The Great Controversy
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NEWS • ANALYSIS • OPINION JULY - AUGUST 1993 Volume 1 Number 2 83.75 CONTROVERSY OVER The Great Controversy • Orlando Media Campaign • The Great Controversy Vingicated • Anti-Catholicism: TEMPE"ST INSIDE ADVENnST TODAY THE ADVENTIST CHURCH is being yanked into the late 20th century-a time of confusing contrasts. For example, across the country and in Adventism both theological sophistication and religious fundamentalism are simultaneously blossoming. The cover story of this issue of Adventist Today is the Orlando billboard evangelistic campaign, a signal manifestation of Adventist fundamentalism. FOUNDATION BOARD "Fundamentalism" is named after a Protestant movement in the early 20th century that emphasized the literal interpretation of the Bibleas fundamental for Christian life. Although Keith Colburn fundamentalism is often seen as a derogatory term, it can be merely descriptive; David Raymond Cottrell la evangelist behind the Orlando campaign, in emphasizing a literal interpreta- Donna Evans ontroversy, is an unabashed Adventist fundamentalist (see Mould interview, Gary Fraser John Jones church and the large Florida (Adventist) Hospital doing their best to Ervin Taylor the Mould campaign? It appears that there is no articulated, James Walters Mould among national church leaders (see Dale interview, p. 9). -or administrators-preach sermons which quote Ellen White's Catholic Church's end-time activity. Most members are aware of tified that this is the case; others are deepJy troubled by the silence. Ken & Jo Abbott David Mould and his assertive campaign based on a Ed Allred Antonius & Lilia Brandon Todd Burley John & Charlotte Cassell the Orl Keith & Judy Colburn paign. Anonymous who is Donna Evans princip Gary & Sharon Fraser professo Gary & Annette Frykman century work (see p. 11). Richard & Kathi Guth Readers will decide the appro selves. The Dennis & Jolene Hilliard main story is written by journalist 'ster in Susan & Wayne Jacobsen Orlando, who interviewed Mould Paul Landa, a John & Judy Jacobson professor of church history at La century anti- Elton & Marga Kerr Catholic sentiment (p. 12). Ken & FLorence Lorenz Don & Penny Miller The second section in this issu en the Arizona Rick Murray Conference and Adventist Health proceeds from Thaine & Wanda Price the sale of the Tempe Community closely with Phil& Joyce Reisweig President Frank Dupper's office a an in Arizona M, William Reves to bring together this small cluster er's essay. Gordon M. Rick In a shorter section, Larry Chr Church in Richard & MissyRouhe the Southeast- Glenn & Cherie Rouse Loma Linda, outlines recent deve orth American Anonymous ern California Conference. Gary Don Shasky Division, responds to Pastor Chri James & Maryan Stirling We are gratified with readers' At the Ervin& Marilynn Taylor printing of this second issue we h over 60 letters Bob & Karen Torrey to the editor on topics ranging fro uction of Adventist David Van Putten Today-the latter topic getting the Ie and 10% Gary Vogle unfavorable). Some of these are' Priscilla& James Walters James & Betty Webster Keep the letters coming! Tim & Stephanie Welebir Jim Walters Adventist Today July/August 1993 Inside Adven tist Today 2 Controversy Over TheGreat Controversy Media Campaign Heats Up Orlando 4 James Coffin David Mould on David Koresh and End-Time Events 6 David Mould Defends Campaign: An Interview .7 "1Will Not Be Quiet" Profile of David Mould , 8 James Coffin Leadership Listens to Options: Interview with Robert Dale 9 The Great Controversy Vindicated 10 Clifford Goldstein Anti-Catholicism: A Substitute Gospel.. ll Frank Knittel Anti-Catholicism in the 19th Century 12 Paul Landa The Great Controversy: Ambivalence Won't Wash Today 13 James Walters ARIZONA CONFERENCE SUES ADVENTIST HEALTHSYSTEM/WEST Arizona Conference Statement.. 14 Adventist Health System/West Statement.. 14 Womens' Ordination in Southeastern California Conference ...17 On Campus: College News 19 OPINION Guest Editorial: Families on Television 20 Jill Potter Letters to the Editor: Response to Adventist Today 21 Perspective: Let Justice Roll Down Like A River 23 M. Jerry Davis As We Go To Press Back Cover Adventist Today July / August 1993 NEWS FEATURE Media Campaign Heats Up Orlando By James Coffin A GROUP OF ADVENTIST LAY tion?"Readers were invited to phone 1-800- fringe group's activities." 6-LlBERTY to order The Great Controversy people began a media blitz last During radio talk shows, feelings (for $19.95) which would answer the November in the Orlando, Florida, area often ran high against the ad campaign. question. that resulted in widespread charges of One woman who identified herself as a religious bigotry and left the Florida Non-Adventist Reaction Catholic said she had questions about Conference scrambling to shore up its The reaction to the Vatican ads was going ahead with a scheduled surgery at public image. immediate. The Orlando Sentinel of Florida Hospital. If the Adventists held The ads raised questions about the December 10 carried two strongly worded such views about Catholics, she wasn't sure Catholic Church and urged people to buy a letters. she wanted to undergo anesthesia at an Adventist institution. new edition of The Great Controversy Norbert M, Dorsey, Roman Catholic containing 450 historic and current-events bishop of the diocese of Orlando, wrote, Adventist Reaction photos. The advertisers spent $80,000 on in part: "In recent days, an obviously Florida Hospital administrators were billboard space, $25,000 on newspaper ads, well-financed barrage of anti-Catholic concerned about the negative potential for $35,000 on radio spots and $100,000 on TV sentiment has been expressed on the hospital's image and patronage, At this time to capture the public's attention. The billboards, TV and radio commercials, point it is difficult to say just what the ads certainly achieved that goal. and handout booklets in the tri-county impact has been. The hospital will have a Before pointing the finger at the area of Orlando and beyond, Through much better idea when it completes its Catholic Church, the campaign sought to them, an outrageous implication is made annual survey of community attitudes in grab public attention through teasers concerning the leader of our church and a November and compares it to past survey placed on 42 billboards around Orlando. plot for changes in the Constitution, to results. limit religious conscience and to legislate Each billboard asked one of these ques- "1 think what it did largely for morality. This is hurtful and insulting not tions: "When church and state unite, what Adventism was to take us back to the days only to our Catholic people, but also to do you lose?" or "How secure is our when we were fighting the cult image," our neighbors of good will." Constitution?" says Des Cummings, Jr., a The teasers "succeeded gloriously," A religious-radio talk -show host called Florida Hospital vice says campaign prime-mover David Mould, the ad campaign "the worst case of president. Cummings says one of the real problems the director of Laymen for Religious Liberty, religious intolerance I have ever seen." the organization behind the venture. "Talk Adventist church faces in its shows spent hours discussing what it end-time preaching is that too meant. It did exactly what we wanted it to The letter continued: "The centerpiece many Adventists "deliver the prophecies of do. " of these present insults is a book that was Daniel without realizing that Daniel was first published in the last century. In our very much involved in his community. 1 From the teasers, the campaign moved opinion, it is a hodgepodge of theology think we haven't learned to live like on to higher stakes-such as prominent and history, woven together by prejudice, Daniel." billboards featuring a picture of the pope half-truths, superstitions and old lies, A Most Adventist churches in the area and asking the question, "Why is the newer booklet offers' modern adaptations of received calls from irate members who also Vatican trying to change our Constitu- those same false alarms and hatreds." wanted something done to stop the ad In another letter, George L. Crossley, campaign. The Orlando Adventist James Coffin, associate Jr., a religious-radio talk-show host, called ministers' fellowship meetings regularly pastor of the Markham the ad campaign "the worst case of discussed the ads, David Mould and the Woods Seventh-day religious intolerance 1 have ever seen." negative reaction of the public, Adventist Church in the Crossley noted in his letter that "the Florida Orlando suburb of The ads' sponsors took responsibility Conference of Seventh-day Adventists ends Longwood, isformer for the campaign, While many Adventists news editor of the up having to defend itself, even though it might favor greater discretion in when, AdventistReview. in no way sponsored or endorsed this Adventist Today July / August 1993 where and how it is said, most would appeared on December 11, headed "Un- religious convictions may differ. admit that Mould was merely teaching Christian Approach." He said, in full: traditional Adventist dogma. Those who David Mould also wrote to the objected could do little except distance The advertising campaigns that Sentinel. In part, he said: "1 truly regret any themselves as much as possible from the contend the Catholic Church wishes to pain these ads have caused anyone, but campaign. Some Adventists expressed change the U.s. Constitution and the truth is often painful.... It is not our wish delight that "for the first time somebody in organization sponsoring them, Laymen to offend, but rather to draw attention the church is standing up to be counted." for Religious Liberty from DeLand, to the fragility of our Constitution as Florida are neither approved by, well as the historic and ongoing Paul Dixon, an Adventist pastor in financed by, nor sponsored by the pronouncements of some who were Portland, Maine, attacked fund-raising clearly bent on destroy- material from Laymen for Religious Liberty One minister likened the billboard ing it.