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his article is abridged from a presentation given by Robert H. Pierson, president of the General Conference, to the Annual Council after his announcement of retirement on October 16, 1978. It was published in its entirety in the Adventist Review, October 26, 1978.–Editors.
This will be the last time that in my present role I shall stand before the world leaders of my church, your church, our church, and I have a few words to leave with you.
I take my thoughts from something that Elder and Mrs. Ralph Neall wrote describing how a sect typically evolves into a church. They say a sect is often begun by a charismatic leader with tremendous drive and commitment and that it arises as a protest against worldliness and formalism in a church. It is generally embraced by the poor. The rich would lose too much by joining it, since it is unpopular, despised, and persecuted by society in general.