Thursday 12 November 2015.

Nineth day of the General Conference, Wa-Ghana.

The morning was started with a Prayer prepared by Bro. Diego on the theme: “Bethany house of encounter community of love and heart of humanity”. The theme was beautifully worked out in the prayer service with Jesus in the role of our master, making us more human and righteous of each other. With Martha professing faith in Christ and serving in the “diakonia”. With Lazarus, to pass from death to life and to walk in the freedom of the spirit with Mary, breaking the jar and pour out the perfume of listening and love.

The whole service connected will with the item in our agenda “Regeneration in the area of leadership”. This item had been brought forward by the Indonesian provinces, their provincial therefore presented a lengthy paper on this topic. It included the experiences of/in the province concerning the future of providing the necessary leadership in the coming years on the different levels.

After this each province was asked to give an idea of how they were coping with this phenomenon in their province. The Netherlands started with it, making clear that they were searching for solutions in providing leadership in provincial level after 2018.

It was clear that in every province, there are difficulties in looking for, getting the necessary leaders in provincial and local level. Some because of the very limited number of brothers in the province, others because of the lack of the demanded skills, human qualities, unwillingness to accept the responsibility.

It became clear that in the coming years, every provincial council will have this item regularly on their agenda. The question whether the General Council should try to be of help by organizing meetings or course etc. 

The topic will come back tomorrow when the conference will deal with the Distant preparation for the General Chapter 2018.

In the afternoon the General Council met the provincial council of Ghana. So the rest of us had a free afternoon, which was spent walk.

Bro. Maarten Bouw