Two of those structures have ceased to be, for one reason or another. Our church in Africa is today experiencing rapid growth. During these two decades there has been a 500 percent increase in membership on the continent. The next 500 percent increase in membership in Africa is projected to take place in half of that time, i.e. in one decade. As we all well know, there are huge demands on infrastructures, institutions, pastorates, and leadership.
Humanity is by definition in a flux, especially among developing nations.
The time has come, we believe, for us to take a fresh look at all of that. In some parts of the world these institutions are owned and operated by unions, but equally often they are division institutions. We can validate, inspect, give guidance to, and have some control over say fifty such institutions from this house. The pressures, particularly in the developing countries of the world pressures from the church constituencies as well as from governments who, it would seem, are ready to give an official charter to an institution run by us are virtually irresistible. And before you know it you have been drawn into something that will tax your resources beyond what you can live with.