The purpose of the GC session is to deal with policies and issues that the world church needs to decide as a body. But the great blessing that comes along with completing business is seeing the world body fellowship together, while realizing that we really are one large body with one common goal despite many distinct needs. It is a challenge to try to come up with policies that meet the needs of different cultures and peoples around the world. Nonetheless, we come together, we worship, we talk, and we try. Having the chance to rub shoulders with people I’ve worked with is a wonderful time of reunion and recommitment that makes me long all the more for the reunion we’ll experience in heaven.

Pastor Marvin Wray

Napa Church

I was 17 when I first attended a General Conference session. It was held in Atlantic City, N.J., in 1970. In 2000, I attended the General Conference in Toronto, Canada. My feelings have not changed in 30 years—the experience is still tremendous. In Atlantic City, I was awe-struck by the health displays. While I was in Toronto, I was reduced to weeping while listening to 60,000 people sing “When We All Get to Heaven.” I look forward to the 2005 GC in St. Louis, but I hope this session may be the last before we will all be in heaven.

Brenda Hill

Oakland-Immanuel Temple

This summer's General Conference session will be the fifth time I've attended one of our world meetings. It's so exciting to see the world church in action! Sometimes we tend to be very parochial in our outlook and very protective of the interests of the area where we live, that we may miss the bigger picture. But the General Conference sessions help us see God working through people around the world.

Jim Pedersen

NCC Executive Secretary

It is an exciting thing to watch the church in action and hear the mission pageant from all the divisions in the world. For workers within the church it is also exciting to meet with old classmates and fellow workers that you have not seen in many years. The world church deals with issues that are often affected by cultural and ethnic diversity—it is a wonder to behold the finding of balance. It is powerful to see that which unites us is more than that which divides us. The GC shows us that biblical truth and the anticipation of Christ’s second coming is burning bright within our church.

Ralph Robertson

NCC Ministerial Director

I’ve attended the GC sessions in New Orleans and Utrecht, Holland. I was immensely impressed by the variety of the nations represented. The thing that concerns me is that the United States seems to push its cultural ideas onto the rest of the world. An example would be the ordaining of women. There are some countries that think that it is inappropriate, while some, such as the Scandinavian countries, already ordain women. We, as a church, have a hard time incorporating cultural ways, which affects our church body as a whole. I think that when we get to heaven, we are going to be really surprised at the variety of the people that we will see there.

Marge Vliet

Lakeport Church

It is really nice to see the church in session to observe the discussion and voting procedures. We enjoy the booths and seeing how the work is progressing for evangelism. For example, we love to see the new evangelistic technology. We also value the GC session because it allows us to see what is happening in other divisions around the world and gives us a chance to connect with old friends.

Pastor Ernest and Dorothy Toppenberg

Magalia-Upper Ridge

This year’s GC session will be my sixth one. My first one was in downtown San Francisco, and I still remember the film they showed called “One in 20,000,” which was a feature film about quitting smoking. Although I was young, that GC session left a great impact on me. Today, the GC sessions remain highlighted in my mind. I love to see how I am a part of a worldwide church and I wanted my sons to experience it, too; so in 1980 I took them with me to the GC session in Dallas.

Judy Crabb

St. Helena Hospital Chaplain