General Conference Committee Council by William Ambrose Spicer

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 6, 1913

General Conference Committee Council

By William Ambrose Spicer

Second Report

One of the most encouraging sessions of the council was that devoted to the home missionary work.

Home Missionary Work

Miss E. M. Graham, secretary of the Home Missionary Department of work, presented to the council a report of work done from the General Conference Office to get in touch with tract and missionary secretaries and other workers for the organizing of this home tract and missionary work, to which members of all the churches are called. The manuscript of a series of “Lessons for Home Missionary Institutes” was submitted, and counsel asked as to how best to bring out these lessons.

The council reviewed the first lessons in the series, and asked Miss Graham to give a summary of the topics studied. All were pleased with the studies, and felt that the plans being laid would bring great blessings to us.

The chairman stated his belief that if the whole denomination is to be guided into this personal ministry, it can be done only by training leaders in the local churches; and only by institutes can this training be done.

F. M. Wilcox referred to the instruction that has often come to us that what is needed is not so much more preaching to the churches as the training of the churches in service.

W. J. Stone told of efforts made in this work in Virginia. He longed to see the fulfilment of the description—“thousands of our people going everywhere with the message.”

C. W. Flaiz suggested that an army must be trained in detail practise. Just so it must be in the church missionary work. He believed these institute lessons would be a great help.

N. Z. Town believed that with the organization of this work and instruction of members, the same results would be seen in this that have been brought about in the book work.

E. R. Palmer said that every advance step in work has been by organization, consecration, and detailed instruction and training.

R. D. Quinn felt that the greatest proposition before us was to launch this campaign for organizing all the churches for active work.

Chas. Thompson felt that the provision of work for young people was an important feature—to keep new converts and others busy in the work as a means of keeping up spiritual life.

F. T. Russell said that all recognized that the churches were languishing from inactivity. While we are circulating more literature than ever before, this is mainly done by a few. He believed the outline presented the instruction needed to call into action latent forces everywhere.

L. H. Christian said that four years ago the Danish department organized a Danish Tract and Missionary Society, and it has stimulated new activity among the Danish believers.

Dr. D. H. Kress expressed appreciation of the outline, and said he believed it a most important enterprise.

W. W. Eastman said it encouraged the publishing men to see such a movement inaugurated. He felt the loud cry of the message was in the united activity of all in taking the message to the people.

Voted, That these outlines be adopted as the basis for an instruction booklet, subject to such revision as may be made by a committee to be appointed by the General Conference Committee.

Plans for the training of conference tract and missionary society secretaries were discussed and adopted, the working out of the plans being left with the various union conferences.

Young People’s Work

The work of the Young People’s Missionary Volunteer Department was considered, and the following actions were taken:—

Whereas, The work for our young people is of the utmost importance to their salvation, and to the development of workers for the cause, and,—

Whereas, The success of this work depends very largely on the strength of our Missionary Volunteer leadership,—

1. Resolved, (a) That all our conferences put forth special efforts to secure persons of high qualifications to act as Missionary Volunteer secretaries,—persons who are strong spiritual leaders, and who have a special adaptability for dealing with the youth; (b) that such secretaries who have reasonable success in their work be retained in office long enough to put the missionary work on a solid footing; (c) that Missionary Volunteer secretaries and those who contemplate entering this work be encouraged to take the course of study to be given for them through the Fireside Correspondence School.

2. We recommend, (a) That in the union conference, one person act as educational and Missionary Volunteer secretary, and that the work be so arranged that half-time will be given to each department; (b) that conferences with a membership of 1,500 or more endeavor to provide a Missionary Volunteer secretary who shall give his entire time to the work; (c) that conferences with a membership of less than 1,500 elect one person who shall divide his time equally between the educational and the Missionary Volunteer work.

3. Resolved, That special attention be given to our young people’s work at our union conference sessions this season, (a) by the presence of a representative from the General or the North American Division Conference Missionary Volunteer Department; (b) by encouraging the local conferences to send their Missionary Volunteer secretaries as delegates to the union conferences, and that they spend an hour each day with the General or the North American Division Missionary Volunteer secretary in institute work.

4. Resolved, That we encourage the holding of Missionary Volunteer institutes this winter at such times and places as can be suitably arranged, and that as far as possible, the conference presidents and near-by workers attend these meetings.

Whereas, The plan of publishing lessons for our Missionary Volunteer and Junior Society meetings in the Youth’s Instructor and Our Little Friend has proved unsatisfactory, inasmuch as all members have the same matter in hand a week before the meeting,—

5. Resolved, That the General and North American Division Conference Committees provide some means of getting these lessons into the hands of Missionary Volunteer leaders and Missionary Volunteer secretaries.

6. We recommend, That our union and local conferences send their Missionary Volunteer secretaries to the educational and Missionary Volunteer convention to be held in the summer of 1914.

Sustentation Fund

The matter of the Sustentation Fund was reviewed, and the following report was adopted:—

Resolved,—

1. That we maintain a permanent fund to be known as the Sustentation Fund, for the support of sick and aged laborers, and the widows and children of deceased laborers, who have been employed upon a missionary basis in our conferences, mission fields, and institutions.

2. That the resources of this fund be as follows:—

a. Six per cent of the tithe of all local, union, and division conferences and mission fields and the General Conference.

b. Two per cent of all foreign mission funds.

c. Two and one-half per cent based on the payrolls of our publishing houses and sanitariums.

d. One-half per cent of the volume of business done by our tract societies.

e. Although teachers in our schools are to receive benefits from this fund, the schools are exempted from payment because of the heavy burdens carried by them in proportion to their income.

f. It is understood and agreed by all the organizations and institutions entering into this plan that at any time when the percentages of funds set apart for the maintenance of this fund are insufficient to meet the needs of the several classes of workers, the percentage will be increased.

3. That these funds be remitted monthly through the regular channels to the respective treasurers.

4. That this fund for the General Conference and its mission fields and for the North American Division Conference be kept by the treasurer of the General Conference; for other division conferences by the treasurers of the respective divisions, and for union conferences and union mission fields not included in any division conference, by their several treasurers.

5. That allowances from this fund be made by vote of the following committees:—

a. For the General Conference and its mission fields and for the North American Division Conference, a subcommittee of five persons, selected from the General Conference Committee and the North American Division Committee, who shall make all necessary investigation of each case and make recommendations for final action to a joint meeting of the General Conference and North American Division Conference Committees.

b. For other division conferences, a subcommittee of three members who shall make recommendation for final action to their respective division conference committees.

c. For union conferences which are not included in any division conference, a subcommittee of three persons who shall make recommendations for final action to their respective union conference committees.

6. That the benefits of this fund shall be extended to the disabled laborers of our cause or to their bereaved families, whose remuneration has been on a missionary basis and who may legitimately be included among the following classes of workers:—

a. All laborers under the direction of conferences and mission fields, including colporteurs, nurses, and church-school teachers, who have devoted their lives to continuous service in the work.

b. Employees in our institutions.

c. The principal considerations which will determine whether laborers shall receive benefits from this fund will be length of service, financial condition, and present standing and attitude in relation to this movement.

7. That the resources of this fund shall not be drawn upon for temporary sickness or disability, it being understood that all conferences and institutions shall care for their workers when disabled for a period of at least six months, before making application for assistance from this fund.

8. That all applicants for assistance from this fund shall furnish the disbursing committees satisfactory evidence that they are entitled to support, and also as to the amount which will be required.

9. That in order to secure uniformity, accuracy, and justice in making allowances, blanks be sent to each applicant which when filled will give the committees the information they need for making a proper and equitable distribution of the fund. This blank should be signed by the applicant and should be approved and indorsed as follows:—

a. In the case of laborers in local conferences, including colporteurs, nurses employed in the field, church-school teachers, and employees in local conference institutions, recommendation should be made by the local conference committee, and the application signed by the president. The application should then be sent to the union conference, and should be passed upon by the union conference committee, and be indorsed by the union conference president. It should then be passed on to the general Sustentation Fund committee for final consideration.

b. In the case of laborers in union conferences, including laborers in union conference institutions, the application blank should be sent to the union conference, and should be passed upon by the union conference committee and indorsed by the president. It should then be passed on to the general Sustentation Fund committee for final action.

c. In the case of laborers in the employ of the North American Division Conference and workers in division institutions, applications should be made through the North American Division to the central Sustentation Fund committee for the usual consideration and action.

d. In the case of laborers in the employ of the General Conference and workers in general institutions, application should be made through the General Conference to the central committee on Sustentation Fund, for examination and final action in the usual manner.

e. All applications for assistance from employees in institutions, whether local, union, divisional, or general, should be made through the managing boards of these institutions to the conference in which the institution operates.

10. That conference officers and committees and the managing boards of institutions guard with the utmost care the use of this fund by refusing to recommend to the central committee the cases of any persons who do not properly come under the spirit of this provision.

11. That this fund be used only for the support of laborers who are disabled by age or sickness, and for the

support of the widows and orphans of deceased laborers; that it be not used for the support of laborers who for other reasons than those stated above have become a burden upon the conference, nor for those who are still able to engage in conference work; and that when a laborer is, or becomes, of sufficient value to a conference to justify his allowance being supplemented by the conference, he be transferred to the conference for full support, except as special arrangement may be made with the committee on Sustentation Fund.

12. That once a year (most conveniently, perhaps, at the time of the autumn council) each union conference president submit to a joint meeting of the committees of the General Conference and the North American Division Conference a report on each case being supported from this fund within his territory; and that further support from this fund be decided by action of this joint meeting.

13. That when an allowance is determined by vote of the proper authority, the treasurer of the Sustentation Fund is thereby authorized to make monthly remittances of said allowance to the party named, until such allowance is changed or discontinued.

14. That the disbursing committees be charged with the duty of aiding the beneficiaries of this fund in locating where conditions will be most favorable for their restoration to health, where living will be most economical, where they can do the most to help maintain themselves, and where they can render the best possible service to the cause.

15. That it be made clear to the beneficiaries under this arrangement that all allowances from this fund are cheerfully made, that in no sense is the person receiving such allowance a subject of charity, but that this arrangement has been made for the definite purpose of providing a just and necessary support for those laborers who have given their lives and means for the building up of this cause but have made no provision for sickness or age, and to supplement such private incomes of our laborers as prove insufficient for their needs.

16. That this arrangement go into effect Jan. 1, 1914.

Further report will be deferred to a later issue.

W. A. SPICER, Secretary.