The time has come to complete the process of administrative decentralization begun in 1901, by delegating full decision-making and administrative autonomy to mature world divisions of the General Conference. A mature division is one in which all facets of the church are fully developed and operating, one in which there is a trained and experienced indigenous leadership, one that is fully self-supporting and able to contribute personnel and funds to the world mission of the church. All of the world divisions should continue to meet together as a General Conference, to coordinate their continuing relationship with one another, to share responsibility for their collective mission to all the world, and to recommend plans and policies which the various divisions should consider and be free to accept, modify, or reject when not appropriate to the well-being of the church in their part of the world. The General Conference should become a coordinating rather than an administrative body, a body in which all of the world divisions could work together for their mutual well-being and for completing their collective mission to the world. The essence of the North American proposal was to assign jurisdiction over a major policy to the divisions.
Divisional autonomy is, of course, equally valid in other matters of policy.
It would open the way for the three angels to complete their mission to the world, unhindered either by the polarizing and divisive effect of religious and cultural diversity, or by misguided attempts to impose uniformity. Raymond Cottrell is editor of Adventist Today, where he shares wisdom he gleaned during more than 60 years of service to the Adventist church. Ray s hobbies include astronomy and the study of geology. You may need to reload the page after posting to see your comment. Posts which do not meet these standards will be removed.