By Ekpor Temple
Yesterday, it was rumored in an unofficial Article that the General Conference Session of the Seventh-day Adventist church has postponed her General Conference Sessions scheduled for mid-2020. Though many who were aghast, quickly delved in search for links backing up the statement and I am sure as at today, many ardent Adventist are still bewildered, hoping that the General Conference will come up with an official statement to clear the air.
However, what is certain and surefire is that in the past 6 weeks, Coronavirus or COVID-19 has spread from China around the globe. The World Health Organization (WHO) has now declared it to be a pandemic. The coronavirus pandemic is befuddling and frightening for hundreds of millions of people. Many around the world are sick and many others have died. Unless the situation changes dramatically, many more will fall ill and die around the globe. This crisis raises serious medical, ethical and logistical questions.
For Christian denomination, the coronavirus outbreak has caused nearly every religious organization including the Adventist church, around the world to rethink how it holds worship services, and spiritual activities which typically involve people gathering in a confined space and coming into physical contact with each other.
In lieu of precautions taken by organizations around the world to curb the spread of the virus, Seventh-day Adventist world church leaders have initiated a series of meetings to discuss implications for the Adventist Church. Over the course of several weeks, General Conference Session planners, health professionals, legal advisors and administrators have been carefully and prayerfully exploring possible alternative plans for the 2020 General Conference Session in light of the COVID-19 plague.
Over the last few days, both the world Church’s International Crisis Committee and the General Conference Administrative Committee (ADCOM) have discussed specific possible alternative plans. At its meeting on March 17, ADCOM voted to forward some recommendations to the General Conference Executive Committee.
It is against this background that Adventist media Predictors outlines five reasons why the 2020 General Conference Session will officially be postponed in tomorrow’s (Thursday, 19th March) special meeting of the General Conference Executive Committee, which most members will attend via teleconference technology.
Firstly, the pandemic's global death toll has reached almost 7,000, while the global number of cases has surpassed 132,000, according to the WHO, which is the health agency of the United Nations. About 68,000 victims have recovered, according to Johns Hopkins University, which is tracking the virus. The WHO declared the outbreak a pandemic as Italy tightened its strict quarantine and the US imposed a ban on flights to Europe.
Meanwhile, the virus has spread to at least 18 countries on the African continent, with Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan and Guinea all confirming their first cases last Friday.
Secondly, reviewing the latest developments and the advice from the WHO and UK National Health Service (NHS) and Public Health England, the Trans-European Division Administrative Committee took action on thursday 12 March, to cancel all major TED events between now and the General Conference Session, which was originally billed to starts on 25 June 2020 in Indianapolis, USA. This includes:
Global Youth Day (TED participation cancelled) – 21 March
Family Life Training – 14-19 April, Spain
GAiN Europe – 24-28 April, Romania
Hope Channel Leadership – 28-30 April, Romania
Pathfinder and Bible Experience (PBE) – 25 April, the Netherlands
Ellen G. White Symposium – 1-3 May, United Kingdom
Master Guide Camp – 4-7 June, Estonia
Thirdly, Greece, Norway, and Denmark have currently all closed their churches or worship spaces. Ireland is closing its larger congregations and providing an interactive worship experience from the main church in Dublin. In Hungary, all churches with over 100 attendees have been shut and members over age 60 or with chronic diseases are advised not to attend meetings. This is based on a government request. Currently all union programmes are cancelled including all international and domestic travel.
Fourthly, The North American Division has instituted an international and domestic travel ban and cancelled or postponed events, effective of Friday, 13 March. The General Conference has also instituted a travel ban for their staff for at least the next 30 days.
Lastly, hitherto, the world church in global cases like this one has shown solidarity to the cause of unity in diversity and following the recommendations of the General Conference Administrative Committee (ADCOM) in their meeting yesterday March 17, quoting Adventist Review in an article on Coronavirus, February 19, 2020;
“No vaccine is yet available, and treatment is symptomatic. No known COVID-19 antiviral medications are presently available. The production of a vaccine—although a priority—may take up to a year to prove efficacy and safety. Those who haven’t been immunized against influenza seem to have more severe symptoms and worse outcomes. It’s difficult to accurately assess the death rate from COVID-19 as not every case has been reported, but it’s presently estimated at 2 percent”
It is obvious that with medics still researching for vaccines to curb the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the government of America and the countries in Europe restriction on public meeting, travel and visa implication for safety of members.
The implication is that the world church wouldn’t take an Action that is parallel from government decision, rather will complement their effort in the fight against the ravaging Coronavirus.
And if things stands the way it is, the church should await the formal postponement of the 2020 General Conference Session.
As recommended by both the world Church’s International Crisis Committee and the General Conference Administrative Committee (ADCOM), here are the possible implications, should such decision is ratified tomorrow:
The 2020 General Conference Session will be postpone for up to two years, depending on when rescheduling is feasible.
There will be reduced number of attendees when the General Conference Session is rescheduled, inviting only delegates (spouses/dependent children), and a limited number of technical staff.
The number of days will be reduced when the General Conference Session is reschedule to between four and six days.
The current term of office will continue for the duration of the postponement. And the next General Conference term will end when the scheduled 2025 General Conference Session convenes.
Regardless, of the stands of the church, as believers, we have a responsibility to pray for our leaders, care for others, and create safe working and meeting environments. These things we must do to show that we are part of the solution rather than potentially becoming part of the problem.
Good job boss
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