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Two NPUC Conferences act unilaterally on commissioning

In separate votes in October 2015, Washington and Oregon Conference executive committees exceeded their authority. Both approved policies that inflate the commissioned minister credential to practical equivalency with the ordained minister credential in their territories. And yet, on July 8, 2015, in San Antonio, Texas, the General Conference session of the Seventh-day Adventist Church voted NOT to permit regional ordination of women. The intent of that vote was that each section of the church NOT go its own way. Oregon and Washington Conferences are acting independently. The voted actions these conferences have taken is simply congregationalism at the level of the conference. These administrations and their executive committees are creating a spirit of disunity.
The policies adopted explicitly contradict the Church Manual. For example,

  • The new policies permit commissioned ministers to organize churches. This responsibility is limited to ordained ministers only (Church Manual, page 37).
  • The new policies permit commissioned ministers to unite churches. This responsibility is limited to ordained ministers only (Church Manual, page 40).
  • The new policies permit commissioned ministers to ordain local elders. However, this responsibility is limited to ordained ministers only (Church Manual, page 72).

(For the Washington policy, see here. For the Oregon policy, see here.)
Will these Conference administrations be pleased if local churches also pick and choose for themselves which parts of the Church Manual they comply with?
The voted action of the Washington Conference policy even directs “That both commissioned and ordained pastors be allowed to serve in any position of the Washington Conference including conference president” (See Washington Conference Policy). But the world church requires that conference presidents, who stand “at the head of the gospel ministry in the conference,” be “ordained pastor[s] of experience” (Church Manual, page 32). “Ordained pastor” in the Adventist Church always means a spiritually-qualified male. The Seventh-day Adventist Church has long maintained its practice in harmony with Scripture, recognizing only persons meeting this specification as called to positions standing at the leadership, or “head” of the work.
The Oregon Conference voted its policy in October and has yet to publish this action to its membership in print.
It is highly inappropriate for Conferences to adopt policies which explicitly contradict the Church Manual and the approved policies of the world church. Such action will almost certainly be perceived by broader church membership as divisive. No local conference has authority to create policies and practices contradicting the Church Manual or the General Conference Working Policy.

35 replies on “Two NPUC Conferences act unilaterally on commissioning”

Part of the work that is needful for this time—and which CAP is doing—is to inform rank and file church membership of actions which breach unity, and to equip them with concrete reference to Seventh-day Adventist Church reference materials they can investigate for themselves. With factual knowledge at the church member’s disposal, the member may contact church leaders to effect change or replace said leaders in duly called constituency meetings. Our interest is in truth and in unity, neither of which are possible in stand-alone form. Jesus calls us to be firmly for Him and not be worn down by the cultural tide or by any sense of disempowerment or futility or inevitability. The gates of hell shall not prevail against God’s will.

To Admin,
I really appreciate what you are doing and the stand you are taking on this topic. If it wasn’t for this format and others I would have never known that this was going on. Please keep up the flow of information and the ability to respond. You, the staff of OT are invaluable to us out here in the trenches!
Blessings to all of you!
Joe

While I am not surprised, still I am disappointed. The sad thing is that they did it in silence as though trying to get by with their decision. The Oregon conference did something similar during the rise in the celebration movement. They were sending people to Willow Creek for training while most pew sitters were unaware of it. When word finally got out, those who were whistle blowers were severely rebuked. In fact when the whistle blowers were caught video taping the celebration services, conference leaders called the police to have them removed.
The point is that if anything is done it should be done in the open, not in secret. This tells a whole story in and of itself. If it were honest it wouldn’t need to be hidden. One has to wonder how many other practices are being done and hidden from the general populace.

Exactly. As long as the General Conference leadership delays its response, this will continue to grow like the cancer it is.

I have visited most of the Washington and Oregon “SDA” churches. The blasphemy is rampant. The leadership has twisted, smeared, and butchered God’s laws and His Spirit of Prophecy. It is creeping into the Alaska churches where I live too. It won’t be long….

It really is flourishing unchecked. When I was in part of that area, anyone standing up for truths that cut against other peoples agenda live under threat of persecution. And it is allowed as long as it is within hidden rules defined by culturally acceptable boundaries. They completely disregard Matthew 18:15-17. Social persecution is common as gossip is acceptable and people use it to surmise evil or hide it through innuendo. They can claim motive, intent, or sentiment as justification for their gossip and any other open sin that is allowed. They believe that the Holy Spirit is telling them to do such things, and that because it is the Holy Spirit their actions are above question. They also redefine scripture based upon the motive, intent, and sentiment that they feel. It is impossible to have a reasonable discussion with that, and as I’ve mentioned disagreeing with them makes you a target for their open sin.

When this whole issue started the WA Conference said that the Pastors from the Conference were going to have a two day study. I was told about the study but no answer was ever given to what they came up with.
Now the WA Conference is Commissioning to the same level as Ordained. I guess I can conclude the answer they arrived at.
If I say something I am considered a malcontent and being divisive. I’m called a conspiracy theorist for suggesting that people are working behind the curtain to make this happen.
Present Truth is frowned upon and speaking up is not going to get you any friends. As I was told one time “we don’t want to rock the boat”. That we don’t want to get people afraid and fearful.
I’m the odd duck in the crowd and that affects my ability in blending with the flock. Last Sabbath my wife and I had a home meeting and it was great but we miss the church body.
I will not compromise what I know is Biblical. If I stand alone I stand alone. At some point I will have to ask the Conference President to explain to me where I am going wrong. I think if more people did just that they might start thinking.
Maybe if a group of people got together and asked the same question at a group meeting they might realize that not everyone in the flock is deaf, dumb and blind to what is going on.
Happy Sabbath everyone,
Joe

Brother Joe, Hang in there and may the LORD give you the courage and grace to stand for him. Frankly I do not think these leaders with change course until the treasury dries up. How can we support this open rebellion with our tithes. We are back to the days of the Judges, when everyone did what was right in his own eyes. The GC as a body is not responding to this open rebellion and therefore the cancer will continue to spread. I have had enough with Ted Wilson’s pastoral appeals. This is the time for action and if conferences will split from the world church, so be it, for the true church of GOD will ultimately triumph. Amen.

Michael,
Thank you for those words of encouragement. The question of Tithing is what I am grappling with now. The question is not to but where to send it. For now I will continue to send it to the Conference until I am led otherwise. I am for us staying in the Church because of Scripture and SOP. But it is hard when so much is going on and the Spirit of Apathy is rampent. Pastors and Elders do not want to rock the boat. I think right now we are having a Titanic moment. The iceberg has been hit and we are continuing to sail on oblivious to what is truly happening below the decks.
Stay Calm and Carry On!
Joe

That is an interesting analogy to the Titanic. That sounds right. I believe you are correct that we should tithe to the official SDA church.
You probably already know this but I thought I’d mention it anyways. Tithe has to do with our net increase. Which is to say we are only required to tithe on the net and not the gross. If we grew grain then our gross profit is the entire harvest, and the net profit is what is left over after subtracting the seeds we planted, the seeds we ate during that time, the cost of the farming tools, wear and tear on our house (depreciation), the cost of consumable household items, the cost of the land, government taxes, investments in education.
If you’re not doing that already then tithing based on that “correct” accounting method would leave a lot more left over to donate funding elsewhere.

I think when Christ paid the tribute (temple tax) Matthew 17:24-27, is an example for us. His people in His day were in rebellion against Him, as His people are today. Matthew 21:12,13 tells you what it was like; you also need to remember His leadership, the priests and Pharisees were the ones who put Him to death, and made their own rules. Yet Jesus paid His and Peter’s tribute. I have to answer for what God has asked me to do, what happens to it is not my responsibility, I did what God asked of me. One day these who collect it and use it, will have to answer to God how they used it, not me.
In Malachi 3:6-10 when Israel had rejected God and went their own way, God put a curse on those who didn’t pay their tithe into His storehouse. But when they did what God asked, they got God’s blessings.

Greetings Donmc,
I was not saying not to pay Tithe but to send it to a conference that is not in rebellion. I understand what you are saying and I agree that we should continue to follow Scripture. The question that I am asking myself is if I know that the storehouse walls are rotten and I see a storehouse that has solid sturdy walls do I put the tithe into that storehouse?? If you look at 3rd sentence I am not advocating stopping Tithe. God will always get my Tithe and Offerings.
Have a great night,
Joe

Joe, I had thought along the same lines as you a while back. After researching I found that the policy of the church is as follows: If you send your tithe to a conference (anywhere in the world) other than the one you live in, that conference is required to send the funds back to the conference office where you live. So you might want to reconsider, as you may end up simply wasting your effort.

I am in the northern Puget Sound area. I am planning on printing this up and sharing it with people at church. I know I’ll get unwarranted feedback and have to deal with false arguments. Of course the reply to the accusation of being a malcontent and being divisive is that is actually what they are doing and what we are resisting. There is a blessing in this work even though it is disagreeable. And this is an opportunity to see the character of the churches I visit. There is one I specifically avoid because I brought up a clear cut example of them ignoring the Church Manual and they persecuted me very harshly for no justifiable reason other than imagined falsehoods.
I wouldn’t say that the conference executive committee is doing what it is doing because they think we are deaf, dumb, and blind. Their action is wrong and that is all that needs to be said. There is no need to provoke someone’s emotions unnecessarily. Their action is wrong and that is all that matters. We can judge actions of members in light of His Word, but let God judge the mind and heart.

Brian,
Well said and I hope that as you pass out these flyers people will be impressed by the Holy Spirit to actually read and digest what your intentions are. God knows the hearts and minds of those that are in the CEC. It is for Him to decide what happens not us. But if we see something that is contrary to God’s Word we need to speak.
Blessings,
Joe

Thank you for the encouragement. However I don’t see where in The Bible that the Holy Spirit communicates to us the intention of others.

There are occasions that He did although nonetheless, great caution must be exercised in what we believe to be His warnings.
Ananias and Saphira are one example.

Thank you, but Peter was a prophet. He displayed evidence of his accusation through the power of God to everyone present. I should have been more clear, but I’ve thought about this a lot and I figured it was obvious my question wouldn’t include a prophet.

The Word certainly cautions us to be aware of the intentions of other, and their intentions are made known by their actions; a tree is known by its fruit.

I meant the word “intention” meaning what my ultimate aim was in handing out the flyers. The ultimate aim could be both bad and good. Although the act of simply handing out flyers is indeed revealing a short term aim, and in this case it does reveal that intention. But there can be intention beyond that, which people can surmise upon.
On second thought, Joe may not have meant the word “intention” in the same way I understood it.

Mal 3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
What we may need to do is for those who fear God and still believe in this message to set and organize new efforts and establish new churches and out vote the rebels. It may be time to work rather than complain. Focus on getting the message and books out to the people. Our message has takers. Just give it clearly and quickly. Put God’s money into good literature like the complete Great Controversy and scatter it like the leaves of Autumn. Let us get to work. Not everyone is going to heaven folks. Let us give the others who have never had opportunity to hear this truth a chance. Ink on Paper!!

Do this mean that there is no longer a need for the General Conference Sessions? What happened to the unity of the brethren? While we see these things taking place let’s not get discouraged nor distracted. God still rules.

This is what you call outright Apostasy, and Treason.
Congregationalism, is a system of beliefs and church government of a Protestant denomination in which each member church is self-governing.
Since when?
There was a fair and open process, that consisted of two thousands five hundred “Delegates” that came together, from around the world and voted, on a set of World-Wide working ploicies, under the “Government” of a world church that operate in accordance with “IT IS WRITTEN”.
Well enough of beating around the bush! The Evidence speaks for itself, as “GOD” have pointed out how Satn operates, and it’s like the church hasn’t been warn, because it is written:
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Acts 20: 28 – 30
…… and so it is that has come into the World Church, and it’s time to stand up Mr. President Ted N. C. Wilson, for your ship is raging!

I have a question to pastors.
If you see that mind of a person is twisted and his words and acts motivated by another spirit, and if he was your brother in Christ once but now you’ve totally lost connection with each other in things related to God’s will, then what would you do in this situation?
In another word, If there is no spiritual unity between both if you, what should you do as the Bible teaching follower?
Thank you.

“Can nothing be devised to arouse presidents of Conferences to a sense of their obligations? Would they could see that their position of trust only increases and intensifies their responsibility. If each president would feel the necessity of diligent improvement of his talents in devising ways and means for arousing ministers to work as they should, what a change would take place in every Conference. Do these men realize that the solemn scrutiny of every man’s work is soon to begin in heaven? When the Master went away, He gave to every man in every age and in every generation, His work; and He says to us all, ‘Occupy till I come.’ Have ministers thought how much is comprehended in these words? Verily there may be but a step between them and death. How stands the record of sacred trusts committed for wise improvement? Misused talents, wasted hours, neglected opportunities, duties left undone, sickly churches, the flock of God not strengthened by having their portion of meat in due season.”—Appeal and Suggestions to Conference Officers (Ph 2) 20, 21

I am reading two things here. There is DECEPTION practiced in an effort to introduce and institutionalize rebellion and non scripture based based by LEADERS in the two conferences. Secondly, there is neither the requisite remonstrance nor the will to address it on the part of the GC executive. The question then arises, do we have a lawless leadership? Yes we do. Do we have a complicit GC leadership? Yes we do until they prove otherwise. What is our duty? If we have no mechanism for dealing with errant church leadership, we are in a pickle indeed. Of course we can always boycott and we should, all services conducted by rebels against God and His word be they male or female. We are not duty bound to finance or support rebellion. What do we do with the tithes and offerings? That is not the question. You do not close a business because of a pilfering employee. You fire them. The correct question is why is the GC quiet?

I am reading two things here. There is DECEPTION practiced in an effort to introduce and institutionalize rebellion and non scripture based practices by LEADERS in the two conferences. Secondly, there is neither the requisite remonstrance nor the will to address it on the part of the GC executive. The question then arises, do we have a lawless leadership? Yes we do. Do we have a complicit GC leadership? Yes we do until they prove otherwise. What is our duty? If we have no mechanism for dealing with errant church leadership, we are in a pickle indeed. Of course we can always boycott and we should, all services conducted by rebels against God and His word be they male or female. We are not duty bound to finance or support rebellion. What do we do with the tithes and offerings? That is not the question. You do not close a business because of a pilfering employee. You fire them. The correct question is why is the GC quiet?

The idea behind creating this confusion is to create paralysis so that the message we have to give is garbled or stopped altogether. So, instead of focusing on church structure, let us focus on giving the message. There are new Adventists out there waiting to be part of this truth. We have the Books; print and give them out. We will soon be unable to do even that. I still say, INK ON PAPER! let us get to it.

to every church God has a message
Revelation 2:1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;
2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.
5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
God has a message to every church…..even to this conference he has a message
Let him who has an ear hear what the Spirit says

It is clear to me that the leadership of any institution can easily abuse their position unless checked. Organizations can be infiltrated and sabotaged. Satan would be unlike himself not to infiltrate and abuse our high offices and challenge the clear instructions of God. He does that for a living. We need a mechanism put in place for members to call urgent sessions and business meetings to fire ministers who are clearly unrepresentative of God and His word and who demonstrate a mischievous attempt to alter us as a people into enemies of God and His clear instructions. Such ministers deserve neither our time nor money. We are treasonous when we tolerate abominations and abominable spiritual psychosis in LEADERSHIP. As church members such critically ill minds can be tolerated but NEVER should they see another day in leadership. The People in the two conferences need to wake up and take responsibility for the work there or risk the loss of their souls. They must remember that if the blind lead the blind both will fall into the ditch. God is not going to strive forever. He will leave them to their nonsense but NEVER admit them into His kingdom and He will NEVER have a verbal argument about the rights of sinners. He is not mad. His high and Holy Person is too elevated for such rubbish. Satan knows that only too well. He knows God.

I meant my post to be a response to this one. You may also want to watch SDA Pastor Kevin Paulson make a comment on a topic that overlaps a lot with what you’re talking about. I have seen him in a number of videos in the last year or so and he is extremely knowledgable and speaks clearly on the topic of the Church Manual. He is a source of never ending spiritual food on this topic in a time and place where there is famine.
http://ordinationtruth.com/2014/08/22/church-policy-and-wo/
He is also a panel member in a few of the videos in the playlist of the following link. Watch the ones where they hold a panel discussion, and I think he is featured in one of the videos as the main speaker. He also has a lot to say about how
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIWJyuxBfZ7gkyyDP16nt06W5Rp02PZQJ

Yes, leaders need to start being removed and disfellowshipped so that others will fear. And so the ones sitting on the fence will no longer do so. We have such a mechanism, it’s called the Church Manual. Unfortunately the manual is almost universally considered a guideline, although what I have found is that the people who have said that have never even bothered to really read it ,if at all. The answer to their claim is very simple and is from page 18 of the manual:
The Church Manual is divided into two types of material. The content of each chapter is of worldwide value and is applicable to every church organization, congregation, and member. Recognizing the need for variations in some sections, additional explanatory material, presented as guidance and examples, appears as notes at the end of the Church Manual. The notes have subheadings corresponding to chapter subheadings and page numbers of the main text.
That quote is useful for a number of false claims people make regarding the manual.
There is a process for discipline, and not even the GC president is above the manual. Chapter 7 is a good place to start, but being familiar with chapter 1-3 is also important when it comes to discussing the manual with other people and avoiding an endless debate. Plus it has some great quotes from Ellen White on the importance of rules and order and how the people who write the manual have been given authority by God.
I find a lot of similarities between the rebuilding of the wall in Nehemiah and the church manual.

For all the demonic shenanigans that go on in this great movement, that is the feminist and gay activism that is striving to take front and center, it is very reassuring and humbling to meet sweet simple good old fashioned sound minded true to the message and committed Seventh Day Adventist ministers and office workers with not a whiff of apostate progressive liberalism around them or duplicity; just good old fashioned Christ like spiritual integrity mixed with a genuine humanity wafting in those offices. So encouraging. Move around and mix and you will thank God for a worldwide movement and church. Anything that makes us less than a global movement is tangential. We can indeed continue to believe in this cause and church. It needs our loyalty more than ever. May God who is true keep us true, grace filled and gracious at such a testing time,

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