ANN is such a terrific news service. With its stories from around the world, the international nature of the church has finally made an impact on members like me in North America. And the result of that impact is a stronger bond between the members in the various divisions. It feels more like we are all working together. Ray has done an excellent job in making sure that the stories on ANN are written in true news style, too. He moved us out of the PR-only kind of news of the past. Kudos for the interview and to Ray for a job well done.

Yes, I really appreciate the service of ANN. I'd be curious to know how many of our community either visit the site or get their email updates.

Sure, this minister (not journalist) has improved news and information flow within the church from abysmal to merely terrible. But we still have no real, balanced, thorough journalism. How many stories have we read about fiscal ineptitude or even impropriety? We all know it is there, but we just can't find out about it. How much do we know about the endless junkets (hundreds per year) overseas for ministers from high conference position paid for with tithe dollars and run by a score of GC "programs"? How much do we know about the oh-so-well-paid "ministry"? How many stories have we read about the massive-padded baptisimal numbers from developing countries or about spiraling discontent among some congregations or about the educated parts of the membership dropping out of an increasingly irrelevent and self-absorbed church? How much do we know about the flock of ex-ministers functioning as "consultants" to the GC, "Beltway-Bandit"-style?

It is time for real, independent coverage of the GC, NAD and more. If we don't do it ourselves, other major media are going to do it TO us and our image won't rebound for decades.

Bang Bang Maxwell silver hammer ehh?
Tell me, is that all your interested in? Or, is the good work that is being done not sensational enough?

Is free-flow of information "all I'm interested in"? Umm, no, but it is at the core of good church policy, governance, and effectiveness.

Thomas Jefferson said: "Where the press is free and every man able to read; all is safe."

Germany, in the 1930's and '40's had very good internal PR. But German citizens had few tools to watch the inside operations of their government. Unfortunately, as nice as the ANN PR tool is, it is a not even close to being a free press.

As for "Silver hammer?" It would be extremely helpful to Adventists worldwide if the dense veil of secrecy surrounding the church were pierced. Concerned members should riot in the streets until we have two things: 1. Boards that are made up of professionals instead of failed-but-politically-effective ministers; and 2. An independent press driven and allowed to investigate the multi-billion dollar operation.

Early during World War II, I was home on a weekend leave. I attended the E.M.C. College Church held then in the old Chapel building. Rather than sit with my folks, I joined several students from my student days at E.M.C. in the Balcony. The speaker was a guest, The President of the Lake Union Conference. He was on the blance point of retirement. So the Union Conference gave him a fairwell trip around the then "safe" world. Which amounted to Central and South American. At the time there was a popular song: Entitled: "Cement Mixer Putzy Putzy". The sermon amounted to one SDA school, mission station, or clinic in which there was active growth as evidenced by construction. The sermon followed this pattern. Short flightm sights of the capital city, the sound of a cement mixer--ie, growth!!!. The President who had presided over a number of new buildings and major renovations at E.M.C. wanted to be remembered as the builder! After the sermon, someone asked me my thoughts. I replied: "Cement Mixed Putzy Ptuzy!" On growth he rated 100% on the Gospel 0! Nothing has changed except the cost of travel and the number of high ranking administrators eligible for the perk. At least Willie White would write his mother the nitty gritty and she would write a Testamony of rebuke for all to read and tremble except the guys for which was meant. Detithing the tithe is an art form. Need a new cement mixer anyone? Tom

Only when Adventism has a truly free press with absolute transparency, can any claims be made for "Adventist News."

Would anyone call it unbiased news if the U.S. press only reported good news? "The war is going beautifully, we will soon have our troops home, there was a slight dip in the stock market, not to be worried about, a few home foreclosures, but ditto. IOW, everything is looking most positive and we are on the road to gaining in every way."

If that is what one wants, then the SDA PR is the place for you. SDA free press is an oxymoron. When will there be FULL reporting, both of the positive as well as the negative? The implication seems to be that there is nothing negative, all is well-- "Oops--watch out for the iceberg ahead."

Since Adventism, unlike the government, has no power to raise taxes, tithe is the only way the members can have a voice. As long as the tithe is flowing in, why should it change? The SDA press is much like Pravda.

Thanks Elaine. Thank you Tom. Good points indeed.

Sadly, the minister-controlled, culture of ministerial entitlement will sink the church in time unless wiser minds (probably lay persons) become fully engaged and insist on being fully informed and empowered in the governance of the SDA church.

I celebrate the technological revolution that has happened in our church. I can remember when the fastest way to get news from a GC session was to wait 3 weeks for the Daily Bulletins to trickle into our international post boxes.

Then the pace of technolgy quickened.

1) In 1990 I sat with a friend around a ham radio and listened to the daily bulletins of news.

2) In 1995, I became an early adopter of internet technology (as I think the first pastor in my conference to do so although critized for doing so) almost solely for the purpose of having access to the daily news stories that were put online. I was amazed to learn of the vote re the ordination of women, literally minutes after it was taken.

3) Certainly, in 2005 I could watch the meeting and business meeting as they were streamed online.

What is next!!

May I suggest that the next move is a rather radical one.But this was first suggested to me by one of Adventisms leading missiologists. The idea is not original with me.

Why not have the GC SESSION broadcast on the Hope Channel and streamed online!!
Then, hold the GC Session on one of our bigger campuses with delegates housed in the dormitories (not in 5 star luxury).
Do away with all the hoopla surrounding the promotion of various church entities.
Do not welcome onlookers to the venue itself. Rather, everyone should view by satellite and by streaming.

Certainly, in these hard times this should be seriously considered.

Now that is using techology to maximise savings to the church in these hard economic times. And you heard it first on the Spectrum Blog!!