Every five years, Lake Union Conference constituents have an opportunity to review how the Lord has led the church in our territory. Delegates are chosen from among lay members, pastors, educators, and administrators to assess the work of the church, to evaluate how faithfully and efficiently the church carried out its mission, to give direction for how the work will be conducted in the future, and to choose leadership to oversee the work for the next five years.
The Lake Union is one of nine unions in the North American Division of the World Church. The union's purpose is to serve the local church and conference by providing resources, training, and guidance to help advance the work throughout our territory. In addition, the union helps coordinate the work so we can accomplish more through our cooperative effort. This is especially evident in the work of evangelism and education.
The union helps build a sense of unity in mission and purpose by providing a setting where our diverse and varied needs, concerns, hopes, and dreams can be shared. Even in apostolic times, much effort was expended uniting the various churches throughout the different regions in a shared mission. Before Paul's travels, representatives met in Jerusalem to consider the needs of various churches and groups. Through their cooperative effort, the entire Body of Christ functioned as a family; each part took an interest in the other and provided assistance, support, and direction where needed. Later, during Paul's travels and through his many letters, more information was shared and the people responded. It is in that apostolic spirit of love and cooperation the Seventh-day Adventist Church organized its work.
The union makes possible evangelism initiatives beyond the scope or resources of a local church or conference. In addition, the network of elementary and secondary schools are strengthened through union certification and guidance. The union also makes possible preparation of our young people for a lifetime of service through a college degree program. In our case, it is provided by a cooperative effort between the Lake Union and the General Conference through Andrews University.
Probably one of the most significant contributions made by the union of local churches and conferences is the opportunity for fellowship. The union office is where our territory's leadership gathers to pray, to encourage and build one another up, and to create a sense of teamwork. In addition, thousands of members from our territory's farthest corners have gathered for evangelism and ministry training. Those who took advantage of these opportunities were blessed, encouraged, and inspired to new heights. These gatherings were unprecedented celebrations of our diversity, and many grew in their understanding of how God uses so many different methods, styles, and people to accomplish His purpose.
We pray the Lake Union will facilitate the fulfillment of Jesus' desire when He prayed, “Father, may they all be one so that the world will believe that you have sent me” (see John 17:21).
Gary Burns is the Lake Union Conference communication director and Lake Union Herald editor.
