wfn.org | Adventist Flag Now Flies Over Toronto

[APD <APD_Info_Schweiz@compuserve.com>]

June 26, 2000
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schäffler, Editor-in-chief
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland 
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
www.stanet.ch/APD/2000/GK 

Adventist Flag Now Flies Over Toronto 

Toronto, Canada, 26.06.2000/ANN/APD   The flag of 
the Seventh-day Adventist Church now flies from 
the flagpole of City Hall in Toronto. 

The flag-raising ceremony on June 26 attended by 
Toronto mayor Mel Lastman and Adventist leaders, 
church members and youth marked the recognition of 
the Church's World Session that begins June 29. 
Already 8,000 Adventist pastors are in town for 
the World Ministerial Council, and their numbers 
will be swelled by delegates and visitors to an 
expected 60,000 by Session's end. 

Speaking at the ceremony, Church president Jan 
Paulsen spoke of the meaning of flags and symbols 
in conveying deeper ideas. 

"To raise the flag is to raise the values and 
ideals for which the flag stands," said 
Paulsen. "The pomp and ceremony, the respect and 
colourful traditions that surround such symbols, 
reflect the appreciation we have for abstract 
principles of honour, loyalty, justice, truth and 
right. The flag of any nation is associated 
with what is valued most, it represents what is 
aspired to, what is considered of true and lasting 
value. I salute all that is good and true, and the 
principles of justice and democracy that are 
represented here." 

Paulsen then identified the elements of the 
Adventist flag. "So too with the flag we raise 
today. It is symbolic-even the image reflects 
this. The open Bible at the base of our logo 
emphasizes the foundation of the Seventh-day 
Adventist faith-the word of God. The cross at the 
centre points to the source of salvation-the gift 
of God himself on the cross. The symbolic flames 
represent the spirit of God, and the dynamism of 
such a spiritual life in Jesus. And the space in 
the centre of the flames is a sphere-planet Earth, 
symbolizing the mission of the Church to the 
world." 

"The Seventh-day Adventist Church takes very 
seriously its commitment to be a relevant and 
involved part of the community," Paulsen 
continued. "That is why we are so active in 
community health, positive lifestyle seminars, 
relief and development aid, drug awareness 
programs, helping the homeless, and many 
other vital social issues. Such activities, 
carried on by Adventists around the world, 
are examples of how actions are more important 
than words, and that what you believe must make a 
positive difference to those around you." 

He concluded with a wish that in coming to the 
city we will "make a real difference to the life 
and experience of Torontonians, and we hope our 
presence will not cause too much disruption. We 
truly appreciate the warm welcome of the mayor and 
the city of Toronto, and the privilege of raising 
this flag to fly through the time of our World 
Session here, until July 8. We trust we will 
be worthy of the values symbolized in our flag-
Christian faith, hope and love-and that during our 
stay here many will come to know us better, and 
the values to which we are committed." (News 
editor: Jonathan Gallagher for ANN/APD)

© Adventist News Network (ANN)/Adventist Press 
Service (APD)