Bert Beach—1977
Statement regarding the papal visit and the medallion.
In May of 1977, there was a meeting of Christian World
Communions held in Rome. This conference is not an organization in which
one has membership, with a constitution and dues, et cetera; but it is simply
an informal forum that meets in order to discuss issues of mutual interest.
In connection with the conference, there was a meeting
with the pope. Dr. Beach was one of fifteen people who attended this meeting.
The other fourteen were non-Adventists. This was not a meeting of our church
with the pope but simply a meeting of the participants in the conference
with the pope. It was felt that it was of interest to meet with the man
who is the religious leader of some 700 million people around the world
and head of the Vatican and a person with great world influence. At that
time, Dr. Beach was the religious liberty director for Northern Europe and
West Africa, and he felt that this meeting would be of PR and religious
liberty interest to our church. In connection with the meeting, he gave
the pope one of our missionary books, which gives a pictorial presentation
of our work around the world and at the same time also presents some of
our beliefs. In addition, he gave him one of the medallions that were available
in the office and that were given from time to time to statesmen or other
significant world figures.
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