International Journal for Clergy March

Reconciling faith and reason RICHARD RICE/10 To ordain or not RUSSELL STAPLES/14

The small church advantage B. RUSSELL HOLT/18 Ministering through the gift of writing ELEANOR P. ANDERSON/21 Alcohol and the pregnant woman ELIZABETH STERNDALE/25 Religio Communism J. R. SPANGLER/4

Letters/2 • Editorials/23 • Health and Religion/25 • Computer Corner/27 • Biblio File/28 • ShopTalk/31 Letters

Computers for my education (considerably less than to "Does the Church Need a Loyal I really appreciated the article "Com some of my friends borrowed). This loan Opposition?" (May 1986). I am in a puters: What You Need to Know" is now being paid along with one that my parish that has great potential for growth (November 1986). Include more articles wife had taken out while she was in but also has a very vocal opposition. I of this type, won't you please, for us college. We owe money to some family need to know if they are out to help me or beginners?—Ronald R. Neall, Upatoi, members, we are making payments on a destroy me. Please send me that follow- Georgia. car, we've had major repairs on our other up editorial ("Identifying the Loyal car, and my wife has had some expensive Opposition," July 1986) and include me • Thanks again for the article on com medical tests. on your bimonthly subscription list.— puters.—Ted Struntz, Lincoln, I want to say that we are not Name withheld. Nebraska. compulsive users of the plastic card. Almost a year has gone by and we More prayers haven't used it at all. All in all, we have a Here is an addition to that thoughtful Not guilty debt of about $20,000. I don't know if prayer ("Books That Have Enriched My I found the article by Cathy McBride, that is an inordinate amount, relatively Devotional Life," November 1986)— "When Guilt Is Not From God" speaking, but I do know that trying to since it is designed to portray life as it (November 1986), stimulating and liquidate it while living on a pastor's really is: The fragmented body of the helpful. Thank you for regularly sending salary is very discouraging. Only a small aborted baby awaiting incineration with me MINISTRY.—Fred R. Manthey, Jr., problem can throw us into a major the clinic's garbage.—David F. Wilbur, Ph.D., Dunmore, Pennsylvania. financial crisis. What ideas do you St. Nicholas Congregation, Dacada, readers have for quickly getting out of Wisconsin. Hit target debt? We disagree in some areas, but the By the way, I really enjoy MINISTRY Drop MINISTRY article "Commitment Versus Career," magazine. Our conference sends it to us. Through my own studies and the by Rex D. Edwards (November 1986), It is the only magazine we receive, since teachings of my denomination, I believe was on target. Thank you!—Michael R. we can't afford a subscription to anything that the Seventh-day Adventist is a Proctor, Juneau, Alaska. else.—Name withheld. non-Christian cult. With that in mind I feel your literature has no place in our church. Please Getting out of debt on one salary? No nit-picking remove our church from your mailing I read an article on how a pastor and I have been receiving copies gratis and list.—L. Devon Aaron, Lincolnton, his family can make ends meet on one want you to know that I appreciate the Georgia. salary (May 1986). My wife and I have obvious devotion of your writers and the always known that this is the best way to professional skills they bring to their Anabaptists helpful live. We really want my wife to be at task. Keep up the good work, and don't 1 am not a Seventh-day Adventist, but home with our two children, ages 2 and let the nit-picking of the "always right" am one of those pastors who receive your 4- I would like to press the question a fringe get to you. I'm referring specifi magazine, MINISTRY, as a gift. I find little further and ask not just how a cally to the Marietta, Georgia, letter many interesting articles in it, and want family can live on a pastor's salary but writer (November 1986) whose com to thank you for your kindness. how a family can get out of debt while ments were inexcusable but not unex In your July, September, and living on a pastor's salary. Our lifestyle is pected. You Adventists do good work. November issues you ran a series of what I consider rather simple, and as I Keep it up.—Reed Holmes, Retired articles on the Anabaptists, and since I look at our finances and expenses I see Clergyman, Jonesport, Maine. am teaching a church history class for how we could comfortably live on a thirteen weeks on Sunday nights, I am pastor's salary if we were out of debt. Telling loyal opposition sharing these articles with the dozen or We've just finished our experience at I would very much appreciate getting so in the class.—E. C. Schumacher, the seminary, where we took out a loan the issue that had the follow-up editorial Pastor, Salina, Kansas.

If you're receiving MINISTRY bimonthly without having paid for a subscription, it's not a mistake. Since 1928, MINISTRY has been published for Seventh-day Adventist ministers, but we believe the time has come for clergy everywhere to experience a resurgence of faith in the authority of Scripture and in the great truths that reveal the gospel of our salvation by grace, through faith alone in Jesus Christ. We want to share with you our aspirations and faith in a way that we trust will provide inspiration and help to you too. We hope you will accept this journal as our outstretched hand to you. Look over our shoulders, take what you want and find helpful, and discard what you cannot use. Bimonthly gift subscriptions are available to all licensed and/or ordained clergy; requests should be on church letterhead.

MINISTRY/MARCH/1987 MINISTRY is the international jour First Glance nal of the Seventh-day Adventist Min isterial Association. ASSOCIATION SECRETARY: Floyd Bresee EDITOR: J. Robert Spangler EXECUTIVE EDITOR: J. David Newman ASSISTANT EDITORS: David C. Jarnes In 1984 Bob and Marie Spangler visited the Soviet Union and Kenneth R. Wade brought us a report covering church-state relations and the status of SEMINAR DIRECTOR: churches—particularly the Adventist Church—in that country. Rex D. Edwards Last year Bob and Marie made a return visit and included Poland and CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Czechoslovakia on their itinerary. This issue contains a full report of Carlos Aeschlimann Raoul Dederen their recent trip. Ariel Roth Marie Spangler Can believers think? Can thinkers believe? In an article that will Gary Swanson challenge your thinking, Richard Rice untangles the knotty N. C. Wilson relationship of faith and reason. CONSULTING EDITORS: Galen Bosley C. E. Bradford Continuing our discussion on the ordination of women, Russell Ellen Bresee Staples looks at the question from the perspective of the social P. Gerard Damsteegt Roland R. Hegstad sciences. His background and training enable him to make a unique Frank Holbrook contribution. He grew up and began his ministry on the African Kenneth J. Mittleider Richard Tibbits continent, and has expertise in both theology and anthropology. Leo R. Van Dolson Noting that most pastors will spend their entire ministry in small EDITORIAL SECRETARIES: Ella Rydzewski churches, former MINISTRY editor Russell Holt writes that that's not Mary Louise McDowell necessarily bad news, and lists six advantages small churches have ART DIRECTOR: over larger ones. If you are ministering in a small church, you can Byron Steele make the most of your ministry there by using these advantages. DESIGNER: G. W. Busch Eleanor Anderson encourages pastors' spouses who want to add to MARKETING: their income to try writing. Their special experiences give them Tom Kapusta insights on topics that are in demand. ADVERTISING SALES: Jeff Blumenberg And don't miss our article on alcohol and the pregnant woman. SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: Elizabeth Sterndale writes about Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, the major Larry Burtnett preventable cause of retardation. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENTS: Africa-Indian Ocean, John W. Fowler Eastern Africa, Harry A. Cartwright Euro-Africa, Johannes Mager Far East, James H. Zachary Inter-America, Salim Japas North America, William C. Scales, Jr. Trans-Europe, Mark Finley South America, Amasias Justiniano South Pacific, A.D.C. Currie Southern Asia, Saudagar Chand MINISTRY, (ISSN 0026-5314), the interna tional journal of the Seventh-day Adventist Ministerial Association © 1987, is published monthly by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and printed by the Review and Herald Publishing Association, 55 West Oak Ridge Drive, Hagerstown, MD 21740, U.S.A. Subscriptions: US$19.95 for 12 issues in U.S., US$22.95 for 12 issues elsewhere. Single copy: US$2.00. Member Associated Church Press. Second-class post age paid at Hagerstown, Maryland. This publication is available in microfilm from University Microfilms International. Call toll-free 800-521-3044. Or mail inquiry to: University Microfilms International, 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48106. Postmaster: Send address changes to MIN ISTRY, 55 West Oak Ridge Drive, Hager stown, Maryland 21740. Editorial Office: 6840 Eastern Avenue NW., Washington, D.C. 20012. Stamped, self-addressed envelope should accompany unsolicited manuscripts. COVER PHOTO BY MEYLAN C. THORESEN VOLUME 60 NUMBER 3

MINISTRY/MARCH/1987 Religion and Communism

J. R. Spangler early three years ago Do Christians suffer in Communist my wife and I visited bloc countries? the Soviet Union at Everywhere I report on visits to the joint invitation Communist countries, people ask about of the Soviet govern religious persecution. What is the truth? ment's Council on I questioned our church leaders carefully MINISTRY©S editor Religious Affairs and and was unable to find any evidence that of Seventh-day Adventist Church Adventists were in prison for any reason reports on religious leaders in that country. In September of that could be connected with their 1986, responding to a similar invitation, religious beliefs—not even for participa freedom and the we spent three weeks there, accompa tion in "underground activities." Some nied this time by Dr. V. N. Olsen, may wonder if our leaders would know if advance of former president of Loma Linda Univer a member was incarcerated. From what sity. I've observed, it would be quite impossi Adventism in the Our travels in that part of the world ble for them not to know, no matter Soviet Union, Poland, took us more than 10,000 miles. We met what the reason behind the incarcera with non-Adventist government and tion! and Czechoslovakia. religious leaders and Adventist Church Our leaders, and those of the Russian members and ministers in Moscow, the Orthodox Church and the Muslim faith, capital city; Tashkent in central Asia; indicated that the winds of religious Novosibirsk, the central city of Siberia; freedom are increasing. We could sense Lvov and Chernovtsy, cities near the the change in atmosphere. In a conver Polish and Romanian borders in the sation I had with a Soviet government southwest; the port city of Odessa on the official, he remarked, "It was thought Black Sea; and finally Riga, Latvia, on that after the revolution in 1917, reli the Baltic Sea. gion would vanish—but it didn't. We Pastors Mikhail P. Kulakov and N. A. made a mistake. Not that the concepts Zhukaluk, Soviet Adventist Church and philosophy of Communism are leaders, had carefully planned our trip, wrong. . . . The mistake was in the arranging visits with political and reli practical application of these concepts. gious leaders throughout the Soviet Sometimes it is difficult to harmonize ]. Robert Spangler is the Union in addition to appointments with theory and practice." editor of MINISTRY Adventist church groups. (Pastor Kula- Now Soviet newspapers are printing magazine and an associ kov's son Mikhail—whom I affection articles touching on religion, an indica ate director of the Min ately called Mike—translated for Olsen tion that it is legitimate to discuss isterial Association of and me, and Galina Gritsuk served my religion in the press for other purposes the General Conference of Seventh-day Advent- wife as both translator and companion.) than simply to denigrate it. ists. The attentive service of our church Aitmatov's work titled "The V- leaders and our translators and the Chopping Block," presently being pub hospitality of our members guaranteed a lished by installments in the Soviet most pleasant and profitable tour. Soviet magazine Novy Mir (New World), offers Christians are some of the most gracious one example. It says people today are in a and warmhearted people in the world. dark pit. Not knowing the way out, they

4 MINISTRY/MARCH/1987 bump against trees and each other. This church's perversion of the gospel and article indicates that the reason for this suppression of the Scriptures. At that situation is that religion was taken from time France had the unique distinction The objective student people and they were given nothing in of being the only nation on earth whose return. legislative assembly had officially of religious history As another example, portions of the declared that there was no God. cannot make a Soviet media openly suggest that to Similar factors have underlain mod understand their culture, Soviets must ern Communism's attitudes toward reli wholesale study their country's important Chris gion. In old Russia when the church tian thinkers and theologians of the past. formed alliances with the secular state, condemnation of the An article in the August 1986 issue of its witness was prostituted, Christianity Ogonyek, a weekly social, political, and was perverted, and the oppression of Communist system literary magazine and one of the nation's religious minorities resulted. The objec most popular journals, provides an evi tive student of religious history cannot when he knows that dence of this. In that article, Sergey make a wholesale condemnation of the the church is reaping Averintsev, a renowned specialist on Communist system when he knows that culture, claims that one cannot fully the church is simply reaping what it has what it has sown. understand Russian culture without sown. being acquainted with Vladimir Solo- In his book World Communism in vyov's The justification of Good and The Endtime Prophecy, Carsten Johnsen Paul does not imply in these verses Three Conversations. Solovyov was a underscores this point. He writes, "The that God always approves the conduct of leading Christian philosopher in Russia church has professed Christ, while civil governments. Certainly He was in the nineteenth century. His works defending doctrine and practice quite extremely unhappy with Hitler and have not been published since 1917, the the antithesis of His. It must then bear its Stalin, who each were responsible for the year of the Russian Revolution. share of responsibility, not only for the deaths of millions. Paul's point is that as Averintsev has also published a new appeal of Communism, but also for its long as God entrusts human government translation of the book of Job. This very existence" (p. 12). to men and as long as the laws of these biblical book is now part of the Soviet Under Rome, mankind was blessed governments do not conflict with His Library of World Literature. We hope with many benefits. And yet this same commandments, we are to obey these that this foreshadows the entire Bible power conquered the world and held governments, even when religious free being made available through the millions in slavery. Rome's aims and doms are limited. nation's bookstores. objectives are summed up in the words of Christians will support the authority (Let me note here that among Virgil's Aeneid: of the existing state and will not presume Adventists in the Soviet Union, every "But Rome! 'tis thine alone with to resist or attempt to depose the powers family and most individuals have their awful sway, that be except by legal means. Christ's own copies of the Bible, and many have To rule mankind, and make the message is one of peace and brotherly hymnbooks. Recently the government world obey, love. printed 10,000 Bibles for us.) Disposing peace and war thine own We are to pray for those in authority majestic way." (1 Tim. 2:1-2) and to obey them (Titus Oppression©s religious roots Under Rome's tyrannical rule, Jesus 3:1). Peter commands Christians to Much of the religious persecution that Christ was crucified, the apostle Paul was submit "to every ordinance of man for this world has seen has taken place when executed, and many other Christians the Lord's sake" (1 Peter 2:13). religious organizations have dominated were cruelly persecuted and martyred. On the other hand, this same Peter secular governments. This has been true The all-powerful emperors held the told the ruling power in Judaism—the particularly when governments and reli office of pontifex maximus, which made Sanhedrin—"Judge for yourselves gions have united to rule the masses. them the head of the state religion, and whether it is right in God's sight to obey Even today, much of the conflict around in time they demanded to be recognized you rather than God. For we cannot help the world—the riotings, bombings, as fountains of all wisdom and power, speaking about what we have seen and hijackings, and civil wars—involves a and even to be worshiped as gods. Yet heard" (Acts 4:19, 20, NIV). Because strong religious element. Unfortunately, though Rome caused so many of God's Peter and the other apostles disobeyed Jesus' words "I have not come to bring children to suffer, I fail to find a single the proscriptions the Sanhedrin had peace, but a sword" (Matt. 10:34, RSV) instance of Christ challenging or con enjoined upon them, that governing are seeing a fulfillment beyond their demning its authority. Furthermore, group had the apostles arrested and original intent. Paul, before his death under the Roman imprisoned. In his defense, Peter simply Many of the books that have been sword, admonished the church to "be said, "We must obey God rather than written about the causes of the French subject unto the higher powers. For there men!" (Acts 5:29, NIV). Revolution reveal the far-reaching con is no power but of God: the powers that Is there then a contradiction in sequences of the rejection of the Bible be are ordained of God. Whosoever Scripture? No! The Bible does not and of true Bible religion. I believe that therefore resisteth the power, resisteth suggest we must render absolute obedi the battle against the Bible that took the ordinance of God: and they that ence to the civil authorities. Only God is place during that revolution occurred resist shall receive to themselves dam worthy of absolute obedience. Our obe mainly as a result of the apostate state nation" (Rom. 13:1, 2). dience of the civil authorities, compre-

MINISTRY/MARCH/1987 5 This Polish Adventist seminary has 40 students in residence and another 70 off-campus students. hensive though it may be, must come to In harmony with these biblical con "Some missions play to the reactionary an end in those instances where their cepts, the Seventh-day Adventist tendencies of at least some of their laws conflict with God's commands. The Church decided to recognize in the donors by giving way to sensationalism. civil powers have no authority over our U.S.S.R. only that group of Adventists One West Coast misson director stated witnessing to the gospel. If the civil that is registered by the government— in an interview that his literature pur powers attempt to restrict the Christian's the vast majority of Adventists. This has posefully concentrated on emotionally witness, he or she is free to obey or brought considerable unity and strength charged articles because copy highlight disobey as the Holy Spirit leads. to our membership of nearly 35,000. ing violence and physical abuse of Christians should do everything in believers stimulated donations. Asso their power to avoid conflict with the Overplaying Communism©s ciated Press religion writer George Cor government. If some means of witness restrictions nell is right in saying some groups make a ing are forbidden, but they can obey the According to Mark Elliott's informa living 'peddling hate and fear' " (pp. 25, government and proclaim the gospel just tive article on Eastern Europe in Eternity, 26). as effectively by other means, they July/August 1986, more than 200 para- Those who are deeply concerned for should use the latter. But if laws forbid church groups are attempting to respond Christians in the Communist world, them to witness for Christ, they may to the needs of Christians in Communist those who sincerely and honestly are have no other choice than to follow the countries. These groups represent a attempting to share the good news with example of Peter and the other apostles "veritable explosion of Western interest these countries, are to be commended. in disobeying the authorities. This may in Soviet bloc Christians." Elliott ques Yet a word of caution is in order. While lead to prison and even death, as it did tions the motives of some of these we must recognize that religious freedom for the apostles; but it might also lead to organizations, which raise millions of in most Communist countries does not thousands being added to the church dollars for the aiding of the religiously equal that of the West, we must also ask (Acts 2:41, 47; 4:4; 5:14; 6:7). and economically oppressed. He says, what use Christians in these countries MINISTRY/MARCH/1987 are making of the freedoms they do have. byl, which had occurred just two weeks Reverend Michael Zhidkov, vice presi before his visit, Pastor Wilson, on behalf dent of the Baptist Union in the of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, In terms of religious U.S.S.R., told me, "At most, we use sent with us a letter and a check for approximately 70 percent of the rights $25,000 to be presented as a gift to the freedom, both the that are available to us." Soviet government through Mr. Khar Christian church and So rather than emphasizing the chev to aid the Chernobyl disaster restrictions that are there, let me point victims. Our church wants the Soviet the non*Christian out what we can and are doing to government to understand that Advent advance the gospel in these Eastern bloc ists are concerned for people's welfare. religions are making countries. Our church is able to worship Our message touches the physical as well freely in its buildings. We are able to as the spiritual life. progress in the secure property and to build new After presenting Mr. Kharchev with churches as permission is granted. We this gift, we learned that he was coming Soviet Union. are able to do personal witnessing to to the United States to attend a confer those who show an interest in learning ence. (Rabbi Schneier, founder and about Christ and the gospel. We can president of the Appeal of Conscience arrange for the government presses to do Foundation, sponsored Mr. Kharchev's some printing for us; they have produced visit.) Arrangements were made for Mr. Bibles, songbooks, and a limited amount Kharchev to visit our Washington, 35,000 Seventh-day Adventists. Of of other Christian literature. And par D.C., world headquarters and several of course, other religious groups function ents are allowed to arrange Sabbath our institutions. there as well. privileges with school authorities, The night before his visit, the Soviet though at times this can be difficult. Embassy invited five of us from our Adventism in Poland A further indication of the opening Adventist world headquarters to join a Our next stop was Poland. The Polish doors came while we were eating our last group of other religious leaders at a people suffered enormously during meal in Moscow in an apartment made reception in Mr. Kharchev's honor. We World War II. Out of the population of available to us by the Baptists, whose appreciated the opportunity of meeting 38 million, 6 million—16 percent of the church we share there. During that meal there the Soviet ambassador to the population—were killed. Pastor Kulakov was handed a letter from United States, Yuri Dubinin, his wife, a Prior to the war all of the religions the chairman of the executive commit number of other embassy officials, and except Roman Catholicism were con tee of Tula giving us permission to start a religious leaders from the Washington trolled by a combined church-state Bible correspondence school for our area. government. There was widespread per ministers. Our leaders in the Soviet Adventist Church leaders arranged secution, and the state gave these Union have secured property between for a helicopter to fly Mr. Kharchev to minority religious groups no legal recog Moscow and Tula that we can use for this our new Review and Herald publishing nition. Like the other religious organiza purpose. Here, from time to time, we house and printing plant in Hagerstown, tions, the Adventist Church was merely will be able to bring in groups of our Maryland. From there he was taken to tolerated. Many of our ministers and ministers for training. We feel fortunate our 224-bed Shady Grove Hospital and laypeople suffered in prison for their to be able to start this mini-seminary, then to one of our church's secondary faith. since an untrained minister is a detri schools, where the entire group of After the war all religious organiza ment to both society and the church. students greeted him. His final stop was tions had the opportunity to register with at our world headquarters complex, the government. In 1946 Seventh-day Soviet leader visits U.S. Adventists where a banquet was held in his honor. Adventists received state recognition, One of the high points of our trip was a His remarks at the banquet indicated and since then our privileges have 100-minute conference with Mr. Kon- that this contact with our church leaders increased, until today we have virtually stantin Kharchev, chairman of the would help him to understand better our unrestricted religious freedom. Council of Religious Affairs for the church's objectives, beliefs, and organi Pastor Stanislaw Dabrowski, presi U.S.S.R. For four years he was the zational structure. We firmly believe dent of our church in Poland, pointed Soviet ambassador to Guyana, and he that these types of contacts are necessary out that we now have 84 churches and 40 still retains the diplomatic rank of to the building of bridges of mutual smaller groups of members in that ambassador. Mr. Kharchev was cordial, understanding. country. Although we have only 5,000 frank, and open. Our discussion ranged As Christians, we are ministers of members, approximately 8,000 people from the advance and needs of the reconciliation and not condemnation. I attend our churches, and we baptize Adventist Church in the Soviet Union believe that in terms of religious free approximately 300 to 400 a year. Since to the aims and objectives of the Council dom, both the Christian church and the World War II we have either built or on Religious Affairs. non-Christian religions are making renovated 62 church buildings. Neal C. Wilson, world president of progress in the Soviet Union. Presently One of the reasons our church in the Adventist denomination, visited the there are approximately 50 million Rus Poland continues to grow at a rather slow U.S.S.R. five months before we did. He sian Orthodox believers, 40 million rate is because it is not difficult for people too had an interview with Mr. Khar Muslims, 500,000 Baptists, Menno- to emigrate. Many Polish Adventists chev. In view of the tragedy at Cherno- nites, and Pentecostals combined, and have moved to Australia or West Ger-

MINISTRY/M ARCH/1987 stores or on street newsstands. We have dedicated its new seminary building near published .500,000 copies of various Warsaw (see photo). Forty students are The only Adventist Adventist books (16 titles). Our health in residence, and 70 home study students message is received extremely well— attend periodically to receive additional Book Center in all Mrs. Dabrowski, wife of our president, training. We are proud of our new of Europe is in authored a recipe book called Health seminary structure. Kitchen that sold 30,000 copies in one Our churches have Sabbath school Ludowici, Poland. week. classes (equivalent to Sunday school) for Our members in Poland prepare radio the children and young people. If young programs in Polish for broadcast over our people are registered as believers, they stations in Portugal and Italy. In Poland are able to have Sabbath privileges while itself we have a quarterly 40-minute attending public schools. broadcast on state radio. Poland requires its young men to serve The Polish Bible Society is within two one and a half years in the army. With a blocks of our headquarters office, which letter from his local pastor stating that he many. In fact, more live outside of is located on a main thoroughfare in is a Seventh-day Adventist, a young Poland than inside. Warsaw. It is open to the public and is Polish believer may be allowed to keep The only Adventist Book Center in well stocked with translations in several the Sabbath and to attend church. Local all of Europe is in Ludowici, Poland. We languages. When I stopped there, I army leadership grants this permission, have 70 Polish literature evangelists, bought five Bibles. but if a problem arises, a letter to the who are free to sell our literature All of our ministers have open mail defense minister brings help. anywhere in that country. Our church boxes and can receive religious litera If a young man does not choose to go leaders there are in the process of ture, books, and papers with no restric into the army, he can substitute three securing a press on which, beginning this tions. For our public evangelistic years in medical service or working in the year, they will do their own printing. We meetings, we are able to pitch tents, rent coal mines for the year and a half of already have our own bindery. halls or churches, pass out handbills, and military service. He receives a salary for Adventists print 30,000 copies to display openly posters advertising the this work, and no stigma is attached to monthly of the religious journal Signs of meetings. his choice. No Adventists are in prison the Times. Half of these are sold in state Three days before our visit our church for their faith in Poland.

The new Modlitebna church, one of the four Seventh-day Adventist churches in Prague, Czechoslovakia.

MINISTRY/MARCH/1987 The beauty of the 800-seat Modlitebna church equals that of any Adventist church worldwide. The high point of our visit to Poland permits to build or buy more. popular. was our interview with Mr. Adam In Prague, the capital, we have four Our denomination employs 96 full- Lopatka, the minister of religion for the church buildings, including one we built time ministers and Bible workers in country. Mr. Lopatka's position makes recently that seats approximately 800 Czechoslovakia. I believe we are the him a member of the Polish cabinet. (see photo). Although my wife and I only denomination to pay our pastors (Each of Poland's 49 provinces also has a were there on tourist visas (I had been to without state aid. minister of religion.) Czechoslovakia earlier in 1986 on an We are allowed to rent other churches Mr. Lopatka complimented the activ official visit), we were granted permis when we need more room than our own ities of the Adventist Church in his sion to preach. What a joy it was to meet provide. For instance, in May 1986 we country, especially in the areas of with the members of our churches in rented a large church belonging to healthful practices. We, in turn, Prague in this lovely sanctuary! Its another denomination so that we could extended to him our appreciation for the beauty equals that of any Adventist hold a meeting for our members from freedoms our church and other religious church in the world. various churches in and around Brno. organizations enjoy there. On the national level, Czechoslova We are also able to hold evangelistic kia has two departments for religious meetings in our churches and use them The republic of Czechoslovakia affairs—one headquartered in Prague, fully without seeking special permission. In Prague, Czechoslovakia, my wife for the Czech republic, and the other The government prints 12,000 copies and I were met by Pastor Oldrich Sladek, headquartered in Bratislava, for the of our bimonthly church journal, Signs of president of our denominational organi Slovakian republic. The Ministry of the Times, without censoring it. This zation in that country. His amiable and Culture in each of the republics super journal, which is sent to all our mem aggressive spirit has brought strength to vises these departments. The country is bers, is in four colors and is beautifully the Advent movement. further divided into 10 districts, each of done. Czechoslovakia has a population of which has a representative for religious Our Sabbath school lessons are also 15.5 million people. The Adventist affairs, as do each of the towns. printed in sufficient quantities for all our Church there has a membership of nearly There is no shortage of Bibles in members. The four quarterlies for the 8,000, with 169 churches. Most of the Czechoslovakia. Bibles are both printed year are translated into the Slovakian, congregations have their own buildings, in the country and imported. A new Hungarian, and Czech languages and are and the denomination is able to secure ecumenical translation has become quite (Continued on page 24)

MINISTRY/MARCH/1987 9 Reconciling faith and reason

Richard Rice an a thinking person "melancholy, long, withdrawing roar."' be religious? Can a The nineteenth century brought sweep believer be intellec ing changes in the way people viewed the tually honest? Is world, and Arnold feared their impact there evidence for on religion. religious beliefs? What Arnold saw taking place on a Does it matter? Can broad scale in Victorian society repeats Reason is not we go ahead and believe, whether or not itself on an individual level in the it makes sense? experience of many Christians today. Bit necessarily Questions like these raise one of the by bit, like the ebbing of the tide, most persistent issues in religion—the personal faith seeps away. Finally, what antithetical to faith. relation of faith and reason. Over the was once a surging religious commitment years no topic has attracted more theo gives way to the barren sands of doubt In fact, it can aid logical attention or generated more and disbelief. diverse scholarly opinions. But the issue it though faith must is more than merely academic. It is a Education taxes faith go beyond reason. We matter of great personal concern. And it Because educated people frequently is unavoidable. Sooner or later every experience this, some believe that can deal successfully Christian questions whether his or her advanced education inevitably erodes beliefs make sense. faith. They conclude that a person has to with doubt. According to the Bible, faith is the choose between serious intellectual most important element in religion. It is inquiry and a genuine commitment to impossible to please God without faith God. (Heb. 11:6). And faith is the indispens This view is extreme, of course. But it able condition of human salvation; it is is true that higher education can exert the sole means by which we receive the considerable pressure on religious com saving grace of God (Rom. 3:28; Gal. mitment. Several factors account for 3:1-9). But the Bible also suggests that this. One is the conflict between con faith doesn't come easily. While Jesus ventional scientific views and certain said that even an infinitesimal amount of religious beliefs. What most scholars in faith could move mountains (Matt. natural sciences such as biology, zoology, 17:20), He openly wondered whether and geology believe about the age of the Richard Rice, PhD., He would find any faith at all when He earth and the origins of life contradicts is a professor of theol returned to earth (Luke 18:8). what Christians have traditionally ogy at Lama Linda. These biblical descriptions illuminate understood biblical passages like Genesis University, Riverside, California. the problem that concerns us here. On 1-3 to teach. And many scholars of the the one hand, faith is extremely impor human sciences accept naturalistic tant; on the other, it is anything but accounts of religion. They hold that easy. And if it has never been easy to religious beliefs arise from various psy believe, the challenges of our time make chological and sociological influences it more difficult than ever. In the and not from an actual supernatural or well-known lines of "Dover Beach," divine reality. British poet Matthew Arnold surveys the Indeed, it is probably accurate to say "sea of faith" and poignantly records its that God does not function as an

10 MINISTRY/MARCH/1987 explanatory factor in any scientific dismiss them as untenable, and religion enterprise today. If the typical scientist loses its personal significance for them. were asked about the place of God in his Diametrically opposed to the ratio Sooner or later every investigations, he would no doubt offer a nalist's response to intellectual pressure version of Laplace's famous statement: "I on faith is fideism. 6 Fideists react to the Christian questions have no need of that hypothesis." 2 challenge of modem thinking by with Another factor that puts pressure on drawing their religious beliefs from intel whether his or her faith is the "ethic of belief' that prevails lectual scrutiny. They often minimize beliefs make sense. in the modern world. We see this ethic the significance of the challenge, some in statements like these from the writings times ridiculing it. But they never try to of David Hume and W. K. Clifford: "A formulate an answer to it. The fideist wise man... proportions his belief to the position is roughly God said it, I believe evidence" 3; "It is wrong always, every it, and that settles it. where, and for anyone, to believe A third response to rational pressures anything upon insufficient evidence." 4 on faith is more social than intellectual. According to this rational ideal, an Many Christians have serious reserva intellectually responsible person always tions about the religious beliefs they grew insists on adequate evidence for his up with, but they maintain strong ties to beliefs, and he suspends judgment unless the church anyway. For many reasons start with reason and ask about faith, or or until he gets it. they are unwilling to sever their con we can start with faith and ask about This ethic's effects on faith are not nections to the religious community of reason. The first tack is typical of hard to see. Evidence for religious beliefs their early years. We might call such philosophy. Philosophers assume the is notoriously scarce. Unlike scientific people "communal Christians." validity of reason; for them the status of proposals, which are intended to rest on Communal Christians participate in faith is the problem. For Christians, carefully developed empirical evidence church activities and support the church however, the second approach is more open to public examination, religious financially. Often they even serve as urgent. Assuming the validity of faith, convictions are highly personal and leaders of the church. Most typically, how should we think of its relation to often resistant to public inquiry. For this they educate their children in denomi reason? reason, many people question their national schools. But their religious In a discussion of this nature, the validity. experience contains a strong element of meaning of the terms is crucial. An Some take religious claims seriously nostalgia. A vibrant personal faith is exploration of the various meanings of but insist that there is not enough something they recall from the past, but faith and reason could easily fill a book. In evidence to support them. Bertrand it is not a present possession. Having the following remarks I use these Russell, the great agnostic, held this nagging doubts about the church's expressions rather broadly. Faith refers view. Once someone asked him to teachings, they respond by trying to generally to religious experience, or suppose that when he died he found out ignore them. Christian experience, and includes both that God existed after all. If God asked Each of these positions attracts certain the elements of belief and trust in God. him why he never believed in Him, what people, and each has its peculiar diffi Reason refers to intellectual activity in would he say? Russell answered, "Not culties. But all three views rest on the general and, more specifically, to the enough evidence! Not enough evi assumption that religious beliefs cannot process of methodical, self-conscious dence!" 5 be reconciled with serious intellectual investigation. Others take the position that religious activity. This is why those who hold to beliefs do not deserve serious considera them believe that they have to give up Holding faith and reason together tion at all. At best, they are matters of either faith or reason, or else that the To achieve an adequate under private preference or personal opinion. most they can hope for is to keep the standing of faith and reason, we must But they do not belong among the settled conflict between them from disrupting reject at the outset any attempt to keep beliefs of thinking people. their lives. the two apart. On the practical level, it is Serious Christians cannot accept the impossible to avoid thinking seriously Faulty responses to pressure options we have described. If faith is to about religious beliefs if we care about People who grow up in the shelter of a survive in the modern world as a vital them at all. On a more substantive level, religious environment and then meet force in human lives, there must be a way the attempt to divorce faith and reason this sort of pressure in the course of their of relating it to reason that does not does violence to both. graduate or professional education or in compel us to choose between the two. Intellectual integrity involves a will pursuing their careers often react in one The purpose of this discussion is to ingness to submit all our beliefs to of three ways. Some capitulate to it, describe such an alternative. We can't rational investigation. A person who some defy it, and others just try to ignore do this adequately within the limits of a will examine some of his beliefs but not it. The first response is rationalism. brief article, of course. But we may be others is like someone who breaks only a Rationalists accept the ethic of belief we able to learn enough to help us avoid few laws. He is basically irresponsible. So just described. They insist on the highest some of the more catastrophic mistakes we cannot be intellectually responsible if standards of evidence for all truth claims. that are often made in this area. we isolate our religious beliefs from Because in their estimation religious We can approach the topic of faith serious consideration. beliefs do not meet these standards, they and reason in either of two ways. We can Even more important, if we try to

MINISTRY/MARCH/1987 11 faith. Understanding, or intelligent and problems that sometimes arise. Ellen belief, has a central role to play in G. White mentions this function of Reason contributes to religion. reason in Steps to Christ, her careful discussion of Christian experience. She the life of faith by Reason aids religious experience observes that many are troubled with the In what ways, then, can reason suggestions of skepticism that unsettle helping Christians to contribute to religious experience? First, their faith in the Scriptures. She asserts it can help to prepare the way for faith. that "God never asks us to believe, resolve the doubts And second, once faith is present, without giving sufficient evidence upon that sometimes arise. reason can help it to grow. which to base our faith. His existence, Often people do not make a religious His character, the truthfulness of His commitment because it is unpopular word, are all established by testimony within their circle of friends, or because that appeals to our reason; and this it involves personal inconvenience. testimony is abundant." 8 Reason, then, Others are put off by unfortunate can give a growing religious experience exempt faith from careful reflection, we encounters they have had with religious greater durability. misrepresent its nature. Several factors institutions and supposedly religious So reason makes important contribu indicate that reason has an important people. But besides such factors, intel tions to religion. It can prepare the way role to play in religious experience. For lectual obstacles keep many people from for faith, and it can enhance our religious one thing, genuine religious commit religious commitment. For instance, it experience once we believe. But even ment involves the whole person, has always been difficult to reconcile the though reason is closely related to faith, including the cognitive or intellectual reality of God with the massive presence we need to beware of exaggerating its faculties. For Jesus, the central precept of of evil in the world. And as we have accomplishments. There are important the law is the command "You shall love noted, certain biblical statements appear limitations to what it can do. the Lord your God with all your heart, problematic in light of contemporary and with all your soul, and with all your science. Even more recently, people Beyond the limits of reason mind" (Matt. 22:37, RSV). According have come to view religious beliefs as So far we have focused on the to Ellen G. White, this lays upon simply the product of social condition cognitive dimension of faith. We have Christians "the obligation of developing ing, or the expression of psychological emphasized that religious commitment the intellect to its fullest capacity, that needs. All of these difficulties call into involves believing or knowing certain with all the mind we may know and love question the beliefs, or cognitive claims, things. This is why intellectual activity is our Creator." 7 So what is sometimes involved in Christian commitment. If important to religion and why any called the intellectual love of God is an someone has serious questions along attempt to separate reason from faith integral part of genuine religious com these lines, they must be dealt with ends in spiritual disaster. But we must mitment. before faith can become a real possibil not conclude that faith is purely rational, In the second place, while people ity. or that religion is nothing more than often say that real Christianity is a By helping a person respond to chal belief. Faith has other qualities, too, and practical matter and that what you do is lenges like these, reason can prepare the they complicate the picture. In particu more important than what you believe, way for faith. It renders faith reasonable, lar, they require us to recognize the Christian practice presupposes certain and therefore responsible, by establish limitations of reason. beliefs. We cannot ignore those beliefs ing the credibility of its intellectual For one thing, faith must continually without collapsing the basic structure of contents. subjugate doubt. The evidence for faith religious experience. Reason also plays a role within an is never overwhelming. Not believing It is also significant that from its established religious experience. Just as will always be an option; it will always beginnings Christianity's supporters loving someone makes us want to leam have a degree of support. To quote Ellen have argued for it and not merely asserted more about that person, love for God G. White again, "God has never that it is true. They not only called on elicits a desire to increase our knowledge removed the possibility of doubt. . . . people to believe its teachings, but they of Him, to keep discovering new facets of Those who wish to doubt will have maintained that these teachings truth. The Bible often stresses the opportunity; while those who really deserved to be believed. They insisted importance of intellectual growth in the desire to know the truth will find plenty that Christianity was demonstrably supe Christian life. The book of Hebrews, for of evidence on which to rest their rior to alternative views. With the Jews example, bemoans its readers' failure to faith." 9 For this reason, faith always has throughout the Roman world Paul advance beyond a rudimentary grasp of a certain "in spite of" quality; it holds on argued that Jesus was the Messiah (Acts God's word and urges them to go on to to its beliefs in spite of factors that make 18:5), and with the Gentiles, that He maturity (Heb. 5:11-6:1). And in his belief difficult. was the true revelation of God to man letter to the Colossians Paul expresses A related characteristic of faith is the (Acts 17:30, 31). And Peter urged the desire that they "come to the full totality of trust it displays. From the Christians to be ready at any time to give wealth of conviction which under available evidence, several philosophers reasons for what they believed (1 Peter standing brings" (Col. 2:2, NEB). have concluded that God's existence is 3:15). Besides adding to our knowledge, "probable." 10 But faith does much more These considerations make it clear reason contributes to the life of faith by than affirm that God probably exists. that we must not separate reason from helping Christians to resolve the doubts Faith is the complete confidence, the

12 MINISTRY/MARCH/1987 absolute certainty, that God is real. Then those who are young or unedu Those who have faith do not limit their cated would necessarily have a low trust in God to the level for which there quality of faith. Yet often these are the While it can is evidence; they go beyond that limit to people whose faith is strongest. 11 trust God completely, without reserva Finally, we must recognize that few contribute to faith in tion. people find faith through a deliberate In some of the classic cases of faith, process of investigation. The famous various ways, reason this contrast between evidence and trust proofs that God exists, for example, are is striking. We think of Job as an notoriously ineffective in producing alone can never lead outstanding example of faith because he religious conversions. Rather, people kept on trusting God in spite of all his find faith through nonrational means— someone directly into sufferings. Similarly, Abraham main the subtle influence of other people, the faith. tained his confidence in God even when emotions that accompany certain expe commanded to sacrifice Isaac. People riences, or even vague impressions they with faith trust God even when the are not fully aware of. As Jesus said, "The evidence seems to show that God is wind blows where it wills, and you hear inscrutable. Faith is never the last step in indifferent to their problems. the sound of it, but you do not know a logical exercise. We must not exaggerate this aspect of whence it comes or whither it goes; so it To summarize our observations, by faith. It would be a mistake to conclude is with every one who is born of the nature religious experience is rich and that faith automatically gets stronger Spirit" (John 3:8, RSV). complicated. Consequently, we must when the evidence for it grows weaker. These considerations prevent us from expect of reason neither too little nor too This would lead to the absurd conclusion claiming too much for reason. While much. There is rational evidence for our that the highest form of faith is to believe reason can contribute to faith in several religious beliefs, but the scope of such something ridiculous. Nevertheless, important ways, the origins of faith are (Continued on page 17) there is a tension within faith. It always has a basis in evidence, but it always goes beyond the evidence, too. The explanation for this tension lies in the fact that faith is a personal decision. It is an expression of freedom that involves the will as well as the mind. No matter how much evidence we have, in the last analysis whether or not we will trust in God is always up to us. And since in part it depends on the will, faith cannot be forced or produced. In their eagerness to show that religion is reasonable, people sometimes speak of faith as if it were the product of rational inquiry, the matter-of-fact result of an investigation, an automatic response to certain stimuli, or the only logical conclusion to an argument. But this is a mistake. While it can contribute to faith in significant ways, reason alone can never lead someone directly into faith. Several factors limit the contribution that reason can make to faith. One is the fact just mentioned: faith involves free dom. If faith were the only possibility, if reason left us with no other choice, then our faith could not represent a personal response to God's love. It would simply be admitting the obvious. Second, if faith were the product of :e'd^ ftdijiia'tr ;"';SpirS human reason, it could not be a response Ld5p,' - !^J|^^rJr\^'EtB^iJr^3^^^i'-,ft^^iirs,«.b0&-:cSf'- ,*- to divine grace. Instead, it would be a itfie" human achievement, a form of intellec tual work-righteousness. And if faith were the product of reason, the caliber of a person's intellectual abilities would determine the quality of his or her faith.

MINISTRY/MARCH/1987 13 To ordain or not

The members of Andrews University's the other denominations. In the late Russell Staples Pioneer Memorial church have been study 1960s and the 1970s women began ing the question of whether or not to have entering the ministry in large numbers, women elders. Dr. Russell Staples submitted and presently almost all of the Protestant to us a paper he had written for that study, churches have ordained women clergy. 2 Looking at the issue looking at the general question of women's The major cultural and social shifts ordination from a sociological perspective. that took place after World War II of ordaining women We adapted the following article from that opened up new opportunities for women paper, and publish it as part of our in all spheres of society. The criteria for from a sociological continuing discussion in print. As usual, we entering the professions changed from encourage your careful study of this the traditional status-and sex-defined perspective provides topic. Editors. eligibility to those of competence and efficiency. That same era saw an increase insights on Third wo years ago church in the number of college educated World objections and historian Martin women. The proportion of B.A. gradu Marty, commenting ates they constituted rose from 30 raises questions about on the fact that percent in 1950 to 45 percent in 1972. women constitute a With an accompanying sharp decline in the church©s current T quarter of the minis birthrate, increasing numbers of women terial candidates in gained the freedom to explore career ordination practices. North American theological seminaries, opportunities. And with the passage of wrote: "No theological revolution of our federal laws regarding equal opportu time matches that signaled by the nity—for example, the 1964 Title VII entrance of women into the theological act that outlawed discrimination on the schools . . . and into the ministry on basis of sex—many women began to such a scale." 1 enter traditionally all-male professions. The roles women fill are being rede In this new intellectual and social fined. More women are entering the climate, those women who felt called to working force in this era than in any the ministry began to see in the churches previous age. And they are entering most spheres of discipleship in which they of the professions that before had been could make a positive contribution, and mainly male domains. Their entry into saw no valid reason barring them from the ministry antedates this movement ordination. Obviously, many male Dr. Russell Staples, PhD., chairs the and is driven by different motives, but is clergy and lay leaders in the church Department of World parallel to it. agreed with them. Mission of the In most Protestant denominations the Some of what has been written Seventh-day Adventist ordination of women has a long history. opposing this movement of women into Theological Seminary, In fact, generally speaking, women were the ministry portrays it as a capitulation Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michi more actively involved in the work and of the churches to pressure from the gan. administration of North American Prot women's movement. A more thoughtful estant churches in the nineteenth cen analysis is inclined to give greater weight tury than they were during the period to other factors. between the two world wars. This is as Societies have institutions in keeping true of the Adventist Church as it is of with their character, and when a social

14 MINISTRY/MARCH/1987 system undergoes massive changes, the than are their liberal counterparts. For institutions within that system will also instance, in 1977 three relatively small change. Who would deny that over the and ultraconservative Methodist-related Has the church the past two decades the American family, churches—the Church of God (Ander- and especially the American urban son, Indiana), the Wesleyan Church, right to divide the family, has changed drastically? Sociolo and the Church of the Nazarene—had authority conferred gists attribute much of the change taking 1,044 ordained women pastors between place in the church's patterns of ministry them, while the more liberal 12-mil- by ordination? to a conscious effort to minister effec lion-member United Methodist Church tively to changing parish circumstances. had only 319. The Adventist Church seems to have There seems to be another dimension made tentative steps in this direction in to the issue. Churches with a high view the early 1970s, recommending that of the sacraments appear to be more of ministry within this ordination may women who felt called by God to the reluctant to ordain women than do the vary, there is but a single ordination. gospel ministry should attend the semi nonliturgical churches. The reason Adventist Church practice harmo nary. And in some cases the church underlying this may be a lingering nizes with this general understanding. provided sponsorship. It has now concept of female ritual impurity (a We differentiate between the ordination apparently retreated to a holding pat concern we will deal with more fully of deacons and ordination to the min tern. later). Because of it, the idea of a woman istry. And although Adventist Church Our church should not feel obliged to preaching may be more acceptable than policy doesn't specifically state it, we accept as a model for its own actions that of a woman fulfilling priestly and consider ordination to eldership and to what others may do. However, it does sacramental functions. the ministry a single ordination because need to understand what is happening in And there is yet a further considera it confers on both grades of ministry the the wider world and the cultural climate tion. Ordination not only confers the rights to preach and to administer the that informs such grand-scale social right to preach and perform the sacra sacraments and the authority to rule. changes, for it must eventually decide ments; it also elevates to a position of These three elements constitute the how it will relate to them. authority in the church. Churches differ fundamental offices of the ministry. (No in their responses to female authority. Protestant church regards marriage as a What do sociologists see? On the whole, because the more highly sacrament, and so the right to solemnize All human doing and thinking take educated are used to judging proficiency marriages is more a legal provision than place in social settings, and thoroughgo by objective standards, they apparently an essential mark of the ministry.) ing sociologists endeavor to understand find it easier to accept female leadership Local elders, then, hold the essentials church decrees and ordinances against than do blue-collar workers. of the office of ministry. In contrast to their social background. They pay par (The large number of ordained women pastors, their jurisdiction is regionally ticular attention to the way the parties in [1,572 in 1977] in the Assemblies of God restricted and they do not receive a the discussions make their arguments Church make a notable exception to this salary. But for the most part, Protes and the scriptures they use. The diffi generalization. Clearly, in this case tantism understands this in terms of culty for the church, of course, is that intense religious belief and experience grades of ministry and not in terms of a Scripture makes no clear statements override social conventions. Simply different kind of ordination. Licensed either mandating or forbidding the ordi stated, that church believes that it dare ministers, for instance, may not cele nation of women. From this point of not withhold ordination from those the brate the Lord's Supper or baptize or view, the issue revolves around herme- Spirit has anointed.) solemnize marriages unless they have neutical method. Those who interpret been ordained as local elders. In other the passages by placing them in their How many ordinations? words, until they are ordained as pastors, cultural context find no weighty reason Even defining ordination itself is not it is the ordination to local eldership that to withhold ordination from women, as simple as it might seem. While confers upon them the essential offices of and those who insist upon a literalistic Christian churches agree on the broader ministry. interpretation make a case against their outlines of the definition, they differ In light of this, the 1974 and 1984 ordination. considerably on the finer details. Annual Council actions seem particu Since the arguments on both sides Protestants generally agree that the larly significant. Their significance does have been multifaceted, long, endorsed early church practiced two forms of not lie in the fact that they authorized by prestigious scholars, and in neither ordination: that to the diaconate and the ordination of women as local elders case direct, a sociologist would be that to the gospel ministry. Most Protes in the North American Division, but in inclined to view them all as attempts to tant churches consider the diaconate to the proviso that while women elders may support preconceived ideas. be a class of officers separate from the perform the general duties of an elder, I often hear it said that those churches clergy and charged chiefly with material including the right to celebrate the with a liberal orientation ordain women duties (Phil. 1:1; 1 Tim. 3:8). Beyond Eucharist, they may not baptize. (This and the more conservative ones do not. this, there seems also to be a fairly proviso is implied in the 1985 Annual While this is true of the Missouri Synod general consensus that the second form Council deliberations on the ordination among the Lutheran churches, many of of ordination is to the ministry of both of women, but not specifically applied to the most conservative church bodies are word and sacrament, whether that min the 1984 ruling.) more open to the ordination of women istry be lay or clerical. While the grades If my interpretation is correct, this

MINISTRY/MARCH/1987 15 exceptive proviso raises weighty ques both powerful and dangerous, so the women. They and the societies in which tions. Restricting grades of ministry to priest who performs sacramental rituals they live are still too close to concepts of particular regional jurisdictions is simply must be spiritually and physically whole ritual purity and defilement to accede a legislative matter. But has the church and pure—neither maimed nor polluted. wholeheartedly to women preaching in the right to divide the authority con The sources of pollution are many; holy places, handling holy things, and ferred by ordination, or any precedent one may be defiled by contact with performing holy rites. for such an action? How can it distin death, disease, and that which is impure. There are two other less weighty guish between the right to baptize and But women are the major casualty. reasons for the reluctance of the Third the right to celebrate the Eucharist? Because most societies associate ritual World church to acquiesce in the ordi What is the meaning of an ordination uncleanness with the female reproduc nation of women. In the first place, most that authorizes the preaching of the tive cycle, they bar women from inti traditional Third World societies have Word and the celebration of the Eucha mate contact with the holy and therefore been male-dominated to a degree we find rist but denies the right to baptize? This from priestly functions. The privileged difficult to understand. In the massive dividing of its meaning is tantamount to ritual status many such societies give social revolution now taking place vir reducing the divine order of ordination postmenopausal women makes obvious tually everywhere, women are being to the level of ecclesiastical legislation their belief. accorded unprecedented authority and and enablement. This should not strike us as particu prestige. The traditional male role is Nor can the church overcome the larly strange, for the Old Testament threatened in the home and everywhere difficulty by distinguishing between the maintains similar concepts of ritual else. Ordination to the ministry confers ordination of local elders and clergy. Not purity. In fact, the explicitness of the not only the right to perform the only is there no precedent for this in laws in Leviticus 11-22 regarding the sacraments but also a degree of authority Scripture, but the church would still clean and unclean and ritual purity to legislate and govern. I have found that have to maintain different ordinations exceeds that of the regulations of most men whose authority in the home and in for male and female local elders—an other known societies. the workplace is threatened are some untenable position. In many places the New Testament what reluctant to have it eroded in the There is one office of eldership in the shows that these concepts continued on church as well. church, not two; and there is but a single into its time. For example, after Jesus And second, where church member ordination to that office. I cannot see touched the leper, He could not "openly ship is comprised predominantly of that it is possible to ordain women to any enter a town" because He was regarded as women and children, I have found both other eldership than that to which men being ritually unclean from the contact men and women hesitant to have a are ordained. Anything short of this (Mark 1:40-45, RSV). Jesus apparently woman pastor lest the church appear to would have to be some kind of legislative respected the feelings of the people of be some kind of women's society. This enablement to an extraordinary min His time in this matter. And it was to may be a concern in the United States as istry, not ordination. replace ritual ideas of purity with a moral well, but I suspect to a lesser degree. In general, then, we must seek the understanding of it that Jesus said, "Hear I have noticed that Third World reasons churches hold different positions me, all of you, and understand: there is persons who harbor these views generally as to the ordination of women on nothing outside a man which by going raise a biblical argument—the lack of a sociological rather than biblical or theo into him can defile him; but the things positive mandate—in defense of their logical grounds. which come out of a man are what defile stance. They seem reluctant to spell out him" (Mark 7:14-16, RSV). the real and much deeper reasons. Why do many in the Third World The rules for the churching, or purifi oppose? cation, of women, remnants of which Can women minister effectively? Members of our church come from a remained in the Anglican Book of Before concluding, we must ask two wide variety of cultures, some from tribal Common Prayer until recently, show fundamental questions: Have women in societies with a sacral worldview and that the medieval church also retained ministry enlarged and enriched the others from within the great world this understanding of purity. Society ministry of the church to its own religions—Hinduism, Buddhism, and now understands cleanness in scientific members? and Have they made the Islam. Although women may constitute categories. But though it does, these church's outreach more fruitful? The the majority in the Christian churches in earlier concepts of the danger of defile bulk of the large literature that covers, such societies, only in exceptional cases ment that women pose remain a from every conceivable angle, the expe have they been ordained to any form of weighty, although usually subliminal, rience of women in ministry in North ministry. In the recent discussions in the consideration in those churches in America says yes. Adventist Church, members of these which a major function of the priesthood Women in ministry perform many cultures generally were not in favor of is the performance of the sacraments. tasks and fill particular roles that com ordaining women. Much of this opposi Because of the danger of ritual impurity, plement the work of the male clergy. tion stems from concepts of the holy and women are not regarded as suitable Women excel particularly in specialized of ritual purity and uncleanness. candidates for this office. Similar ideas ministries: chaplaincies in colleges, hos All religions have concepts of the holy underlie some of the arguments for a pitals, the military, and so on; team that may include holy beings, holy celibate clergy. ministries in evangelism; and specialized things, holy places, and holy time. I believe this is one of the reasons ministries in multistaff churches. Adherents believe that these must be many Adventists in Third World Women can often relate more effectively protected from defilement. The holy is churches do not favor the ordination of than can men to women—especially the

16 MINISTRY/MARCH/1987 young, educated, and professional Planning, National Council of Churches, March religious experience; it doesn't mean our women—and to children, and to people 1978], pp. 9-12, and Jackson W. Carroll, Barbara J. Hargrove, and Adair T. Lummis, Women of the religious life is coming to an end. in certain life circumstances. Cloth [San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1981], p. 6.) Perhaps most important of all, we But women pastors minister effec Interestingly, the churches within the Method need to remember that satisfying answers ist tradition have been the most wholeheartedly tively in every conceivable church set open to the ordination of women. The Adventist to religious questions often come from ting. Surveys indicate that some con Church is closest to this church family and owes action rather than reflection. The ulti gregations rate their female ministers as much to it for its basic theological orientation and mate test of Christian faith is not church polity. (This and the fact that Ellen G. better preachers than the male ministers White played such a prominent role in the birth intellectual but practical. More impor on their staffs. and early years of the Adventist Church, make the tant than whether or not we can explain On the other hand, women in min difference in their attitudes toward women in ministry quite a puzzle.) our beliefs is whether or not we can live istry encounter difficulty with some them. population groups. These problems are Some would-be Christians once asked generally most intense in single-pastor Blaise Pascal how to obtain faith. He churches with traditionally conservative told them to associate with believers, to congregations, and among some of the worship and pray with them—in short, minority groups. Reconciling . . . to act as if they already had faith. Pascal Some people, particularly some men, From page 13 believed that the experience of faith so identify the role of the pastor with would follow the words and actions of maleness that they are not sure how to evidence is limited. Faith always believes commitment. relate to a woman pastor. Should they more than reason can fully establish. William James makes a similar point relate to her as a woman? And is it Similarly, reason can remove obsta in his essay "Is Life Worth Living?" He possible to relate to her as if her sex cles to personal trust in God, and when concludes with this admonition: makes no difference? faith is already present, reason can help "Believe that life is worth living, and Some tradition-oriented male leaders it to grow. But it cannot lead someone all your belief will help create the fact." 12 have difficulty relating to a woman's the way from unbelief to religious com As we have argued in this discussion, exercising of clerical authority. And the mitment. In short, our discussion sup there is a place for serious thinking in the history of women in ministry in North ports the conclusion that faith is reason Christian life. But reflection can America is replete with examples of able, but it is not necessarily reasoned. accomplish only so much. The time women whom churches have felt were Faith includes reason, but it is not comes when we must act. Careful overly preoccupied with the concerns of limited to reason. investigation can demonstrate that faith the women's movement. is a reasonable choice, but it cannot But all in all, women in ministry have Dealing with doubt prove that it is the right choice. Only the now become an intrinsic part of the This view of faith and reason has some exercise of faith, the act of commitment ecclesiastical establishment in the Prot important practical implications. Let us itself, shows us that. estant churches of North America. conclude by looking at how it can help us Sociological expectations are that the deal with the perplexing problem of 1 Helen Gardner, ed., The New Oxford Book of English Verse (New York: Oxford University Press, percentage of women pastors (now about doubt. 1972), p. 703. 5 percent of the total) will continue to When serious thinking seems to leave 2 Quoted in Hans Kung, Does God Exist? An increase well into the next decade and us with more questions than answers Answer for Today, trans. Edward Quinn (New York: Vintage Books, 1981), p. 92. probably beyond that. The denomina about religion, we would do well to keep 3 An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, tions that are ordaining women have several things in mind. As we have Section X, part 1 in Edwin A. Burtt, ed., The learned to maximize the gifts of both English Philosophers From Bacon to Mill (New York: noticed, because it always goes beyond The Modern Library, 1939), p. 653. men and women in ministry. Impartial the available evidence, religion always 4 William Kingdon Clifford, "The Ethics of observers are firmly convinced that the poses a degree of uncertainty or risk. But Belief," in Leslie Stephen and Frederick Pollock, eds., Lectures and Essays (London: Macmillan and harmonious blending of dedicated min every significant venture holds an ele Co., 1879), vol. 2, p. 186. istries has strengthened and enriched ment of risk. Moreover, there is an 5 Wesley Salmon, "Religion and Science: A those churches. element of mystery in every important New Look at Hume's Dialogues," Philosophical Studies 33 (1978): 176, quoted in Alvin Plantinga relationship, not just our relationship and Nicholas Wolterstorff, eds., Faith and Ratio with God. So it should not surprise us to nality: Reason and Belief in God (Notre Dame, Ind.: 1 The Christian Century, Feb. 6-13, 1985, p. Notre Dame University Press, 1983), p. 18. 114. discover a measure of doubt in even the 6 From the Latin word fides, for "faith." 2 In 1977 the 76 denominations that ordain strongest religious experience. 7 Ellen G. White, Christ's Object Lessons women to the ministry reported a total of 10,470 This suggests a second point. If people (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Pub. female clergy. That year 1,576 were serving in the Assn., 1941), p. 333. Assemblies of God Church, 388 in the Christian like job and Abraham—outstanding 8 ————, Steps to Christ (Mountain View, Church (Disciples of Christ), 157 in the American examples of faith—wrestled with doubt Calif.: Pacific Press Pub. Assn., 1956), p. 105. Baptist Church, 426 in the Church of the within their relationship to God, then it 9 Ibid. Nazarene, and 384 in the Wesleyan Church. The 10 For example, see Richard Swinburne, The year 1981 saw 757 serving the United Church of must be possible for us to work through Existence of God (New York: Oxford University Christ and 1,316 the United Methodist Church. our religious questions within the frame Press, 1979). In general, each year since has brought a signifi 11 Jesus cited children as examples of those who cant increase in the number of women ministers work of a religious life. We don't have to will enter the kingdom of God (Mark 10:14), and serving in Protestant churches. The Roman put our faith on hold or isolate ourselves He marveled at the faith of a Canaanite woman Catholic and Orthodox churches do not ordain from other Christians until we have all (Matt. 15:21-28). women to the priesthood. (Statistics from Con 12 The Will to Believe and Other Essays in Popular stant H. Jacquet, "Women Ministers in 1977" our questions answered. Examining Philosophy (New York: Dover Publications, Inc., [New York: Office of Research, Evaluation, and what we believe can be part of our 1956), p. 62.

MINISTRY/MARCH/1987 17 The small church advantage

hen I was in college American Division 78 percent of B. Russell Holt and seminary, most Seventh-day Adventist churches have of my professors less than 200 members; 57 percent have seemed to assume less than 100.* Congregations range that I would spend from a low of four members to the If you were trained to my life pastoring a 4,990-member Loma Linda University church of 600 church in Loma Linda, California—the serve a large church, talented, eager-to-serve members. After denomination's largest in North I graduated and became a pastor, most of America. Even in California, however, but find yourself the programs coming to me from differ not all Adventist churches are large. In ent church departments and entities the Southern California Conference 44 serving small seemed to make the same assumption. percent of the churches have 200 mem In reality, I had two small churches of bers or less; 12 percent have less than congregations, you about 50 members each. Not unusual, 100. For the Southeastern California may find it difficult to you say, for a young pastor's first district. Conference the figures are 39 percent The anticipated career track for Advent- and 14 percent respectively. understand the ist pastoral ministry envisions a year or Obviously, the majority of Adventist two of internship in a large church, pastors will spend their entire ministry advantages small ones learning the ropes under a senior pastor, serving small churches. But if you're then a district of two or three small among that majority, you don't have to can have. But small churches, followed by increasingly larger feel badly or pine for a larger congrega congregations, and finally a single tion. Small can be beautiful. I know; I've can be beautiful. church of 500 or 600 members. pastored some really small churches. How does reality compare with this Sure, small churches have their draw anticipation? Can most seasoned pastors backs. They often lack talented members reasonably expect to serve a large con and almost always have a weak financial gregation? base. A shortage of children sometimes Statistics say no. Writing in Christian makes it difficult, if not impossible, to ity Today (Aug. 8, 1986, p. 10), editor have a church school. Realistic expec V. Gilbert Beers declares: "The fact of tations for significant church growth may the matter is that there are more small seem limited. And it's easy to conclude churches in America than large that your small church can't wield the B. Russell Holt, asso churches. Anywhere from 50 to 70 ciate editor of Signs of percent of most denominations are 'small the Times, is a former church' (usually under 200people). And "Specifically, 899 churches out of the executive editor of when you have weeded out the deceased, 4,226 in the North American Division have MINISTRY. nonresidents, and dropouts, most 200 members or more, and 920 number from church rolls could probably be cut as 100 to 199 members. These figures are based on actual counts from the directories of all 58 much as 50 percent—all of which means conferences in North America. Companies, that small churches are often much groups, and other unorganized congregations smaller than their membership rolls are not included since by definition they are indicate." small in number. The "conference church" is Our own denomination bears out also left out of the tabulation because it has what editor Beers has said. In the North no pastor as such.

18 MINISTRY/MARCH/1987 influence in the community or in the has a greater percentage of active mem conference that large churches enjoy. bers than the average small church. In But don't be too quick to decide that a fact, I'm quite certain it's the other way The wise pastor will small church dooms you to a mediocre around. If I had to choose between ministry. Small churches have some raising an Ingathering goal of $12,500 be sure he knows advantages that large ones can't match. with 500 members or a goal of $1,250 Here are six advantages of small with 50 members, I know which one I who is related to churches and how they can work for you would pick. and your members. Check it out for yourself. Look at all whom before he says the comparative listings your conference Adaptability office sends you. Per capita, small very much to anyone Small churches are more adaptable churches will probably be at the top. about anybody! than large churches. I once planned a Whatever the goals deal with— spring evangelistic series in the smallest finances, baptisms, church atten church of my three-church district—a dance—I'm convinced that as long as congregation boasting about 16 mem goals are based on membership, small bers, as I recall. This church sat, as it had churches will reach them more easily since the late 1800s, in a tiny crossroads than large churches will. community of some two dozen houses Like any close-knit family, a small surrounded by outlying farms. The family feeling church can be prone to rivalries, feuds, My advertising brochures (all 200 of Small churches have a feeling of and grudges. But I've noticed that the them) had been distributed; the mem family that large churches can't often same things happen in large churches. bers were ready to support the meetings duplicate. Many times the small church At least in a small church everyone with their attendance and by inviting feels like a family because it is one. The knows that Sally and Mary aren't speak guests. The meetings were to begin on wise pastor will be reasonably sure he ing this week, and the family can start Saturday night. Sabbath morning 18 knows who is related to whom before he trying to reconcile the two. In a larger inches of late-spring snow paralyzed says very much to anyone about any church most of the members may not everything on wheels, and I lived 45 body! It's amazing how the family tree even know who Sally and Mary are. miles from the church! But the snow can include some branches you would didn't affect the telephone. It was a never have suspected. Informality relatively simple matter to get on the But aside from blood relatives, a small Small churches are less formal than phone and postpone the meetings one church just naturally generates a closer large churches. Depending on your point week. Within minutes everyone in the bond between members than is possible of view, this may or may not be an church knew of the revised meeting in a large congregation. In a small advantage. If you're highly structured schedule. Within three or four hours church everybody knows everybody and organized, the fact that the service everyone in the community knew. Try else—who they are, what they do, where doesn't begin until enough people show accomplishing that with a 600-member they live, and what they've been up may bother you. If you're more church in a city of 200,000 people! through. In a large church, members spontaneous in your approach to life, you Small churches are more flexible and may know a small circle of friends that may see that as an advantage. If nothing adapt more quickly to emergencies than way; they probably recognize a larger else, the informality of the small church do large churches. It's the principle of group by sight, but the rest are mostly keeps things from getting dull. inertia. An ocean liner simply can't turn strangers. "Sister Smith is sick today. Mary, can as quickly as a row boat. Knowing and My wife learned this the hard way. We you play hymn No. 311?" using this fact can make your church had belonged to a 600-member church Mary looks, decides that No. 311 has effective in ways that would be difficult for two or three years when she became too many sharps, but says she could do for a large church. one of a team of greeters at the front "pretty good" with No. 543. So everyone Incidentally, when the meetings doors. This church always had a large sings No. 543, and Mary indeed does began a week later, the little church was number of visitors, so spotting an unfa "pretty good." ("Pretty good" is enough filled, and we baptized four people at the miliar face one Sabbath morning and in itself to keep things from getting dull.) close of the series—25 percent of the wanting to be friendly, she asked Informality can be overdone, of church membership. And that points up brightly, "Are you visiting our church course. One district I pastored included a the second advantage of a small church. today?" 23-member church that pushed the The man eyed her coolly and replied, limits. About twice a month Henry Reaching goals "I've been a member here for six years!" showed up for church, always with some Small churches can usually reach per Such a thing could never happen in a provision against starvation—a candy capita goals easier than large churches church of 100 members. Small churches bar, a bag of potato chips, a handful of can. I know the argument that says the don't have to schedule a moment of peanuts. (Never, I'm thankful, anything reverse is true: in a large church you have organized friendliness into the service as large as a watermelon or a cake.) Early more people to help reach the goal. and have everyone greet someone sitting in the service Henry would produce his However, the key factor is not bodies, nearby. In a small church most of the snack and eat it. That wasn't a real but active participants, and I'm not worshipers have already greeted every problem; he did it fairly unobtrusively. convinced that the average large church one else. But eating made Henry sleepy, so he

MINISTRY/MARCH/1987 19 usually stretched out on the pew and more internal management the larger it almost as many people on the platform as went to sleep! becomes. in the pews. Everyone is needed; every Now we all knew that Henry wasn't By comparison, a 100-member church one's talents (or lack thereof) are well operating with the same mental capacity can almost run itself. Even when you known, and everyone gets drafted to do most everyone else enjoys, so we didn't consider that a small church also requires something. make a big thing out of his nap. Anyway, regular board meetings and a certain Having people who are used to active he wasn't the only member I've had who amount of committee work (even when participation in the church is a blessing took naps during my sermons—just the these are duplicated two or three times to your ministry. These are the people only one who didn't mind doing it because of multichurch districts), fewer who will respond most readily when you openly. hours are spent on administrative duties appeal for involvement in special proj I'm the first to admit that informality in a small church than in a large one. ects. Of course, any church, large or has a twin brother named carelessness and That's why a large church often has a small, is going to have lethargic mem a cousin called sloppiness. But if you can minister of visitation—the senior pastor bers. But it's harder to be inactive in a keep away from these two, informality must spend most of his time as an small church than it is in a large one. can add a special quality to worship. administrator. Things come off too slick in some large When you pastor a small church, you Respect your church churches, almost like a television special get to do more of the satisfying part of There they are—six advantages small in which every second and every line is ministry, visiting your members in their churches have over large ones. Advan planned beforehand.On balance, I put homes, holding Bible studies, doing tages that you and your members can use down informality, rightly handled, as a personal evangelism—in short, people to make your ministry more effective plus for the small church. work instead of paperwork. And that's than you may have thought possible. the primary purpose of being a pastor— But a word of caution. Don't fall into More people-oriented ministry ministering directly to people. the trap of thinking that small means you The small church allows you to spend can afford to be less professional than less of your time being an administrator Active laity your large-church colleagues. and more of your time in direct ministry A small church demands more active You may be able to keep your member to people. In most cases the senior pastor involvement of its members. A large ship list on the back of an envelope, but of a 500-member or larger church is as church usually has a dedicated core of don't. If you do, you, your members, and much administrator as he is pastor. He talented people who willingly assume the community will see your church as heads up a pastoral staff—at least an responsibility, and a great mass of passive just that—a vest-pocket operation. intern and an office secretary—whom he members who willingly watch them do Approach your ministry as though you must supervise and assign duties. Add it. A small church, on the other hand, had a thousand members. Hold regular committees (figure at least one per 50 can't afford the luxury of very many idle board meetings and keep accurate members), boards (churchboard, school members. When the nominating com minutes. Insist that the treasurer and board, plus a few the conference will find mittee meets to select church officers clerk maintain up-to-date records and for him to sit on), budgets to help and assign responsibilities, you can be turn in their reports to the conference prepare and follow, regular office hours, sure that nearly every member of a small office promptly. Put out a monthly correspondence, elders' and deacons' church will have a job—often two or church newsletter and mail it to your meetings, and the pastor finds himself three. members' homes. Make it neat and with precious few hours for person-to- In a large church a member may come informative. person ministry. and go for years without ever being asked See that the church building and It really isn't his fault, and many to do much of anything, especially if he grounds are in good repair and attractive pastors of large churches fight against it or she likes it that way. With so many inside and out. Small doesn't have to as much as they can, but it's just the people, it's easy to get lost in the crowd. mean dirty, cluttered, or disorganized. nature of any organization to require Not so in a small congregation that has Throw away last year's Ingathering papers (or find some better use for them than to decorate the back windowsill or a corner of the sanctuary). Clean the clutter out of the pulpit. Have an up-to-date sign identifying your church. In short, don't use your small size as an excuse for mediocrity or worse. Small can be as good as, or even better than, large. After all, if 50 to 70 percent of the churches in most North American denominations are small, there must be a reason they continue to thrive. People must be finding in these small congrega tions a spiritual home that meets their needs. That's what your church—no matter how small—can be for your members.

20 MINISTRY/MARCH/1987 Ministering through the gift of writing

Eleanor P. Anderson uring our first full- that worked and wrote about them. time pastorate we To set the scene in the article, I moved the church described the problem: Three girls wait building across the in the corner, whispering and giggling. village green with Tom comes in, asking in a loud voice, most of the commu- "Did you see the game on TV last night?" nity watching. Enthusiastically he proceeds to tell about Learn how you can There we added an education building. a crucial play. It was an exciting event. I wrote about The buzzer sounds, signaling the widen your sphere of the undertaking, using the language of beginning of the class period. Henry and an Old Testament narration. The article Nancy walk in, engrossed in their own influence. sold immediately, and I was hooked on conversation. It's time to teach this writing. class. But how does one get these young From that time on, writing for publi people into Bible study at this moment? cation became my hobby. With three In the article I described word games little ones, time was scarce, but I that I used as attention-getters and occasionally managed to mail off some mentioned other useful ideas: brief com thing. I wrote a poem about our chil petition between teams to review last dren, an article on teaching children to week's lesson, working on a bulletin pray, and several devotionals for a board as they enter the room, open- quarterly publication. ended stories to aid discussion, and Then I discovered the Christian edu questionnaires before a new unit of cation (Sunday/Sabbath school) mar study. I defined the problem and gave ket. One of our daughters invited me to a possible solutions. special program in her Sunday school When I taught an adult class, my class marking the end of a unit. The boys writing reflected that. In another church and girls, dressed as children of Jesus' I was part of a teaching team. An editor day, quoted Scripture about Jesus' liked my description of our methods arid growth and explained about the models the advantages I saw in team teaching. of houses, lamps, and displays of food Once again I shared what I knew. used in those times. I was impressed. A In several churches I had charge of denominational teachers' magazine children's choirs. Articles on the choirs printed an article detailing what I had and on using music in Christian educa Eleanor P. Anderson, seen and heard. tion found a ready market. from Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, assists Before long I realized that my experi In each instance I wrote about experi her American Baptist ences as a Sunday school teacher and ences I had had that could be useful to pastor-husband in those of teachers I knew could be useful others. Sunday school and Sabbath teaching Sunday school to others. I began to write about what I school superintendents and teachers are and leading church choirs. was discovering in classes. eager for new ideas. They want to know Once I taught a group of lively junior what has worked for someone else. They highs. They seemed so engrossed in their get excited when they read an article and own lives, so noisy and full of conversa can say, "Why, I could do that!" tion, that I wondered if I would ever be The "shepherdess" in a church has an able to reach them. I found some things opportunity to serve in many ways and to

MINISTRY/MARCH/1987 21 observe others at work. Ideas gleaned speech problems. In working with them but have never started, give it a try. One from experience, written clearly and in a and in discussions with the professionals way to begin is to write short teaching straightforward manner, may be just who had speech therapy twice a week, I tips. Many Christian education maga what an editor is looking for. learned the fundamentals of testing for zines use these. For example, I wrote Of course, church programs and specific consonant aberrations. In the about 10 ways to use a paper plate in teaching ideas are not the only subjects classroom we practiced special exercises Sunday school. Think of a problem you for writing. When our children were for speech improvement. All this found solved, a craft idea that the children young, we camped each summer. We its way into an article. loved, a new way of presenting a Bible were usually able to find a place to About this time I began writing truth. Write it as if you were explaining worship. The day we sat in an outdoor children's stories for Sunday school it to a friend. amphitheater in a cloud of mosquitoes is take-home papers. This is another wide Perhaps your expertise in Bible study funny now. The minister even shortened open field. Many denominations publish would enable you to make up puzzles and his sermon. Another time we traveled age-level papers to be handed out each quizzes for children's and young people's many miles to a campground where week. My public school experience in take-home papers. Such puzzles are not jean-clad worshipers sat and worshiped. kindergarten and first grade made me just space fillers but can be a means of As we were coming back through Rocky comfortable with the vocabulary and helping young minds retain Bible knowl Mountain National Park, the brilliant attitudes of that age group. edge. moonlight picked out a magnificent buck I have written and sold many devo- Anything sent for publication must be standing near the edge of the road. I put tionals based on my experiences in typed, double-spaced. Always, always, these outdoor worship experiences into parsonage life. Turning a problem into a enclose a self-addressed, stamped enve an article for a Christian family maga- blessing, I even sold an article about lope. At the end of this article are names zine. practical ideas I had gained from moving and addresses of a few Christian educa Not all experiences make it into print. from one place to another. Whatever tion periodicals. Writer©s Market, which When hiking on Mount Washington in your walk in life, you have had experi can be found in bookstores and probably New Hampshire, I stumbled and fell on ences that could be helpful to others in your library, will tell you the specific the trail, spraining my ankle. I tried to Christian work. requirements of these publications: put this into a young people's story, but I hope by now you're saying "Why, I length of articles, type of fillers, and so so far no one has accepted it. could do that! I have things to share on. When I began teaching public school, too." Of course. I have detailed my A most helpful sourcebook is Religious I had little time for writing, except in the experiences, hoping to encourage other Writer©s Marketplace, by William Gentz. summer. But I have had some success ministers' wives to try writing. It is published by Running Press in with writing teaching tips for specialized Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and it lists teachers' magazines. Getting started many religious publications for all age In one class I had several children with If you've always had an urge to write groups with addresses and requirements. Most libraries have some books on the how-to of writing. Your bookstore will probably carry one or more writer's Christian Education Publications magazines with articles on many specifics of the craft. The Christian Writer maga The Alliance Teacher Key to Christian Education zine (P.O. Box 5650, Lakeland, EL 3825 Haitzdale Drive 8121 Hamilton Avenue 33807) is like a writing course by mail, Camp Hill, PA 17011 Cincinnati, OH 45231 and all from the Christian viewpoint. There are teaching tapes and writer's Builder Our Little Friend (Kindergarten) seminars and workshops in many areas. 616 Walnut Avenue Primary Treasure However, the most important thing you Scottdale, PA 15683 1350 N. Kings Road can do is to start writing! Write up a Nampa, ID 83687 teaching tip. Write a description of a Christian Leadership craft your Vacation Bible School Board of Christian Education Resource enjoyed. Write about an experience with P.O. Box 2458 6401 The Paseo answered prayer. As you write you'll Anderson, IN 46018 Kansas City, MO 64131 learn how to express yourself better each time. Church Educator Sunday School Counselor Writing is not for everyone, but for me Educational Ministries 1445 Boonville Avenue it is a way to minister. I am not a public 2861-C Saturn Street Springfield, MO 65802 speaker by choice. I would rather write a Brea, CA 92621 note than telephone someone. The Teacheraid written word is my vehicle for sharing my Guide (preteens) 2900 Queen Lane thoughts. People have written to say that Insight (teens) Philadelphia, PA 19120 a devotional met a specific need one day 55 W. Oak Ridge Drive or that my advice on moving was helpful. Hagerstown, MD 21740 As long as God can use my words on paper, I'll keep on writing them.

22 MINISTRY/MARCH/1987 From the Editors

The minister: a perpetual student ontinuing education study that should take place daily as the perhaps a college or university) campus is not new! The cur seminary graduate prepares to minister can be professionally helpful as well as rent emphasis on effectively in an ever-changing society. spiritually refreshing. Home-based con professional growth There is no substitute for this daily tinuing education courses (such as are experiences appears program if the pastor is to be biblically provided by the General Conference to be rather recent, literate, historically clear, and theologi Ministerial Association) are an inex but the practice is cally sophisticated. Other forms of con pensive option that allows private study not. Regular academic graduate pro tinuing education, whatever their source at one's own pace. Bibliographies, grams, summer conferences, denomina or direction, should enhance this effort books, and scholarly journals from semi tion-wide seminars, extension schools, and not in any way attempt to displace it. nary and university libraries also provide various institutes, and intern-orienta Continuing education must have opportunity for personal and profes tion programs have been conducted for some end in mind; it must not be simply sional growth. All of this is a part of some time. an activity for activity's sake. But before continuing education. Mark Rouch's definition of continuing we can establish the purpose or even the In his early work Reinhold Niebuhr education describes what many ministers desirability of extending theological expressed his view of the Christian in many periods of the church's history education, we must come to some ethical norm, the ethic of Jesus, as "the have engaged in; to wit: "Continuing understanding as to what it properly impossible possibility." The demands on education is an individual's personally attempts within the scope of its present their time and energy ministers face defined program which begins when professional curriculum. today sometimes make the task of basic formal education ends, and con To a large degree, ministers function continuing education and allowing it to tinues throughout a career and beyond. as teachers; they are ordained as pastor- mold their ministry seem impossible. Yet An unfolding process, it links together teachers. Since the ministry of Jesus the many resources and opportunities personal study and reflection and partici- Christ belongs to the whole people of now available provide fresh hope that pation in organized group events" God, the theological education a semi the impossible may become possible. (Competent Ministry: A Guide to Effective nary gives should enable its graduates to —Rex D. Edwards. Continuing Education [Nashville: Abing- "equip the saints" for ministry. Seminary donPress, 1974], pp. 16, 17). training should also assist the student to An effective continuing education become a self-learner; it should create a program may fulfill several purposes: the lifelong thirst for study and growth. No Conflicting need to be brought up-to-date on the quantity of schooling is an adequate recent trends in scholarly discipline; the substitute for this. A program of contin church conflict necessity of acquiring competence in a uing education, then, is not merely an new specialty; a consciousness that the opportunity to "get more in," but must church must be in constant dialogue serve, in a very real sense, to encourage astor, I saw Joe help with the contemporary world of which it the seminary graduate to be a perpetual ing himself to some is a part and the need to clarify and student. money from the redefine her mission in the context of an There are several continuing educa offering plate during enlightened understanding of society; an tion programs that can assist ministers in the worship service. awareness that a minister may serve more this task. Perhaps the most obvious is That's stealing, and effectively in another form of ministry that of formal graduate study at the you ought to do and the development of competence for master's or doctoral level. Many univer something about it." it; or simply satisfying the desire for an sities and seminaries also offer convoca "Well, Mary, thank you for telling me advanced degree. tions, conferences, and institutes on a about it. Have you talked to Joe?" Whatever avenues of continuing edu variety of subjects that may or may not be "Certainly not; that's your job, not cation may be developed by seminaries, part of a degree sequence. The opportu mine." colleges, universities, or other institu nity to spend some time—perhaps a Whose job is it? Should anything be tions, it must be remembered that the week or two—in concentrated study as a said to Joe? Maybe he was just making heart of any such program is the serious "pastor-in-residence" on a seminary (or change. When someone comes to you

MINISTRY/MARCH/1987 23 with a problem, what is your usual have won your brother over. But if to be in conflict, for true love covers "a response? What if it is an allegation of he will not listen, take one or two multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8).—J. adultery? Do you go and talk with the others along, so that ©every matter David Newman. couple? may be established by the testimony How do you handle potential conflict of two or three witnesses©" (verses * Texts in this article are from the New in the church? Paul says, "Brothers, if 15, 16). If there is no resolution after a International Version. someone is caught in a sin, you who are personal visit, then the persons involved spiritual should restore him gently. But need the help of a third party. watch yourself, or you also may be It is crucial to choose the right third Religion and tempted" (Gal. 6:1).* Usually we wait person. Remember, the purpose of the Communism before we act, until the problem has visit is to clear up a problem, to help From page 9 spread and polarization is taking place. someone, or simply to communicate We then expend enormous amounts of more effectively. If you take along one of bound in one volume. energy solving a major problem that your friends who has no special relation Our church in Czechoslovakia owns, should never have been allowed to grow ship to the other person, all you do is with official permission, a very good to such an extent. further intimidate the one you visit. The offset press and several binding The Bible gives a four-step method for third party should be one who has the machines. The church has had books dealing with conflict. When someone mutual respect of both sides. The pur printed for it by the state and has also comes to you with a problem that pose of having a third party is to help printed its own. It publishes a children's involves another person, you should bridge the gap between the two sides, to magazine entitled Little Light, and is immediately ask the accuser if he or she help in the listening process, and to filter preparing a new church hymnal. At the has followed the counsel of Matthew out some of the emotional roadblocks present our press is located 100 miles 18:15'17. In most cases the answer is no. that have developed. outside of Prague, but the church has Step 1; "If your brother sins This step may take some time and purchased a new property in Prague and against you, go and show him his involve several meetings. It is amazing is in the process of remodeling the fault, just between the two of you" how effective having a third party building and moving the press. (verse 15). We can prevent much present can be. Since both sides trust this Czechoslovakia operates on a five-day conflict right here. However, most of the person, they will listen to him when they workweek, so Adventist children do not time we would much rather discuss the are not listening to each other. have to face the question of attending problem with anyone except the individ Step 3: "If he refuses to listen to school on Saturday. Although the state ual involved. Often a direct approach to them, tell it to the church" (verse controls the educational program of its the individual reveals that the real 17). Only after the first two steps are citizens, our church is allowed to con problem is just a misunderstanding or followed should anyone else be involved. duct Sabbath schools for our young lack of communication. People do not Now it is appropriate to discuss it at an people on Saturday mornings. always hear what we mean. Always give elders' meeting or a church board ses We are also allowed to run a theologi others the benefit of the doubt. sion. The group must develop compre cal training program on the second It is important that you ask if this first hensive strategies so that the fellowship weekend of the month 10 months a year. and most vital step has been followed. If of the church is not hurt or destroyed. For this program we bring together it hasn't, then insist that it be followed If you have followed steps 1 and 2, you students from all over the nation on before you become too involved. If the will find that you do not have to worry so Friday afternoon, meet all day Sabbath, individual says the problem really isn't much about step 3. It is because the first and end our program on Sunday after that important anyway, you have saved two steps are often omitted that church noon. yourself some grief. However, if a person boards have to spend so much time Twenty of our students are allowed to is unwilling to take this step and instead debating interpersonal issues. attend a seminary in Prague. Our head informs others of the problem, that Step 4: "If he refuses to listen even quarters office in Prague receives 15 person becomes part of the conflict and to the church, treat him as you would copies of MINISTRY magazine every should be subject to church discipline for a pagan or a tax collector" (verse 17). month. Permission to bring in books and actions in violation of a direct command This is the final and most drastic step. If materials for our church program is not of Scripture. the situation deteriorates to the place difficult to secure. Step 2: "If he listens to you, you where the very life of the church is As we came to the end of our six-week threatened, and if no more help can be tour, we felt that God truly is blessing the given, then to save the body the person Christian work in all these countries. or persons need to be disciplined, maybe The challenge is great not only here but even disfellowshipped. No one has a throughout the whole world. What we J. David right to keep disrupting the body. do to prepare a people for the soon Newman Yes, we do have a duty to deal with the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ we must faults of others, but to quote Paul again, do quickly. we must do it "gently" and watch The question raised earlier comes to ourselves, or we might be tempted. We those of us in the West, too: Are we must go with the spirit of Jesus lest we making use of all the opportunities and add fuel to the fire. If we will pray for love liberties we have for sharing the good and learn to love, we will find little need news with the world?

24 MINISTRY/MARCH/1987 Health and Religion

Alcohol and the pregnant woman

Elizabeth Sterndale

etal Alcohol Syn elimination from its body. low doses, high doses bring severe drome (FAS), At birth the average American infant prolonged constriction or even complete Down's syndrome, weighs 7.2 pounds, with only 7 percent collapse of the blood vessels in the and spina bifida are weighing less than 5.5 pounds. 2 In umbilical cord. This then leads to fetal the three most com contrast, the average FAS infant weighs oxygen deficiency.4' 5 mon problems lead less than 4.5 pounds, and 75 percent of A recent Swedish study reported that ing to mental retar these infants weigh less than 5.5 pounds children of alcoholic women showed an dation in newborns. Fetal Alcohol (2,500 grams).3 This low birth weight is IQ score 15 to 19 points below that of a Syndrome is the direct result of alcohol a good predictor of increased sickness control group of normal children. One in the mother's blood transferring to the and mortality. half of the children of alcoholic women blood of the unborn child. Each year FAS is characterized by several birth showed signs of FAS and had lower IQ some 3,000 to 5,000 babies born in the defects, including irreversible mental scores than those who did not show signs United States have FAS—and this is retardation, delayed development or of FAS. Sixty percent showed signs of probably a low estimate because many of motor retardation, and distortion of hyperactivity, distractibility, and short the symptoms of FAS are not apparent at physical features. There may be prob attention span, and one-third showed birth or in the early months of child lems in any one of the body's major organ signs of low perseverance.6 hood. 1 systems. Frequently the baby has a small At what stage of her pregnancy, then, FAS is a group of defects and symp head and distinctive facial features: a flat should a woman stop drinking? How toms exhibited in varying degrees in the profile, small eyes, short nose, ears set much alcohol is safe during pregnancy? children of drinking mothers. Some low, and sometimes other deformities. Studies indicate that even when a babies and young children are diagnosed The IQ of an FAS child averages woman isn't drinking enough to be quickly and easily as having FAS. The between 65 and 70. The child may considered an alcoholic, her drinking symptoms of others are barely perceiv manifest hyperactivity, learning disabil has a negative effect on her baby. able at birth. Only as the child goes ities, and motor disturbances that may Researchers have been unable to show through some of the developmental include fine and gross motor activity, how much, if any, alcohol can be stages and fails to keep up with the FAS has been divided into three consumed without harming the unborn. accepted norm is the syndrome diag classifications: true FAS children, those If a woman wants assurance that no harm nosed. manifesting all symptoms; moderate will come to the unborn, she should stop Yet FAS is preventable. Women who FAS children, those showing some drinking before she becomes pregnant. do not drink do not produce children functional impairment and physical In terms of deformities, the greatest with FAS. But pregnant women who signs; and mild FAS children, those with harm occurs during the early weeks of take alcohol into their systems in any only from one to a few minor signs. pregnancy, the very time when the form are giving alcohol directly to their Researchers are still debating the woman may not know that she is unborn babies. And the concentration mechanism by which alcohol affects the pregnant. of alcohol in the baby's blood is double infant. But we know quite a bit about the In July 1981 the United States surgeon that in the mother's blood. Alcohol is effects of alcohol. Evidence shows that general mailed a bulletin to more than 1 metabolized through the liver; the fetus, alcohol inhibits cell multiplication, million physicians and health profes however, must release that alcohol back which is vital to the developing embryo sionals in the United States. It said, into the mother's circulatory system for or fetus. In addition alcohol, even in low "The surgeon general advises women Elizabeth Sterndale, R. N., M.S., is an associate doses, may cause a decrease in oxygen who are pregnant (or considering preg director for the Department of Health and delivery to the fetus by causing constric nancy) not to drink alcoholic beverages Temperance of the General Conference of tion of the umbilical artery. Unlike the and to beware of the alcoholic content of Seventh-day Adventists. moderate constriction that occurs with food and drugs." 7 "Even if she does not

MINISTRY/MARCH/1987 25 bear a child with full FAS, a woman who Education for both parents and chil drinks heavily is more likely to bear a dren should be given early. Two types of child with one or more of the birth parent and teacher groups are needed: defects included in the syndrome. [Small information groups involving the total head size,] which is associated with community, and "squeal" groups con mental impairment, is one of the most sisting of parents and teachers who common of these defects." 8 encourage one another to speak up when Two years after the surgeon general's they have concerns about local drug and recommendation, the American Medi alcohol use. As parents listen to the cal Association's Council on Scientific squealing of others, they can lovingly Affairs also came out against the use of confront their children with their behav alcohol during pregnancy. Their state ior. This will make them better chaper ment presented clear evidence tying ons for children's parties and better heavy alcohol consumption with Fetal observers of children's behavior. Alcohol Syndrome. The church should support Alcohol Though the evidence was still not ics Anonymous and its related bodies clear as to the effect of less-than-heavy (Al-Anon, Alateen, etc.), and encour drinking on fetal outcome, the AM A age members to use these groups. It can recommended that "physicians should also provide further support for its be explicit in reinforcing the concept members through small groups within that, with several aspects of the issue still the church. And to have a broader in doubt, the safest course is absti impact in the community the church can nence." 9 get involved with action groups, such as Babies born to a mother with alcohol SADD, MADD, and Straight, that are in her system at birth go through campaigning against alcohol and drugs. withdrawal symptoms. Children of alco Parents should be role models of holic mothers may be bom alcoholics. nonalcoholic behavior not only to their The day they take their first alcoholic children but to the community. Since 10 drink, they may exhibit every symptom percent of social drinkers become alco and have all the problems of an alco holics, we must not consider social holic. This first drink may come any time drinking acceptable. Yet we must help in life. These children do not develop the drinker feel accepted and assist him alcoholism over a period of time. They or her to a healthful lifestyle that are alcoholics from the very first drink. excludes alcohol. To prevent FAS, women must refrain from alcohol use immediately prior to 1 L. B. Robe, Just So It's Healthy (Minneapolis, and during pregnancy. Getting them to Minn.: CompCare Publications, 1977). abstain during these times means we 2 L. J. Querec and E. Spratley, "Characteristics of Births in the United States, 1973-1975," Vital ORDER FORM must teach them values before they make and Health Statistics, Series 21, No. 3 (Hyattsville, the decision to imbibe alcohol. They Md.: Department of Health, Education, and learn these values from parents, from Welfare, 1978). 3 E. L. Abel, "Prenatal Effects of Alcohol on _HCM-7013 Decision* society (including school and church), _HCM-7c'14 Coping With Grid Growth: A Brief Overview," Federation Proceedings _HTH-TCI5 Principles ot Prophetic Interpretation and from immediate peers. 44, No. 7 (April 1985): 2318-2322. _HCM-7029 Keepm" Church Hnance Chnsrian Our efforts at prevention should focus 4 B. M. Altura, B. T. Altura, A. Carella, M. on assisting the community to control Chatterjee, S. Halevy, and N. Tejani, "Alcohol _HGS-7CZS Transitions Produces Spasms of Human Umbilical Blood

_HGS-7C86 Care-Fronting alcohol and alcoholism effectively. The Vessels: Relationship to Fetal Alcohol Syndrome," —HCM-7099 Ajientires m Church Grouth church in its preventive measures needs European Journal of Pharmacology 86, No. 2 (Dec. 24, 1982): 311-312. —HTH-71C6 Sanctuary 1S44, and the Pioneer, to consider both the smaller community -HTH.71 )4 Biblical Me.s.ase ot Sahation 5 A. B. Mukherjee and G. D. Hodgen, _HTH-71J5 Problem Solvms/Conilicr Resolution of its own members and the larger "Material Ethanol Exposure Induces Transient Impairment of Umbilical Circulation and Fetal -HTH-7145 Studies on [he Bonk ot Ilamel community that surrounds it. The _HCM-7147 Making ft'otship Menmnstui Hypoxia in Monkeys," Science 218, No. 4573 Subtotal church's role includes both ministry and (Nov. 12, 1982): 700-702. Lens: 10% it ordenns 2 mission. Ministry means tenderly sup 6 M. Aronson, M. Kyllerman, K. G. Sabel, B. IWitoruerin- i Sandin, and R. Olegard, "Children of Alcoholic porting those in the church and those Mothers: Developmental, Perceptual, and Behav who come to the church for help. ioral Characteristics as Compared to Matched Total Enclosed (U S tunjs onlv) Mission includes the church's outreach Controls," Acta Paediatrica Scanci 74, No. 1 (January 1985): 27-35. to let people know that the church has a 7 PDA Drug Bulletin 11, No. 2 (July 1981). ministry to offer. The church must 8 National Institute on Alcohol and Alcohol ism, Preventing Fetal Alcohol Effects: A Practical confront individuals with the facts and Guide for OB/GYN Physicians and Nurses, Publica then comfort them as it helps them tion No. (ADM)81-1163 (United States Depart change their lifestyles. The church can ment of Health and Human Services 1981). 9 Council on Scientific Affairs, "Fetal Effects of then present natural remedies as alter Maternal Alcohol Use," JAMA 249, No. 18 (May natives. 13, 1983): 2517-2521.

26 MINISTRY/MARCH/1987 Computer Corner Data Base Management and Church Growth James EUithorpe

an a computer data When people come to a church-spon base management sored event, they fill out a form giving us Ministry system guarantee their name and address. If they are new, Tape-of-the-Month growth for your we enter their information into the church? Of course computer; if they have come before, we not, but it can help. simply update their record. Then the What follows is a next time we sponsor an event, they description of how I use a data base to automatically get an invitation, New Emphasis: I can also selectively sort my file. If I help locate and minister to prime inter Expository sermons, instructive semi ests. 1 use the ENABLE integrated want to send a special letter to those who nars, thought-provoking interviews, software package, which includes a data have attended a health-related program helpful reviews, and faith-building base management system (DBMS) along in the past year, the DBMS can quickly stories you can use. with other important features such as a find all of those people and send my letter word processor and spreadsheet. to them. My DBMS keeps track of the names, Periodically, I have the DBMS give New Easy Payment Plans addresses, and telephone numbers of me a list of people who have attended members and interests in my area. I add more than one event recently. This Choose one: other important data to each person's helps me prioritize my visitation sched record, including level of interest, date ule so I can stop by and talk and pray with D Four easy installments of $11.50. of inquiry, most recent pastoral visit, those who show the most interest. After D Pay $45.00 upon receipt of first tapes. comments, and codes I define to give me my visit I can tell the DBMS my D Pay $44.95 in advance—your mem further information about the person. assessment of the level of interest, or bership begins the month following While I could keep track of all that make notes about special needs. receipt of your check. information in a Rolodex card file, the Of course setting up my DBMS to DBMS will do much more than a simple record the data I wanted took time at the card. For starters it will sort my file start—several days in fact—but since Satisfaction guaranteed. alphabetically, or according to postal zip then it has saved me time. If you don't Keep abreast of the best in Adventist codes, and even alphabetically within have the time or inclination to set up preaching, teaching, and professional semi each zip code. Better yet, it will selec your own DBMS, I would be glad to nars. tively sort my file—pulling only names of share the definitions and input screens those who have attended two or more that I use with the ENABLE software seminars, for instance. package. For more information, phone NOW, MORE THAN EVER, I keep track of about 350 interests— me at (518) 798-1631. YOU CANNOT BE people who are not church members but A DBMS cannot guarantee church who have some relationship to the growth. Computers do not win souls, but WITHOUT MINISTRY church. Whenever we are planning a a warm body appearing on the front TAPE-OF-THE-MONTH. seminar or health-related program, I porch at the right time may be just the have the DBMS sort the whole file and key to helping a person make the most print a personalized invitation and enve important decision of his (eternal) life. lope for each person. Since the letters Subscribe Today and envelopes are sorted by zip code, it is (A Software Information Packet describing MINISTRY Tape-of-the-Month easy to bundle them for bulk mailing. various integrated DBMS systems and other Box 217, Burtonsville, MD 20866 software for church use is available from James EUithorpe, a pastor and computer consul MINISTRY, 6840 Eastern Ave., NW., Washing tant, writes from Glens Falls, New York. ton, D.C. 20012 for $4.00.) MINISTRY/MARCH/1987 27 Biblio File

Forced Termination comprehended in the proverb "An age at 4-5 billion to 5 billion years. Brooks R. Faulkner, Broadman Press, ounce of prevention is better than a There are other minor factual errors, Nashville, Tennessee, 1986, 120 pages, pound of cure." but overall the book is helpful, especially $4- 95, paper. Reviewed by Patrick Boyle, to the pastor or teacher who wants to Sabbath school and Stewardship director, Studies in Creation keep abreast of developments in the field South England Conference of Seventh-day John W. Klotz, Concordia Publishing of creation studies. Adventists. House, St. Louis, Missouri, 216 pages, This short, valuable, and relevant $9.95, paper. Reviewed by Harold G. Christians in the Political Arena book is clear, direct, and easy to read. No Coffin, Geosdence Institute, Loma Linda, Vern McLellan, Associates Press, Char pastor will read it without experiencing a California. lotte, North Carolina, 1984, 179 pages, sense of the serious nature of his call to John W. Klotz, a professor at Con $5.95, paper. Reviewed by Clifford Gold- serve God. cordia Seminary, has degrees in both stein, editor, Shabbat Shalom, Washing Although written from a Baptist per theology and biology. A previous work ton, D.C. spective, its message transcends denomi Genes, Genesis, and Evolution has been Vern McLellan is preaching a new national boundaries. It deals with those used for many years by those interested in gospel. A gospel of politics. Fed up with situations in which the pastor has few creation and evolution. This volume the rampant immorality in America, he options other than resignation—situa provides a good summary of the conflict sounds the shofar, calling fellow believ tions that all religious groups are being between creation and evolution, and the ers to enlist in a holy war: "If ever there forced to face. evidences for and against each, though a was a need for patriots—for concerned The book's subtitle is significant: reader without a strong interest in the Christian citizens—in the political "Redemptive options for ministers and subject may not find this book exciting. arena, that time is now!" he writes. churches." Chapter headings such as The author is least qualified in the area He makes a strong case for the need of "Why Ministers Become Expendable," of paleontology (with the possible a moral revamping in America. Pages of "Why Churches Become Dissatisfied exception of his discussion of ancient figures and examples of degeneracy in With Ministers," "Retraining: The Ulti man). He overplays the importance of America fill the book: statistics of drug mate Option," and "Steps to Take to imperfections in the fossil record, and he abuse, divorce, suicide, pornography, Terminate" reflect the practical, down- seems too impressed with differences child molestation—the gamut of ills that to-earth nature of the book. between fossil organisms and their mod are indeed ruining our nation. Crises can be precipitated by a variety ern counterparts. It is true that fossil Like Christ, McLellan rails against of conceptions and misconceptions. organisms usually are different species these moral and spiritual sins. Unlike Midcareer can bring a pastor to a crisis and genera than their living counter Christ, he calls the faithful to political point, as can entrance into the 50s. parts, but family and higher classifica action to remedy the situation. Maturing pastors may view young, tion categories are often the same. One of the few times Christ even gets intelligent, able graduates as threatening Because of their belief in the geologic mentioned in the book, McLellan uses figures. time scale and the theory of evolution, Him as an example of political involve This is a compassionate, constructive, some taxonomists have been biased in ment (or at least he tries). "Jesus Christ's understanding, and helpful response to their assignments of fossils to new genera actions," he writes, "both spiritual and the problems of ending a ministry. and species. political, were closely watched by the Ministers are not held in awe and One thing annoyed me as I read. Klotz government." unquestioned esteem as they once were. fails to clearly differentiate between What political actions? McLellan Churches today feel that they have the expressing his own position and describ gives no examples. right to challenge their pastors. Cool ing the prevailing position of the scien Jesus stayed out of politics because He heads and Christian hearts are invalu tific community concerning time and knew that mankind's needs were spiri able in the tension that a church/pastor geologic processes. If in these ambiguous tual, not political, and that change will conflict generates. passages he is expressing his own inter come only when His laws are written on This book is relevant to any ministry. pretation, he seems overly convinced by people's hearts, not in their legal codes. It may well ring a few warning bells. arguments for long geologic ages. If, on The only time Christ even mentioned Certainly it will remind a pastor that the other hand, he is merely expressing politics was His appeal that it be kept "God can and will richly bless his others' views, his readers would have separate from religion ("Render unto ministry. He can make it satisfying and benefited from a discussion of catastro Caesar . . ."). fulfilling, but He cannot do it without phe as a possible explanation of what we The book does have its valid points. our cooperation and commitment. If observe. Things in this country have gotten out of these elements are missing, we are The 10-to-20-billion-year age of the hand. We do need to return to a headed for trouble—perhaps for a forced earth given on page 75 is puzzling. semblance of moral sanity. And Chris termination. Faulkner's counsel is well Geochronologists estimate our planet's tians, like all citizens, have a right, even

MINISTRY/MARCH/1987 an obligation, to be part of the political behavioral sciences that they are afraid whether Sproul gives sufficient weight to system and to help bring needed to tell the world that which in their those studies that show that the majority changes. But McLellan seems to be inmost souls they strongly suspect to be of Americans still believe in those advocating a total involvement in the true (and which has been borne out by transcendent realities that have pro government at every level by every many in their own private clinical vided a bond of unity in our nation for Christian. His book is more than just experience). 200 years, while maintaining separation philosophy; it is a handbook giving Is Peck suggesting that this brand of between organized religion and the state. information and strategies designed to supercautious professional buddyism is I found Sproul's alternatives and turn the electoral Laodiceans of America really a denial of high professional applications somewhat inadequate, but into political warriors. integrity—a misrepresentation of truth, the book is still an important work and It is a new gospel. and as such a corporate lie? If so, he should be in ministers' libraries not only might in effect be indicting his own for its own value but because "as People of the Lie profession, dubbing them, rather than missionaries to our culture, we need to M. Scott Peck, Simon & Schuster, New their clients, "the people of the He," support Christians who will make a York, 1983, 269 pages, $7.95, paper. coconspirators in a clinical cover-up as it serious contribution . . . which will Reviewed by George Akers, director, were, weak-souled professionals who communicate with our culture and influ Department of Education, General Confer have betrayed their calling by withhold ence it for good." ence of Seventh-day Adventists. ing from laity what they deserve to When the Wall Street Journal called know. This People, This Parish this pioneering discussion by Peck "a I think I hear Peck between the lines Robert K. Hudnut, Zondervan, Grand ground-breaking book," it was right. warning his colleagues that the great Rapids, Michigan, 1986, 192 pages, Peck, indisputably well-trained and denouement hasteneth on apace, and $7.95, paper. Revkwed by David ]. Greer, respected as a teacher, researcher, and that the profession is not going to look Dean of Shreveport Convocation, Rector of author in clinical psychology, managed very good or honest when the truth St. Paul©s Episcopal Church, Shreveport, to shake up his profession thoroughly in about the devil is finally out. Louisiana. this straightforward reflection on the This rich volume of short essays makes essential nature of the human spirit. In Life views: Understanding the Ideas it plain that its author is a lover of God addressing the problem of evil, Peck has That Shape Society Today and His people. Hudnut comes across as issued an unapologetic challenge to the R. C. Sproul, Fleming H. Revell, Old a person who rejoices in Christian conventional wisdom in his field. Tappan, New jersey, 1986, 220 pages, growth by stretching and caring in new He takes on the dilemma of the cosmic $13.95. Reviewed by Pastor Wayne Wil- ways. He is sensitive to his own hurts and conflict through the ages from the ky, Amesbury, Massachusetts. those of his people. As he notes, vantage point of the psychotherapy Sproul delivers what the title prom seminaries ought to make issues of the chamber. It is fascinating to witness a ises—he helps readers to understand heart much more central to those they keen mind such as his hard at work, better the ideas that shape our society are preparing for the ministry. grappling to reconcile reason and revela today. He deals with nearly every signifi As the author describes events, good tion. cant worldview, and his writing is and bad, in his parish, pastors will see Lie could be taken as a quasi-scholarly, careful, understandable, and very read mirror images of themselves. And seeing popularized inquiry into the nature of able. His definitions of terms enable the themselves in this way will help them get evil and the amazing hypocrisy of people. reader to work past misconceptions that in touch with their own feelings and But when Peck advances the notion of often result from misuse, as when receive a clearer vision of what God can inquiry into human orneriness as a "humanism" is mistaken for "humanitar- do in the church. How true it is that the serious new frontier of research, it seems ianism." medium is the message. A loving pastor that he is firing a shot across the bow of While Sproul provides clear insight reflects Christ and in turn brings out his profession. into the "isms" that shape our society, Christ in others. The artificial separation between the many readers may take exception to his The book could also be interesting and natural and the supernatural, contends definition of the Christian's role. He says helpful to lay members who want to Peck, is a "social contract struck that "profit is the goal of all economic encourage their pastor and help the between science and religion," one that exchange." If this is the case, what is the church to grow close to the Lord. grew out of the mutual embarrassment of difference between Christian and secular the Galileo affair, which has immeasur businesspersons? While a reasonable ably stifled both ever since. For all its profit is necessary to continue one's pretenses of liberation and maturity, he ministry or service, surely profit itself asserts, his profession could stand a must not become the chief goal of the Bible credits; Texts credited to NEB are from The New healthy dose of broad-mindedness. (Sci Christian. English Bible. The Delegates of the Oxford University Press and the Syndics of the Cambridge University Press ence apparently has its own special The concept I find most disturbing is 1961, 1970. Reprinted by permission. Texts credited to orthodoxies too!) Sproul's thesis that the pluralism and NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright © 1973, 1978, International Bible Society. The notion of a personal devil is not to relativism of society today will cause a Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Texts be reserved to the Dark Ages, Peck vacuum that will ultimately result in credited to NKJV are from The New King James Version. informs us. It's just that professional totalitarianism or statism so that "the Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982, Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers. Texts credited to RSV are from the Revised taboos have so intimidated modern good of the 'state' will become the Standard Version of the Bible, copyrighted 1946, 1952 © practitioners and researchers in the ultimate point of reality." I wonder 1971, 1973.

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