Inter-America’s second Facing the Issues dialogue brings top leaders and members together

January 30, 2009 – Alajuela, Costa Rica…[Libna Stevens/IAD]

Seventh-day Adventists in Central America asked questions and voiced their concerns to top leaders of the Inter-American Division (IAD) during a special live program called Facing the Issues on Jan. 24, 2009. The program, which took place at Central America's Adventist University in Alajuela, Costa Rica, was the second in a series of unedited, unscripted conversations between top church leaders and a select group of church members drawn to represent the 800,000-strong membership of the Central American countries.

Hundreds were in attendance while the two-and-a-half hour program was broadcast live on the internet.

“It is a privilege for us to listen to you,” said Pastor Israel Leito, president for the church in Inter-America and main host of the program. “We have come not only to talk to you but to listen and to learn what our membership thinks and needs in order to find out if the plans in place are fulfilling the needs of the church.”

The 27 church members which made up the focus group representing Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Costa Rica, ranged in ages between 7 and 45. The group asked their own questions on social, gender and financial issues of the church as well as the mission, vision and the structure of the church organization.

Initial questions dealt with what the church can do to provide a better future for its children.

“What plans does the church have to help poor children?” asked Samuel an eight-year old boy. Another young boy asked how the church could make Adventist education more accessible to every child in the church.

“The church is investing millions of dollars in Christian education in aiding, offering discounts and subsidizing education so that the quality of education can be of accessible to children in lower-income families as well as children in our churches,” said Pastor Leito.

Pastor Leito added that the church leadership would be studying how Adventist education can improve in each of the countries in the territory and how to ensure that teachers are receiving the proper remuneration for the faithful work that they do.

Another question dealt with music in the church and what's appropriate.

“The church has not taken a position on music because of different cultures around the world regarding music standards,” explained Pastor Leito, “but every congregation should study and establish the style of music that will be acceptable in their church.”

A few questions dealt with available resources for school-aged children, programs to combat the video game and technological distractions bombarding small children, and available programs and initiatives for the youth besides Pathfinder and master guide club activities.

Other questions dealt with upholding the standards of the church, programs available for the disabled, retention of members, small group ministries, and shortage of pastors.

Church leaders are confident that this type of dialogue will facilitate more insight as to how the leadership and local church membership can build a stronger partnership in finishing the work of the church.

“I am very thankful for this dialogue with the leaders,” said Mauricio Herrera, a full time laypreacher from Esteli, Nicaragua, who is concerned with the shortage of pastors in his country. “It is so very important that the church members are able to express themselves, it's just so wonderful to have participated in this program,” said Herrera.

Rossina Fallace, a 23-year-old industrial engineer who represents the Dimension Profetica Adventist Church in Guatemala City, said she was excited to be among the panelists.

“It is wonderful to know that our leaders are willing and are open-minded to listen to the people,” Fallace said. “At the end, the work belongs to all of us and anything that helps advance the church is a blessing.”

“This [dialogue] was very important. I was very impressed with the power of dialogue because we can get to do great things,” said Glendolyn Milliner, 16, who wants to see more youth programs created. “If we don't talk then nothing is known.”

It's that close dialogue that Facing the Issues seeks, according to Pastor Balvin Braham, organizer and assistant to the IAD president.

“The fulfillment of the mission of the church is a collaborative effort between the leadership and the membership, so dialogue is important to forge the required togetherness so that we can develop a partnership and an improved working relationship,” said Pastor Braham.

The second in a series of six Facing the Issues, Pastor Braham felt the dialogue in Costa Rica was very productive.

“Facing the Issues held in Puerto Rico two months ago focused more on youth, though it had general concerns, and in Costa Rica, it carried a focus on education and children.” said Pastor Braham. “These [dialogue series] spoke audibly to us as a division in respect of what the greatest needs are in the respective regions.”

With over 500 hits to the webcast and more than 80 unique sites or churches watching the live dialogue program, church leaders are optimistic with the positive impact of Facing the Issues to its constituents.

“Governance in the 21st century requires that leaders at whatever level engage their constituents in dialogue because it is in this way that leadership is able to be relevant in strategizing and meeting the needs of its constituents, so we will continue to engage the constituency because we as church leaders are determined to be relevant.”

Facing the Issues already webcast programs are scheduled to be broadcast on Adventist Channel Esperanza TV at a later date.

The next unscripted Facing the Issues dialogue will take place in Merida, South Mexico, where four church regions will be represented on Feb. 21, 2009.

For more information on Inter-America's Facing the Issues dialogue program, visit www.interamerica.org