Caroyln R. Forrest, MSM, SPHR
Director of the Office of
Human Relations

MISSION STATEMENT
Keeping the Church in North America focused on mutuality (one anotherness) in mission.

VISION STATEMENT
Church members transformed into one new humanity in Christ, strengthened by love and peace.

VALUES STATEMENT
Looking only to Jesus as our model for people relations.

GOALS
The Office of Human Relations helps the Division to achieve its mission through four broad goals, identified by the acronym peace:

PROMOTING an atmosphere for member interaction and acceptance of individuals who are different from others on the basis of the Divine Image that has been stamped on every human being.
ELEVATING Fundamental Beliefs No. 13, Unity in the Body of Christ, to the rightful priority of a relational church.
ANTICIPATING and helping prevent tensions and misunderstandings that arise between employers and employees and between race, gender, and culture.
CREATING an environment of understanding, unity, and fellowship among all ethnic, cultural, national, and social groups that comprise the Adventist family.
ENSURING that all members are given full opportunity to use their gifts and skills in strengthening the Church.
More specifically, its strategies for goals accomplishment are expressed through objectives and activities broadly defined as follows:

WRITING AND PUBLISHING
(articles, manuscripts, chapters, and books on subjects relating to unity in diversity in Christ.)
INFORMATION AND RESOURCES
(commissions, committees, advisories, and consultant services)
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
(for surveys, census reporting, and testing strategies)
EDUCATION
(seminars, workshops, special projects, and promoting human relations policies and guidelines)

The Office of Human Relations Serves . . .
NAD LEADERSHIP AND STAFF, by keeping abreast of all equal opportunity-type governmental regulations, interpreting Federal laws and other human rights focused legislation; and drafting policies appropriate for the Church to keep the leaders and staff enlightened and continually working towards accomplishing the Church=s objective of oneness.
UNIONS AND CONFERENCES, by providing needs-driven resources and tools, seminars and workshops, interpretation of policies, and counseling on human relations issues to help leaders achieve unity and oneness in their assigned fields.
CHURCHES, INSTITUTIONS, AND PROFESSIONAL GROUPS, by providing workshops and seminars, promotions, presentations, policy interpretation, counseling, statistics, and membership data relative to the major ethnic groups of the Church.
LOCAL CHURCH MEMBERS, by providing a listening ear to problems when needed, interpreting dispute and reconciliation process, interpreting policies and processes, and providing information pertaining to the rights of individuals.