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

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
Page 3, paragraphs 4 (line 19 and line 21) and 6 (line 30)

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.
Page 3, paragraph 5

4. introduction Irregular and diverse circumstances around the world:
Geographical hurdles, language issues, financial challenges, ethnic concerns, cultural norms, geopolitical hurdles, traditions.
Page 4 (line 2)

5. introduction No one model fits all these situations
Flexibility is needed
Page 4, line 4

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
Page 5, paragraphs 3-4

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
Page 6, first paragraph

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.
Page 6, paragraphs 2 and 4

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.
Page 6, paragraph 5

10. history 1984-1995 Sri Lanka was listed as a union of churches
Page 7, paragraph 4, line 34

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
Page 7, paragraph 1

12. current status SIX UNIONS OF CHURCHES RANGE:
Population million to 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)
Page 8

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
Page 8, line 14

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
Page 9, paragraph 1, line 3

15. rationale for change BIG CONCERNS: 1. Global unity 2. Global mission
3. Best use of resources
Page 9, paragraph 2, line 14

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
Page 9, paragraph 3, line 18 and line 21

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?
Page 9, paragraph 3, line 22

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
Page 9, paragraph 5, line 39 and page 10

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
Page 11, Items 1-5

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
Page 11, Items 6 and 7

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
Page 11, Items 7 and 8

22. changes needed NEW NOMENCLATURE: Union Conference of Churches
Union Mission of Churches OR
Union of Churches-Conference
Union of Churches-Mission
Another
Page 11, Item 9

23. changes needed New policy to govern distribution of institutions
New policy to govern discontinuation, dissolution, and mergers
Page 11, Items 10 and 11

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
Page 12, paragraph 1

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
Page 12, paragraph 1

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?
Page 12, paragraph 2

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?
Page 12, paragraph 3

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
Page 12, paragraph 4

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
Page 12, paragraphs 5 and 6

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
Page 13, paragraph 4

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
Page 14, paragraph 1 and 2

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)
Pages 14, ARTICLE IV and ARTICLE V

33. constitution ARTICLE VIII-EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Presidents of union of churches-conference and mission serve as ex-officio members of General Conference Executive Committee
Page 16, ARTICLE VIII, Section 1

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
Page 17, ARTICLE VIII, Section 3 and ARTICLE XIII

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.
Page 17, ARTICLE XIV and Page 18, ARTICLE XVII

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
Pages 19, B 05 and B and page 20, B and line 18

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
Pages 20-25, B 60, line NOTE SPECIFICALLY PAGE 24-25, ORGANIZING NEW UNIONS OF CHURCHES AS IT IS NEW

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
Pages 26-27, Point Committee to this new list-- Page 30 for Dividing 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, ,000
-no sub units
-must advance mission of the Church
Pages 30 (Line 43)-33, B 85 Main Policy Second half of page 31, but note all changes on this page

41. policy B 85 UNION OF CHURCHES Authorization by General Conference
Union of churches-conference, model constitution
Union of churches-mission, operating policy
Page 32, B 85 15, B and B 85 25

42. policy B 90 DISCONTINUATION OF ORGANIZATIONS
Mergers
Dissolution
Expulsion
Pages 33-39

43. policy D 11 MODEL UNION OF CHURCHES-CONFERENCE CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
Patterned after union conference and conference constitution and bylaws
Page 40-47

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
Pages Bold and light type as in model constitution

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
Page 54

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
Page 55, items 1-3

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
Page 55, Items 4-6

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
Page 56, Page 61, Page 63, Page 66

51. appendices Appendix E Robert Pierson Letter to Marius Fridlin
Appendix F
Edwin Ludescher Letter to Neal Wilson and other items
Appendix G
Observations and responses to questionnaires sent to union of churches-conference presidents
Appendix H
Adventist Review, July 14-28, 2005
Page 68, Page 71, Page 86, Page 95