While acknowledging that local conferences of the Seventh-day Adventist church have a duty to protect the pulpits of the churches under their administration, we the undersigned affirm that the Seventh-day Adventist church is a world-wide movement and not a loose association of like-minded local conferences. For this reason, all ordained Seventh-day Adventist ministers are presumptively fit to preach from any Adventist pulpit in the world and local leaders who wish to exclude any such ministers from preaching in their churches must only do so by providing thoughtful reasons, supported by cogent, credible, and persuasive evidence, to support their claim that such a minister will harm the unity or mission of the local churches if permitted to preach from their pulpits. We the undersigned further affirm that Biblical unity is not built on the exercise of power but on trust and persuasion. For this reason, lack of transparency from church leadership causes greater harm to unity in the church than inadequate guarding of the pulpit since lack of transparency from church leadership opens the door to the possibility of church office being used to advance private agendas. While the devil has always worked covertly to advance his schemes, Christ has always worked and taught openly and has thus given the perfect pattern for true servant leadership. Finally, we the undersigned affirm that although we may all have different roles in the church, we are all fundamentally equal in Christ as a priesthood of all believers and no governing body is authorized by Scripture to make decisions about who is or is not fit to preach from Adventist pulpits without carefully explaining their reasons, subject to legitimate privacy concerns.
6 Comments
Leadership is not Lordship—No man is ever to set himself up as a ruler, as a Lord over his fellowmen, to act out his natural impulses. No one man's voice and influence should ever be allowed to become a controlling power.... ChL 33.2
Nellie Johnson
I am truly glad for brothers and sisters who have the Holy Spirit gift of discerning the enemy's hand in God's matter. Leaders in God's Remnant church need to follow the example the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior and Redeemer, and walk in the light of His grace. Be humble! Don't lord your leadership over the church! Jesus is our Leader! Individuals who displays pharisaic behavior are setting themselves up for a fall. Our Lord Jesus is not please with our behavior as brethren. "Come let us reason together" and be transparent for in God's kingdom there is no sin. We should be one in the Lord and not divided. 1 Corinthains 1:10 "I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought."
Hope this issue can be resolved soon
I would also like to add how the church lacks support for the youth. We don’t have funds and any youth outreach. We have bowling nights funds but none for youth bible study funds. I used to have a bible study for young people but because i did not receive any support, and funds for food and for activities, i stopped my bible study. I really hope that the church will support us more because we are the future leaders of this church.
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While acknowledging that local conferences of the Seventh-day Adventist church have a duty to protect the pulpits of the churches under their administration, we the undersigned affirm that the Seventh-day Adventist church is a world-wide movement and not a loose association of like-minded local conferences. For this reason, all ordained Seventh-day Adventist ministers are presumptively fit to preach from any Adventist pulpit in the world and local leaders who wish to exclude any such ministers from preaching in their churches must only do so by providing thoughtful reasons, supported by cogent, credible, and persuasive evidence, to support their claim that such a minister will harm the unity or mission of the local churches if permitted to preach from their pulpits. We the undersigned further affirm that Biblical unity is not built on the exercise of power but on trust and persuasion. For this reason, lack of transparency from church leadership causes greater harm to unity in the church than inadequate guarding of the pulpit since lack of transparency from church leadership opens the door to the possibility of church office being used to advance private agendas. While the devil has always worked covertly to advance his schemes, Christ has always worked and taught openly and has thus given the perfect pattern for true servant leadership. Finally, we the undersigned affirm that although we may all have different roles in the church, we are all fundamentally equal in Christ as a priesthood of all believers and no governing body is authorized by Scripture to make decisions about who is or is not fit to preach from Adventist pulpits without carefully explaining their reasons, subject to legitimate privacy concerns.
6 Comments
The high - handed power that has been developed, as though positions had made men gods, makes me afraid, and ought to cause fear. It is a curse wherever, and by whomsoever it is exercised. This lording it over God's heritage will create such a disgust of man's jurisdiction that a state of insubordination will result. The people are learning that men in high positions of responsibility cannot be trusted to mold and fashion other men's minds and characters. The result will be a loss of confidence even in the management of faithful men.... ChL 31.2
Leadership is not Lordship—No man is ever to set himself up as a ruler, as a Lord over his fellowmen, to act out his natural impulses. No one man's voice and influence should ever be allowed to become a controlling power.... ChL 33.2
Nellie Johnson
I am truly glad for brothers and sisters who have the Holy Spirit gift of discerning the enemy's hand in God's matter. Leaders in God's Remnant church need to follow the example the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior and Redeemer, and walk in the light of His grace. Be humble! Don't lord your leadership over the church! Jesus is our Leader! Individuals who displays pharisaic behavior are setting themselves up for a fall. Our Lord Jesus is not please with our behavior as brethren. "Come let us reason together" and be transparent for in God's kingdom there is no sin. We should be one in the Lord and not divided. 1 Corinthains 1:10 "I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought."
Hope this issue can be resolved soon
I would also like to add how the church lacks support for the youth. We don’t have funds and any youth outreach. We have bowling nights funds but none for youth bible study funds. I used to have a bible study for young people but because i did not receive any support, and funds for food and for activities, i stopped my bible study. I really hope that the church will support us more because we are the future leaders of this church.
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The high - handed power that has been developed, as though positions had made men gods, makes me afraid, and ought to cause fear. It is a curse wherever, and by whomsoever it is exercised. This lording it over God's heritage will create such a disgust of man's jurisdiction that a state of insubordination will result. The people are learning that men in high positions of responsibility cannot be trusted to mold and fashion other men's minds and characters. The result will be a loss of confidence even in the management of faithful men.... ChL 31.2