1999 Annual Council - UN Under-Secretary

UN Under-Secretary Shares Concerns with Adventist Leaders

Silver Spring, Maryland, USA .... [ANN]

Ambassador Joseph Reed, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, met with Seventh-day Adventist Church leaders September 30 to provide an update on the UN's current situation and to discuss matters of mutual concern.

Speaking to the Church's 330-strong Annual Council, Ambassador Reed shared his positive experiences of the Church.

"I consider myself a friend of Seventh-day Adventists, and my experience at Loma Linda University was 'off the chart,'" he said. "I consider myself part of your world." He had met Elder Neal Wilson, former Adventist Church President, some years previously and had developed a good friendship, he said.

Speaking of "Your United Nations," Reed said the organization was not "a luxury of international life," but provided the "only machinery for cooperation between all nations for peace, security, development, human rights and international law."

He also highlighted some ongoing developments of concern.

"We see the rise of violent confrontation in the modern world, especially in ethnic tension and religious fundamentalism, that need to be addressed. We continue to have debate on the reform of the UN, for we will only succeed as we adapt. We also face severe budgetary problems due to the arrears in payment of major contributors, especially the US whose debt to the UN currently stands at $1.7 billion."

In closing, Reed appealed to the Adventist delegates to support the UN.

"We leave a century of unparalleled suffering and violence," he said. "The UN needs the respect and support of the world's people. We need you."

Dr. Jan Paulsen with Ambasador Joseph Reed

Dr. Jan Paulsen, president of the Adventist World Church, responded by identifying areas of mutual interest and concern.

"In many ways our values and objectives as a Church overlap with those of the UN," said Paulsen. "This is particularly true in areas of tolerance, acceptance, religious liberty and development aid, as witnessed by both the Adventist Development and Relief Agency and the International Religious Liberty Association being recognized by the UN. Words that you have used such as freedom, human rights, development, education and a commitment to hope are frequently used in the vocabulary of the Church. They are values to which we are deeply and strongly committed."

The Church's Annual Council heard reports of the growth in membership and the number of churches. At the end of 1998 there was a total of 44,888 churches in 205 countries around the world as well as 44,298 church groups. World membership was 10,163,414, and the total joining the Church in 1998 was 818,754.

In his keynote address, Dr. Jan Paulsen identified the Church's primary emphasis on outreach, spoke of plans to establish a new Advisory Council of Evangelism and Witness.

"Its purpose would be (1) to focus our thinking and planning on witness, (2) to advise on specific multi-divisional initiatives, and (3) to make financial recommendations to our budgeting process," said Paulsen. "When all is said and done, if there is any Church that should have such a council with a deliberate witness-agenda, it is the Seventh-day Adventist Church, because mission is why we are here. Witness for our Lord is the one thing that must succeed."

The Annual Council, which opened on Tuesday evening, September 28, will continue until October 7. It is composed of Church delegates from around the world. [Jonathan Gallagher]