2005 General Conference Session in St. Louis

Adventist Today Report 4

By Elwin Dunn, John McLarty, and Ervin Taylor

PAULSEN RE-ELECTED: WHAT REALLY HAPPENED?

Late Friday afternoon, July 1, 2005, the world press and Adventist media were officially informed that Dr. Jan Paulsen had been re-elected for another five-year term as President of the General Conference (GC) of Seventh-day Adventists. Adventist Today did not rush to report this event because we suspected there was more to the story.

The procedure for electing a GC President begins with the selection of a nominating committee. That committee reports names to the general assembly. Late Thursday evening it was reported that there was some controversy over the formation of the nominating committee. This controversy concerned five retired GC executives. Did the constitution allow for or prohibit the inclusion of these retirees on the nominating committee? The final decision would have to be made by the general assembly on Friday morning. The GC news director informed the press corps there would be a news conference with the new president at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, July 1.

The assumption was that the assembly would resolve the retiree issue early Friday, the nominating committee would move rather quickly to nominate Elder Paulsen, and the assembly would take a formal vote for the new president before adjourning for lunch.

On Friday, noon came and went.  No nominating committee report.  Rumors began to circulate that there were “problems” in the nominating committee. From a number of sources Adventist Today heard speculation about the possible impact on the election process of the ongoing politicking by former GC president Neal Wilson and his son Ted Wilson. These rumors came from both people who favored Ted’s election as well as from people who opposed it. (For years, people have remarked on the Wilsons’ “campaign” to have Ted Wilson follow his father into the presidential office.) Another person mentioned as someone who would be highly regarded by many in the third world was Pardon Mwansa. No one suggested he was seeking the job, but with his African roots, American and global experience, and his administrative skills, he was seen as someone who might be considered if the election did not immediately go to Elder Paulsen.

Some time after noon we received word that the press conference was postponed “until further notice.”

When the afternoon business session reconvened at 2:00 p.m., the nominating committee presented to the assembly the nomination of Dr. Paulsen. The delegates voted, and the vote appeared to be unanimous. The press conference to introduce the newly re-elected GC President was rescheduled for 4:45 p.m.

At the press conference most of the questions concerned the church and youth. What did the president propose to do about the huge losses of young members that has been reported at this session? Given his strong affirmation of youth in the church what concrete steps was he going to take to include them in the decision-making centers of the church? In his responses he reaffirmed his appreciation for the youth of the church but offered no specific plans. A woman asked Elder Paulsen if he thought women would ever be given access to high positions in the church. He answered with a single word, “Yes” but gave no response to her follow up question, “When?”

What caused the apparent delay in the Nominating Committee reporting out the nomination? According to reliable sources, there appear to have been two factors. One was procedural. We know for sure there was controversy over the inclusion of retirees on the committee. There were also questions raised about whether Paulsen would be able and willing to serve out the full five-year term of this office. A source outside the committee said this was a major concern for many non-whites. They did not want the election of the next GC president after Elder Paulsen to be controlled by GC insiders where white Americans and Europeans have the greatest influence. They wanted an “honest democracy.”  We do not know how strongly this sentiment was felt or voiced within the committee.

A source inside the committee reported that when Nominating Committee Chair, Jere Patzer, President of the North Pacific Union in the North American Division, assured committee members that Jan Paulsen would serve as long as able, his re-nomination was assured.

At the press conference, Adventist Today asked Dr. Paulsen about the rumors that he would serve only a partial term. He took several sentences to say that he was honored to have been selected and he looked forward to serving his church, and yes, he would serve as long as he was able, and he expected to serve a full term but he couldn’t predict the future and he had to take into account the health and needs of his family as well as the call and needs of the church.