General Conference Bulletin, vol. 3

THE IMPORTANCE OF REPORTING

L. A. HOOPES

IT seems necessary from time to time to call the attention of our people to the importance of reporting. Reporting may seem of small consequence; but there is much that depends upon faithfulness in this matter. If reports were not necessary, there would be no difficulty along this line. It is not egotism to report what has been faithfully performed; neither is there much danger of the left hand finding out what the right does from the meager reports required to give a necessarily intelligent understanding of the work. GCB January 1, 1900, page 115.4

Reports are absolutely essential to the successful management of the work along all lines; hence a neglect on the part of any one to report is but hindering the progress of the work to just that degree. There is a great deal more value in any report than many imagine, and reports are of more value in the dissemination of the third angel’s message than many are aware of. By having access to carefully prepared statistics, the managers are enabled to enlist a far greater number of laborers, and to more successfully work a certain territory. This applies with equal force to the financial management. Those who have to do with the finances, and making settlement with laborers, are dependent on the reports of the laborers. GCB January 1, 1900, page 115.5

Reporting is an important part of the work, and should not be neglected and crowded out by anything of less importance. There is therefore no excuse for not reporting, or even delaying any great length of time. GCB January 1, 1900, page 115.6

To be more specific, the General Conference is supposed to keep the statistics of the denomination, and the only way it has to obtain them is by sending out to the various secretaries for reports. Even then the General Conference would not be able to obtain the reports unless the local clerks and individuals are faithful in reporting to the State secretaries. An effort has been made to have the report blanks very much simplified, so that the information that the State secretary has at hand may be compiled in a very short time. GCB January 1, 1900, page 115.7

There are four kinds of reports needed in the make-up of the general statistics and other work of the General Conference, viz.: 1, A general directory of conferences, mission fields, and institutions; this should be furnished twice each year; 2, a general summary of statistics once each quarter; 3, a list of all the elders of churches, leaders of companies, and isolated Sabbath-keepers, besides the Sabbath-school superintendents, to be furnished once a year; and, 4, the labor reports of those in the employ of the General Conference. GCB January 1, 1900, page 115.8

Under the first head, the State or mission field secretary or secretary of institutions should have on hand a complete directory of their own boards and laborers, with the addresses of all the persons named in their directory. A regular list should be kept where all changes of addresses may be noted. Any change in the make-up of boards or committees, or any additions or dismissals of laborers, should be carefully noted at the time they are made, so that when the general report is called for, the secretary will have a corrected, up-to-date directory to furnish. GCB January 1, 1900, page 115.9

Under the general summary of conferences or mission fields, the secretary can very quickly compile a summary from what he has on hand. The financial item, giving the amount of tithe received during the preceding quarter, can, in the majority of cases, be obtained from the State treasurer within two days, and should be furnished within one day if the treasurer is in the same place as the secretary. The amount of tithes received between the first and last days of each quarter can be reckoned up in a very few minutes. GCB January 1, 1900, page 115.10

Regarding the third item, we would say that it is very essential that the General Conference should have the addresses of all the elders of churches, leaders of companies, superintendents of Sabbath-schools, and the names and addresses of isolated Sabbath-keepers, so that there may be an opportunity for the general management to speak to our people simultaneously, and thereby secure as concerted action as possible. It frequently occurs that there are things which need to be said to our churches, which could not be put in public prints having exchanges with secular papers. GCB January 1, 1900, page 116.1

The fourth item pertains to the reports of laborers. It would seem that it is not necessary to say anything on this point. What may be said of the General Conference laborers applies with equal force to all others who are remunerated from a general fund. It may be true that the management has a pretty good understanding of how some of the laborers have done their work; yet there may be many others who are further away, concerning whose work they have but a meager idea, save only through letters which may come very infrequently. But why should the management be left to guess at the amount of time, the amount of donations, the expenses, or the kind of work and its apparent results, in one case more than in another? Why should a report be delayed for weeks and months and even a year after it is due? There can be no excuse for this; for reporting is a part of the work of the laborer. Whenever he receives money, either from the management or from donations to the cause, he ought to be able to, and should, give an account of it at the proper time. He likewise should be able to give an itemized statement of all expenditures. If he has put in no time, he should so report, that the management may know just how the matter stands. Suppose the neglect should come from the other side; if the management should neglect to respond to the call for remuneration, and that, too, on the ground of having received no report, it would work a hardship in some cases. GCB January 1, 1900, page 116.2

It is the sincere hope of the General Conference that all who have to do with the matter of reporting will be prompt. GCB January 1, 1900, page 116.3