Autumn Council of the Executive Committee of the North American Division Conference by Irwin H. Evans; George B. Thompson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 16, 1915

Autumn Council of the Executive Committee of the North American Division Conference

By Irwin H. Evans; George B. Thompson

Final Report

The following actions constitute the final report of the meetings of the Division Conference Executive Committee Council held at Loma Linda, Cal.

Financial Policy

The efforts being made to deliver our conferences and institutions from the bondage of debt are bringing courage to our people everywhere. The following recommendations reaffirming this policy were passed:—

Whereas, We recognize with gratitude

to God the earnest and responsive way in which our people are rallying to relieve our institutions from the debts with which they are encumbered; and,—

Whereas, We realize at the same time the strong tendency to increase the liabilities of our various institutions so that some are becoming more deeply involved in debt,—

We recommend, That a continual, active, and determined effort be made by all union and local conferences and by boards of management of institutions, to liquidate the liabilities of the institutions for which they are responsible, and that as a people we in no way relax our energies until conferences and institutions are free from the burden and bondage of debt.

That regardless of pressing demands we extend no institutional or conference work of any kind on borrowed money and advance no enterprise faster than money is in hand with which to enlarge the work.

That we guard against carelessness in the use of money, and urge our workers to practice economy in all lines of work with which they are engaged, and study and pursue plans of advancement which are efficient and economical.

The Gospel Ministry

With a view of strengthening and building up a strong ministry, the following recommendations, after careful consideration, were passed:—

Whereas, The work of the gospel ministry is a sacred and holy work, and only those should be encouraged to enter it who renounce the world, sin, the love of display, and worldly pleasure, and who are willing to lead humble, self-sacrificing, Christian lives, that by precept and example they may preach the pure gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; and,—

Whereas, The third angel’s message and our world-wide work demand a growing, progressive, educated ministry, who can preach the message to all classes, and who give evidence of a divine call to the ministry, not only in their own experience, but in the judgment of the brethren,—

We recommend, That all candidates for ordination to the gospel ministry shall be carefully examined in Bible doctrines, their ability correctly to expound the same, and their confidence in and loyalty to the denominational organization.

We recognize that God often calls to the gospel ministry men of limited education, but whose mature judgment and practical experience in life, with rich spiritual endowment, give them a special fitness for the work of the ministry. The fruit of their labors has demonstrated the genuineness of their call, and we esteem them highly for their works’ sake.

We recommend, That these workers, in the exercise of the ability which God has given them, seek by every reasonable means to increase their efficiency. By the opportunities offered in the Fireside Correspondence School, in the Ministerial Reading Course, and in general reading and study, this increased efficiency may be obtained.

That young men who are planning to enter the ministry, avail themselves of the opportunities offered in our denominational training schools to secure a good education, and that they be encouraged

as far as possible to complete not less than fourteen grades of school work before they are ordained to the gospel ministry.

We further recommend, That all under twenty-five years of age now laboring in the ministry, as either ordained or licensed preachers, who do not possess an education equal to fourteen grades of work, be encouraged either to attend our denominational training schools or to take work in the Fireside Correspondence School, until the educational standard of fourteen grades has been reached.

That all our ministers shall pursue the Ministerial Reading Courses and such other regular courses of study as they can take consistently with their gospel work.

That the ordination of men to the gospel ministry shall be governed as follows:—

1. The committee on ordination shall consist of the union conference committee, with such members of the General and Division Conference Committees as may be present, and such other ordained ministers of experience as may be invited in; and if the candidate be for work in a foreign department, the secretary of that department be consulted.

2. The union or local conference executive committee believing that one of their workers should be ordained to the gospel ministry, shall by vote recommend said person to their union conference committee for examination for ordination.

3. The chairman of the union conference committee shall take up the question of the ordination of a candidate at a meeting of the committee, and if the vote is favorable, shall call the candidate to appear before the committee on ordination, or a subcommittee appointed by the same, for examination in harmony with these recommendations.

4. Those passing satisfactory examinations and giving full proof of their call to the ministry, shall be recommended to their respective local conferences for ordination at the earliest suitable occasion.

We further recommend, That the arrangements for the ceremony of ordination be in the hands of the representatives of the General or Division Conference who may be present, together with the union and local conference presidents; and that the service in general be conducted as follows:—

Let there be a sermon on the ministry, if possible; then a short history of the one chosen for ordination; then the prayer, followed by the charge, and lastly the welcome.

Whereas, Our rapidly advancing work oftentimes affords opportunity for men to do efficient service for the Lord who are worthy to be engaged in the work because of their deep spiritual experience and ability to organize and lead in missionary work, but who are not sufficiently qualified to enter the regular ministry; therefore,—

We recommend, That we recognize the call of these persons to a service which may or may not be a call to a life work, by giving them missionary credentials.

Whereas, The union conference is called upon to adjust matters when the local conferences become burdened with too heavy a force of laborers; therefore,—

We recommend, That whenever additional regular laborers are to be added

to the pay roll of the local conference, the union conference officers be consulted.

That credentials shall be revocable at such time, and for such cause, as the conference granting them deem it unwise for the person to continue in the work of the gospel ministry.

That ministerial credentials be renewed only to such as give their undivided time to the sacred work of the ministry to which they were set apart by ordination, except in cases where ordained ministers are employed by the conference in other lines of conference or institutional work. It is understood that this does not apply to aged or infirm workers who may receive their support from the sustentation fund or from private income.

That where ministerial credentials are not renewed, the authority to administer the ordinances of the church, to perform marriage ceremonies, etc., be not recognized.

That where for any cause ministerial credentials are revoked or are not renewed, and application is made to another conference for their renewal, this request be not granted without consultation with the local and union conferences previously granting the credentials. This does not preclude the right of appeal.

Church Building in London, England

Whereas, The General Conference Committee Council, at a recent meeting, took the following action regarding a proposal to raise a fund for a church building in London, England:—

“Voted, That we ask the North American Division to waive for this purpose the arrangement we have made to make no special appeals aside from the regular mission funds, and that in case this arrangement is agreed to, we proceed to raise the funds required by calls appearing in the REVIEW, listing subscriptions also in the REVIEW;” therefore,—

Resolved, That we concur in this recommendation, and by calls in the REVIEW AND HERALD, and in other proper ways, try to raise $10,000 for the erection of a church in the metropolis of the world. This is not to apply on the Twenty-cent-a-week Fund.

Study of Sabbath School Lessons

Whereas, Our spiritual life depends on personal, continuous study of the Word of God, and our Sabbath school lessons afford the best means for daily Bible study; therefore,—

1. We recommend, That every Seventh-day Adventist family set aside some time each day, preferably in connection with the family worship, for the study of the Sabbath school lesson.

2. That the ministry promote this as they visit the homes of Sabbath keepers, also by speaking publicly of its importance, and in other ways as there is opportunity.

Los Angeles Hospital

In order to equip and properly complete the medical college at Loma Linda, Cal., it will be necessary to build in Los Angeles a hospital requiring an outlay of approximately $60,000. The constituency of the medical college voted to erect this building when the funds have been provided, so that there will be no further increase of indebtedness. A memorial was presented, suggesting that the necessary

funds to this end be raised by the women of the denomination, and that a committee of sisters be appointed to promote this work. This was agreed to by the council, and the following recommendations, outlining a plan to begin the work, were passed:—

We recommend,—

1. That the name of this organization be “The Women’s Committee on the Los Angeles Hospital.”

2. That an organization be perfected, consisting of a chairman, a secretary, and a treasurer who shall be the treasurer of the North American Division Conference.

3. That Mrs. S. N. Haskell be invited to call together such representative women as it may be deemed best, to perfect this organization.

4. That the territory in which this committee shall operate shall be North America.

5. That a representative woman be selected in each union conference, and in such local conferences as may be deemed advisable, to aid in carrying forward the work.

6. That this work be carried forward by means of articles in the REVIEW AND HERALD, the union conference papers, by correspondence, and by personal solicitation.

7. That this whole work be carried forward under the coöperative counsel of the Treasury Department of the North American Division Conference.

8. That all expenses connected with this movement be met from the funds collected by this committee.

Bermuda Islands

Feeling that the work in the Bermuda Islands could be carried forward more effectively if connected with some union conference, it was suggested by the General Conference Committee that it be considered a part of the Atlantic Union Conference. It was—

Voted, That we concur in this arrangement, with the understanding that the workers now on the island be a part of the staff of the Atlantic Union Conference.

Foreign Department

In view of the vacancy existing in the Foreign Department by the death of Elder O. A. Olsen, and in harmony with the request received from the department itself, it was—

Voted, That Elder C. W. Flaiz be appointed secretary of this department, with the understanding that he will look after his conference work until the time of the union conference session.

Member of Executive Committee

There being a vacancy on the executive committee owing to the resignation of Brother L. M. Bowen, Elder F. M. Wilcox, editor of the REVIEW AND HERALD, was elected a member of the committee to fill the vacancy.

Adjourned.

I. H. EVANS, Chairman; G. B. THOMPSON, Secretary.