Your Spectrum crew in St. Louis just took an evening stroll inside the America’s Center Convention Complex where the #GCSession will take place. Here’s a little photo essay 🧵. That’s executive editor Alexander Carpenter (left) & managing digital editor Alex Aamodt (right).
As you saw behind us in that photo, this is a model of the complex. The Dome (right) is the 67,000 seat stadium where the business meetings will run throughout each day. Its floor will only be accessible to delegates. The rest of the seating will be sparsely used until Sabbath.
With no exhibit hall this #GCSession, the left side has lots of seating for eating, meeting, and entreating. (Is this the delegate life? 😳)
Without a special pass media usually isn’t allowed on the delegate floor, but Spectrum usually finds a way. Here’s where about 2100 delegates will spend their days. The other 500 plus will join virtually for the first time at a #GCSession. The stage is where the executives chair.
This will be how the GC president and the other executive leaders will view much of the #GCSession.
Pay no attention to what’s behind the curtain.
Just wandering around the #GCSession venue we came upon this helpful visual representation of current GC president Ted Wilson’s initiatives. Like so much with him, the past is present is future. 😵💫
3 bonus pics: This astroturf gets rolled out where the delegate chairs are now. The Dome is where the Rams NFL team used to play before they went back to LA. Cool font on a restored 1893 Louis Sullivan building! Thanks for checking out this 📷 essay. We ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🖤🤍 U!
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Before the #GCSession agenda is accepted, Jonathan Zirkle, a lawyer and lay church member, asks to add discussion on the church's statements on vaccines from 2015 and 2021 to the agenda. adventist.news/news/reaffirmi…
The statement has "been very detrimental," Zirkle says. Artur Stele responds that there is no second for Zirkle's motion. Zirkle asks to "appeal this decision" and says he knows of remote delegates trying to second the motion. Stele continues to move the business along.
Zirkle is one of the leaders of the Liberty and Health Alliance, a lay organization that has been very critical of COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine mandates. The Adventist Church's promotion of COVID-19 vaccines has been a major point of contention for the group. #GCSession
During the President's Report Ted Wilson will perform a surprise baptism. This connects to a 2021 Adventist World Radio story about a group of Leftist Filipino rebels hearing about Adventism, attending evangelistic meetings, and joining the church. #GCSession
These photos from Sunday, before the start of the #GCSession show the mobile baptismal “pool” being prepared.
Ted Wilson visited the Philippines last year during November and participated in some of the reaping efforts as detailed in this Adventist Review article, "When Ted Wilson Preached to an Empty Field in the Philippines." #GCSession adventistreview.org/commentary/whe…
David Trim, Director of @AdventArchives, is up now with some church stats and trends. #GCAC19
@AdventArchives The trend of church membership is going the way we want, says Trim. #GCAC19
@AdventArchives The number of accessions has been leveling off. It has been increasing, but the amount of increase is not as much as it once was. #GCAC19