Four new unions created in West-Central Africa Division

Thumbnail

‘More local structure grows membership’; first self-sustaining union in Nigeria May 15, 2013 Silver Spring, Maryland, United States Ansel Oliver/ANN The Seventh-day Adventist Church’s West-Central Africa Division this year will create four new union administrative units, an action that underscores membership growth in the region and a need for more strategic planning in local fields. The move, which will go into affect December 31, includes new unions in Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria, and will split the Sahel Union Mission into two territories, which church leaders said would save on the high cost of travel in the region.  New administrative units in the Adventist Church’s West-Central Africa Division. Church leaders say the changes recognize growing membership in Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria and the church’s Sahel Union Mission.

Danish Union suspends all ministerial ordination until 2015

Thumbnail

Pending expected decision on theology of ordination at next General Conference session May 14, 2013 Silver Spring, Maryland, United States ANN staff Seventh-day Adventist church officials in Denmark voted this week to halt the ordination of all new ministers until the General Conference Session in July 2015. Going forward, the church’s Danish Union “will not distinguish between genders when appointing pastors, and wishes to see equality between genders in all areas of responsibility,” a statement voted at the union’s May 12 session said. Delegates to the Adventist Church’s Danish Union vote on May 12 to halt all ministerial ordination until 2015, when the General Conference Session could take action on the findings of the Theology of Ordination Study Committee.

First European Health Conference sees renewed interest in health outreach

Thumbnail

‘Health clubs’ build bridges in secular Eastern Europe May 13, 2013 Prague, Czech Republic Stephen Chavez/ANN staff Seventh-day Adventist medical experts and health advocates want to better understand and share the ministry of healing they say the church is called to embrace. Six hundred of them met in Prague last month for the first European Health Conference

Annual report highlights worsening freedom of belief worldwide

Thumbnail

U.S. commission tracks key offenders; some optimism over new ‘watch list’ countries May 13, 2013 Silver Spring, Maryland, United States Elizabeth Lechleitner/ANN This year’s report by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has Seventh-day Adventist human rights experts concerned over growing state-sponsored or condoned intolerance toward minority faith groups worldwide.

Adventist boy still missing in Bangladesh after deadly building collapse

In Bangladesh, an Adventist boy is still missing after a building collapsed and killed more than 1,000 people. Adventist News Network reports Bitu Baroi had been working at one of the garment factories inside the building when it collapsed on April 24. The eight-story building housed five garment factories that employed thousands of workers, according to the Associated Press.

Church Chat: Building up overseas volunteers

Thumbnail

New director Ramirez on North America’s tradition of service May 7, 2013 Silver Spring, Maryland, United States Ansel Oliver/ANN The Seventh-day Adventist Church’s North American Division continues to send the most volunteers of any of the denomination’s 13 world divisions. But in recent years, the number of university student missionaries (SMs) has slipped. Elden Ramirez is the North American Division’s new director of Volunteer Ministries

In China, renewable energy project tackles growing waste problem

Thumbnail

Biomass power plants in Chengdu to generate electricity May 7, 2013 Silver Spring, Maryland, United States APD/ANN staff The humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is moving forward with plans to construct biomass power plants in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province in southwest China. A source of renewable energy, biomass power plants convert organic waste into biogas and electricity. Adventist humanitarians in China are studying the feasibility of building biomass power plants in Chengdu, where a growing waste problem has local officials scrambling for answers

North America’s media center recommends its own closure

Thumbnail

Board chaired by division president to submit proposal May 1, 2013 Silver Spring, Maryland, United States ANN staff The board of the Simi Valley, California-based Adventist Media Center (AMC), which is operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s North American Division, will recommend a proposal to the division that incudes a call for its six media ministries to relocate and a sale of the property. The North American Division’s Adventist Media Center will be sold if it’s board April 29 proposal is accepted by the division.

Church Chat: Former Adventist Church president reflects on ‘Let’s Talk’ conversations

Thumbnail

Those asking ‘difficult questions’ today are tomorrow’s leaders, Paulsen says Apr 30, 2013 Silver Spring, Maryland, United States Elizabeth Lechleitner/ANN A new book by retired Seventh-day Adventist world church President Jan Paulsen amplifies the questions, concerns and best hopes of hundreds of young people. Paulsen, who prioritized ministry to youth and young adults during his administration, is widely known for the “Let’s Talk” television broadcasts — a series of some 30 live, unscripted discussions that spanned seven years and a dozen countries. Former Adventist world church President Jan Paulsen fields questions from young people at the first “Let’s Talk” broadcast held at the church’s Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan, United States, in 2004

Religious freedom under global threat, Canadian ambassador says

Thumbnail

In speech to Liberty dinner, Bennett promises active voice Apr 30, 2013 Washington, D.C.