General Conference Report
                           July 3, 1995

By: Willie Taylor

	Like two persons getting reacquainted, the delegation and the various
platform chairpersons and leaders continued to plod through the tedious
task of getting recommendations passed on the floor without having them
referred back to their appropriate committee for reconsideration.
	
	On Friday, President Robert Folkenberg expressed his concern that
some GC delegates  felt that the proposed recommendations would give
the General Conference undue autonomy in Church governance. He
denounced such speculation saying such changes  are necessary for
fairness and greater accountability.
	
	Much of this discussion he referred to dealt with the recommendation
from the 1994 Annual Council, to amend Article V---Elections. This
Article essentially recommends that only officers and departmental
directors of the GC, division officers, and heads of GC institutions be
elected at the GC Session. All others, including Associate Departmental
Directors, would be appointed by the executive committees.
	
	The attitude of the delegation in session seems to be one of guarded
relief. Delegates, are speaking to issues, and their frequent referrals
back to appropriate committees, indicate that they are feeling a sense
of belonging. They feel very much a part, if not somewhat in charge, of
this church's "democratic process."
	
	This process continued to gain momentum as  recommendations from the
nominating committee   passed the floor today.   The delegation voted
the following  General Vice Presidents of the GC:
	
	Matthew Bediako, Philip Follett, R. J Kloosterhuis, Jan Paulsen,
President of the Trans-European Division, Leo Ranzolin, and C.B. Rock.
Elder Alfred C. McClure was re-elected as NAD president.  Four
individuals retired from the GC treasury.  While  Elder Robert L.
Rawson, treasurer of the North Pacific Union Conference,  became the
new GC Treasurer,  Mr. Dennis Keith, Vice President for Financial
Affairs at Oakwood College, was voted in as one  of the GC's associate
treasurers. Other Division Presidents who were elected today were: Ruy
H. Nagel, SAD, Bryan W. Ball, SPD, M.E. Cherian, SUD, Ulrich Frikart,
EAD, Ted N.C. Wilson, ESD, Israel Leito, IAD, L.D. Raelly, EAD, and
Bertil Wiklander, TED replaces Jan Paulsen. The AID Division
recommendation was referred back, but the recommendation to seat the
incumbent is expected to carry.
	
	Finally, on the subject of elections versus appointments which Elder
Folkenberg spoke of on Friday, the Constitution and Bylaws Committee
recommended today that they be empowered to modify the constitution in
harmony with the following recommendation:
	
	That Associate Directors of General Conference Departments be elected
at the General Conference Session, but that they not be ex officio
members of the General Conference Committee.
	
	This recommendation was voted by the delegation.