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Council 

July 1, 2000
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
http://www.stanet.ch/APD
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland

Report on the Adventist World Ministerial 
Council 2000 in Toronto (June 25-29)

Toronto, Canada, 01.07.2000.    The World 
Ministerial Council, organized by the Ministerial 
Association of the Seventh-day Adventist Church 
world headquarters, concluded on 29 June, at the 
Metro Toronto Convention Centre in Ontario, 
Canada.

"The Holy Spirit  has blessed our Council in 
wonderful ways," says James A. Cress, General 
Conference Ministerial Association secretary. 
"Perhaps the greatest blessing came from praising 
God for His marvellous grace. We have learnt from 
each other as we fellowshipped cross-culturally--
stimulating new patterns of thought as we studied 
together." 

The purpose of this five-day Council (June 25-29) 
was to provide ministers with instructive pastoral 
techniques toward becoming dynamic spiritual 
leaders.  With nearly two dozen plenary 
presentations and over 150 different seminars, 
ministers have received a comprehensive, active 
learning, high content, high involvement, high 
energy program that will enhance their ministry, 
according to Cress.

The theme of the Council "The Way of the Cross 
Leads Home," featured Walter L. Pearson, Jr., 
speaker-director of Breath of Life as keynote 
speaker.  Each morning included a unique, family-
oriented plenary session with Dr. Archibald Hart, 
Dean Emeritus of Fuller Theological Seminary's 
School of Psychology, in Pasadena, California.

Commenting on the Council, Hart said: "This has 
been a wonderful conference.  I have never been 
around so many Adventists at one time. I'm very 
impressed with the quality of the pastors that 
I've encountered in this group, and their level of 
commitment is quite phenomenal.  But I am also 
concerned that, like pastors everywhere, they have 
neglected to give a high priority to their own 
personal lives. Many families are struggling; many 
of them are overly stressed and burned out. At a 
conference like this, I think it's a wonderful 
time to refresh and rejuvenate, re-direct and 
create a new direction for pastors, and I think 
this conference has achieved that in a very great 
way."

According to Pastor Nikolaus Satelmajer, associate 
Ministerial secretary for continuing education and 
professional growth seminars, 7,500 people 
registered for this event, including pastors from 
other Christian denominations. 

"Our plenary speakers have represented every 
division of the world church," informs Satelmajer. 
"The number of churches represented seems to be 
from about 100 countries. The seminar speakers we 
have had are a broader group of presenters than 
any other council that we have ever had, with more 
of our field pastors actually making 
presentations."

Throughout the Adventist World Ministers Council, 
the Ministerial Resource Centre has made resources 
available to enlarge the ministers' personal power 
in service. [Editor Miroslav Pujic/Christian B. 
Schäffler for ANN/APD]