Delegates from all over the Northern California Conference gathered at the Carmichael Seventh-day Adventist Church in Sacramento, Calif., on Sunday, May 16, 2004. Four hundred thirty-four people attended the meeting including pastors, educators, church members and conference personnel.

The meeting began with reports from the conference administrators highlighting various points of interest from the previous two years. President Ricardo Graham spoke about some of the challenges facing the conference including tithing patterns throughout the conference, incorporating the Economic Research Institute’s recommendations into the compensation package for conference employees, and adequately supporting our schools. He also spoke about the Year of Evangelism and the potential for growth as members of the Northern California Conference focus on reaching out to their neighbors.

Executive Secretary James Pedersen highlighted the recent growth that has taken place. In the past two years, 2,313 individuals made commitments to Jesus through baptism or profession of faith bringing the total conference membership up to an all-time high of 39,869. This family of believers is spread out among 135 churches and 16 companies.

Treasurer John Rasmussen explained the status of the conference’s financial holdings and highlighted areas of success as well as challenges facing the conference. Tithe has essentially remained at the same level since 2001, while operating expenses have continued to increase. Investments are rebounding after suffering some losses in 2002, and bequest income from wills and trusts has shown steady growth.

Following these reports, agenda items eliciting the most discussion were requiring all churches to join school constituencies and changing the conference policy on pastoral selection. After much discussion it was voted 245 to 133 not to require churches to support a constituent school, although churches are encouraged to do so on their own. It was also decided, by a vote of 193 to 102, to leave the policy intact regarding the pastoral selection process. However, conference administrators will review ways to refine and improve the process.

Orangevale Youth Pastor Tim Cress attended the meeting and brought a member of his youth group, Callie Sutliss, as a delegate. “It was a neat opportunity to bring one of my youth and show that they can make a difference in their church.”

Sutliss, a sophomore at Sacramento Adventist Academy, felt the same way. “It was a good chance to be involved in the process of how some of the policies in our church are created.”

The next constituency session will be held in 2006 and will be a full voting session.