NEWS ABOUT THE NORTH AMERICAN DIVISION
THURSDAY, JUNE 29
Adventist World Session Begins
Some 60,000 Seventh-day Adventists have begun arriving in Toronto for the city's largest convention ever. For the next ten days of the Adventist World Session 2000, meetings and events will fill the SkyDome and Metro Toronto Convention Centre and spill out into other venues around the city. This event, the Adventist Church's top meeting, is held in a different city every five years. It brings together 2,000 delegates and thousands of interested Adventists representing church communities in more than 200 countries.Daily satellite broadcasts in 40 languages to more than 150 countries around the world will enable an even wider audience for the programs and events of the session. " 'Toronto 2000' shows the Adventist Church in action," says Gerry Karst, spokesperson for the event. "Reviewing progress, future planning and leadership elections are all part of the process, while for many others the highlight will be the opportunity to meet together and share in this international festival."
Ray Dabrowski, communication director for the World Church, says that the event "showcases the amazing unity in diversity of the Adventist Church."
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About the General Conference World Session
- Quinquennial schedule—convenes every five years
- Official business meeting of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
- Celebrates the world nature of the Church
- Delegates speak and vote on business items
- World-wide unity receiving reports and insights in progress of mission from 12 divisions
- Church manual code of procedures changes are made only during a General Conference Session
"One of the purposes of the G.C. Session is to celebrate its unity and diversity—its world-wide dimension." —Lowell Cooper, General Vice President, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
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General Conference Session Agenda Comments —Athal Tolhurst, Undersecretary, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
- The agenda relates to spirituality
- The next Session's agenda is prepared immediately after the current Session
- Attention to policies, procedures, etc., referent to vision
- The agenda booklet distributed to delegates at this session is 3 1/2 inches thick with five sections
- Items by Ralph Thompson, Secretary, General Conference
- General agenda—messages/reports
- Constitution and bylaw changes
- Church manual—plans to reformat/mandate changes
- List of positions to be filled by nominating committee
—Adventist News Network
http://www.adventist.org/news/
Unveiling of the Canada Post Seventh-day Adventist Commemorative Stamp
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Title of painting on stamp: "Storm Clouds." Stamp detail photo by Bryans Stynyk
Picturing the sun breaking through the clouds, this commemorative stamp represents the Adventist Church as a "people of hope." The stamp is the first in North America to honor the work of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and was unveiled by Canada Post during the Session opening ceremony.
Stamp Specifications
—Adventist News Network |
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Unveiling of Sculpture: "The King Is Coming"
A sculpture by renowned American sculptor Victor Issa was unveiled during the Session opening ceremony. The artwork, depicting the second coming of Christ, represents the Adventist hope in the soon return of Christ. Featuring 12 life-sized bronze images, the work represents, in three dimensions, one of the central beliefs of the Adventist church—the second coming of Jesus to Earth."Words that one usually wouldn't use to describe hard, shiny metal seem to come easily to those who stand among the pieces of this bronze sculpture," says Charlotte McClure, public relations director for the Adventist Church worldwide.
All 12 pieces of the sculpture will be permanently installed in the lobby of the World Church headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, in late August.
—Adventist News Network
http://www.adventist.org/news/
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SESSION SNAPSHOTS
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