Lowe's the Latest Setback to Southern California Conference's Newbury Park Project

26 October 2011 | Loren Seibold

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The Southern California Conference's hope of reducing millions of dollars of debt created by its Newbury Park Development Project has been further delayed by the home improvement giant Lowe's saying last week it would pull out of a deal to build on the former location of the conference-owned Ventura Estates Retirement Center. This comes as Lowe's announces it will close 20 stores and lay off nearly 2000 employees nationwide.

This is the second time a major retail store has dropped out of escrow on the parcel. Costco backed out of the same location last year.

In its over 20-year history the Newbury Park Development Project has been dogged by difficulties. According to a fact sheet handed out at a May conference constituency meeting the project is nearly 20 million dollars in debt. The Conference also made an "internal advance" to the project of almost 7 million dollars. The Pacific Union is carrying $5.8 million of the debt and the General Conference $8.6 million.

The development project was begun with the purpose of raising funds from a valuable tract of Ventura County property to rebuild the aging Newbury Park Adventist Academy, Conejo Adventist Elementary School and Ventura Estates Retirement Center. To date only the elementary school has been rebuilt. Ventura Estates was vacated and demolished to make way for the retail development, but Newbury Park Academy, built in 1949, remains in its original location.

With the development project mired in debt many think it unlikely that the Academy and the Retirement Center will ever be rebuilt, and there are continuing concerns about the conference’s ability to handle the extraordinary indebtedness.

Photo: Gerry Chudleigh

During the 2011 SCC constintuency meeting, David Filipps, right, of Ridgewood Associates, and President Larry L. Caviness, president of SCC, answer questions about the Newbury Park development project.

Bonnie Dwyer - Wed, 10/26/2011 - 16:35

These are tough economic times--for individuals, for nonprofits, for companies. I hope that a creative new plan can be found to solve this dilemma.

Nola - Wed, 10/26/2011 - 17:56

Thank you for this update as I did not know that Ventura Estates had been demolished. I attended both schools and remember singing at Ventura Estates when HMS Richards senior was there. I hope their financial difficulties can be resolved.

Frank Allen - Wed, 10/26/2011 - 18:54

I wonder what the monthly interest payments are and the percent of funds that come from tithe dollars that has been given toward this debt? I wonder if the Southern California Conference is financially transparent with their current operating expenses, so as to welcome cost saving suggestions from member congregations? I wonder how much loss of income was incurred when the retirement center was vacated? I wonder if anyone has assumed responsibility for the investment venture and publically admitted to misjudgment.

hopeful - Wed, 10/26/2011 - 19:01

We're out $20m?!
Yikes!

____________________________________________________
"be reverent in behavior, not slanderers nor enslaved to much wine, teachers of that which is good" titus 2:3

Charles Parker - Wed, 10/26/2011 - 19:22

Requesting clarification:

re: "Costco backed out of the same location last year "

The article that was linked stated :

"Costco dropped its plans to open a discount warehouse at the Newbury Park site in 2009 after the company was unable to finalize a lease with the property owners."

( I am NOT casting aspersions on Pastor Seibold as I believe he is a rare SdA that "gets it", as he still drives a 1987 Yugo.)

Rachel - Wed, 10/26/2011 - 23:08

Frank Allen asked if tithe dollars are used for this debt. It should not be. Tithe dollars are not paying for any expenses but only for support the ministry of local churches through pastoral salaries and global evangelism.
http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/guidelines/main-guide4.html

Bill S - Thu, 10/27/2011 - 00:19

What's the General Conference doing putting up all that money? My conference outside USA never has a chance at getting any GC loans for anything.

Bill S - Thu, 10/27/2011 - 00:22

The idea of tithe money or not tithe money comes up a lot, as if some church finances have to be looked after more than other money. It's all church money in sacred trust by the servants chosen to be wise and careful stewards. Once it's in their hands, regardless of where it came from or what designation it has there is sacred responsibility.

Avondale Resident - Thu, 10/27/2011 - 00:34

This is a significant financial dilemma but small in comparison to the two developments by the South Pacific Division that in church and local media were stated as being developments adding up to being worth almost a billion dollars by the end. The developer they were entwined in a number of projects and loans, not just the ones relating to church projects, has been in severe financial trouble and owing the church $69 million dollars - as well as to banks, etc totaling $150million - with assets less than half of that. Where's the public accountability for it all? It's just being kept hush hush and the church members are being told almost nothing, and most leaders at all levels of the church hardly know a thing about what has taken place. The few words from the top echelons in the know and who got caught up in this is: "Trust us. Everything is fine. It's not as bad as it looks. It's not tithe money at risk, so really it is ok. We can't say anything else." No accountability at all. "In mammon we trust" is looking very shaky indeed.

Frank Allen - Thu, 10/27/2011 - 05:40

@ Rachel - Tithe dollars are not paying for any expenses but only for support the ministry of local churches through pastoral salaries and global evangelism.

I realize what you say is policy, but there is “tithe exchange,” a process where tithe dollars are exchanged for non-tithe dollars. The major source of money for a Conference tithe, followed by gifts and trust funds. I would not be surprised if tithe dollars were on the books diverted for this debt, for reason that no ministry could continue if debt payments were not made.

Yes, I agree with Bill S., that all charity funds are sacred. I just pray that reformation, in transparency, will come to our church in complete financial disclosures, not just to a conference board, but also in a publicly disclosure site. When it comes to Conference expenses, wages, and budgets there is too many secrets held from the individual contributor.

Jan Long - Thu, 10/27/2011 - 11:28

For those interested, here is a little background information of Newbury Park Academy.

Newbury Park Academy is located 30-40 miles north of the City of Los Angeles and originally was in a country setting just off of a 2-lane highway. When it was established the main campus was built on the front quarter of several hundred acres of land--the portion closest to the highway. The back of the property was separated by some sizeable hills and obscure to civilization and later suburban encroachment.

Over time this area has transformed. The highway is now a major freeway and the area around it has developed into an upscale community and a major biotech industry hub. Consequently the property, because of its prominence (primarily the front part of the property where the buildings are located) became a quite valuable piece of property.

My in-laws were from that area, so my information is generally well founded, but not first-hand knowledge. As I recall, back in the 1980s the property was considered to be worth 10s of millions as I recall. The plan at that time was to sell off the front portion of the property and build an entirely new campus in the hills on the back part of the property. The sale of the front part of the property was to fund the building project. A portion the front of the property was previously sold.

I don’t know all the details, but I understand that there were several factors that have brought things to the sad state they are in today, including the following:

1) Enrollment declines, likely due to the deteriorating infrastructure and the relocation of the Adventist Media Center to Simi Valley.

2) Opposition by conservation groups to development in the hills behind the current campus.

3) Conference siphoning funds off for other pet projects.

Since I don’t know what those projects were, I am unable to offer any opinion about this, other than to say that it has had a deleterious effect not only in executing on the original plan, but also apparently from this article on the overall health of Conference finances.

Elaine Nelson - Thu, 10/27/2011 - 11:57

"Tithe dollars are not paying for any expenses but only for support the ministry of local churches through pastoral salaries and global evangelism."

We wish. How are "expenses" defined? The local churches get little back from tithe. The tithe goes to pastor's salaries, but not to any other costs with local churches. How does the top heavy administration get paid? It's tithe again. Ditto for every expense the church incurs.

As mentioned before, all the monies received are "mixed" and are not separated.
If anyone wants their local church to increase its community activities or cover the local expenses, put your "tithe" money and mark it to your local church. In this way you will know and be able to have some input in how it is spent. Once it is sent off in tithe, you lose all track of how it is used.

Elaine

Charles Parker - Thu, 10/27/2011 - 12:58

What's faster than a speeding bullet and quicker than the best magician?

SdA "tithe conversion".

lorenseibold@am... - Thu, 10/27/2011 - 13:19

I got my information mostly from sources that were public, along with a conversation with a friend in the Southern California Conference, so I don't know what's led up to this, though it would be interesting if we could hear from someone who served on the executive committee or has had some direct interaction with the project. I do know that developing land in CA metro areas is expensive, takes lots of legal work to get it accomplished. And if you've the possibility of several million in your pocket, there are hordes of people who will volunteer to solve all your problems for a million or two of it, and they get their money up front. I think the word is out that churches are easy pickins'.

Still, hard to figure out how it could have gone from millions of dollars worth of assets to $20 million (plus) in debt and still nothing realized on the land. The time period would have spanned four conference presidents, probably several treasurers, and a number of different conference committees, so who to blame? Is it just a built-in hazard to our process? This is surely not the only such big loss on investments in the church, though this may be one of the larger ones, Australia's current crisis possibly excepted.

As for who pays for it, there's no magic source of money: a church's only income is church members' tithes and offerings. It is inevitable that the losses, should the project never pay off, will be made up by church members' donations or church assets that originally came from donations. Whether tithe can be used I don't know. As someone has said, there are ways of "exchanging" tithe so as to make it usable for other projects, but there are also rules about that. Someone who knows church finances would have to tell us.

Loren

Maggie - Thu, 10/27/2011 - 13:31

"Someone who knows church finances would have to tell us."

Maybe...David Dennis?

Seriously.

David Dennis on Transparency and Accountability in the Seventh-day Adventist Church:
http://vimeo.com/21960349

"David Dennis is the former chief auditor of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

This presentation was made to the Adventist Forum in San Diego in May 2009."

Elaine Nelson - Thu, 10/27/2011 - 13:33

:"a church's only income is church members' tithes and offerings.'

There should always be a distinction in the way "church" is used. To many, it means our local congregation, the one we are far more familiar with. But often it means the world church, which includes all the church's holding, employees and all the assets that are under the ownership or use of the Seventh-day Adventist church, world-wide. This distinction is never more necessary when discussing tithes and offerings
It is sad that many Adventists know little or nothing about how their gifts are to be used. "Trust, but verify" is very appropriate for giving to any charitable organization, including the SDA churchl

Elaine

Nathan - Thu, 10/27/2011 - 14:18

I hate to take the ostrich "stick your head in the sand" approach, but I feel like we are at the point where the church should just disengage from profit-making development and investment activities (unless the "investments" are things like passively-managed index funds, etc.) It seems that there are far too many stories of the church making extremely poor financial decisions that have led to huge losses of church money, not to mention the damage it does to the membership, who feel that their tithes and offerings are being wasted through mismanagement.

Church leaders and committees are not financial professionals. They're not developers. And as soon as they start playing in areas where they're out of their depth, they get taken advantage of by savvy parties who are experts.

M Ammon - Thu, 10/27/2011 - 14:56

Amen, Nathan!

In the South Pacific Division all looked bright and rosy with the possibility of 100s of millions of dollars in returns down the track according to the bright scenarios and PR spin. Thats just what hooks people into all kinds of deals. But life often doesn't go to plan and the scenarios aren't quite as bright as they are downgraded but the spin is still as upbeat as possible.

The church leaders at the Division, particularly one, were playing high up in the development game that they had no expertise in, with a major developer who in the public eye had a questionable reputation (but whose name is on the Adventist books), and with the church being owed by the developer twice as much as all the banks and other creditors combined.

I don't doubt that the church leaders are well meaning, they have ministry hearts. But they are/were trying to play a major league game when their experience and expertise is in playing ball in the park.

When church leaders start playing around with such large sums of money and sit on hundreds of millions of dollars in investments, I'm hardly inclined to contribute any of my money to the denomination's coffers other than for local church projects and expenses and other specific projects I believe in. The leaders cry poor so often as they beg for more money, but when they can lose mega millions and say its ok because no tithe money is involved, and important leaders can spent endless hours dealing with business and legal matters and formal and informal meetings and discussions at the expense of ministry and effective spiritual and church community leadership, then I think things are heading off track and more about mammon than God.

Jaime Vargas - Thu, 10/27/2011 - 20:38

HELLO BROTHERS N SISTERS!! SISTER ELAINE, R U SURE THAT TITHE MONEY IS ONLY
BEING USED TO SUPPORT THE MINISTRY N NOT TO SUPPORT OF ANYTHING ELSE?
I HAVE PROVE THAT SAY THE CONTRARY!! I EMAILED THE ASSISTANT GC TREASURER
N I ASKED HIM FROM WHAT FUND DO WE PAY LAWYERS FOR LAW SUITS, FROM THE
TITHE OR FROM THE OFFERINGS? HE EMAILED ME BACK N ANSWERED THAT THE GC
PAYS THE LAWYERS FOR LAWSUITS FROM THE TITHE MONEY:(( IF U LIKE I CAN SEND
IT TO U SO U MAY READ IT FOR YOUR SELF.

Elaine Nelson - Thu, 10/27/2011 - 21:09

I was being facetious.

Elaine

Eldyn Karr - Thu, 10/27/2011 - 21:50

Regarding Jan Long's summary above, Newbury Park Adventist Academy enrollment in recent years has been slightly higher than when this saga began. Back in the 1980s, the number of students had declined, and as I recall, especially the number of Adventist students. If memory serves right, the total enrollment was about 180 when the decision was made to close the dormitories and make NPAA a locally operated day school. Of the 180 students, only about half were in the dorms and about half of those were from other countries. Many overseas students weren't Adventists, but their funds certainly helped pay the school's operating expenses.

But some members across the conference saw no reason the church should be operating a "mission" school. Upon closing the dorms, enrollment immediately dropped to between 100 and 120 -- it stayed in that range for a few years. Thanks to the work of the principal, Harold Crook, the academy enrollment then started increasing significantly each year for several years. Dr. Crook tirelessly promoted NPAA -- to SDA families who lived a bit too far from Newbury Park to commute daily, but whose kids could stay in "dorm houses" during the week, then go home on the weekend -- to non-Adventist families in the community who wanted a Christian high school for their youth -- to overseas students who wanted to come to America to perfect their English while preparing to attend a good American university, this group also living in dorm houses (some of the former faculty housing on the campus).

Recent years have seen the enrollment consistently at 180 or above. When it became apparent that the school would not be rebuilt either on another part of the Newbury Park property or any other site in the county, several major renovations and upgrades were done to the original buildings and athletic areas. The dorms were the most deteriorated, and those have been demolished.

The front area of the property (where flowers were once grown for the seed market and where horses grazed in the 70s and early 80s) today has Target, Home Depot, and Staples stores, several smaller stores, and a number of restaurants. The elementary school was rebuilt up the hill behind the academy.

Dr. Crook this year became the educational superintendent for the Southern Calif. Conference.

Fictitious - Thu, 10/27/2011 - 22:51

@ Eldyn

I would venture to guess from your additional summary that you live in the area. Perhaps the real question that no one has asked yet, but probably decided there was no answer too, or was a waste of typing effort given the churches history with developments; how can a conference sell land to Home Depot, Target, Staples and various smaller stores but still end end up 20+ million dollars in debt? That seems pretty hard to "accomplish"? Maybe a better follow up question would be; if after selling to the above mentioned stores and finding oneself in debt would a conference double down by marketing to more stores?

@ Loren

While it may be hard to build in California because of all of the state regulations I would venture to guess that other corporations have built in California during those 20 years, some we are being told reside right next to Newbury Park Academy, namely Home Depot, Staples, and Target. (Tongue planted firmly in cheek)

S Styrra - Fri, 10/28/2011 - 01:39

When amateurs in corporate finance and development, mostly, in church leadership and on committees try to compete in the corporate arena they are bound to have major failings. They aren't bad people but rather in the wrong game. When will we ever learn?

In the meantime, my money is safe. It doesn't go into the church coffers (coffins!) but to select worthwhile projects (not just church or Adventist ones). God has blessed me and desires that I am a good steward of those blessings.

Dorothy - Fri, 10/28/2011 - 21:40

This is another one of the many sad stories in Adventist history of how money was misspent and how people who had no financial background or experience were on Boards that voted to do absurd things. I know this situation very well as both my husband and I were delegates representing one of the Constituent churches at the meeting when it was voted to sell a terrific piece of land where all the schools in the entire Ventura County area could be relocated. To say the spirit of the devil was in that meeting would be an understatement. People who worked for Adventist Institutions were calling members of the churches in the Conejo Valley "strawberry pickers" (Yes, this is correct. I was there and heard these words with my own ears.) The hate-filled language that was used was so appalling to my husband and me. Several months later when I visited my dad who was a conference president at the time, he had to have a real heart-to-heart talk with me, reminding me that church politics is a losing game and to keep my eyes focused on Jesus. Furthermore, the way the closing of Ventura Estates was handled, which I know very well as my mother was a member of the Board, is something that our church leaders should be ashamed of. There will be a special answering for the way some of those dear older people were handled in the transition. Thankfully, the then pastor of the Ventura Estates Church, Elder Burton Boundy, worked his heart out trying to see that many of the people didn't end up thrown out into the street. It is no surprise that the Lord's blessing can't be on this project for His help and guidance was never asked for in the first place. All the leaders saw was dollar signs from worldly developers and fast-talking con men and the idea of all that wealth was just too hard to pass up.

Kim Green - Sat, 10/29/2011 - 07:11

During my time living in the area of Conjeo valley/Simi Valley, I heard many stories about what Dorothy has recounted above and more. Unfortunately it is a not-so-uncommon Adventist tale of mismanagement/politics overall.

Another well known story in the area is that of selling the former site of the Adventist Media Center. The property was acquired by Amgen, a major biopharmaceutical company, for much lower price then it should have sold for. The reason? One of the reasons is that one of the lawyers representing Amgen in the purchase of the property was the son of a very well known SDA evangelist at the time. Knowing that Adventists (ministers) can be very poor businessmen could have helped at the time. Plus as the son of an evangelist, the lawyer may be more "trusted".

I do know more stories but suffice it to say that the financial woes of the area were not built in a day but rather spread consistently over a few decades of poor decisions and deals. Too sad...but will the Adventist church ever learn to institute policies of oversight and accountabiliy? Don't know...

S Styrra - Sat, 10/29/2011 - 13:32

Sometimes we as a church are as eager to through clear thinking to the wind when it comes to money making as we are when it comes to theology and prophecy.

Dorothy - Sat, 10/29/2011 - 13:52

There is one other issue related to this entire Newbury Park Academy financial debacle which is extremely close to the hearts of many of us who grew up in this area. It relates to the other school in the county which is rarely mentioned when there is a discussion of this situation. In the 1960's, 5 churches in Ventura County went together and worked in a real spirit of unity to purchase land in El Rio, California and build a Junior Academy called Linda Vista. I know this because my dad was one of the pastors involved in this project and I attended the school the first year it opened. This school has been a lighthouse in the county for years and has garnered a great deal of loyal support from individual church members who through difficult times have underwritten the cost of tuition for many children who would never have had the opportunity to attend a Christian school due to their financial limitations. When, in mid to late 1970's the Pacific Union Conference and the Adventist Media Center moved to Ventura County, the dynamic of "power" shifted greatly. Institutional workers heavily supported Conejo Elementary School and the churches that were the foundation of Linda Vista Junior Academy continued to support a school they had built. It was around this time that the enrollment and dormitory living arrangements at Newbury Park Academy became part of the discussion of the long-term educational needs in Ventura Country which included research into the possibility of a K-12 Academy that would serve the growing needs of the entire county. A study committee was formed, (something else the SDA church is well known for besides Linketts.) To the credit of this committee, there was a great deal of foresight and planning that included the long-term needs of all the children in the entire county. After much thought and prayer, a piece of land was purchased that was exactly in the center of the county and was, even 25+ years ago, within almost equal driving distance for all the constituents. Sadly, it was the institutional workers, many of whom had no children in elementary or secondary school, who inserted themselves into the discussion at constituency meetings and spread so much false information about the "terrible" location of the potential new K-12 school. Funny thing though, this property, had the school been built on it, is now within one of the most exclusive residential community regions in the entire county and friends I have who are not SDA who live in that area have told me they would have loved to have a private K-12 school in their neighborhood where they could have sent their children. What concerns so many individuals who love Linda Vista Elementary School, which still operates today, is that the property this school is on is now very valuable. And once the financial props began to wobble under the Newbury Park project, some in the conference administration began the drum roll to sell Linda Vista Elementary. If it were not for the faithful stewardship of members who love this school and have the good of all the children in their hearts, this great school would have long been gone. However, there are those who feel that while it has taken time to "get their ducks in a row," that the day may come, sooner than later, that Linda Vista's property will be used as a bargaining chip to bail out the financial ponzi scheme of the Newbury Park project. It never ceases to amaze me how the church can grab defeat out of the jaws of victory! It is the law of unintended consequences at work. And this is why so many of the people I went to school with want nothing to do with the SDA church, not only financially, but spiritually as well. While the church can talk about "unity" as the watchword for denying women the right to serve equally, it is a strange comparison that years ago, when there could have been a spirit of unity that provided long-term educational opportunities for years to come in one of the fastest growing counties in California, it was the denominational workers, themselves, who were the most divisive in their actions by putting their singular wants and desires above the county as a whole.

Your Friend - Sat, 10/29/2011 - 14:43

If the stories recounted by Dorothy are true, and I have no reason to doubt them, someone should be held accountable for losses and poor judgment. Not only that, there needs to be a system which insures transparency to intended and actual transactions. The clergy should stick to theology and allow dedicated SDAS who are businessmen to be closely involved in business transactions.

"While the church can talk about "unity" as the watchword for denying women the right to serve equally,.."
This crack diminishes some of the clout her statements could have since it is totally unrelated to the subject under discussion.

Fictitious - Sat, 10/29/2011 - 16:03

@ Your Friend

You wrote...The clergy should stick to theology and allow dedicated SDAS who are businessmen to be closely involved in business transactions.

If I am not mistaken the picture at the head of this blog entry is of a developer named Dave Fillips of Ridgewood Assoc. A better question than the "old saw" of pastors don't know up from down in business would be who and why was this developement firm retained when obviously they have run the "car" in the ditch as well. So much for leaving business to the business men.

The larger questions still remains; how can this much property be sold and an indebtedness of this amount still be accrued.

If Dorothy is to be believed her father, a pastor, along with others had a viable solution for a county wide Christian education program.

Bert - Mon, 11/14/2011 - 22:49

Vote up!
1
Vote down!
0
SO WHEN WILL THE SOUTH PACIFIC DIVISION PRACTICE WHAT THEY PREACH?

At their just concluded session, they voted, according to their press release below, to have transparency and openness in financial and other leadership matters. Yet they continue to hide and lie about what has taken place regarding their dealings putting at risk up to $69 million with a financially trouble and ethically challenged 'Adventist' developer when all along they have said their dealings are all risk free.

Among many troubling aspects of their dealings, when the developer's companies were insolvent and they knew it they continued dealing with the developer through another company the developer set up under his son's name.

The SPD leadership has hidden and denied their embeddedness and unhealthy alliance and continue to do so.

If they have any integrity they will not only promote this PR report but will take action and show openness and transparency to the church members.

Until then some of us choose to withhold tithes and offerings. If they can say that $69 million of potential losses is no big deal then they don't need our money or our trust.

The latest PR statement and media release from the Division's Record:

""Open communication lies at the core of effective governance, Paul Douglas told delegates at Seventh-day Adventist world church headquarters during the Annual Council business meetings.

Douglas, who directs the church's auditing service, is among church financial officers continuing their call for increased transparency and accountability among Adventist leadership worldwide.

"As a Christian organisation, there is a greater expectation for each person—but particularly leaders—to demonstrate exemplary behavior in financial matters, ensuring that they conform to Biblical principles, legal parameters, professional standards and denominational policies," Douglas said.

Douglas and world church Treasurer Robert E. Lemon first presented a collaborative document called "Transparency and Accountability in Financial Reporting" earlier this year. Yesterday, Annual Council delegates took the next step to promote and model its framework back home by voting to receive the document.

The document encourages church officials worldwide to foster a better culture of leadership, outlining what it calls the "credibility cycle." Accountable leadership and transparent auditing builds greater trust among all church stakeholders. Practically, it means members feel confident returning tithes and offerings because they see that funds are handled judiciously.

The document is the product of a taskforce comprised of Lemon, Douglas, North America Division Treasurer Tom Evans and Robyn W. Kajiura, associate director for the world church auditing service. Initially, the document responded directly to then unresolved audit findings. It's now meant to apply broadly to the Adventist Church's organizational culture.

"Transparency and accountability encompasses much more than just financial activities," said Adventist President Ted Wilson. The document includes a message from the world church leader, calling for a "high level of integrity" to inspire "confidence in leadership."

Also included in the document are thoughts from world church Secretary G. T. Ng, who said "transparency must remain the default position of the Seventh-day Adventist Church."

At Adventist business meetings earlier this year, church financial officials asked delegates to suggest ways leadership worldwide can foster an environment of transparency. Their ideas are listed in the document delegates reviewed October 12.

"Set a personal example," one delegate said. "Ensure openness," another said. "Diminish the risk of people being afraid to talk just because of organisational structure or lack of communication channels."

Many delegates called for increased leadership training, underscoring the idea that leaders should be "stewards" of their positions.

"We need to change the culture and the way we do business," one said. "We cannot assume that those who are spiritual are also ethical and moral. There needs to be proper training."

The document is set for distribution in each of the church's 13 world divisions, where it can be translated in local languages, Lemon said.

"We intended to make the document similar in size to the Bible study guide, so you'll review it every day," Douglas said.

Currently, the document is undergoing a final revision to include suggestions from delegates. It will be available in January, Douglas said.