Pro and Cdn Ellen "White and Refonnation History
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Black Unions: Pro and CDn Ellen "White and Refonnation History \ A Quarterly Journal of the Association of Adventist Forums I I ,- i I SPECTRUM EDITOR Gary Land Eric'Anderson Margaret McFarland History History Urban Planner Roy Branson Andrews. University Pacific Union College Toledo, Ohio RobertaJ. Moore Raymond Cottrell La Vonne Neff EXECUTIVE EDITOR Journalism Theology Author Richard Emmerson Lorna Linda University Lorna Linda, California College Place, Washington Charles Scriven' Helen Evans Ronald Numbers EDITORIAL BOARD Theology Academic Dean History of Medicine Graduate Theological Union Southwestern Adventist College University of Wisconsin Roy Branson Ethics, Kennedy InstitUte Ottilie Stafford Judith Folkenberg Melvin K: H. Peter> Georgetown: University English Researcher Old Testament Atlantic Union College Washington, D.C. Cleveland State University Molleurus Couperus Physician Lawrence Geraty Edward E. Robinson Angwin, California EDITORIAL Old Testament Attorney SDA Theological Seminary Chicago, Illinois TomDybdahl ASSISTANT Journalism Nola-Jean Bamberry Frit~Guy Gerhard Svrcek-Seiler United States Congress Theology Psychiatrist SDA Theological Seminary Vienna, Austria 'IDchard Emmerson English CONSULTING Jorgen Henrikson BettyStirllng Walla Walla College EDITORS . Artist Board of Higher Education Boston, Massachusetts General Conference of SD A Alvin L. Kwiram Kjeld Andersen CheriUstry Physician EriC A. Magnusson L. E. Trader Univ~rsity ofWashington Lystrup, Denmark President Education Avondale College, Australia Marienhoehe Gymnasium, W. Germany Asscx:iation ofAdventist Fonuns EXECUTIVE Of Finance Systems Manager Columbia RonaldD. Cople Don McNeill Charles Bensonhaver COMMITTEE Business Computer Programmer Psychiatry President Silver Spring, Mar)'land Washington, D.C. Kettering Medical Center GlennE.Coe Of International Affairs Treasurer Lake State's Attorney Molleurus Couperus Richard C. Osborn' Walter Douglas West Hartford, ConnecticUt Physician History Church History Vice President Angwin, California University of Maryland SDA Theological Seminary .Leslie H. Pitton,Jr. Of National Programs North Pacific Youth Director . Danielle Wuchenich REGIONAL Lanny Fisk Central Union ofSDA Attorney REPRESENTATIVES Biology Executive Secretary Lorna Linda, California Walla Walla College Lindrey Niles Atlantic Of Promotion Richard Lewis Southern Communications PatCople Rudy Bata Howard University Advertising' Engineer Boston, Massachusetts Attorney U.S. Air Force Rocky Mount, North Carolina DIRECTORS Central Pacific Charles Scriven' Southern Pacific Of Communications STAFF Theology Stan Aufdemberg' Viveca Black Legal Consultant Graduate Theological Union. 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"~ ~... =~.,...;i~=~£neeK:ciUa e:011HocmeAss.cietatlon:Of=A=elv.entist::F..o= mcome for purposes of taxatIon. TIiepu15: ···'©i97s:·'X.1Irights·reservec[· ......, ........... .... 2655'0'·· In This Issue ARTICLES Volume Nine, Number Three, Published July 1978 The Call for Black Unions Benjamin Reeves 2 Cultural Pluralism and Black Unions Calvin B. Rock 4 Ethical Implications of the Quest for Black Power Lorenzo Grant 13 Ellen White and Reformation Historians Eric Anderson 23 POETRY Confession, Latria Russell Stafford, Judy Miller 27 SPECIAL SECTION The Shaking of Adventism? 1. A View from the Outside Fritz Guy 28 II. Paxton's Misunderstanding of Adventism Herbert Douglass 31 III. The Truth of Paxton's Thesis Desmond Ford 37 IV. Paxton and the Reformers Hans LaRondelle 45 V. An Interview with Paxton Jonathan Butler 58 RESPONSES FROM READERS J. Knopper, B. Wickwire, 61 N. Mann, L. Tobler, A. Wellington About This Issue onsidering the stir analysis of reformation theology and finds C which The Shaking of Paxton's work to be weak, in important re Adventism has created within Adventist cir spects. cles, the title of Geoffrey Paxton's study of The controversy over righteousness by the Adventist theology of righteousness by faith is essentially a question of unity. Must faith may well be prophetic. The book has the church, as Paxton seems to argue, hold· quickly become the center of controversy. - ..-- one particular position, or may it allow some c Calling himself an "itinerant Babylonian," theological pluralism? Similarly, the discus Paxton has defended his ideas on a whirlwind sion of black unions is essentially one of uni tour of America. The strong recommenda ty. Calvin Rock argues that cultural , tion by General Conference officers not to pluralism is characteristic of American ethnic allow him to speak in Adventist institutions life in order to support his call for black f only heightened the controversy. This issue unions, "a practical, dignified way of address of SPECTRUM brings together four re ing serious logistical needs." In contrast, views of the book from a variety of view Lorenzo Grant promotes an alternative points along with an interview of its author. which would correct the present poor black The introductory review by Fritz Guy representation in the church while avoiding notes the lessons the church can learn from "group exclusivism." the book while pointing out some of its Also in this issue, Eric Anderson describes weaknesses. The other three reviews, all by the historical research of Donald McAdams writers who play prominent roles in The on Ellen White's sources for the Great Con Shaking ofAdventism, take varying positions. troversy. Arguing that McAdams' discoveries Herbert Douglass, while agreeing in part will ultimately become "the new or with some details, notes in the book several thodoxy," Anderson traces McAdams' sys erroneous historical and theological conclu tematic investigation of Ellen White's sions. Desmond Ford, on the other hand, sources on the English Reformation and John affirms Paxton's basic thesis and further Huss. The article raises important questions shows how the presentation of righteousness which our readers will wish to consider. by faith is in accordance with ~aulinet~e_()l- ·-ogy;-~H:ans:;t;iRorideHe~::e*a:mlfle·s:-=Pa*.t01l'..s .. _.. ____ . ___ .._._.c~_._._~_._._..... __._c .. _.. c_ .... ··,-.c.-~·~--4Fi~:cE:aitQt:s~·--····-· The Call for Black Unions by Benjamin Reeves , , T 0 God be the Glory" Commission to Study Regional Unions met . - these words ex- in the General Conference chapel. After pressed the emotions filling the hearts of over spending some fifteen hours together, the 400 black Seventh-day Adventist workers commission tabled a motion that the Church and their families as they gathered in the organize two new unions. Oakwood College church on March 24, Following the meeting, General Confer 1978. The occasion was the meeting of all ence officers prepared a document setting regional conference presidents and over 90 forth alternatives to black unions and pre percent of the workers of those conferences. sented it to the commission on April 16, In attendance as well were black union and 1970. During that meeting, after a twelve General Conference personnel. The central hour discussion, a motion to form regional concern was the clarification of questions unions was defeated by a vote of 41 to 28. concerning regional or black unions in the Following an appeal for church unity by E. Adventist Church. E. Cleveland, the alternative "Sixteen-Point As most of those present recognized, the Program" prepared by the General Confer issue of black unions has a long history. As ence officers was accepted in lieu of black long ago as April 7-9, 1969, a meeting of the unions. After one year, the commission was Regional Advisory Committee held in to be reconvened to further study and evalu Miami recommended that the