CHARTING A COURSE FOR THE CHURCH IN THE NETHERLANDS (2003-2007)

HUIS TER HEIDE, THE NETHERLANDS [ANR] - During its meeting of May 4
the union committee of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the
Netherlands voted unanimously to accept a document which charts the
course for the church for the 2003-2007 period. The 4,500-word
document with the title "A Growing Church - in Depth and in Breadth"
provides a vision of the preferred future for Adventism in the
Netherlands. The original draft was written by dr. R. Bruinsma, the
union president, but has been fine-tuned during a four-month process
of intense dialogue with the union committee and the pastors.

The introductory paragraphs of the document create the general
framework for the 5 chapters that follow. It states: "Carrying
administrative responsibility is more than merely looking after the
denominational shop as best as we can. First of all, the church union
committee is to provide direction, to develop a clear vision, and to
communicate how all available immaterial and material resources may
be so employed that the Adventist community in the Netherlands will
experience optimal growth, both in depth and in breadth."

Chapter One (Growing in Community) emphasizes that the Adventist
Church in the Netherlands gratefully recognizes its roots in the
Christian tradition, but at the same time boldly carries its own
identity. The Dutch church also acknowledges its close ties with the
Adventist world church.

Chapter Two (Growing in Depth) prioritises spiritual growth over
institutional development, while seeking a proper balance between
those two aspects. The chapter focuses on the importance of learning
with and from each other and on serving God in contemporary forms.
The church must display a critical openness to change. "A church
which does not continue to think and rethink, will become sterile. A
church which feels that everything has been set in concrete and
nothing ever needs reconsidering, will soon find that it has very
little to say. The desire for growth is in fact synonymous with
openness to change".

The third chapter (Growing in Breadth) discusses numerical increase,
through biological growth and migration, but also by creating a
climate that keeps people in the church and draws others to it, as
they realize that it can provide them with a true spiritual home. The
chapter pleads for a continuing willingness to search for, and
experiment with, new avenues of witnessing of our faith.

Chapter Four (Growing in Context) explores the challenge of sounding
a specifically Adventist voice in the midst of a secularised society.
It also deals with the church's relationship to other communities of
faith and the internal challenge of an ever-increasing diversity of
our membership.

Chapter Five, finally, outlines the Conditions for Growth and looks
at the role of the pastor and at the ministry of each individual
member, as well as at such topics as finances, church buildings, the
administrative structure and the crucial importance of effective
communication.

The document does not offer concrete action plans, but rather
provides a framework for the ongoing planning at all levels of the
church. On English translation may be found on the website of the
Netherlands Union (www.adventist.nl - see at the bottom of news item
"Beleidsplan Nederlandse Unie").

[Reinder Bruinsma/ANR]