President qualities needed for 2016 and further in the Remnant

Koot van Wyk (DLitt et Phil; ThD) Visiting Professor, Department of Liberal Education, Kyungpook National University, Sangju Campus, South Korea, Conjoint lecturer of Avondale College, Australia

Hardly anyone talks about this. In fact, no one knows a new president is chosen. Only after the session the wave of news reaches the pews that the previous president is no longer in the saddle.

So what does it take to be in the saddle? What is needed of someone who is a candidate for the president? Normally people do not list about these aspects. The reason is that leadership is only expected to quench fires. No fire. No quenching so a big holiday.

There was a time when the president had to be a big builder. If there is an open space then building is necessary. The president that renovates buildings is seen as a good president.

We are talking about the president of the university and the president of the union. It is that time again in South Korea. In fact, it seems as if the new president will be selected in December about two months away. So where do they start? Who knows? Is there any program, agenda, portfolio, profile that is brought together within the boundaries and limitations of the Word of God and the Spirit of Prophecy and of course Spirit filled experience? Is there any analysis of the successes and failures of the work in South Korea, both at university and in the churches? That is maybe a good start. Analyze the work in Korea and make a brainstorming list of problems in both sectors. After this list one is ready for the next in the process: whether the current president in both cases, university and union has done their uttermost best to prevent the failures and assisted in the successes? If the answer is very positive then there is no reason to change the presidents. But, what is a failure and what is success? Aha. Here lies the key. Unless one is willing to ask the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy to clarify these qualities of failure and qualities of success, it is better to go home and not select a leader at all.

Trends of modernity

Trend-analysis is necessary and evaluation with the Word of God and the Spirit of Prophecy is necessary. Gays in the church and ministry was just accepted by the Dutch Reform Church in South Africa much to the shock of more than 80% of the members in that church. Done by leaders in high places who push each other to the front to become next leader, a process that we call in legal language cronism. There was a time when I was much against cronism. I was very rebellious against this idea. It was because I came from a poor family and it frustrated me that clicks (South Korean: urikiri) selected only their favorites and oversee sometimes great leaders and pass them by since they are not in the family, or the friendship, or similar. But, as I get older I realize that there is no other way in which God chose to work in the Bible but through cronies. The hope of God is of course that cronies should be faithful. Here is the key. Unless the cronies are not faithful, spiritual, men and women of prayer, patience, control of their immediate house-family, it is better not to look that direction. Cronies can lead a church to heights but also to many problems.

Overlooking corruption

A flipflop approach by a leader to overlook corruption, especially regarding the money of the Lord in whatever form by one of the pastors or laity in church affairs, unless fully restituted, can be a great blocking signal not to select the same leader.

Unity in the country

The country is diversified in dialects, district character, geo-morphology, urban and country mentalities, city professionals and farmers wisdom and practices and both can be in great need of rectification. Here in the country-side the elders for example know nothing about the practices and requirements of the elder or deacons and church protocol with church-standards like Sabbath sanctity, money matters like tithe payments, cooking on Sabbath, having churchboard business meetings on Sabbath. Things they do not do in the cities? Or do they? And if yes, then here is the quality needed for the next president: A man of God that will lead the whole country to a systematic instruction and knowledge about the proper Sabbath sanctity and calling on all to focus thereon. Sabbath blessings are promised in the Word of God. For example, just a month ago the current president of the union came to a city in the countryside about an hour south of Taegu and we all attended in which he outlined for two days the role of the elder in the church and the must and must-nots of that function in Gods work. Excellent! We could see the difference. Now those who attended are more properly carrying out their functions. What a wonderful instruction by this president. We need more in future of the same.

Camp-meeting shrinking numbers

Attending camp-meetings at Madalpi was worrisome. The habit these days is that each local area only take their members to camping grounds and camp there two or three days. What is needed is a all-Korea Adult Bible Conference at Sahmyook over Summer where people stay in the empty dormitories but also on tents that is erected everywhere on campus where there is a open space. Thousands of people from all over Korea coming up for a two night three day Bible Conference time. Division speakers attend, union speakers, Conference speakers, Pastors, invited preachers, and music of the highest quality in the church brought together in one great meetings. It must be the high point of spiritual emphasis for the year. At this meeting members can get reports from the Division president and Union president about the success and failures of the work. The Quo vadis sermon outlining what the tears and fears of the Division and Union is and Sahmyook University as educational instrument by God for the next year. It will inspire members to come up with wise ideas and creative attempts to help their Division and Union solve many of their problems.

Youth Congress

A Youth Congress was held at Sahmyook University and this was very successful. Again. In fact, a project for every year. It is a must since the young leaders are groomed in spirituality for the future of our church and themselves.

Doctrinal issues like Women Ordination and Gay Plight

A leader cannot be involved in any of these two taboo issues, regardless if every single denomination on earth accepted these aspects. It is unbiblical and the leader of the University and Church has to be firm on this matter.

A second College in the South of Korea

The leaders elected has to realize that although Sahmyook University is a SDA institution it is serving by enlarge Seoul communities with thousands of students non-Adventist. What is needed is a College for members of the church in the South somewhere, but a satellite of Sahmyook University. It needs to have a three year or four year Bachelor program on all levels of science and religion. Music, education, business, religion, science. This is imperative since Sahmyook University has enough funds to start a project like this. The counsel of the Spirit of Prophecy was that it is unwise to cluster all our education excellence in the same spot since that is what J. Kellogg tried to do at Battle Creek in Michigan. At the moment Sahmyook University has all the appearance of success, buildings, student numbers, income, etc. But, unless they realize their problem with the Spirit of Prophecy, and unless the next or current president makes this issue a question of heart-searching, they may face the same problems Kellogg faced in 1902 and later. The Spirit of God cannot bless properly an institution when they are not following the guidance of God. Troubles are inevitably connected to it.

Anti-pastoral apathy in the South

Among farmer-leaders there is a syndrome which I would term: anti-pastoral apathy. My hunch is that it is because Sahmyook University seminary activities is too far and too silent and to non-visual for them. That is why we need a second college in the South. At Gimchin , just north of it, on the Sangju Road, is a beautiful college built on a hill, but the problem is, it never opened. Funds dried up? Do not know. But an ideal purchase deal for Sahmyook University to start their satellite college. KTX runs through Gimchin and is 10 minutes away from this spot. It is outside Gimchin and has nature as beauty.

Accepting State Funds

It is against the Spirit of Prophecy guidelines for an institution of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, especially universities, to accept Funds from the government for their projects. As honorable as it sounds the same answer should be given by the president of the University that Daniel said to Belshashar: “keep your gifts for yourself or give it to another.” Our business is His and or success is His. Money is ultimately in His hands and from Him. Spirituality is sometimes shining only when strong winds blow against it. Remaining standing amid affliction and storm is the success of the Great Ship Captain of all times.

Dear Lord

Select the leaders for December that will fit the role that spiritual leaders should fulfill and make adjustments that could guide the work of the Lord in a more spiritual direction.