shall be instructed that it is necessary for him to take a course in one of our training-schools before he will be encouraged to enter the ministry?
In brief discussion of the wording of the recommendation, it was agreed that the wording of two items should be as follows:— (1) That those who are ordained to preach the word devote themselves as fully as possible to the work of the gospel ministry. (4) That candidates for the ministry be encouraged to take a course of study in one of our training-schools, for a better preparation for their work.
A. G. Daniells: I think it ought to be made plain, in our advocacy of the ministry devoting itself to the ministry, that the work of a conference president is the work of the gospel ministry. When we have our conference work outlined so that the conference is a great evangelical board,—and that is the aim and purpose,—then it is just as proper for the minister to act as president of the conference as anything else; and while doing that work he can advance the work of the ministry, preaching the gospel and doing all that he is called to do in the supervising way. Now, we must all admit that if today we had laymen,business men trained for the work, to take the chairmanship of our institutional boards, it would be far better to have matters so arranged than to tie our ministers up on the detail administrative work on those boards. That is my conviction.
I do not think that we can make this change suddenly. But there is one thing certain, the messages that have come to us through the spirit of prophecy urge us to train business men, men of business talent and ability, to look after the business interests of this denomination, so that ministers shall not be called away from the preaching and from the ministry to attend so largely to business affairs. I understand that is what section five looks to. Surely that is a proper thing for this denomination to begin now to do. We are full late enough in passing an emphatic recommendation of this sort. It must be understood that this change cannot be made fully this year, nor next year. But we have business men on the General Conference Committee who are not ordained ministers, but are earnest Christians, men of sound business ability, and they are managing business affairs, and it is far better to have these men doing the work than to place these detail administrative burdens upon ministers.
God has given us hundreds of men of good talent and ability for business affairs and administration, who are not gifted for public speaking, but they are thinkers, they are plodders, they are splendid, hard-working men at the desk, and they can get around quickly and look after business interests. The strength of the denomination lies in the ministry giving itself to the work of the ministry, and drawing in this great, splendid body of laymen of business acumen to look after our institutional administrative affairs.
I tell you, brethren, you presidents of conferences, you are in danger of losing the real, refreshing, life-giving power as ministers, because you are so wrapped up with administrative business details. I have gone over the ground myself in the local conference and the union conference and the General Conference. I do not say that the preachers should not be presidents of conferences. I believe in it; but I believe, my brethren, that as fast as you can, you should entrust to others all that pertains to business,—the buying and selling, the care of tents, and the details of administration,—put these things into the hands of treasurers and secretaries, and helpers, and give yourselves more fully to the work of the ministry. [Voices: Amen! Amen!] I stand for this, that the presidents of conferences should, above all things, be leaders among the preachers of the conferences in evangelistic, soul-winning labor. And if there is anybody at the camp-meeting who ought to step in at the revival, who ought to encourage the discouraged and the suffering, and to lift the people up spiritually, it is the president of the conference.
I know that you must have time for Bible study and prayer. One cannot go from the wearing consideration of business perplexities, and in an instant jump right into good evangelistic preaching work. What this recommendation means, as I understand it, is to distribute these things, so as to give our conference presidents more time to devote to the ministry. And I believe there is a reformation for us to make.
E. E. Andross: I want to say to the delegates that I am in full accord with the plan proposed in this resolution, and have been personally trying to labor to this end. I have labored earnestly to build up the ministry. I believe a minister is ordained to preach the word, and not to go off on a farm or engage in other matters part of the time. But, further, I believe that the minister is called to stand at the head of the conference just as much as he is called to preach the word, and in doing so he is not cutting himself off from the ministry or the preaching of the word. I fully believe that the Lord would have at least a fair representation of ministers on the conference committee. I believe none are so well fitted to direct the minister in his work as those engaged in the ministry. I think we ought to lift the standard higher, until we can have an efficient corps of ministers all over the land.
V. O. Cole: Is it the mind of the framers of this recommendation that now all business be left to the business members of the committee?
I. H. Evans: I suppose that bringing about this change would be a gradual process. They could not make these changes at once. We would not have the business men. Then you will understand that these recommendations provide for training. Men are not only to be selected, but they are to be trained. Just how long that will take, I suppose we hardly know. The plan is evidently that the policy shall be changed, so that ministers shall not be giving their time to business all the while; but we want business men to take these business enterprises, while the ministry give themselves to the preaching of the gospel. I do not think anybody would understand this to mean a radical change immediately, but a definite policy to work to, to bring about just as rapidly and as quickly as changes can be safely made.
A. G. Daniells: Now I want to make a word of explanation. This says the work of the ministry. Is not all this good help that is given to the churches the work of the ministry?—Surely. And every conference president must see that the churches are receiving the help necessary to keep them strong and vigorous and active in the work. It may not be necessary for the president to do all that work. He may divide the conference up, and arrange for different ministers to do this revival work in the churches, and this work of the ministry. But I could not think that a minister was missing his calling or his duty if he was giving himself earnestly to the revival of the churches, and to additions in places where there is an interest.
L. R. Conradi: I am very much pleased with this resolution, and I think it is not so difficult to carry out as we think it is. By the grace of God, it has been my privilege to carry it out a number of years. I found that, the larger my field grows, there must be planning ahead in order to do this. I have not the privilege at present, as Brother Daniells had, of laboring in the cities, because our workers over there are city workers. With us the thing is turned about. All our work is city work at first; country work comes in later, and is much more difficult. But the union presidents now carry on the city efforts. Then what is my work?—We see some large problems in Mohammedan fields and heathen fields, and I have an interest in them. I do not know how to counsel the workers unless I go there for four or five months. Well, now, when I leave Europe, I leave it without the least concern. I know that the gospel ministry goes on; I know that the good boards go on, and that the conferences go on; and I am very happy to know that everything goes along well without me—that I can be spared. I believe we can do that; but I do admit that we plan from one to two years ahead, so I can get out that four or five months. I believe, brethren, by the grace of God, it can be done, and I find institutions are running successfully, the gospel work is going on, and we are getting thousands of people into the truth.
A. G. Daniells: Who runs your institutions?
L. R. Conradi: Business men; they have all the detail work, and we find also that the work is going on in harmony. And I am thankful to the Lord that we can enlarge, and go out, and carry the gospel to the very ends of the world. A few years ago, when that testimony referred to was read, one good brother came to me and said, “Now, you men must all get off every board.” I am perfectly willing to get off every board, but, brethren, if I get off every board, I want to be rid of every responsibility concerning the institutions. But a president can be on a board, and yet have good business men looking after all the details. We need good judgment, brethren and sisters. Some one says we have so many churches. Now we divided our conferences into as many districts as we have ordained elders. The first thing I did in German East Africa was to form three districts, and to have three district elders, so the superintendent did not need to go into all the details. By planning, I know it can be carried out successfully, and we shall see many more souls brought into the kingdom of God, and our institutions running with less debt, too.
Other excellent remarks were made by G. B. Starr, F. W. Stray, E. K. Slade, G. F. Watson, and C. F. McVagh, but the sentiment of the Conference is expressed in those given. We regret that we cannot publish all that was said.
W. T. Knox: I would like to call the question, and in doing so would crave the privilege, after the recommendations have been considered, to introduce a report of the joint committee on finance.
I. H. Evans: The question is called. All in favor of adopting these resolutions, manifest it by the uplifted hand. [Carried unanimously.] Brother Knox still has the floor.
W. T. Knox: The questions of finance are so related to the two conferences that the two committees have been operating together, and the partial report that we desire to present this morning really affects both conferences; but if possible we would desire that they be considered and separated, as the discussion will reveal where they belong. Brother Parmele is secretary of the committee.
R. W. Parmele (reading): The joint-committee on finance of the General Conference and the North American Division Conference, would respectfully submit the following report:—

Report on Finance

In harmony with the action of the General Conference Committee at Mountain View, in January, 1913,—
1. We recommend, The appointment of a finance commission of four members, one member to be appointed by the General Conference Committee, another member by the North American Division Conference Committee; these two to give their entire time to the work; the other two to be the treasurers of the General and North American Division Conferences, and that the expenses of the commission be divided equally between the two conferences. 2. We recommend, The adoption of the actions of the General Conference Committee at Mountain View in January, 1913, regarding the relief of our institutions, with such revision as may be necessary to adapt them to the North American Division. 3. We recommend, That the North American Division Conference provide the necessary means for the building of the medical college hospital, by advancing the amount called for from its treasury, and replacing the amount by calling for donations from its constituency.
On motion to adopt, these recommendations were held over for consideration after being published in the Bulletin.
Conference adjourned.