Autumn Council of the Executive Committee of the North American Division Conference
By G. B. THOMPSON
The council closed on Friday, November 19. While the work of the council had been of a very strenuous nature, owing to the large number of urgent and important questions which came before us for decision, it was very harmonious in every way. The presence of the Holy Spirit was manifest in all the proceedings. Every delegate present did all in his power to contribute to the solution of the great and almost overwhelming problems which came before the council for consideration. We feel very thankful for the blessings of the Lord which attended our deliberations. The following further actions of general interest were taken:— Appropriations for the Year 1916
Atlantic Union ................................ $ 18,000
Columbia Union ............................... 13,300
Eastern Canadian Union ....................... 8,500
Southeastern Union ........................... 11,000
Southern Union ............................... 13,000
Southwestern Union ........................... 5,750
North American Foreign Dept. ................ 10,629
North American Negro Dept. .................. 32,200
College of Medical Evangelists. ............. 10,000 Christian Record ............................ $ 2,000
Special to Atlantic Union .................... 1,286
Executive and departmental exp. .............. 29,600
Tithe to General Conference .................. 1,400
Sustentation .................................. 840
General expense ............................... 1,500
Special appropriations ....................... 12,535
Total ....................................... $171,540 Whereas, The benefits of using the book “Ministry of Healing” as a relief book are still available, and believing that great good will result from a circulation of the book; and,—
Whereas, The publishers are willing to make special terms on the book in quantities, in the English and some of the foreign languages; therefore,—
We recommend, That our sanitariums and foreign seminaries and other schools avail themselves of the advantages offered by the sale of “Ministry of Healing,” arranging with the publishers, through the proper channels, for their supply. Whereas, The Harvest Ingathering campaign has proved a great blessing in acquainting the people with the world-wide movement, as well as an effective method of raising means with which to upbuild the work, therefore, be it—
Resolved— - That we continue the plan, and open the campaign for 1916 during the week of October 9–16.
- That we use the Signs of the Times weekly as the medium.
- That we set our goal at $100,000.
- That the material used in the promotion of the campaign be furnished and sent out by the publishers.
- That the oversight of the campaign be in the hands of the Treasury Department of the North American Division Conference.
- That the Home Missionary Department of the North American Division Conference take charge of the field end.
- That a suitable report blank be prepared to be used in reporting the results of the campaign.
“Review and Herald” and “Signs of the Times”
We recommend, That continuous efforts be made to place the REVIEW AND HERALD, our church paper, in every Sabbath-keeping home; and a club of the Signs of the Times, our pioneer missionary paper, in every church and company. That it be the policy of the North American Division Conference to undertake to raise twenty cents a week as heretofore, fifteen cents of this to go to the General Conference for missions, and five cents to be applied on the liquidation of institutional indebtedness; further, that we undertake to raise the fund as far as possible above the average of twenty cents as a Division, the overflow to go to the General Conference for missions; and further, that any union raising large special funds for institutional relief, thus dividing effort in raising the Twenty-cent-a-week Fund, shall participate in the distribution of the five cents for institutional relief only to the amount that such union has raised above the fifteen cents. We recommend, That the Western Colorado and Utah Conferences be united6under the name of the Intermountain Conference, the new organization to become a constituent part of the Pacific Union Conference, with the understanding that the Pacific Union Conference assume responsibility for the payment of Western Colorado’s share in the General Conference Association debt assigned to the Central Union Conference, as originally apportioned to the Western Colorado Conference, with accrued interest; this change to become effective Jan. 1, 1916. Whereas, There is increased activity among religious organizations to bring Sunday legislation to the front and to deprive observers of the true Sabbath of their rights; and,—
Whereas, We have been exhorted to meet this issue by scattering religious liberty literature like “the leaves of autumn;” therefore,—
We recommend, That cheap, up-to-date leaflets on live religious liberty and temperance issues be provided by a special committee to meet the demands, said committee to be appointed by the executive committee of the North American Division Conference.
Whereas, There is a constantly growing demand for ready funds to supply religious liberty literature to State officials and members of the legislatures, and to other prominent public men, as well as for general circulation and use when important issues arise, therefore,—
We recommend, That the fourth Sabbath home missionary offering each February be set apart for this purpose, the receipts to be forwarded to the local conference treasurer, and conserved by him for the same purpose. Whereas, In the past, embarrassment and confusion have been caused by irregularities in procedure when workers are wanted by certain conferences and institutions; therefore, to preserve unity and cooperation,—
We recommend, That our policy in such matters be as follows:—- That within a union conference interchange of laborers within said union conference shall be made by union and local conference committees.
- Where an institution, local conference, or union conference wants a worker employed outside of said union or local conference, the procedure shall be as follows:—
a. The institution or local or union conference desiring such worker shall present its request to said union conference executive committee; said union conference committee shall pass said request, if approved, on to the Division Conference Executive Committee through its officers, and said Division Conference Executive Committee, if it approves, shall pass, through its officers, said request to the union conference executive committee employing said worker.
b. No party desiring the services of a worker outside the local or union conference where he works shall take up correspondence with said worker until after his union conference officers have informed him that the arrangement for securing said worker has been completed. Home Missionary Department
Whereas, When the study of the Testimonies is taken up by the members of a church, there is manifested by them a fuller consecration to the Lord and a deeper personal spiritual experience, which leads to active labor in the winning of souls,—
We recommend, That in every conference an effort be made to place the Testimonies, especially Volumes VI to IX, in the home of every Sabbath-keeping family.
Whereas, The times in which we are living, when important issues are rapidly developing, and signs that show the end to be near are multiplying on every hand, make it an urgent necessity to enlist every Sabbath keeper in the finishing of the work,—
We recommend, That the home missionary work be recognized in each union and local conference as a definite department, and that the following steps be taken to organize it in a definite way:—- That a home missionary secretary be appointed in each union conference, for the purpose of enlisting every Sabbath keeper in systematic and regular work just as rapidly as men with the necessary qualifications can be found.
- That the local conferences appoint home missionary secretaries as soon as they can find suitable individuals, for the purpose of building up the home missionary work.
- That the home missionary secretaries of both union and local conferences be practical instructors and organizers, with ability and experience which will enable them to set people to work in the following lines:—
a. Distribution of literature—tracts, periodicals, magazines, small books.
b. Bible readings and cottage meetings.
c. Christian Help work.
d. Missionary correspondence.- That tract society secretaries be educated to recognize that their office carries with it a large degree of responsibility to foster the home missionary work in the churches, and that a high standard of efficiency be maintained in our tract society offices in regard to the making and increasing of business along the lines of soul-saving work.
- That ministers, as they raise up new companies, organize them into working societies before they leave them.
A final report will be given next week.
G. B. THOMPSON, Secretary.