Teenage girls find real beauTypage 7 - RECORD.net.au

LETTERSLETTERSNote: Views inletters do not necessarilyrepresent thoseof the editors orthe denomination.Letters should be lessthan 250 words, andwriters must includetheir name, addressand phone number.All letters are editedto meet space andliterary requirements,but the author’soriginal meaning willnot be changed. Notall letters receivedare published. SeePage 4 for contactdetails.18 June 29, 2013 • record.net.auPURPOSE OF RELIGIONHala, via websiteAfter decades of tryingto sort out in my mind thepurpose of religion throughexploring other religions anddoing a PhD, the article "Reclaimthe third space" (Editorial,June 1) sums up my ownconclusions. Church is aboutcommunity and that thirdspace.ORDINATION ISSUESRazmik Cachatoor, NZThe way I see it there arethree questions that keepcoming up in regards to ordination.1 Should we ordain toMinistry? Biblically only Deaconsand Elders/Bishops wereordained. The GC alreadyapproved the ordination ofwomen elders and Adventistsbelieve in a preisthood of allbelievers.2 Should women betreated as equal with men inministry? If you understandPaul's statements as cultural,OK, but if you take them asliteral and believe men are thehead... then no women shouldteach in Sabbath School (Anydepartments) or Church.3 Should the World Churchneed to have sameness andunity in all issues irrespectiveof culture ie the issue of Ordinationfor women in Ministry?We don't treat the WorldChurch the same now. Look atthe issue of wages, for example,which are indexed to localconditions. My suggestions:Ordain all major roles in thechurch (male and female).Biblically, New Testament,men and women are treatedequal in ministries.Allow those areas that sochoose to ordain women andrespect the decision of thosewho do not so choose..MENTAL HEALTHLidija Balasz, ACTIt was great to see the article"Mental matters" (Editorial,May 18). So often mentalhealth matters are ignored dueto stigma and misunderstanding.It's encouraging to seethat RECORD can be used asa forum for open discussion,understanding and learningaround these topics. It ismy hope that through opencommunication and discussion“average church members”will gain knowledge andexperience—leaving us betterequipped for such conversationsand transparency onmental health issues.EVERY NATIONHugh Heenan, NZThank you for the May 18edition of RECORD and itsfocus on our 150th anniversaryas an organised Church, unitedfor mission. We surely have agreat deal for which we can bethankful! David Trim, in his article"Still on a Mission", rightlyreferred to our highly inclusivebeginnings and the editorialmade subtle mention ofa denomination whose worldleaders are all white Americanmales and contrasted this withour world leadership teamdrawn from across the world.Clearly, this is somethingwe can be grateful for andwhich is due to our adherenceto the representative modelof church governance found inthe New Testament (Acts 15;Matthew 18).Yet, despite our representativeform of governance, itis notable that in 150 years,every General Conferencepresident has been a white,male American, Norwegian orAustralian. Not that there's anissue with white males (I amone!) or with these nationalities,although there are morethan 200 nations in the world.It's also interesting thatonly three GC sessions havebeen held outside America(Vienna in 1975, Utrecht in1995, Toronto in 2000) andthis US trend will continue in2015 and 2020. One or twoof the supposed constraintson holding them outside theUS seem somewhat artificial.Nevertheless, in our regionalone, we have in Sydney andMelbourne, two cities with thecapacity to meet the statedrequirements.I'm sure most would agreethat as the Church called totake the everlasting Gospelto every nation, tribe, languageand people, it will betruly wonderful to one day nolonger be able to make theabove observations and haveeven more reason to praiseGod and give Him glory!Editors response: Interestingly,at the 1990 GeneralConference Session, Pastor.George Brown, who hadAfrican ancestors and hailedfrom the Dominican Republic,was decisively selected bythe nominating committee asthe next General ConferencePresident. He turned down thenomination.GREAT IDEASJenny Finlayson, via emailI have just read the editorial"Reclaim the third space" (June1). It's given me some greatideas, like starting a communitygroup as I'm feeling verylonely and have few socialoutlets. A group where wecan be ourselves and witnessby the way we live and havecompany at the same time is agreat idea.