08 September 2024| Reykjavik, Iceland [David Neal]
On Sunday, 8 September, delegates from six churches and one company of the Iceland Conference (IC) met at Reykjavik Adventist Elementary School (Sudurhlidarskóli) to continue their postponed Session from September 2022.
Immediately before the day’s business, Audrey Andersson, General Vice-President of the General Conference and former Executive Secretary of the Trans-European Division (TED), gave a devotional talk. She based it on the story of a woman caught in adultery as recorded in John 8:2-11. “At the heart of the story is forgiveness”, said Andersson, “Forgiveness to the people who tried to trap Jesus, and forgiveness for the woman. But while Jesus taught that God’s forgiveness is freely given, it is not unconditional.” Sharing Jesus’ words of Matthew 6:15, “But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive you your sins”, Andersson continued, “Forgiveness is free, complete, and there is nothing beyond forgiveness. But we need to show the same forgiveness to others.” A time of prayer followed, connecting with Andersson’s theme and requesting the Lord take control of the Session agenda.
Two of the three Session items carried over from the 2022 Session dominated the marathon nine-hour meeting: the ‘Iceland Mining Commission Report’ and the election of Officers for the next three years.
Iceland Mining Commission Report
As background for tedNEWS readers, the Iceland Conference owns property with substantial mineral deposits. Since 2009, it has earned income from a third party for mineral extraction. However, concerns and misgivings arose among some church members over the contract and revisions, prompting some to take legal action against the conference. In response to a request from the 2022 Session delegates, TED established an independent multi-national six-member review panel, led by former General Conference vice-president Lowell Cooper, to consider the matter.
Summarising the report, which had been available to delegates for four weeks, Cooper began by stating, “It is more than just a matter of business relationships. It has caused a deterioration in relationships, with many hurt. There has been a marked polarisation of views among the members.” He continued, “One of the most obvious is a lack of trust in leadership, organizational structure, and procedures. Together, we need to find a pathway to a new future.”
Executive Committee Performed Due Diligence
Cooper then shared a summary of the report’s findings, which included a verdict on the Executive Committee’s actions relating to the contracts: “The Commission finds that the Executive Committee followed appropriate procedures and performed the requisite due diligence that was necessary and expected of it in the exercise of fiduciary responsibilities.”
As the Commission report discussion ended, Cooper referred to its final message. “Our conversations need to occur in such a way that doesn’t destroy people. Such a reconciliation process calls for every individual to consider how their behaviour contributes to an atmosphere of trust.” He added, “The Commission submits its report with the conviction that healed relationships are more important to the life and mission (of the Iceland Conference) than business contracts.”
Nominating Committee Report
Much of the afternoon was taken up with reports from the Nominating Committee.
- President – Ivo Käsk
Ivo Käsk, originally from Estonia, previously served as the president of the Estonian Conference and, until July of this year, president of the Baltic Union Conference. Most recently, he served as Youth Director, focusing on planting a church. In his opening remarks to delegates on his election, he immediately warmed hearts by speaking a few words in Icelandic.
Reflecting on his election, Käsk shared:
“I had wanted to leave administration for a while and be on the front line of church planting. All the plans were made. But here I am again, feeling compelled to answer this call to serve with our people in Iceland at this specific time. My prayer is that God’s grace will be with us in this – and thank you for your trust and confidence in me to partner with you in mission together.”
- Judel Ditta was elected to serve as Secretary/Treasurer.
Reflecting on her re-election, Ditta shared:
“I want to thank the members of the Iceland Conference church for placing their trust and confidence in me and my work. As a member of this precious family, I am blessed by the warmth of your love. Moving forward, my deepest hope and desire for our church family is to unite in Christ to accomplish His great commission. I pray that God will move our hearts to seek forgiveness, work toward reconciliation, and begin the process of healing. While this journey may be long and arduous, it is made possible by His grace.”
Signý Harpa Hjartardóttir, Judel Ditta (Secretary), Njörður Ólafsson, and Örn Jónson.
As the Session drew to a close, Daniel Duda shared a brief message from Luke 6:12-18, noting that Jesus spent much time in prayer. He said, “Many of you have prayed for this Session, and we have prayed more than 50 times in the Nominating Committee. In the work of God, nothing is achieved without prayer.”
The passage describes Jesus calling his disciples to go down from the mountain and serve the large crowd. Duda challenged the delegates, “This is our task: to love God, to love people, and to serve the world in Iceland.”
The Holy Spirit gives the ability to change.
With a plea to delegates that “We cannot continue as we did in the past,” he said, “Jesus said of the 613 Torah commands, “Loving God is the most important, and on the same level is loving our neighbours as ourselves.” Duda then went on to explain, “If we cannot love one another as brothers and sisters, we need to love one another as sinners”. “If the Icelandic spirit found the way to survive the enduring challenging weather, volcanic eruptions, isolation, and economic hardships, then the Holy Spirit can give you the ability to change the current adversity and animosity into love and cooperation.” He concluded with the message that “there is a place in this Conference for each one of us.”
While challenges still lie ahead, Duda shared his firm conviction that “the best days for the Adventist Church in Iceland are still ahead of us.”
To discover more about the work of the Iceland Conference, visit the Iceland Conference website
Featured Image: Ivo Käsk and Gavin Anthony (outgoing president) take a moment to encourage each other.
Photos: David Neal.
