“As a people we should study God's plans for conducting His work. Wherever He has given directions in regard to any point, we should carefully consider how to regard His expressed will. This work should have special attention. It is not wise to choose one man as president of the General Conference. The work of the General Conference has extended, and some things have been made unnecessarily complicated. A want of discernment has been shown. There should be a division of the field, or some other plan should be devised to change the present order of things. . . “
Testimonies to Ministers, p 342.

“The same work that has been done in the past will be carried forward under the guise of the General Conference Association. The sacred character of this Association is fast disappearing...
“To a large degree the General Conference Association has lost its sacred character, because some connected with it have not changed their sentiments in any particular since the Conference held in Minneapolis. Some in responsible positions go on "frowardly" in the way of their own hearts…”
“Who can now feel sure that they are safe in respecting the voice of the General Conference Association? If the people in our churches understood the management of the men who walk in the light of the sparks of their own kindling, would they respect their decisions? I answer, No, not for a moment. I have been shown that the people at large do not know that the heart of the work is being diseased and corrupted at Battle Creek. “
Spalding and Magan Collection, p 35.

1897

Prior to 1897 the president of the General Conference was the president of all the departments. The GC then was urged to make changes because “it is not wise to choose one man as president of the GC” therefore decentralization of GC took place. The territory was divided into four (4) Conferences.
“Prior to 1897 the president of the General Conference also had been president of the Foreign Mission Board, president of the General Conference Association, president of the International Tract Society, and president of the Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association, besides being a member of a number of other committees and boards…”
“It also was voted that the General Conference territory be divided into three sections; the United States and British North America, the European Union Conference, and the Australasian Union Conference, the rest to be under the care of the Mission Board. The Mission Board was to consist of 9 members, and the General Conference Committee was increased to 13 members. Union conferences were to be organized in Europe and America as soon as it was deemed advisable.”
SDA Encyclopedia, p 1050. (see also 2PRC 270).

More >>