1975 – Twelfth General Conference Session

Brasilia, Brazil, October 19–November 4, 1975. Forty-six delegates present. Unions and Fields represented: 23. Total membership reported: over 14,000.

GC delegation session, Brasilia, Brazil, 1975.

The Indonesian Union was accepted as a new member of the General Conference.

The different committees, especially the Plans Committee, seemed to have more to do this time than during previous delegation sessions.

Much consideration was given to the Ministerial Guide and the Church Officers’ Guide, then under preparation.

A plan for a more efficient development of our work–entitled "Our Aims"–was adopted by the delegation.

We could clearly see once more that the work which has been entrusted to us seems more than we are able to accomplish (The Great Controversy, p. 609). There is only one hope: When we feel our utter human helplessness and begin to rely entirely on the Lord, then more help from above will come.

One of the resolutions adopted by the GC delegation was a pledge which reads as follows:

"We believe that the time has come when due to the increase of diseases in the animal world, the use of milk and eggs is today a growing danger to health.

"‘Let the diet reform be progressive. Let the people be taught how to prepare food without the use of milk or butter. Tell them that the time will soon come when there will be no safety in using eggs, milk, cream, or butter, because disease in animals is increasing in proportion to the increase of wickedness among men. The time is near when, because of the iniquity of the fallen race, the whole animal creation will groan under the diseases that curse our earth’ (Counsels on Diet and Foods, p. 356).

"I hereby pledge myself to give due regard to the counsel given in the Spirit of Prophecy on this subject by taking a forward step in putting less and less dependence on these foods and intelligently educating our members away from them."

GC delegation, twelfth session, Brasilia, Brazil, 1975.

For the new term, F. Devai was elected president, W. Volpp vice president, and A. Balbach secretary.

Due to the expansion of the work, it was decided to increase the number of regional secretaries from 2 to 6.

1979 – Thirteenth General Conference Session

At this session, 54 delegates came together at Bushkill, Pennsylvania, USA, September 12—26, 1979. In that year, the work was being promoted in 26 Unions and Fields. Membership reported: over 15,800.

GC delegation, thirteenth session, Bushkill, Pennsylvania, USA, 1979. larger image

The development of the different departments established at the GC level and how to make them more effective was one of the major points of discussion.

In the Working Policies an important provision was made in behalf of the restricted countries which are unable to send their delegates to the GC session. The provision reads:

"Suitable person(s) in other countries having experience and/or knowledge of and/or close contacts with believers in countries unable to send regular delegates, and in good and regular standing in their local church, but no more than two immediate relatives, may be nominated by the committee or members in such restricted countries, with the concurrence of the GC Regional Secretary for the area, to represent them and have a vote, and such shall be seated as regular delegates when recognized by a majority vote of the credentialed delegates already seated."

One of the resolutions adopted by the delegation, which should be of special interest to all our members and friends, reads:

"Ministers, Bible workers, and church officers will be requested to pledge themselves that they, together with their families, will place greater emphasis on uplifting the standards by taking a higher stand in Christian living and by closing the door against worldliness; and it is expected that, by the help of God, they will seek to bring the same result in the homes of others. . . ."

Delegation in session, 1979.

GC Council elected in 1979.

GC officers elected: W. Volpp, president; F. Devai, 1st vice president; C. Palazzolo, 2nd vice president; A. C. Sas, 3rd vice president; A. Balbach, secretary.

Because he was overloaded with other duties, A. Balbach resigned his office as secretary in 1980, and A. N. Macdonald took over with the agreement of the GC Executive Committee.