UNION OF CHURCHES

1. UNION OF CHURCHES An alternative organizational model for the Seventh-day Adventist Church

2. introduction • Policy discourages the organization of a union of churches • Sub-committee assigned to study whether policy should be changed to encourage a union of churches • Sub- committee decided to include a union of churches-mission to complete the picture

3. introduction • Nomenclature- Union of Churches-conference Union of Churches-mission • Definition of a Union of Churches: A united organized body of local churches within a territory, having similar status to a union conference or union mission, and a direct relationship with the division.

4. introduction • Irregular and diverse circumstances around the world: Geographical hurdles, language issues, financial challenges, ethnic concerns, cultural norms, geopolitical hurdles, traditions.

5. introduction • No one model fits all these situations • Flexibility is needed

6. history • 1967-first union of churches-Austria • 1981-General Conference approved recommendation of Euro-Africa Division to set up unions of churches • 1983-policy approved • 1985 General Conference Session approved representation

7. history • Reasons given- small membership difficult evangelistic environment • Interim structure to be used until the church grew into a more viable stature, requiring mission or conference status

8. history • 1981-Italy, Spain and Portugal became unions of churches • General Conference action, “The tithe percentage will be paid as though they were unions,” but the organization would be an exception rather than a model for new church structures.

9. history • General Conference Annual Council action, 1983, approved new policy stating, “The Church does not encourage the organizational arrangements termed union of churches.” • Only an action of the General Conference Committee can authorize the establishment of a union of churches.

10. history • 1984-1995 Sri Lanka was listed as a union of churches

11. current status • Unions of churches in Euro-Africa and Trans-European Divisions • 5 countries in EUD and 1 in TED • Netherlands and Sweden have adopted union of churches structure but have union conference status

12. current status • SIX UNIONS OF CHURCHES RANGE: • Population-5.525 million to 59.178 million • Membership-2649 to 11,742 (Average 6961 per union) • Churches-47 to 114 (Average 81 per union) • Institutions-3 to 6 (Average 4.8 per union) • Ordained ministers- 17 to 63 (Average 38 per union)

13. current status STATISTICS: • An average of .46 ordained pastors per church • An average of 84 members per church • Church membership is approximately .003% of population

14. rationale for change Jan Paulsen stated: • Globality of Church • Rapid growth in some areas • Sluggish growth in some areas (which historically have been resource providers) • Changed expectations from members • Government regulations • Predominance of non Christian religions Force the church to re-examine organizational structure

15. rationale for change • BIG CONCERNS: • 1. Global unity • 2. Global mission • 3. Best use of resources

16. rationale for change • ISSUES WHICH AFFECT UNITY: Organization, structure, communication, policies, theology, identity, values, beliefs, committees, prophetic gift, Church Manual • ISSUES WHICH AFFECT MISSION: Preaching, teaching, healing, responding to poverty and disasters

17. rationale for change • ISSUES WHICH AFFECT RESOURCES: Examine what and how we are doing things now as opposed to what we did when the Church was established; Are we meeting the needs of the global community and the global Church?

18. rationale for change WHY UNION OF CHURCHES? • Reduce number of levels of organization • Enable redistribution of financial resources • Enable redistribution of personnel • Enhance mission in specific areas • Facilitate access to country authorities • Faster communication and more appropriate decision making

19. changes needed Making a union of churches a desirable option: • Change policy-a positive option • Adequate representation at all levels • Fair financial arrangements • Remove special wage scale provisions • Define clear criteria and process for new status

20. changes needed • Policy for union of churches-conference, similar to union conference, with a blend of local conference elements • Policy for union of churches-mission, similar to union mission, with a blend of local mission elements

21. changes needed • Union of churches-conference, self-supporting, approve its own constitution based on new model • Union of churches-mission, guided by operating policy, approved by division, based on General Conference model policy

22. changes needed NEW NOMENCLATURE: Union Conference of Churches Union Mission of Churches OR Union of Churches-Conference Union of Churches-Mission OR Another

23. changes needed • New policy to govern distribution of institutions • New policy to govern discontinuation, dissolution, and mergers

24. philosophy • Changing and diverse world • Dominant religious organizations • Faster and effective means of communication • Possibility of centralized financial management to large geographical areas • Tighter immigration laws • Difficulty transferring funds

25. philosophy • Expansion of education • Rapid growth of Church in some areas • Negative growth of Church in some areas • Increased threat of war • Ability to travel long distances quickly and cheaply Some factors are a blessing; others are challenge to the Church

26. philosophy WE NEED TO ASK QUESTIONS: • What are the advantages and disadvantages of the new model? • Does it respond to the realities of the Church and the world we now live in? • Can we or should we amend a structure that is almost 160 years old?

27. philosophy • Is the Church over-governed? The answer could be-yes, in some parts, no, in others • Will new structures threaten unity or enhance it? • Does the new model fairly provide for representation?

28. philosophy • Local churches struggling financially • Perception is that too much money is being passed to higher organizations • Not enough money for evangelism locally • Should we alter structure just to redistribute money? • We need a better reason than just financial

29. philosophy • Restructuring must foster unity • We must avoid congregationalism at all costs • Be careful to avoid isolation • Restructuring must release more personnel into the field • Country structures can respond to political realities far more readily • New structures must not result in additional units

30. philosophy • We must bring the Church into 21st century • Change can be painful • If it is imposed it becomes objectionable-must be seen as an option • Must include features that address relevant needs • Must assist the mission of the Church, provide essential resources, both financial and personnel

31. constitution • Changes will be needed in the General Conference constitution and bylaws to accommodate new models • Union of churches-conference and union of churches-mission need to be identified as well recognized units, not Cinderella organizations

32. constitution • ARTICLE IV-MEMBERSHIP Membership of the General Conference includes unions of churches-conference and union of churches-mission • ARTICLE V-General Conference SESSIONS Regular delegates to GC Session from unions of churches Union of churches-mission: one delegate as well as president (same as union mission) Union of churches-conference: two delegates as well as president (same as union conference)

33. constitution • ARTICLE VIII-EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Presidents of union of churches-conference and mission serve as ex-officio members of General Conference Executive Committee

34. bylaws • ARTICLE VIII-AUDITING SERVICE AND AUDITS GCAS is the preferred provider for auditing services for unions of churches • ARTICLE XIII-EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE This article will need to be deleted. It states that presidents of unions of churches are only invitees to General Conference Executive Committee

35. bylaws • ARTICLE XIV-DIVISION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES Presidents of unions of churches to be ex-officio of their respective division committees • ARTICLE XVII-FUNDS An extra percentage of funds (2-3%) may need to be remitted to the division for extra services rendered to unions of churches, e.g. depts.

36. bylaws Unions of churches will have access to a larger pool of funds than union conferences/missions. Unions of churches will receive 100% of the tithe from the local churches while union conferences/missions usually only receive 10% of this amount. If unions of churches are required to remit an extra 2-3% to the division they will still receive 70-80% more than union conferences/missions.

37. policy amendments B Organization and Administration • Constituency based units • No longer an exceptional unit of organization • Units required to abide by teachings and policies of the Church • A building block of the church • Remove the special wage scale provision

38. policy B 60 ESTABLISHING NEW CONSTITUENCY-BASED UNITS • Nomenclature • Process for organizing new unions of churches • Reorganizing unions of churches-better to organize two unions of churches rather than a union conference or union mission-which puts back another level of structure

39. policy B 75 11 ESTABLISHING NEW CONSTITUENCY-BASED UNITS • General criteria for establishing new unions of churches • Process for dividing a union of churches

40. policy B 85 UNION OF CHURCHES • Negativity removed • Preferred organizational arrangement • New set of criteria -contiguous boundaries -no more than one union in any geographical area -similar language groups -population, 10 mill.-150 mill. -membership, 4000-150,000 -no sub units -must advance mission of the Church

41. policy B 85 UNION OF CHURCHES • Authorization by General Conference • Union of churches-conference, model constitution • Union of churches-mission, operating policy

42. policy B 90 DISCONTINUATION OF ORGANIZATIONS • Discontinuation of organizations • Mergers • Dissolution • Expulsion

43. policy D 11 MODEL UNION OF CHURCHES-CONFERENCE CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS • Patterned after union conference and conference constitution and bylaws

44. policy D 17 MODEL UNION OF CHURCHES-MISSION OPERATING POLICY • An entirely new policy • The model needs to be added to the GC Working Policy • Needs to be approved by the relevant division executive committee for each union of churches-mission • Includes elements from local mission and union mission model operating policies

45. policy Financial policies • Policies have yet to be written • It is recommended that unions of churches remit to the division an extra 2-3% more than union conferences/missions • This is to cover extra services provided by the division to unions of churches, e.g. departments • Divisions may return this money to unions of churches if extra services are not needed and /or provided

46. policy Remember that unions of churches will have access to a larger pool of funds than union conferences/missions. Unions of churches will receive 100% of the tithe from the local churches while union conferences/missions only receive 10% of this amount. If unions of churches are required to remit an extra 2-3% to the division they will still receive 70-80% more than union conferences/missions.

47. recommendations We recommend: • the redistribution of finances and personnel to meet the needs of an irregular world and a rapidly changing church • that the total number of administrative units be reduced and that one level of structure be eliminated where deemed valuable for mission of the Church • the adoption of unions of churches, both conference and mission to address the issues identified above

48. recommendations We recommend: • That unions of churches, conference and mission be normalized in General Conference Constitution and Bylaws as well as in Working Policy • That a special study be initiated to determine how best to communicate this proposal to church members

49. recommendations We recommend: • The development of models to show impact on number of delegates to GC Session, additional members on GC and Division Executive Committees • The development of models that will demonstrate the impact of this proposal on both financial and personnel resources.

50. appendices • Appendix A General Consultation on Church Polity and Theology in Europe • Appendix B Robert Pierson Letter • Appendix C Austrian Union Conference Reorganization • Appendix D Robert Pierson Telegram