Seventh-day Adventist Church Worldheadquarters
January 15, 2008

In This Issue:
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WHO seeks Adventists among faith-based groups for renewed partnership
9 Silver Spring, Maryland, United States
New director-general recognized for change in organization's direction

United States: Nevada primary election may leave out devout Sabbath-keepers
15 Silver Spring, Maryland, United States
Presidential caucuses scheduled for Saturday mornings

Church Chat: Brillhart on the church and community action
15 Takoma Park, Maryland, United States
Sligo Church, Columbia Union College work with other faith groups to bring about change

Adventist Church looks to build Internet ministry in emerging African markets
10 Silver Spring, Maryland, United States
Increasing Internet access via phone; addressing copyright problems


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WHO seeks Adventists among faith-based groups for renewed partnership
9, 2008
Silver Spring, Maryland, United States ... [ Ansel Oliver/ANN ]

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Dr. Peter Landless, associate Health Ministries director for the Adventist Church, said an invitation to last month's conference in Geneva was a "huge privilege" for the Adventist Church to help in planning partnerships between faith-based organizations and the World Health Organization. The public health arm of the United Nations is renewing its recognition and coordination of primary health care delivered by faith groups, which provide as much as 40 percent of health care in some world regions. [photo: Ansel Oliver/ANN]

The World Health Organization has asked Seventh-day Adventist health leaders to join its initial consultations as it prepares to renew partnerships with faith-based organizations.

After 30 years of shying away from such affiliation, WHO, under its new director-general, is actively seeking to reach groups that can more effectively implement global health goals, health officials said.

Adventist leaders and WHO officials said the Adventist Church was selected for its health message and for urging its churches to double as community health support centers.

"Seventh-day Adventists are known worldwide for being leaders in health and developers of community health care," said Dr. Ted Karpf, a WHO technical officer.

"This is a huge privilege to be part of the pilot group investigating working relationships of faith-based organizations with the World Health Organization," said Dr. Peter Landless, associate Health Ministries director for the Adventist world church.

Both Landless and Dr. Alan Handysides, Adventist Church Health Ministries director, were among the 16 participants representing religious organizations at the initial WHO-sponsored planning conference in Geneva last month.

"They have initiated this, it's a huge step, and it's an absolute blessing that a church the size of the Adventist Church has been invited to be part of the initial strategy planning in this whole process," Landless said.

WHO officials said the emphasis on partnering with FBOs is a result of new Director General Dr. Margaret Chan's focus on Africa, women and primary care.

"We need to focus on where delivery of health services actually takes place," said Alex Ross, director for the Programme on Partnerships and UN Reform.

"Historically, FBO presence in the community is perhaps greater than a traditional medical model," Ross said, citing data that show at least 40 percent of healthcare in Africa is being delivered by the faith-based community. Partnering, he said, would recognize and coordinate work already being done by FBOs.

"I think Adventists, both the Seventh-day Adventist Church and by association [the Adventist Development and Relief Agency], were seen as being a very powerful force with a long history in this area and therefore have an enormous amount of experience to contribute," Ross said.

Adventist Health Ministries operates in more countries than any other religious denomination. Landless said the partnership will provide further opportunity to spread the Adventist health message among more communities.

Partnering with WHO will also likely allow the Adventist Church to collaborate with other world health conferences in Europe next year, Landless said.

"It has opened doors to further health work collaboration, which would include Adventist teaching institutions as well as our clinics and hospitals," Landless said.


United States: Nevada primary election may leave out devout Sabbath-keepers
15, 2008
Silver Spring, Maryland, United States ... [ Elizabeth Lechleitner/ANN ]

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Nevada's decision to hold caucuses on Saturday morning during traditional worship services marginalizes Seventh-day Adventists and observant Jews, said James Standish, an associate director for the Adventist Church?s department of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty. [photo: Ansel Oliver/ANN]

Presidential candidates may be the only ones vying for party nomination this Saturday in Nevada, but civic duty and religious conviction are on the ballot in many voters' minds.

Some Seventh-day Adventists and Jews are voicing concern over their state's failure to make provisions for Sabbath observant voters after party officials scheduled Nevada presidential caucuses for Saturday morning, January 19.

Republican and Democratic caucuses begin at 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., respectively, conflicting with traditional church and synagogue services, Adventist and Jewish leaders said.

"Scheduling the caucuses on Sabbath morning marginalizes both the Seventh-day Adventist Christian and the Orthodox Jewish communities," said James Standish, Esq., an associate director for the Adventist Church's department of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty.

"In an election that is being decided on thin margins, selecting a time that excludes thousands of voters may even change the outcome," he added.

Because Nevada holds caucuses rather than primaries, voters are required to show up at polling stations to indicate their support and engage in debates, disallowing absentee ballots and leaving some citizens conflicted.

"I'm not 'Mr. Politics' or anything, but I do like to stay informed and go out and vote," said Michael Flannigan, an Adventist from the Las Vegas area. "But this year, what with the caucus being on Sabbath, there'd be no way for me to have a voice. I'll be in church."

Flannigan, who said he feels disenfranchised, may not mirror all of Nevada's estimated 5,000 Adventists and 60,000 Jews, but said he "can't imagine" he's the only one who plans to vote for his conscience this Saturday.

January 19 was chosen because it was perceived to inconvenience the fewest number of registered Nevadans, an official at the Nevada Democratic Party told Standish earlier this week. The official said party leaders were aware of the time conflict.

Standish said Adventist and Jewish leaders are working with the state government to make sure Sabbath keepers can fully participate in both worship services and elections next time the state goes to caucus.


Church Chat: Brillhart on the church and community action
15, 2008
Takoma Park, Maryland, United States ... [ Taashi Rowe ]

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Rebecca Brillhart, a pastor at Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church, says Adventists can improve lives by uniting with other faith groups to bring about change. [Taashi Rowe/ANN]


Brillhart works with members from the church as well as faculty, staff and students of Adventist-owned Columbia Union College, including Otis Coutsoumpos, campus chaplain. [Taashi Rowe/ANN]

While soup kitchens and clothing drives are hallmarks of community outreach for many churches, Pastor Rebecca Brillhart says teaming up with other faith groups can do more to improve lives.

Brillhart, discipleship pastor for the Sligo Seventh-day Adventist Church in Takoma Park, Maryland, United States, also serves as co-chair of Action In Montgomery, a group of 29 interfaith congregations using their united voice to improve the lives of the people in Montgomery County.

The group claims that affordable housing, all-day kindergarten, tax reform of fare policies for taxi drivers, and funding to upgrade community centers are results of its working with government leaders. Action in Montgomery meets quarterly with about 200 congregational representatives. Brillhart and about 30 members of Sligo Church and the nearby Columbia Union College work with 30,000 believers belonging to Protestant, Catholic, Jewish and Muslim associations to petition the county's civic leaders.

Sligo, a congregation of more than 2,900 members, joined Action in Montgomery in 2003 and is the only Adventist church in the organization.

Brillhart recently sat down with Adventist News Network to talk about how teaming up with other faith groups to help the community has affected the church's ministry.

The following are excerpts from that conversation:

Adventist News Network: You say Action in Montgomery works for social justice. What does that involve?

Rebecca Brillhart: When we talk about social justice we talk about going beneath good programs that provide food, shelter and clothing on a temporary basis to address the systemic problems that really plague our citizens.

ANN: What kind of role does Sligo Church play in addressing these problems?

Brillhart: We talk to our members about what is getting in the way of peace in their homes. Maybe it's where they live, maybe there is an inability to find a place to live, maybe it's the quality of security for their children or maybe there is a lack of recreational things for children to do. We are identifying issues and problems that our own members experience in order to have empathy and passion to use our voices and partner with others and find a solution.

ANN: What is one of the group's biggest victories?

Brillhart: One major concern is a lack of affordable housing. We are holding our county executive and civic leaders accountable because to be a citizen who is firefighter, a nurse or a teacher in the county you cannot afford to live and buy a home in Montgomery County because it too expensive. Frankly we think that's immoral. We would like people who serve the county to be able to live here. These people are driving sometimes out of state to find affordable housing. It causes a lot of problems in people's families when parents are away and taking second jobs. This last fall on October 18 the coalition met with the county executive and he made a historic decision. He said he would support these affordable housing initiatives that we put forward. Historically that would mean to replace one-on-one the housing that is really hemorrhaging from the county as old housing is being destroyed and new housing isn't replaced for workforce and low-income people.

ANN: What are some of the unexpected results of doing this work?

Brillhart: Some people have never thought of using their voices or experiences to do ministry in our community. Communicating with others and partnering with others helps people know that they can have a part in alleviating some of the things that are causing problems in their lives and the lives of others.

ANN: Can the work that you are doing be considered political?

Brillhart: In bringing those concerns to civic leaders we definitely are being political because we are asking civic leaders to re-imagine how they will use the resources that are from taxes ? and perhaps rearrange personnel to address these important needs. But, it is not partisan. It's not an effort to support any particular candidate. The issues involve things that are holding people back from a life that provides basic needs [such as] housing, food, equitable education. These are the things that we have a concern about.

ANN: What are some of the challenges in doing work like this?

Brillhart: The greatest challenge that I see as a pastor and a leader is to keep our focus clear that Christ calls us to meet the needs around us.

ANN: What has been church members' reaction to Sligo's involvement in something that is not wholly Adventist?

Brillhart: Very positive. Since we have been involved we are very well known [among church members]. When we have major actions -- when we are asking leaders to be accountable -- Sligo Church is the church in the coalition that really turns out the numbers -- in the hundreds -- to come and support action.

ANN: Adventist churches are well known for having a system of education, health and community services. Why work outside that system?

Brillhart: One of things I love about being an Adventist is the openness to building bridges of hope. We want to tell people ? that we are a people of hope because we believe in a Savior that is going to make the things that are wrong with our world right but we have a responsibility as Adventists in the here and now. And the only way to build bridges, the only way we are going to be a credible enterprise is if we are doing all we can to partner with people who may know even better than we do how to come together in consensus on things we can agree on and address some of these systemic issues that are plaguing our society.

ANN: How has being involved in an organization like this affected your concept of ministry?

Brillhart: I have been so energized by being with clergy and members and civic leaders who want to lift up Christ's mandate to free the oppressed and to alleviate the concerns of the broken hearted. It has just touched me to my very core and I will never be satisfied in ministry without looking outside of the church as well as inside in terms of ministry.

ANN: Are you saying that Adventists are too internally focused?

Brillhart: I think we are in general. It is truly my desire that more [Adventist] churches in our location will take notice of some of these associations, to be less fearful and know we can play an integral role because of the message that we have, because of the hope that we have. I think it's not just a nice thing to think about but it is a critical thing to do to be credible as Christians in today's society.

ANN: Why don't more Adventists engage in more partnerships like Action in Montgomery?

Brillhart: [One] fear is that we are going to get sucked into something that is decidedly not Adventist. But in a coalition like this you are not asked to support things that you can't support. Power is necessary to make change. But the power that we have is to use our voice to the glory of God and push forward mandates that Christ laid down for His own ministry. We have to be aware of where the hurt is around us and to be available to address it.

ANN: Does theology come up at these meetings?

Brillhart: It comes up all the time because I'm partnering with clergy from other churches. One of the great delights of this experience is to think and reflect theologically together about why we are doing what we are doing. That I've been asked to lead the group is confirmation that we are needed around some of these tables to do this important work.

ANN: What is the organization's plan for the future?

Brillhart: We will continue to focus on affordable housing and community centers for our youth. Nothing we do is quick; everything we do is long term. Even with the October 18 success for affordable housing we will still be doing follow-ups.


Adventist Church looks to build Internet ministry in emerging African markets
10, 2008
Silver Spring, Maryland, United States ... [ Ansel Oliver/ANN ]

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Andre Brink, communication director for the Adventist Church in southern Africa, said the upcoming regional Global Internet Evangelism Network conference in Cape Town will help church communicators learn how to maximize new technologies for ministry. [photo: courtesy SID]


Marvin King, Web manager for Adventist World Radio, hopes to build the GIEN forum on Facebook to connect the church's communication professionals. He'll be leading several workshops on podcasting, managing media and Web sites at the upcoming conference. [photo: Ansel Oliver/ANN]

Techies unite.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church is examining how to best use new media in Africa, a region in which the church has yet to capitalize on mobile Internet access.

Church communication leaders, technicians and broadcasters will meet for an Internet ministry conference in Cape Town, South Africa, from February 28 to March 2, to address ways of boosting the church's presence on the Web in Africa.

The conference is a regional extension of the Adventist world church's Global Internet Evangelism Network (GIEN) conference held annually since 2004.

"We want to really start this from the ground up," said Andre Brink, communication director for the Adventist Church in southern Africa. "There's not much being done by our church on the Internet in Africa and we want people to see what the possibilities are."

Brink said there are some 200 million mobile phones in Africa and far fewer personal computers. "We need to look at how more and more people are accessing the Internet via cell phones." The conference will begin with a presentation from a mobile phone company representative about future plans and technologies for the continent.

Church leaders have also recognized the problem of intellectual property violations in that region of the world, Brink said. "Some people in the church think they can copy something because it's for the Lord's work."

The conference will host a panel discussion on copyright and release statement to the media regarding the Adventist Church's commitment to intellectual property laws, Brink said.

Other workshops will focus on media asset management, Internet trends and optimizing Web sites and podcasts.

Many presenters will bring new ideas gleaned from international technology conventions.

"We want to relay things we learn to our colleagues in ministry," said Marvin King, Web manager for Adventist World Radio, who will lead several workshops at the conference. He also hopes to build the GIEN forum on the social networking site Facebook to create community among the church's technology users.

"GIEN is a forum where people can share and learn what works and what doesn't in that part of the world," said Williams Costa Jr., associate communication director for the Adventist world church. "We want everyone to be aware of the new technologies so they can keep reaching places that were once thought unreachable."

The 2008 GIEN international conference is scheduled for July 9 to13 in Denver, Colorado, United States.

For more information, see gien.adventist.org.



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news.adventist.org

ANN World News Bulletin is a review of news and information issued by the Communication department from the Seventh-day Adventist Church World Headquarters and released as part of the service of Adventist News Network. It is made available primarily to religious news editors. Our news includes dispatches from the church's international offices and the world headquarters.

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ANN Staff:
Rajmund Dabrowski, director; Ansel Oliver, assistant director; Taashi Rowe, editorial coordinator; Elizabeth Lechleitner, editorial assistant; Natacha Moorooven, proofreader. Portuguese translation by Azenilto Brito, Spanish translation by Marcos Paseggi, Italian translation by Vincenzo Annunziata and Lina Ferrara and French translations by Stephanie Elofer.