Impressions from St. Louis (4)

The third day of the GC Session was opened by Esther Knott who said, “This is my church and I love it.”
Charles Haugabrooks leads the singing every day in his characteristic way.
The devotional speaker was introduced by Pastor Mulambo.
in his message, Dr. Jongimpi Papu of South Africa asked, “Can you hear God’s voice in your busy schedules?”
The Prayer team was led by Gem Castor
Ella Simmons as chair suggested trying to make people stand up and get some exercise during the three-minute Election Buddy time
Agenda of the day: Constitution and Bylaws and Church Manual revisions
The Division presidents elected. They are also Vicepresidents of the General Conference.
Euro-Asia Division officers extended until Annual council 2022 pending revision due to the world situation. Only four Division Presidents were not incumbents, including Dr. Daniel Duda for theTrans-European Division.
Re-elected EUD President Mario Brito said in an interview: “We have a message of hope for people around us.”
Elder Wilson, in his remarks recognized the calling of all division presidents, as leaders of the Advent moment in their territories. He followed that message with a prayer that “their minds be clear, and most of all that they will have a direct connection with the leader of our Church, Jesus Christ.”
And delegates were looking for the right connection. Wi-Fi connectivity remains a challenge and leads to people gathering in special places and special posture.
The delegates to the GC Session must be lauded for their power of endurance in sitting through constant business sessions with only breaks for food intake. The new format of a shortened session with a tight schedule is taxing.
Connecting with each other and taking group photos is squeezed in.
The Treasurer’s report was presented by Paul Douglas.
Church Manual revisions now provide for a standing nominating committee.
In the discussion about the work of deacons, Stephan Sigg, president of the Swiss-German conference expressed his disappointment due to the continued discrimination of women in the church. As in the description of the work of church elders, the work of deacons should not be subdivided into the duties of deacons and deaconesses separately. Permitting deaconesses to prepare the Lord’s Supper but not to participate in the ceremony is discriminating. There should only be no difference in the duties of male and female deacons.
Olga Krupska sang in Ukrainian and English about “When Peace, like a river.” That is what her country needs. Our sympathies are with the Ukrainian people.
The Night Session was opened by Richard Hart of Loma Linda University and a devotional by Suzanne Philips, chair of the Earth and Biological Sciences faculty at LLU. She said, “We believe the Bible because it is the word of God.”
Chair Abner de Los Santos encouraged the church to continue supporting Revival and reformation.
The nominating committee presented some statistics of General Conference leadership. The average age of elected leaders is 60.
As most of the nominations are just confirming incumbents, many delegates wonder why they had to come to St. Lois just to put their stamp on a status quo.
The next report of the Nominating Committee brought the names of the officers of the Divisions. Division secretaries and treasurers approved.
The Inter-European Division will continue with Barna Magyarosi as Secretary and Norbert Zens as Treasurer. Lowell Cooper, Chair of the nominating committee confirmed that ordination is not necessary for these positions.
The delegate Debbie Jackson asked: Why can’t we get younger people and females into these positions?
The next group presented consisted of the Associate Directors of departments at GC. Again, most were incumbents or cases where a person transited form one position to another.
The last action of the day dealt with Adventist Possibilities Ministries.
Importance of including all members in church ministry and to empower persons with special needs in outreach.
The GC session is being translated into American Sign language.
The new Women’s Ministries Associate Director will be introduced to you tomorrow.
Please log in to our website to see the video of the third day:
https://cloud.eud.adventist.org/index.php/apps/files/?dir=/WM%20Webseite/Impressions%20from%20St.%20Louis&openfile=31718345