Ministries of the Conference
The Seventh Day Baptist General Conference USA and Canada is an association of churches. The churches agree to work together through the General Conference to further the work of the Kingdom of God through Seventh Day Baptist ministries, to provide advice and assistance to the member churches in the accomplishment of their tasks; to advise the churches and their respective members, admitted to membership, in mattters pertaining to doctrine and discipline, faith and practice; to promote divine worship, the spread and miantenance of the Christian religion, Sabbath observance, Sabbath or Bible schools, and religious education; to provide for pensions for ministers of the Gospel and other persons engaged in denominational work; and to provide for any charitable purposes pertaining to the interests of Seventh Day Baptists. This purpose is accomplished through the work of various independent boards and agencies.
A chart of how the Seventh Day Baptist Denomination is organized can be found by clicking on the link below. Document will open in PDF format
Denomination Organizational Chart
“Service Classifieds” idea takes shape
by Ginny Burdick and Amy Goodrich
Over the past few years, SDB Young Adults have been working on an idea to get more involved in the denomination, especially through service.
After last year’s Pre-Con discussion, the idea had morphed into an idea—not for a program, but—for an organized exchange of information for the good of the Conference both now and in the future.
With the help of the Coordinating Leadership Team and the Missionary Society, this idea is taking shape. A person has been designated as a contact for individuals and churches who desire information, or want to be connected with resources for possible service.
Individuals can send information to the contact person concerning their desire for service. This may include short-term or long-term missions, service projects, or even relocation. After the initial contact, the resource person will send a form to be filled out with some personal information, the length of service they are looking for, the time frame they are available, along with the talents and skills they possess that could contribute to a church or project.
On the other side, churches may also send information to the contact person about their needs for human resources. These needs may be short-term or long-term. The function of the contact person will then be to compile the workers and the projects to connect them with each other.
The needs can be general or specific. For instance, a church may desire help with music ministry. The contact person would list those individuals with indicated musical ability (available for the requested time) and send the church their contact information. It then becomes the church’s responsibility to contact these individuals and conduct the “matching” process. Also, individuals or groups wishing to serve may receive information from the contact person on those churches that are requesting human resources.
PLEASE NOTE: The contact person does not finalize matching projects, but only assists churches and individuals in finding each other to meet their needs.
Churches should be aware that not every need may be met. It is up to the individuals to look where help is needed and to choose to serve. The idea is for a more formalized “Service Classifieds.”
It should also be noted that all age groups are included. Senior saints, youth, and adults wishing to serve or relocate are welcome, along with families or individuals wanting to find an area where they can use their talents and abilities within a church or new church plant.
This idea has evolved out of a desire that the Young Adults have felt to help in the growth of the local churches. This is a need of the Conference, and the Young Adults hope this will provide an opportunity to utilize our resources. In the past, people have wished to serve in projects without knowing who to contact or where to start. This concentrates information in the hands of one central person so there are no questions as to who to approach for information. With this in place, we hope that opportunities are not lost.
Mr. David Davis, from the Seattle Area church and member of General Council, has been designated as the contact for this new opportunity. You may phone Dave at (425) 226-0102 or e-mail dave@davispiano.com.
To list a project, click here to download, print and mail or e-mail a form.
To offer your services, click here for a form to fill out indicating your experience and abilities.