These changes were made to SDA Church Constitution and By Laws in June 2022
Changes to Article XIII
ARTICLE X I I I : G C E X E C U T I V E C O M M I T T E E |
The proposed change as it appeared on page 43 and 44 of Agenda for 61st GC Session
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RECOMMENDED, To amend the General Conference Constitution and Bylaws, Bylaws, Article XIII—General Conference Executive Committee, to read as follows
ARTICLE XIII—GENERAL CONFERENCE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section 1. a. During the intervals between sessions of the General - No change
b. The General Conference Executive Committee shall - No change
c. The General Conference Executive Committee shall have power to elect or remove, for cause, officers, directors, and associate directors of departments/associations/ services and committee members, and to fill for the current term any vacancies that may occur in its offices, boards, committees, or agents due to death, resignation, or other reasons.
Page 43 of agenda
205-22GS GENERAL CONFERENCE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE - CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS AMENDMENT
The phrase “for cause,” when used in connection with removal from an elected or appointed position, or from membership on the General Conference Executive Committee, shall include but not be limited to 1) incompetence; 2) persistent failure to cooperate with duly constituted authority in substantive matters and with relevant employment and denominational policies; 3) actions which may be the subject of discipline under the Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual; or 4) failure to maintain regular standing as a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Church; 5) theft or embezzlement; or 6) conviction of or guilty plea for a crime.
Page 44 on Agenda Note: Vote to change By-Laws requires 2/3 majority to pass
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This change was discussed on Wednesday, June 8, 2022 Morning session ( about 2 hours into the archived video )
Discussion revealed that the General Conference has no means to enforce discipline of members of the GC Executive Committee and this change provided a process to hold members accountable.
Johannes Bochmann, delegate from North German Union, and son of Andreas Bochmann (also a delegate) spoke against the motion and then moved to divide Item # 207 into two parts
Vote taken on Monday, June 8, 2022 -- YES 935 NO 699
At 2 hours 20 minutes in the official video ( see URL below )
Ralph Hartman, delegate, commented that the real intent is to remove members and silence voice of representative of several Unions that are involved with ordination of women. He said this discipline should be done at the Union level not the GC level
Reinhart Gallos, delegate from North German Union, also commented. He asked "What is incompetence? and what does 'persistent failure mean?
Martin Altink, delegate North German Union, spoke against the motion
Hildi Huru, delegate spoke against the motion and against use of "kingly power"
Paul Bhaggien, South Asia Division spoke against the motion - called it a "rod of censure"
Mario Veloso, delegate with position in GC spoke in rebuttal to say that this body has the authority to discipline itself.
Stefan Guiliani, Inter European Div, moved to call the question. Motion passed
Vote on the motion to amend Article X III ' Executive Committee' Section 1 c. part 1 ( Agenda item 207 )
YES 1,319 NO 289 Motion carried ( about 3 hour mark in the GC video )
#GCSession 2022-St. Louis | Wednesday Morning - YouTube
This change will appear in the next printing of By Laws
