wfn.org | Adventists in South Pacific Vote For

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Restructuring Church Administration

November 19, 2000
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
http://www.stanet.ch/APD

Adventist Leaders in South Pacific Vote For 
Restructure of Church Administration

Canberra, ACT, Australia.       Delegates at a 
business meeting of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 
the South Pacific region (or division) voted 
overwhelmingly in favour of restructuring church 
administration.  This means that church administration 
will be streamlined, with four administrative districts 
or unions) instead of the previous five. The new 
boundaries will take effect January 1, 2001.

This result was anticipated after two-and-one-half-
years of study and consultation--particularly in places 
most affected by the changes. 

"The outcome is a step in the right direction," says 
division secretary Dr. Barry Oliver. "This has been an 
extended process, and it has been clear that church 
members particularly, and quite a number of 
administrators, say we have to do much more. We can 
find more efficiencies in our organization structure."

The changes not only cut back five union administrations 
to four, but also streamlined and repositioned some 
departments within these organizations. For instance, 
the health department at the division has been 
strengthened from two to three positions. But because 
no health directors will be appointed at the union 
conference level, there is a net financial saving of 
one budget.

"In broad terms it will be appreciated," says Chester 
Stanley, president of the soon-to-be-abolished Trans-Tasman 
Union Conference and president-elect of the new Australian 
Union Conference. "I think it's also painful for a lot of 
individuals," he adds, "and I hope administrators are aware 
of the pain and treat people carefully."

Stanley adds that people were interested to read reports of 
administrators voting themselves out of jobs. "Sometimes 
there's a fairly jaundiced view that the administrators 
look after themselves pretty well," he says.

With the restructure, Australia will become a union 
conference, and the New Zealand Pacific Union Conference 
(NZPUC) will include French Polynesia, the Cook Islands 
and New Caledonia.

"A lot of us see roads we could go down," adds Oliver. 
"Some are quite radical, some less radical.  The fact is, 
we must go down some of those roads and explore them.  
The key thing is to do it together.

"There's going to be a fair bit of discussion and possibly 
some disagreement in implementing the restructure decision," 
says Oliver, "but that will be worked through, and we'll 
move forward together."