Graybill's Exit Going Home to Grenada

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A Quarterly Joumal of the Association of Adventist Forums 'Volmne 14, Nmnber 4

A CALL FOR AN OPEN CIIURCH The Need for Structural Change A Model Constitution In Defense of Participation Comparing, Church Structures SPECTRUM Editorial Board Consulting Editors Edward Lugenbeal Editor Roy Branson Earl W. Amnn.uon Anthropology Ethics, Kennedy Institute President Kettering, Ohio Georgetown University Atlantic Union Conference Roy Branson Margaret McFarland Molleurus Couperus Eric Anderson Attorney Associate Editor Physician History Washington. D.C. ·Angwin, California Pacific Union College Charles Scriven LaVonne Neff Gene. Daffern Roy Benton , Publishing Physician Mathematics DOWf:1ers Grove; Illinois Senior Editor Washington, D.C. Columbia Union College R,onald Numbers Tom Dybdahl Bonnie Dwyer Bonnie Casey -History of Medicine Journalism Writer/Editor University of Wisconsin Lorna Linda, California Washington. D.C. News. Editor Gary Patterson Bonnie Dwyer TomDybdahl George Colvin President Editor Government Georgia-Cumberland Conference Allentown. Pennsylvania Claremont Graduate School Manuscript Editor Edward E. Robinson Richard Emmerson Raymond Cottrell Attorney Gene Daffern English Theology Chicago. I1Iinois Walla Walla College Lorna Linda. California Gerhard Svrcek... Seiler Book Review Editors Alvin L. Kwiram Geri Fuller Psychiatrist Chemistry Public Relations Vienna, Austria Peggy Corbett University of Washington Washington, D.C. Carolyn Stevens Rennie Schoepflin Gary Land Lawrence Geraty English History Old Testament Walla Walla College Andrews University SDA Theological Seminary Editorial Associate Helen Ward Thompson Rennie Scboepflin Fritz Guy Administration Penelope Kellogg Winkler History Theology Walla Walla College Uni~ersity of Wisconsin SDA Theological Seminary L. E. Trader Editorial Assistant Charles Scriven F .E.J. Harder Education Dana Lauren West Theology Educational Administration Marienhoehe Gymnasium Walla Walla College College Place, Washington West Germany Ottilie Stafford Jorgen Henriksen Louis Venden English Artist Pastor Atlantic Union College Boston, Massachusetts Lorna Linda Univeristy Church Association of Adventist Forums ; President Southern .Lyndrey A. Niles Directors Region~l Representatives T. Grace Emori Communications Nursing .,If Atlantic Howard University, Washington. D.C. Of Chapter Development Atlanta. Georgia Walter Douglas John Hamer Business Southern Pacific Theology Vice President Hudson, Massachusetts Mike Scofield Andrews University Edward Lugenbeal Business Systems Management Of International Relations Monterey Park, California Kettering, Ohio Molleurus Couperus Central Physician Danell J. Huenergardt Executive Secretary Angwin, California Attorney Claire Hosten Kimball. Nebraska Staff Attorney Of Membership Ronald D. Cople Legal Consultant Washington. D.C. Columbia Business Bradley Litchfield E. Theodore Agard Silver Spring, Maryland Attorney Treasurer Radiation Physicist Washington, D.C. Richard C. Osborn Of Promotion Kettering Medical Center Principal Richard B. Lewis, Jr. Ket~ering, Ohio Secretary Takoma Academy Advertising Vinette Anderson Takoma Park. Maryland Weston. Massachusetts Takoma Park, Maryland Northern Pacific Editor Of Special Projects John Brunt Systems Manager Roy Branson Glenn E. Coe Theology Don McNeil Ethics. Kennedy Institute Attorney Walla Walla College Computer Programmer Georgetown U~iversity West Hartford. Connecticut College .Place, Washington Spencerville, Maryland

SPECTRUM is a journal established to encourage quarterly by the Association of Adventist Forums. Direct Seventh-day Adventist participation in the discussion of all editorial correspondence to SPECTRUM, 7710 Carroll contemporary issues from a Christian viewpoint, to look Avenue, Takoma Park, ,Maryland 20912. Manuscripts without prejudice at all,sides of a subject, to evaluate the should be typewritten, double spaced and in matters of merits of diverse views, and to foster Christian intel­ style and documentation, conform to /1 Manual of Style lectual and cultural growth. Although effort is made to (University of Chicago Press). Submit the original and ensure accurate scholarship and discriminatingjudgment, two copies, along with a'self-addressed, stamped enve­ the statements of fact are the responsibility of contrib­ lope. Responses from readers may be shortened before utors, and the views individual authors express ate not publication. necessarily those of the editorial staff as a whole or as individuals. Subscription Information: In order to receive SPEC­ The Association of Adventist Forums is a nonsubsi­ TRUM, send a membership fee ($15 per 4 issues, except dized, nonprofit organization for which gifts are deduc­ $18 in Canada and in other foreign countries; $2 less for tible in the report of income for purposes of taxation. The students) to Association of Adventist Forums, Box 5330, publishing of SPECTRUM depends on subscriptions, gifts Takoma Park, Maryland 20912. Phone: (301) 270-0423. from individuals and the voluntary efforts of the Single copies may be purchased for $4. Pay by check made contributors and the staff. out to the Association of Adventist Forums. For address Editorial Correspondence: SPECTRUM is published changes, send old address label along with the new © 1983 All rights reserved. address. Litho USA In This Issue Vol. 14, No.4, March 1984 Articles Graybill's Exit: Turning Point at the White Estate? Bonnie 1. Casey 2 Home to Grenada: A Seminary Professor on His Role in the New Government Roy Branson 9 Special Section: A Call for an Open Church The Need for Structural Change James W. Walters 14 A· Call for an Open Church 18 Defining Participation: A Model Conference Constitution 25 Explaining Participation: A Commentary George Colvin 36 The Varieties of Church Structure Raymond F. Cottrell 40 Reviews 54 News Update 60 Black Adventists Hold Ministry Meetings; Winds of Reform: Structural Transition in North America Responses 64

trained students to quote from the thousands About This Issue of documents in its vaults unless the Estate board permits it. The institutional form Adventism now he shape of Advent­ takes may not be the shape it will have in the T ist institutions and future-at least in North America. The structure dominates this issue of Spectrum. report and model constitution which the What has happened to Ronald Graybill, Task Force on Church Structure announces after 13 years as a member of the staff of the in this issue, after more than two years of Ellen G. White Estate, is a dramatic story: study, will no doubt be of interest to the an Adventist tries to remain faithful both to commissions on church structure that are the facts as he perceives them and to his now becoming active in local conferences, employers whom he considers his mentors. unions, and the General Conference. The But in a larger sense, it is the story of the report and constitution should also interest Ellen G. White Estate defining its role individual members, all of whom would be within the Seventh-day Adventist Church: affected if its proposals were to be imple­ whether to be a defender of Adventism, as mented. It may well be that events such as it sees it, or to be an archive, making Graybill's forced departure from the White documents of vital interest available to all Estate, the work of task forces and members of the church. No doubt the commissions on church structure, and the Graybill incident will bring into sharper prospect of a General Conference session focus the significance of the White Estate next year, will make 1984 the year of and its policy of not allowing even carefully reorganization.-The Editors Graybill's Exit Turning Point At The White Estate?

by Bonnie L. Casey

fter 13 years of ser­ of Christ, Scientist; Catherine Booth, co­ Avice as a church founder with her husband of the Salvation historian at the Ellen G. White Estate, Ron Army; and Alma White, founder of the Graybill, under pressure from the Estate Pillar of Fire Church), the dissertation board, agreed to request reassignment. focuses mainly on Ellen White-how her Following a controversy over his doctoral role as a church leader was legitimated and dissertation, Graybill has been reassigned exercised, and how that role affected her from his position as associate secretary of roles as woman, wife, and mother. Graybill the Ellen G. White Estate to one of course argues that because she was a "charismatic" author and subject specialist at Home Study leader-one without official constitutional International. He will also be available to authority-her authority was exercised the qeneral Conference officers for special through influence. Because of this, her projects. His assignment at Home Study, influence had to be jealously guarded against which involves preparing a course on "negative associations. " "I happen to denominational history, will run to the end think," says Graybill, "that her leadership of1984, when his position will,be reassessed. was for good and not selfish ends. My As with other controversies in the recent dissertation deviates from some accepted past, the one over Graybill and his understandings of Ellen White and how she dissertation raised questions about church did her work, but it is not negative or discipline, the role and leadership of Ellen defamatory. " White, and the policies of the White Estate. Those in the White Estate whose major In April 1983, Graybill successfully criticisms centered on the dissertation itself defended his doctoral dissertation, earning a saw some general themes emerging from the doctorate in American religious history work which, for them, provided a key to from the Johns Hopkins University. While it Graybill's beliefs and assumptions. Accord­ compares the lives and leadership of several ing to these critics, two major themes were women religious leaders of the 19th century, 1) skepticism about Ellen White's prophetic {Mary Baker Eddy, founder of the Church gifts, and 2) doubts about her character and integrity. They believe Graybill's disserta­ Bonnie L. Casey is a consulting editor for Spectrum. tion leaves the impression that Ellen White's She writes and edits in the Washington, D.C., area. visions were not unique, but arose out of a Volume 14, Number 4 3 general context of ecstatic religious experi­ history is concerned, he says, "there are ences common in 19th century America; many common factors III the ministry of that her ministry was, therefore, not Ellen White and other religious founders. It essentially different from that of the other does not detract from the importance of her women religious founders discussed in the ministry to discover she was not unique in dissertation. every aspect of her career." These critics also charge Graybill with Overall, Graybill does not accept his suggesting that Ellen White produced critics' characterization of his dissertation. visions as they were needed to assert her He says he is sorry that some have gotten authority or manipulate church leaders, and a negative impression from the work, but they were particularly disturbed by Gray­ that there are many responsible people who bill's account of the Whites' home life. They feel it is much more favorable than unfavor­ believe Graybill slanted the evidence to able to Ellen White. "Perhaps," he says, portray James and Ellen as locked in a "the dissertation is like a Rorschach test­ personal power struggle for much of their what we see in it depends to a great extent married life, and to show them as poor on what we bring to it." parents who favored one of their sons over Graybill's problems with the White the other. Estate arose as much from how he went Of this last criticism, Graybill says, "To about researching and writing the disserta­ really judge the dissertation fairly, you need tion as from the actual conclusions he drew, to read all ofJames White's letters and all of which he maintains are fully supported by Ellen's letters to James or that mention evidence from documents in the White James. After doing this, 1 believe you would Estate vault. In the first place, Graybill did see that I tried to present a balanced, fair not seek the advice and counsel of the White view of their married life-a subject crucial Estate staff before submitting his disserta­ to my main effort to understand how Ellen's tion to his graduate committee. Instead, he leadership was supported and/or threat- relied on the advice of an informal reading ene d. " committee-five lay members who offered historical criticism and editorial sugges­ s to the charge that tions. A he is skeptical of the Furthermore, at least half of the quoted supernatural origin of Ellen White's pro­ material in Graybill's dissertation is from phetic gifts, Graybill explains that he was documents the White-Estate has not released faced with two basic challenges in writing for publication. He admits that using these the dissertation. "I was writing about four documents without asking for their release women founders or prophets, all of whom was "bending the rules," but cites the claimed divine endorsement and guidance. pressures of time and potential conflicts as Because of this, 1 chose merely to look at the his reason for doing so. "I felt the evidence mundane historical factors which bore upon indicated clearly that 1 had to take some their leadership. My own theological pre­ positions that would be objected to very suppositions lead me to accept Ellen White's strenuously by some members of the White claims to prophetic guidance and reject the Estate. It was already late spring, and 1 knew others. But the dissertation is a work of that if I tried to get release of these history, not theology." documents I could be delayed by as much as Graybill further explains that it is his a year. " belief in God, which cannot be documented Graybill went ahead and used the in a strictly historical work, which leads him unreleased material, then requested that to the conclusion that Ellen White's visions University Microfilms, where doctoral were genuine and unique. But so far as dissertations are automatically filed, place 4 Spectrum

his dissertation on a five-year restriction. By a series ofmisunderstandings, and published a the terms of this agreement, Graybill under­ review of Graybill's work in the October stood that his dissertation was still legally 1983 issue of his magazine, Adventist Currents. unpublished and would be inaccessible to the A t first, Hackleman wanted only to report public or for copying for five years. briefly in Adventist Currents that Graybill had finished his dissertation and received his he situation changed doctorate. On Aug. 19 he called Graybill to T dramatically, though, ask for the title and a brief description of his when Douglas Hackleman, a writer and dissertation. Graybill told Hackleman he did editor in Lorna Linda, Calif., obtained not wish to be mentioned in Adventist Currents two copies of Graybill's dissertation through and would give him no information about his

Responses to Graybill's Departure

ven before Graybill's White studies because they will think that they EE. C. White and Race will not get the materials .they need and they will Relations came out in 1970, I had learned to appre­ be fearful that they will be hurt by the church. ciate Ron's special skills in helping us better Some of us feel strongly about the inequity of the understand the true import of God's special discipline meted out to Ron by printing the messenger to the Seventh-day Adventists. Ron questions against him in the Adventist Review as constantly reminded us that the messenger and compared to what was done with administrators the message could not be.separated from her time involved in conflict-of-interest in the Davenport and circumstances and still be correctly under­ affair. There is a double standard-one for an stood. His careful research into the "life and elite corps of administrators and another for times" of a particular statement brought confi­ scholars in the church. Evidently it is easier to dence to the Adventist historical fraternity and to discipline those with novel ideas than those with scores of thoughtfullaypeople. The E. G. White poor ethics in administration. I find this inequity, trustees would be well-adVIsed to fill the gap his coming on the heels of the Davenport affair, leaving creates with someone equally well­ pretty sordid. trained and trusted. Silencing Ron will not silence the research he -Richard Schwarz, vice president for carried on. Ron's work will have a beneficial academic affairs of Andrews Uni­ effect in the long run by helping the church ~ersity and author of Light Bearers to achieve a better understanding of Ellen White. the Remnant -Paul Landa, Chairman of the department of church history, division of religion, Lorna on Graybill gave the Linda University and editor of Adventist REllen G. White Estate Heritage. a credibility that it never had before because he was able to approach her writings in a very open am very sorry to see way. He made it possible for us to gain a greater l Ron Graybill go. He appreciation of Ellen White as a person, a has been consistently trusted by the academic mother, a writer, as well as a messenger. With community to give the straight story. We are in Ron Graybill gone, the White Estate has lost most an era of openness and the church needs of its credibility. Another thing that Ron did for competent scholars in E. G. White studies who us, because of his training, his expertise, and his have a positive attitude toward Ellen White and growing academic contacts is give credibility to the church. Ron has been appreciated for Ellen White in non-Adventist academic circles faithfully attempting to serve the church in that and American Christianity generally. way. What has happened to Ron Graybill is going to The White Estate will have enormous diffi­ dampen the interest of serious students in Ellen culty overcoming the stigma of Graybill's Volume 14, Number 4 5 thesis, but referred him to the graduate dissertation, which arrived at his home on records office at Johns Hopkins University. Sept. 7. (University Microfilms has since On Aug. 25, Hackleman called Johns apologized for its mistake.) Hopkins and was given not only the title of On Sept. to, Hackleman spoke to the the dissertation but also the order number at San Diego Chapter of the Association of University Microfilms. Hackleman then Adventist Forums and presenteda synopsis of called University Microfilms in Michigan, Graybill's dissertation. He also gave the and because he had the order number, the audience the order number ofthe disserta tion person there did not realize that the and the telephone number of University dissertation was restricted. Over the phone Microfilms. Within a few days he learned he was able to order two copies of the from people who had tried to order the from the White Estate

departure. While I believe the White Estate has me. I have read Ron Graybill's dissertation, but been making progress in providing more access to have not been a party to the White Estate documents it could provide greater access. discussions regarding it. What I can speak to, -Alden Thompson, Profes~or of Theology, however, is the quality of his scholarship, the School of Theology, Walla Walla College careful and studied balance in his public and author of "From Sinai to Golgotha" presentations between the demands of scholarship Adventist Review, (December 3, 10, 17,24,31, and the requirements of pastoral concern, and his 1981) personal commitment both to truth and to the traditional faith of Adventists in the prophetic astors are asked many ministry of Ellen G. White. Pquestions by members In my conversations over the last three years who have some evidence about Ellen White with pastors, teachers, and church members at writings and have heard many rumors. Ron large, Ron Graybill's name has often surfaced as Graybill was one person we could turn to who one of the most credible spokespersons on the Ellen G. was faithful to the evidence and at the same time White study circuit. He is both trusted and appreciated. I have redemptive. At workers' meetings in my confer­ not found one individual ence, he was candid, non-defensive, open with acquainted with both Graybill and the issues who the facts, and at the same time enhanced Ellen has the slightest doubt as to his integrity, his White's role. As a pastor I feel Ron's departure as commitment to the best interest of the Adventist a personal loss. church, and his personal faith in the special What has happened has implications far be­ ministry of Ellen G. White. yond Ron Graybill. Thinking la ypeople and His loss to the White Estate at this time of great pastors are going to wonder if the questions they concern over the legitimate role of the writings of have been hearing about Ellen White really can Ellen G. White will, in my judgment, be quite be answered and if anyone who tries to be candid serious but recoverable in time, if the White and open with the evidence will get into trouble. Estate appoints a replacement who knows the difference The Adventist pastor's role is now going to be between apologetics and research. Wha t is lost forever to Ellen G. White research is more difficult than it was before. -Rudy Torres, senior pastor the momentum of creative effort Ron Graybill Glendale City Church personally exemplified as well as inspired in others. -Fred Veltman, professor of theology, his most recent de­ Pacific Union College, director of the T velopment in the saga General Conference "Ellen G. White Life of Ellen White and 20th century Adventism of Christ Research Project" comes as a great surprise and disappointment to 6 Spectrum dissertation that they had been turned down members of the board, but didn't say what because it was restricted. He says this is the kinds of changes." first he knew of any restriction on the disserta tion. n the end, deletions Hackleman claims he has not copied or I from the preface distributed the dissertation and is not caused even more controversy than expan­ responsible for its wide circulation. He says sions in the text. Graybill first of all deleted only that he lent one copy of the dissertation a reference to himself as "the first doctoral to some friends, which they returned after a student to have immediate and unlimited few days. When Graybill learned that access" to the ma te rial in the vault. "I t is a Hackleman had obtained copies of his thesis true statement, " hi'e exp ams, "b ut some- and was planning to review it in his journal, wh~t awkward in light of my not asking for he called Hackleman and asked him to delay release of those documents. " The other, and publishing a review of it until he had time to more troublesome, deletion was the re­ "process" it through the White Estate. But moval of two names from the list of people Hackleman decided to go ahead with the who had read the dissertation before its review since many copies of the dissertation submission to Johns Hopkins. Graybill says were already circulating and requests for his motive was to forestall any criticism that more copies were coming to him from as far he had been unduly influenced by these away as Australia. members of the reading committee. Never­ Hackleman says he feels "bad but not theless, according to both Graybill and responsible" for Graybill's situation. "I am Olson, some members of the board saw this sorry I was a cog in the wheel of his fate, "he as an effort to deceive them, and the says. He also claims that had he known from deletions became a significant issue wi th the the beginning that the thesis was restricted, board and staff of the White Estate. he would not have pursued the matter. "Had On Nov. 3, the board of trustees voted Ron been more open and forthright with to place Graybill on administrative leave me," he says, "I believe he would still have because of questions regarding his ability his job. " to serve as a spokesperson for the White When Graybill first learned that the Estate. During the month of November dissertation was being distributed, he told there were numerous informal meetings Robert W. Olson, secretary of the White and conversations among the staff about Estate, about it and, before givinghimacopy Graybill and his future with the White of the dissertation to read, immediately Estate. Graybill talked to several members began to "edit" it by expanding the text and of the board, trying to determine what deleting certain things from the preface. might be done in the way of discipline that Graybill says that by expanding the text, he would be considered sufficient, yet redemp­ was "trying to show that with a few tive. Graybill's understanding was that his explanatory sentences, the dissertation colleagues were looking for ways not to would be more palatable to Seventh-day have to fire him. "Most of the conversation Adventists who are not familiar with was in terms of my doing something else for scholarly discourse." He adds, "I felt all a period of time-six months or a year­ along that the dissertation was not a after which I would come back to the complete statement of my beliefs, because I Estate." But toward late November, Gray­ had to leave out any supernatural perspec­ bill perceived "a continual hardening" of tive and anything that might sound like I was the positions of some members of the board. favoring Ellen White." Olson remembers Meanwhile, mail and telephone calls that "Ron said he had made some changes in were coming in from all parts of the the dissertation he gave me and other country, and, according to Olson, they were Volume 14, Number 4 7 five-to-one in Graybill's favor. (Since the and now by his dissertation, had not been December board meeting, Olson reports, sufficiently supportive of it. communications to his office are no longer Graybill left the meeting feeling "pretty in Graybill's favor.) good. There had been some emotional The board of trustees met on Dec. 5. moments, but I felt the vote might indeed go Graybill met with them from 2:30 to 5:30 in favor of my continuing at the White p.m., during which time he apologized for Estate after a certain period of discipline." his procedural violations and for his After Graybill left, the board took a short insensitivity to the staff in his dealings with break, then came back and deliberated until them. He then read a statement entitled, 8:25 p.m. At 8:30 p.m. Olson called Graybill "What Ellen White Means to Me in the at home and told him that in a straw vote, Light of My Doctoral Dissertation," and the board had vo ted 7-4 that he should" seek submitted to questioning. rehabilitation outside the White Estate." Neal Wilson, president of the General Graybill was told that he could meet the Conference, led the discussion and asked following morning at 8 a.m. with Neal most of the questions, which focused more Wilson and Charles Bradford, General on Graybill's personal beliefs and a tti tudes Conference vice president for North Amer­ regarding the church and the Spirit of ica, to request reassignment to an unspeci­ Prophecy than on the specifics of the fied position within the church, or be fired. dissertation. As Graybill reported later, Graybill told Olson that he did not have "The bulk of the discussion at the board enough time or information to make such an meeting was clearly about me, not about my important decision. Olson replied that dissertation." There was also some discus­ Graybill should trust the brethren and put sion of his attitude toward Arthur White's himself in their hands. Graybill refused to biography of Ellen White. Some members accept the limited, and unknown, options expressed concern that Graybill, personally being offered him on such short notice. So

Board Members of The White Estate

ltimate authority for board of trustees. The board selects life-time U the affairs of the Ellen members (comprising half of the board), five­ G. White Estate lies with its self-perpetuating year members, and the chairman.

Life Members: Five-year Members: W. Paul Bradley, retired chairman of E. G. Charles E. Bradford, vice president of the White Estate Board General Conference, for North America D. Arthur Delafield, retired associate secre­ William G. Johnsson, editor of the Adventist tary of E. G. White Estate Board Review W. Duncan Eva, retired vice president of the Louis A. Ramirez, director of the publishing General Conference department of the General Conference Robert W. Olson (Secretary), secretary of J. Robert Spangler, director of the Ministerial E. G. White Estate & Stewardship Association Arthur L. White, retired secretary of E. G. Francis W. Wernick, vice president of the White Estate General Conference Neal C. Wilson, president of the General Jean Zurcher, secretary of the Euro-African Conference ~ Division Kenneth H. Wood (Chairman), retired editor Alternate: Paul A. Gordon, under secretary of of the Adventist Review E. G. White Estate 8 Spectrum the meeting with Wilson and Bradford was almost describes her as power-hungry, and canceled, and the board meeting scheduled implies that there was a naturalistic for the next morning-ostensibly to vote on explanation for her visions and dreams. If Graybill's reassignment or to fire him-was this is what he believes, then he can no canceled as well. longer be a spokesman for the White Estate. Later in December, after consulting with By his own actions, you could say that Ron several members of the board, Graybill had taken himself out of the White Estate." wrote a letter to Kenneth H. Wood, Of what he estimates to be 40,000 double­ chairperson of the board oftrustees, in which spaced, typewritten pages still unreleased, he "reluctantly agreed" to accept reassign­ Graybill "would favor release of all but a ment. He was told that this letter was few very sensitive documents, but only in unacceptable. Following another board critical, annotated editions." On the matter meeting on Jan. 5, during which Graybill's of why he had to leave the White Estate, case was discussed at length, Graybill, Graybill says: "On a most fundamental after further conversations with the chair­ level, I lost my job because those who felt person and secretary of the White Estate most deeply that I should be removed from Board, submitted another letter to Wood the White Estate don't trust me as one of actually requesting reassignment outside them, as one who shares their theological the White Estate. OnJan. 9 the board voted views. They don't accept me as one who to accept this formal request. supports or opposes the same things they do. There are things in the disserta tion tha t they could never say and that they don't believe anyone who believes in the church and Ellen here are many com­ White could ever say." T plex reasons for Graybill says he is not bitter about his Graybill's troubles with the White Estate experience. He believes the church is in a The easiest to explain are the procedural and transition period. "We have so many large tactical errors involved in the writing and groups of people now with very different presentation of his dissertation. But other styles of religious experience and religious factors have to do with the White Estate backgrounds, that there are bound to be itself, specifically their policy concerning growing pains and dislocations." Referring the release of unpublished documents, and to the church as the body of Christ, he points their tendency to distrust those who they out that the joints, where muscle and bone feel do not share their views on the mission come together, are critical points where of the White Estate. stress manifests itself. "People like me, who On this issue, Olson maintains that the try to interact between different groups in present release policy is "very generous," the church, are like the joints of the body and necessary to guard Ellen White's right and are very vulnerable to injury and stress. to privacy, but that the board would not If the stresses get too great between two have let Graybill go simply for using groups, then persons in those in-between unreleased material without permission. roles sometimes get crushed or strained. "The primary issue," according to Olson, That's what is happening to me." "is that Ron could write a dissertation in In spite of this, Graybill says he has not which he raises doubts and questions about lost hope in the church and its future. "We Ellen White's inspiration. Ron argues that still have the church," he says, "and we still he has been misunderstood, but I don't think have me, and we still have Ellen White. And he has. In his dissertation he clearly gives the who knows, we may eventually get those impression that Ellen White had visions 40,000 unreleased pages in the White when it was convenient for her to do so. He Estate. " Home to Grenada: A Seminary Professor On His Role in the New Government

by Roy Branson

few days after American Douglas' roots are deep in. both Grenada's A and Caribbean troops Adventist and public life. His father was a well­ landed in Grenada, October 25, 1983, Walter known farmer and merchant in Grenville, Douglas, professor of church history and history of Grenada's second largest city, and in 1907 built the religion at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological first Adventist church on the island. His eldest Seminary, Andrews University, received a phone brother, Benson, before his death in 1975, had been call on behalf ofSir Paul Scoon, the governor general· a school teacher who, like other school teachers in of Grenada. Douglas was asked to serve as one of Grenada, went on to prominence: Sir Eric Gairy, the the 12 members of the advisory council that will rule first· prime minister of Grenada after its indepen­ Grenada as a provisional government until general dence; Sir Paul Scoon, the governor general; and elections are held. Douglas will serve the pro­ Nicholas Braithwaite, the acting chairperson of the visional government as a consultant primarily present advisory council. After legal studies in for the ministries of education, health, and foreign England and Canada, Benson became an attorney affairs. with a following among young Grenadian Before making his decision, Douglas visited attorneys, including Maurice Bishop. Benson Grenada from Nov. 19 to Dec. 6, 1983 (taking served as attorney general both when Grenada was a few days in Trinidad to fulfill his responsibilities an English colony and immediately after it achieved as a member of the board of his alma mater, Carib­ independence. In fact, Benson Douglas drafted the bean Union College). In Grenada, Douglas con­ constitution of Grenada. sulted with Scoon, participated for a week in Walter Douglas's cousin, Waple N edd, served the deliberations of the advisory council, conferred as parliamentary secretary under Eric Gairy, and with the government ministries of education and later, when Maurice Bishop became prime minister, health, and preached in Seventh-day Adventist Walters' sister Mary, served as Bishop's appoint­ worship services. ments secretary and a nephew became Bishop's body guard. Mary had met Bishop when she dis­ covered him, dumped by Gairy' s men beside a road, his head shaved and his body beaten. She had put Roy Branson, senior research fellow at the Kennedy him in a taxi and rushed him to a hospital. Another Institute of Ethics, is the editor of Spectrum. sister of Walter's married Ira Simmons, a 12 to 13 10 Spectrum year veteran of the Grenadian police force. He is the other members of the council tha t he and now chief of detectives. I would not be available for meetings after a After he returned to the United States} Douglas} certain time on Friday afternoons or who first joined the board of the Association of Saturdays. Adventist Forums seven years ago} gave several Branson: Have Adventist affairs come up public presentations including a talk to the at all on the council? Washington} D. c.} chapter of the Adventist Forums. The following is drawn from these com­ ments and several conversations Douglas and I had I learned that November 1, 1983 had immediately upon his return from Grenada to been set aside as the day that Washington} D. C. Grenada was to be declared a communist state. Branson: What did the members of your family think of your having been invited to join the provisional government? Douglas: Yes. On Nov. 23, Pastor Douglas: On this trip, when I first Williams and I said in a meeting of the ad­ arrived, my parents were dubious about my visory council that we thought church oper­ becoming involved in the government. But ated schools taken over by the previous as they heard, day-by-day, what had to be government, about 85 percent of the de­ done to get things started again, they nominational schools, should be returned to became more enthusiastic. My other rela­ the churches, and that private property tives-Adventist and non-Adventists­ should be given back to its owners. Those definitely wanted me to take part. proposals were adopted with no opposition. Branson: What about the other Advent­ Already, the schools established by the ists on Grenada? Do they think that Catholics, Anglicans, Baptists, and Advent­ Adventist ministers should be so involved? ists are back in the hands of those denomina­ Douglas: Well, first of all you have to tions. The Bishop Government seized the realize that Adventists throughout the schools and replaced many of the Christian Caribbean are active in public life. The teachers with Marxist instructors from minister of transportation and works in Guyana, Cuba, Eastern Europe, and the Barbados, Victor Johnson (a former head of Soviet Union. Incidentally, Adventists run the Barbados Labor Party, the ruling party one of the largest secondary schools on the on the island) is an active Adventist lay island with about 300 to 350 students. Also, evangelist. In Jamaica right now, three of over $400,000 in tithes and offerings from the ministers in Edward Seaga's cabinet are Adventists members was blocked in Grena­ Seventh-day Adventists. Second, Adventists dian banks. The previous government was are prominent on Grenada itself. There are planning to confisca te the money. The in­ 8,000 members on the church books, out of a vasion stopped that by only days. population of 110,000-about 7 percent of Branson: It's interesting that freedom of all Grenadians. Of the four resident religious institutions and freedom of prop­ Grenadians selected by Sir Paul Scoon to erty ownership were restored together. serve on the advisory council, one was Pastor Some historians have said that both free­ Christopher Williams, the youth and lay doms developed at the same time in the activities director for the Adventist Mission. West. Branson: Besides you two Adventists, Douglas: That's true. We telescoped are there any other of the clergy on the western democratic history. council? Branson: What is the attitude of the Douglas: No, however, before I arrived Adventists towards the invasion of Grenada Pastor Williams had already arranged with by U.S. troops? Volume 14, Number 4 11

Douglas: It is the same as other Grena­ all over Grenada that would have clearly dians. On Sabbath, Dec. 3, Adventists made ita launching pad for Communism came from all over the island for a major throughout the Caribbean. Then I talked to celebration in the biggest park in the capital, the people. As I said, they were virtually The convention stressed total commitment unanimous in their praise of the American to Christ, but one could also sense the intervention. excitement of that Adventist convention in Branson: But just because the Grena­ their new freedom, religious and civil. The dians appreciated the Americans coming previous Wednesday there was a mass doesn't mean it conformed to international demonstration by Grenadians of every law-that the use of force was right in that persuasion in St. Georges, the capital, where situation. many people in speeches and prayers Douglas: That will always be a matter of thanked God for the intervention of the controversy, but international law is impre­ United States. cise. After Bishop was killed, there was a Branson: Adventists thanked God specif­ vacuum oflegitimate authority. Paul Scoon, ically for the coming of the U.S. troops? the governor general of Grenada, was the Douglas: Oh yes. The very first night only constitutional authority, and has said he back in Grenada my father and mother told supported the American action. As far as the me that the American intervention was Grenadians are concerned the United States providential. The following days I dis­ was not invading Grenada; it was conduct­ covered almost all Grenadians felt the same ing a rescue mission. In fact, the Grenadians way. were upset with members of the Congres­ Branson: And what about you? sional Black Caucus who visited Grenada Douglas: My considerable doubts about from the United States and criticized the the invasion dissipated when I saw the American rescue mission. evidence face-to-face. There is no question Branson: How important was it that the that the Grenadian revolution under Bishop American invasion was not an attack on had become a threat to the religious Bishop? foundations of Grenadian society. Douglas: I t was crucial. Branson: You talk about evidence chang­ Branson: Why? After all, he not only left ing your a tti tude toward the invasion; office violently, he had gained it the same wha t do you mean? way. Douglas: To answer that, I'll have to take a Ii ttle time to describe the background As far as the Grenadians are to recent events. In 1973, Bishop and other concerned the United States was not intellectuals educated in England and invading Grenada; it was conducting Canada organized a political party, the New a rescue mission. Jewel Movement. The following year the party won three seats in the election. In 1977, Bishop became prominent as the Douglas: I saw documents that showed attorney representing Grenadian nurses on that there were 300 Grenadian students strike, dissatisfied with hospital working studying in Cuba, alone, as well as in Eastern conditions. The following year Gairy's Europe and Libya. I learned that Nov. 1, organized criminals, the "Mongoose 1983 had been set aside as the day that Gang," beat up Bishop and his associates. Grenada was to be declared a communist One day, early in 1979, Bishop and four or state. I was also shown incontrovertible evi­ five other leaders of the New Jewel dence that there were mind-boggling Movement were forewarned by some of quantities of arms and ammunition stored Gairy's own men that the prime minister 12 Spectrum planned to kill them. That very night the three miles toward Grenville. There, she Bishop's coup against Gairy took place. It seized the bell at the largest secondary was hailed at that time as divine interven­ school in the city, and rang it until the tion. I remember that my father was visited students gathered. Those students joined in his home at Grenville by Bishop and was the girls and headed for the airport out­ happy to pray with him, but told Bishop side Grenville. Unfortunately, they smashed that if he left God out of this thing it would windows, but they also ran on to the run­ not succeed. way, delaying the landing of planes. Branson: The people never entirely got By then the news had gotten around to the over their loyalty toward Bishop? other schools in other cities throughout the Douglas: Right. I think that there is good island, attracting still more students. By this time adults joined, providing buses and cars to bring people from all over Grenada to The crisis of Grenada teaches us Market Square in the capital. Rather more than anything else that we spontaneously they decided to march to must· stand in solidarity with the Bishop's house. They broke through the world, not in spiritual isolation gates, went inside, and found Bishop with from it. his hands tied behind his back looking very weak and emaciated-so weak that he was reason for their feelings. In 1981 the council barely able to walk. He said that he wanted placed a Cuban or Soviet as an advisor to the to go to Fort Rupert. It was on the outskirts head of each government ministry. Simul­ of town and he suspected that the members taneously, Cuban technicians, doctors, law­ of his government had beenjailed there. He yers, agriculturists, and educators flooded wanted to talk to the troops, he said, and tell into Grenada. The next year, the deputy them to put down their arms. prime minister Bernard Coard, an econo­ Supported by the crowd, he started to mist, challenged Bishop for actual leader­ march up the hill to Fort Rupert. Before _ship o(t~e r~ling council. When Bishop they actually reached the front gate an returned from a trip to Bulgaria, in 1982, he armored car drove up and troops seized was _t~ld by the party that he was no longer Bishop. Then the soldiers opened fire on the useful to the revolution. On Oct. 11, 1983, crowd. Those that weren't mowed down the majority of the council voted to invite jumped down very precipitous embank­ 6,800 Cubans into Grenada; Bishop refused ments. Some broke arms, legs, necks. I stood to sign the document executing the de­ on those heights; they had to be desperate to cision. He was immediately arrested, and jump. An inspector of police escorting me for three or four days people didn't know around the fort said that, all told, about 300 where he was. Then the people acted. Grenadians died that day. I also went into Branson: Were they led by previous the central courtyard of the fort. I saw the supporters of Gairy or by dissidents within bullet holes and the blood where members of the council? Bishop's cabinet were taken out of their Douglas: Neither. A 19-year-old student cells, and, while they were calling out to the at the St. Joseph Convent School in Gren­ so ldlers,' "dcomra es, we surrend er, " were ville decided that something must be done. shot. She told her classmates they should all go to Branson: What happened to Geraldine, the capital and try to free their prime min­ the 19-year-old? ister. The principal, a nun, tried to stop her, Douglas: When the soldiers fired point­ but Geraldine Belmar got a hold of the blank into the unarmed crowd she was shot school bell and rang and rang. She fired up in the head. Two days later she died. The the girls at the school and they started down day before I arrived, her funeral was held, Volume 14, Number 4 13 and people from all over Grenada gathered dimensions that may be overlooked by the again. It was the most massive funeral in ordinary citizen. the history of Grenada; Geraldine has be­ Branson: Yes, but what does such a come a national heroine. theologian see in the Grenadian event? Branson: It's interesting that in the Douglas: The overcoming of evil, of United States we have hardly heard about bondage; the inauguration of a new begin­ her. Maybe it's because we have been ning; the opportunity for reconciliation; and preoccupied with other individuals, like the a brief reassurance, perhaps, but a vivid one, American medical students. that good can be more powerful than evil. Douglas: . You know, not once when I Branson: Does that justify Adventist was in Grenada-not once-did anyone ministers-two of them, in fact-becoming mention the students as the reason for the part of the provisional government and American action. Grenadians saw it entirely drawing Adventism into public affairs? in terms of their own deliverance. Douglas: The crisis of Grenada teaches Branson: We keep returning to this us more than anything else that we must theme, that the action by the Americans was stand in solidarity with the world, not in justified, that it was an action Grenadians spiritual isolation from it. We must, as regarded as divinely sanctioned. Are you Christians, as Adventists, not abandon the saying that the American use of violence in world, or simply wage war against it, but the invasion of Grenada was a direct expres­ act to redeem it. If we take John 3:16 sion of God's will? seriously, if we truly believe that God loved Douglas: I think a theologian has the the world, became a part of the world in responsibility to look at events and develop­ order to reconcile the world to himself, then ments within society and bring some we must find fresh ways, surprising ways, in theological interpretation to it, to introduce which we can embody Christ in the world. Special Sedion The Need for Structural Change

by James W. Walters

oth the Seventh-day task force concluded that lay participation B Adventist Church could best be facilitated by modifications in and the world in which it exists have church structure. Further, believing that changed in important ways since 1901, when church structure-like all organization-is the last major church reorganization oc­ most effective when it coincides with a curred. The world has seen more societal particular people's cultural expectations, change in the last 80 years than it witnessed the task force restricted its study to the in the previous 19 centuries, and the church North American Division. has surely not remained static. The central documents in this task force Because of a growing belief tha t the report, the general statement and the model present church structure is inadequate, the conference constitution, are the product of board of the Association of Adventist hundreds of hours of work by individuals, Forums created and funded the Task Force over a score of committee meetings, and on Church Structure which is releasing its broad consultation with clerical and lay report in the following pages of this issue of thought leaders. Yet the task force fully Spectrum. The task force is composed of realizes that its documents are not the last members representing various areas of word. It does think its work is a carefully expertise: the. pastorate, theology, ethics, considered first word. The task force political science, law, and systems analysis. accepts full responsibility for any defi­ While most members of the task force live in ciencies in the documents; it shares all the SQuthern California, .the study group has merits in those statements with the many consul ted with individuals throughout North consultants who made substantive contribu­ America. tions. The purpose of the task force (which was The proposal for change in the structure first titled the Task Force on Lay Participa­ of the Adventist denomination, as put forth tion) was to examine the nature of lay recently by the Pacific Union Conference involvement in the governance of the Study Committee, is primarily based on church and to make recommenda tions. In ideas and models drawn from management. the course of its study and discussion, the The task force applauds this illuminating proposal as well as the study underway by James Walters is assistant professor of Christian the North Pacific Union Conference Com­ ethics, Lorna Linda University, and chaired the AAF mission on Governance and Management Task Force on Church Structure. Structure, and by the recently established Volume 14, Number 4 15

General Conference Committee on Church Church have grown to over $4 billion; the Structure. A distinctive feature of the task church now employs more than 120,000 force's work is its governmental approach. people-a work force larger in number than The management and governmental ap­ that of Chrysler Corporation. proaches are not in opposition, but are The members of the church in North highly complementary. Common sense America, as elsewhere, now represent a suggests the need for efficient management, wide variety of ethnic, cultural, educa­ and church operating policy has long tional, and economic backgrounds and have recognized the governmental basis of many different needs and concerns. They Adventist church organization. The Church have become more sophisticated in their Manual, indeed indicates a particular type of perceptions and expectations of their church governance: "The representative church. They are becoming apathetic form of church government is that which toward a church organization which they prevails in the SDA church." In reality, the perceive as distant and beyond meaningful representativeness of Adventist church gov­ lay participation. The expectations of North ernment has often been more symbolic than American members are also changing. In real. Today's challenge is to develop a truly addition to evangelism, worship and nurture representative structure which can, with are seen as vita.l to a fulfilling church life. maximum effectiveness, be the vehicle for Further, the increasingly educated North living and spreading the gospel in contem­ American Division constituency has a porary North America. variety of professional and social interests In 1901 the total church membership which occupy time and energy. If these stood at 78,000, less than the combined members are to continue to closely identify membership in 1983 of the two largest with their church, it must increasingly conferences in the North American Divi­ reflect their distinctive involvement in its sion. Today a small group of New England life and mission. Adventists has evolved into a large multi­ In modern America, the substantially national corporate body. Membership is centralized form of Adventist government now more than four million and over 80 appears anachronistic compared to the percent of these members live outside North increasing emphasis on local control of America. Total assets of the Adventist governmental problems, participatory de-

Members of the Task Force on Church Structure *James Walters, chairperson, assistant professor Charles Teel,Jr., associate professor of Christian of Christian ethics and religion, Loma Linda social ethics, Loma Linda University University Louis Venden, senior pastor, University Church *George Colvin, secretary, doctoral candidate in of Seventh-day Adventists, Loma Linda government, Claremont Graduate School University *Raymond Cottrell, former associate editor of Adrian Zytkoskee, professor of behavioral sci­ the Adventist Review and the Seventh-day Advent­ ence, Pacific Union College ist Bible Commentaries *Nathan Schilt, supervising deputy district at­ torney, San Bernardino County 'Working committee Harvey Elder, professor of medicine, Loma Thomas Mostert, president of the Southeastern Linda University California Conference, was a most helpful and Jack Provonsha, professor of Christian ethics, insightful consultant. Although substantive dif­ Loma Linda University , ferences of opinion made it impossible for him to Michael Scofield, senior systems analyst, Hunt­ join in the report, the task force is grateful for his Wesson Foods comments, which improved its work. 16 Spectrum cision-making In business, and high lay ence directly, because that is where involvement in other representatively transferral of authority from lay members to governed denominations. church officials presently takes place, and The 1901 church reorganization had the because the task force expects that in the benefit of direct prophetic guidance, and the future, local conferences will be even more reorganization was eminently suited to the important than they currently are. needs of the fledgling church of a century In writing the model constitution, the ago. But even a prophetically blessed church task force was concerned that the constitu­ structure of a bygone era can be a detriment tion authentically embody basic principles to the modern church if structural policies held in common by North American are solidified and mistaken for eternal Division church members. The constitution Christian principles. is a "model" in the sense of a teaching Certainly no mere structural changes will device. If adopted by a particular confer­ suffice in dealing with modern societal ence, the constitution would no doubt be living or directly address fundamental adjusted for unique local needs. N everthe­ spiritual problems facing the church­ less, the task force has tried to produce a spiritual apathy, lack of evangelistic document that is adapted to the reality of the growth, or doctrinallaxity/rigidity. How­ Adventist ethos in North America. ever, the task force contends that the form As an aid to understanding the reasons for of structure a church adopts says much to the the task force's proposals in the model world and to itself about its principles and its constitution, George Colvin has produced a God. To a surprising extent, "The medium commentary on the constitution. Although is the message." the statements in the commentary are those of a single writer, they attempt to reflect the thinking of the task force. The two articles which conclude this cluster come from a larger group of general n discussing the ways or preliminary studies out of which the I by which to put for­ general statement and the model constitu­ ward recommendations on these matters, tion grew. * Raymond Cottrell, in "Com­ the task force concluded that two basic parative Church Polities," surveys the documents were needed: a general state­ organizational structure of 12 denomina­ ment of principles, and a model confer­ tions in North America and compares the ence constitution which embodies these results to Adventist structure. Interestingly, principles. The general statement develops almost all the representative denominations basic principles of representative church surveyed, except those of a hierarchical or government, indicates how current church congregational nature, have formal mech­ practice falls short of these principles, and anisms of judicial appeal. Hence, the task points toward the form of church structure force advocates an adjudicatory commission implied by the principles. The context of in the model constitution. discussion is the North American Division Ellen White, in 1901, called for decentral­ and how it relates to the local conferences ization: "What we need now is a reorgani­ and churches. zation. We want to begin at the foundation, The model conference constitution speci­ and to build upon a different principle." The fies how the principles can be expressed task force's call is timid by comparison. We concretely in procedures and institutions of call the church back to its ideals. We call the church structure. This constitution could church to make real its commitment to also be used to revise higher levels of church representiveness. We call the church to live organization. It addresses the local confer- out its high valuation of the laity. Volume 14, Number 4 17

NOTES AND REFERENCES

*Unpublished background papers of the Task Gary Land, "Layman and Denomination in Force may be requested from the AAF office in Seventh-day Adventist History." Takoma Park, Md. David R. Larson and James W. Walters, "Indi­ George Colvin, "Principles for Church Reorga­ vidual, Community, and Adventist Polity." nization," and "On the Moral Basis of Demo­ cratic Government."

Task Force Proposals to ensure the possibility of genuine representative Although the basic principles undergirding church government. church government are given in Scripture, the 6. Permanent adjudicatory commISSIOns form of government varies according to culture should be established within each conference and and needs. At least in North America, the within the North American Division to decide representative form of church government is constitutional questions and to review cases of appropriate. Accordingly, the task force makes intra-church dispute. These commissions should the following proposals. alleviate the need to use secular courts by the 1. A genuine North American Division church and its members. should be established, with its own constituency 7. A session booklet should be compiled and that elects its own division officers. sent out to delegates before meetings of the 2. Union conferences should be eliminated constituency. It would contain, among other and local conferences strengthened as the key items, an agenda and an assessment of each administrative units. A few regional offices proposal: background information, a statement of staffed by appointees of the elected officers of the fiscal impact, and brief arguments pro and con. North American Division would aid conference 8. A conference nominating committee coordina tion. could be appointed two months before the meet­ 3. Laypeople should be thoroughly involved ing of the constituency. The committee could in all decision-making bodies, and comprise at nominate two people for each conference officer least 50 percent of every permanent committee, position, and it may nominate more than the commission, and board. At least half of the voting number of people needed to fill vacancies on delegates of constituency sessions should be all permanent boards, commissions, and commit- laypeople. tees. 4. Information should be freely provided. All 9. Only conference officers should be documents should be available for inspection, elected. The conference president, in conjunction except for those whose confidentiality is neces­ with the executive committee, would appoint all sary for proper conduct of church operations; conference staff. . church committees and commissions are open 10. The General Conference should initiate a except when an executive session is called. North American Division constitutional commis­ 5. A board of information should be estab­ sion to conduct an in-depth study of North lished within each local conference and within American polity. After widespread discussion in the North American Division to foster full the conferences and congregations, a North communica tion of church programs and news. In American Division session should convene to addition, the boards should provide a medium for adopt the proposed constitution, pending General responsible discussion of church thought and life Conference approval. Task Force Report A Call for an Open Church

nlightened and guided and meaningful involvement in their Eby the Holy Spirit, church. A representative church can draw the Seventh-day Adventist Church has all of these abundant gifts together into developed a representative form of govern­ appropriate ministries, which will upbuild ment. Representation encourages members and strengthen the community. to work together for the fulfillment of the In addition to permitting the church to church's mission of preparing for Christ's obtain the benefit of its members' excel­ soon return by inviting all men and women lencies, a representative church structure everywhere into a saving relationship with takes into account the universal condition of Jesus Christ. human sinfulness by placing limits on This form of government is especially authority and making those in authority desirable for the Seventh-day Adventist accountable. It thereby reduces the ten­ Church. The denomination began as a lay dency to abuse power. movement, and the great Adventist pioneers Although the appropriateness of a repre­ chose a representative form of order for sentative structure has always been accepted Adventism: This form was supported in the in the Adventist Church, the. form of its first and every subsequent edition of the realization has varied. Structures and official Church Manual. processes thought to be desirable at one A representative church structure is also stage of development may later prove closely related to the historic Protestant superfluous. Changing needs and circum­ principle of the "priesthood of all be­ stances have led to minor adjustments and on liev~rs." The concept that the Holy Spirit a few occasions to major changes. works constructively and creatively in the Increasingly, Adventists in North Amer­ minds and lives of all members of the ica are concerned that the church must community, enlightening and guiding them restudy both its structures and its operating as they cooperate together to fulfill the procedures. North America, at least, needs gospel commission, implies that church to re-examine how a more complete structure should be representative rather realization of representative government than hierarchical. The New Testament may serve its own members and fulfill the doctrine of spiritual gifts, which teaches sacred mission Christ has entrilsted to it. that each member expects to contribute his This conviction, inspired by the Holy Spirit, or her understanding and skills to the is finding expression among dedicated community of faith, also implies that church Seventh-day Adventists at all levels of structure should be representative. The church organization. This conviction does Holy Spirit has blessed the members of the not imply that the individuals who admin­ community with a variety of gifts, all of ister the church's affairs should be con­ which are important for the health of the demned. It is simply that the church has corporate body. Within the Adventist outgrown a structure and mode of operation Church, the strong emphasis on education that once served it well. In the world and the has enhanced these gifts among the mem­ church, circumstances today are vastly bers, many of whom desire more extensive different from what they were 25 or even 10 Volume 14, Number 4 19 years ago. The principle of "the priesthood responsible, must arise from the free and of all believers," the concept of spiritual informed consent of the whole body of gifts, and the amazing development of the members. In view of the fact that in large denomination summon all members of the communities, direct vote of the people on all Adventist community of faith to explore issues is unworkable, the appropriate mode ways to make widespread opportunity to of structure for the church is a representa­ participate in the governance of the church, tive one which respects. the rights of all full according to each member's gifts, a reality. members. It is hoped that such participation will help 5. The right to participate in the choice of Adventism in North America develop a one's representatives is the heart of any greater commitment to a sense of mission: a representational system. Relinquishment of mission that not only responds to the needs this right to an elite few, at any level of of the present but also presents a vision of a church government, tends to result in future where all both serve and are served. leaders who are insensitive and a govern­ ment that is self-perpetuating. By partici­ pating in the selection of their leaders, the 1. Principles of Representative members are exercising their responsibility Church Government for the church's welfare. To this end, opportunities for participation must be nderstanding repre­ made numerous and effective, and partici­ U sentative church pation must be encouraged. Open discussion government is important both for evaluat­ is essential for responsible participation. ing the present system and for proposing 6. The need for wide participation and the changes that will make it more representa­ human tendency to abuse power both tive. The following principles are funda­ reqUIre the diffusion of power through a mental for such understanding: modest separation of powers within the 1. The church is both a spiritual church. fellowship and a temporal organization. 7. The extent and quality of participation 2. Church government has to do with in a representative community are closely establishing authority in a community. In related to the availability and quality of the sacred community as in other communi­ information. ties, authority must be both just and 8. The most effective form of representa­ effective and must be just to be effective. tive government for'the Seventh-day Ad­ 3. Because basic human characteristics ventist Church in North America will be affect all institutions, the same dynamics and one that recognizes both the world-wide processes that operate in other institutions mission of the church and the need for and also operate in the church; and church oper­ right to self-government within its compo­ ations may be understood, at least in part, by nent units. the same methods that apply to other institu­ 9. The way in which authority in the tions. The well-being of the church requires church is distributed and exercised is a form acknowledging these similarities among of witness. This form of witness is vital to human organizations and using them to the relationship of employees to the church. benefit the church's self-understanding. To safeguard this witness, the rights of both 4. As the Church Manual affirms, the members and employees should be clearly ultimate temporal authority of the church is defined and protected. vested in the whole body of members, the 10. Representative government does not people of God, who are mutually responsi­ usually rise above the level of understanding ble for its welfare. Adventist church of its constituents. Education of the mem­ government, if it is to be just and bers of the church in the principles and 20 Spectrum practice of a representative church order is sider present methods. Among these condi­ therefore of great importance for establish­ tions are the following: ing and maintaining representativeness.1 1. For practical purposes, communication functions are controlled by church admin­ istrators, whose position inevitably limits II. The State of Adventist their objectivity and perspective. The Church Structure undesirable consequences of this situation are already being recognized by some he present structure within the church.2 T of the Adventist 2. The large number of electoral levels in Church was established in 1901. At that the Adventist Church and the increasing time the church had 78,000 members, the concentration of decision-making authority vast majority of whom lived in North in the upper levels have combined to America. There were relatively few institu­ separate the principal decision-makers from tions, and the educational system in particu­ the members by at least six electoral stages, lar was only in process of formation. Since counting each point at which selection or that time, the church has increased greatly voting occurs as one leve1. 3 As a result of this in membership, institutions, and financial wide separation, those who make the basic resources. These internal changes have been decisions may not believe they are responsi­ accompanied by great changes in the world ble or accountable to the members collec­ in which the church exists. However, no tively. important structural alterations have been 3. Laypeople, especially women, are made to help the church adapt to these excluded from effective participation at substantial internal and external changes. A most levels of Adventist church structure. static structure has begun to cripple the Although other factors (such as race and church in North America and to deprive it ethnic background) may also exclude of representative government. members from participation, limiting au­ Apart from historical factors that suggest thority to the administrative clergy is the the need for change, both the Scriptural principal restriction. evidence for divine approval of a New 4. Ultimate decision-making authority Testament church order very different from for the church in North America is vested in the order of the Old Testament church and the General Conference Executive Com­ the important principle of progressive mittee. As the proportion of Adventists revelation suggest that the Holy Spirit may outside of North America has increased (to lead toward new insights that permit more about 83 percent at present), the General efficient and appropriate methods of achiev­ Conference Executive Committee has ing goals. That such changes may be needed properly been internationalized. Today, the in Adventist operations does not deny the General Conference Executive Committee enormous debt owed to the founders of the is more representative of the world church church, including Ellen G. White. Their and less representative or understanding of efforts in establishing the church have the church in North America. This inter­ helped the church to prosper up to the nationalization of the General Conference present time. Instead, such changes would Executive Committee, coupled with the only acknowledge that the church's struc­ fact that it controls the church in North ture, like its members and its environment, America (in contrast to the other world exist i~ the realm of change. divisions, which to a greater degree Several conditions in the Adventist administer their own affairs) results in Church in North America suggest the serious injury to the life and mission of the imperative need for willingness to recon- church in North America. Volume 14, Number 4 21

5. Effective participation in decision­ institutional forms in which these principles making, beyond the local conference level, find expression may vary from one age and remains with a very small group of people. culture to another. Being of divine origin, practically all of whom are administrative the principles themselves are sacred; the clergy. These people often meet in closed forms, being of human design, may be committees and in other settings where their adapted to the needs and preferences of the actions and views as individuals are un­ people they serve. known to those whom they are supposed to In North America, the form of church represent. Beyond the local conference, structure will be representative. To realize they are not elected by the church at large the benefits of a truly representative church, and are not sufficiently accountable to it. substantial changes in the structure of the 6. In some areas of the Adventist church Adventist Church in North America are structure, meaningful checks and balances needed. The following changes would tend within the church structure either do not to make the Adventist Church more exist or are ineffective-a situation which representative and more effective. can and sometimes does result in abuses of power. Other mechanisms that have proven useful in making elected leaders accountable to their constituents are often absent from Circumstances today are vastly Adventist church government. different from what they were 25 or 7. Church statements about the rights of even 10 years ago. The church has members and employees often remain un­ simply outgrown a structure and clear. Methods for dealing in a procedurally mode of operation that once served it fair way with grievances arising from ap­ well. peals to such rights also are not firmly in place. 8. Although participation by church members is greatest at the local level of the 1 .. The needs of the Adventist Church in church, present structures and policies tend North America urgently require the estab­ to remove real control of resources and lishment of a fully functioning North decision-making authority even in details of American Division, whose officers would management to higher levels of the church be more responsible and responsive to the that are more distant from the members. needs of their constituents in North Amer­ This process tends to diminish partici pa tion ica. The division would have its own by the members, responsibility to the constituency and elect its own officers, who members on the part of church leaders, and would be directly responsible and respon­ ability of local units to respond to local sive to the members of the church in North conditions. America. Such a structure appropriately bridges the span between the local confer­ ences and the General Conference. Further, III. Proposals for a More it is necessary if a more representative, Representative Adventist responsible church is to exist in North America. Because voluntary loyalty brings Church Structure greater strength to the world church than what may be perceived as compulsory cripture sets forth loyalty, giving North American Adventists Suniversally applica­ a greater voice in the affairs of the North ble principles on which the church should American church would improve their be organized and operated. However, the loyalty to the world church. It would also 22 Spectrum free the General Conference officers to deal governing boards. (An example is the Board solely with concerns affecting the whole of Higher Education, which could be church. strengthened.) Such reorganization would 2. the union conferences should be necessarily consider and where possible eliminated. They should be replaced by no retain local and regional affiliations and more than five North American Division interests. regional support offices sensitive to the These changes, together with the estab­ needs and interests of their respective lishment of a fully functioning North regions. Local conferences would become American Division and the use of modern the principal governing units of the church communications and transportation, would in North America. This arrangement would result in a more effective coordination of the bring decision-making closer to a level at resources of North America and a decrease which local conference administration, in administrative staff. Major staff func­ local congregations, and individual mem­ tions, such as religious liberty, could be most bers could influence events. Because the effectively provided to the local conferences local conferences are intended to be from the division level. They would increase substantially self-governing units, and be­ the openness, representativeness, and re­ cause such a result is difficult to achieve sponsibility of church government. These changes would also permit substantial savings of resources and an appropriate redistribution of talent from administration The way in which authority in the to "front line" activities. church is distributed and exercised is 3. Mechanisms assuring administrative a form of witness. accountability should be established at all levels. At the conference level, these mechanisms could be initiated by or assigned to delegates from local congregations, who without a sufficient membership and finan­ should retain their position as delegates cial base, local conferences in North between constituency meetings. At the America should be consolidated to obtain a North American Division level, these maximum of 20 to 30 local conferences. mechanisms could be ini tia ted by the local Local congregations would thus relate di­ conference committees, which would have rectly to the conferences, and conferences at least a majority of laity. would relate directly to the North Ameri­ 4. In any reorganization, attention should can Division. Delegates to a North Ameri­ be given to removing electoral levels can Division constituency meeting and to between the members of the local churches the General Conference session would be and the officers of the North American elected by local conference constituencies. Division. This approach would bring leaders At least half of these delegates should be closer to the members and greatly simplify people who are not employed by the church the organizational structure. and do not have a business relationship Reorganizational efforts should place with the church. Efforts should be made power, including financing, on the lowest at all levels to limit the number of ex officio appropriate levels. Such efforts should voting delegates and increase the proportion recognize the need for resources to match of elected voting delegates. responsibilities. Bringing church govern­ In such a reorganization, entities now ment as close as possible to the members will managed by the union conference could be be more effective in creating a sense of transferred either to the local conferences in responsibility for the success of the church's which they are located or to division-wide efforts among the membership as a whole. Volume 14, Number 4 23 5. The North American Division and IV. Achieving Structural Change local conferences should operate on a principle of openness. General organs of in North America information should be established and given sufficient independence and funding to ny changes in the provide responsible reporting and discussion A structure of the Ad­ of issues. A division-wide board of informa­ ventist Church in North America should be tion and general informational organ should developed and instituted appropriately. An be established similar to those proposed in orderly process by which to restructure the the task force's model conference consti­ church in North America could proceed as tution, many of whose provisions could be follows: modified to apply to the division. Upon authorization by the General Con­ 6. The rights of church members and em­ ference, the North American Division ployees should be protected by reliable would appoint a constitutional commission means not directly controlled by admini­ to conduct an in-depth study of church stration. These means should include divi­ polity and to formulate a tentative constitu­ sion-wide adjudicatory, constitutional, and tion for the North American Division ministerial commissions similar to those adapted to the needs of the church in North proposed in the model conference consti tu­ America. The commission would be selected tion. from nominees submitted by each local 7. The composition and operation of conference. The commission would be constituency sessions is important to effec­ broadly representative of the entire church tive representation. Delegates to North in its various aspects and phases of ministry. American Division constituency meetings It would consist of an equal number of should be elected by the local church dele­ ordained ministers and laypeople selected gates in the local conferences, by local for their knowledge and expertise in areas conference executive committees, and from that qualify them for membership on this North American Division institutions. At commission. The commission would be least half of the voting delegates should be given a year to complete this part of its people not employed by the church or assignment. For another year, the entire having a business relationship with the church in North America would be involved church. The delegates should be provided in in-depth study of. the proposed consti­ well in advance of the session with a manual tution. The commission would lead out containing the agenda, an outline of the in the study, which would include seminars, organization and procedures of the session, panel discussions, and open discussion in their responsibilities as delegates, and other the church press. It would receive sugges­ information necessary for them to discharge tions and incorporate them into the consti­ their responsibilities effectively. Area meet­ tution as these suggestions are deemed of ings of the delegates should be conducted value. well before the constituency session; and A t the close of the second year, a North provision should be made for these meetings American Division constitutional conven­ to place items on the agenda of the session. tion would be convened. The delegates to All proposals placed before the delegates at this convention would be chosen by a special a session should be accompanied by explana­ session in each conference. The number of tory material, including but not limited to delegates elected by each conference would arguments for and against each proposal, an be proportionate to the number of members unbiased statement of the background of the in the conference. At least half of the proposal, and an unbiased estimate of its delegates would be people not employed by financial effect. the church or having a business relationship 24 Spectrum with the church. This convention would he church of Christ amend the proposed constitution, as it might T on earth should deem appropriate, and adopt it on a always be open to change. These pro­ provisional basis for two years. At the close posals are part of a continuing effort to build of that time the constitutional convention up the Christian community on earth. The would reconvene and make whatever proposals come from a particular vision: the adjustments the trial period might indicate necessity to make the Adventist Church as as desirable. After such adjustments have responsible, representative, and participa­ been made, the constitution would become tory as possible. Widespread involvement the effective constitution for the North and participation are essential elements in American Division, pending General Con­ the air of the Christian community. The ference approval. church should settle for nothing less than the The North American Division would best possible church structure, and church remain a loyal, integral segment of the structure at its best can be realized in the world church, while assuming its place as an Adventist Church. Participation, responsi­ equal partner with other divisions in the bility, and Christian freedom need to world church. It would continue to con­ become ever more characteristic of the tribute sacrificially to the world mission of witness of the Adventist Church to a world the church in both personnel and means, but so often lacking these blessings. It is wi th the it would have developed an internal conviction that such a vision and such a structure and method of operations that church is what Scripture means by "the would be adapted to its needs. As a result, body of Christ" that these proposals are the North American Division would more submitted to Adventists in North America. effectively fulfill its mission to its own members, to the people of North America, and to the world church.

NOTES AND REFERENCES

1. Insights related to points 1, 2, 3, and 10 of this voting occurs as one level, the local conference section were obtained from: Keith R. Bridston, executive committee is separated from the members Church Politics (New York: The W orId Publishing by at least two levels: (1) the selection of conference Company, 1969); and Harry V. Jaffa, The Conditions session delegates by the local churches; and (2) the of Freedom: Essays in Political Philosophy (Baltimore: selection of the executive committee by the The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1975). delegates through their approval of the work of the 2. George W. Reid, "Time to Reorder the "large" or organizing committee and the nominat­ Church? ", The Adventist Review Ouly28, 1983), p. 15. ing committee. These two committees mayor may 3. Counting each point at which selection or not be considered additional levels. Task Force Report Defining Participation: A Model Conference Constitution

Preamble: members of the body of Christ, can cooper­ ate together for their mutual edification The Church Js Objectives and Polity and encouragement, and for the accomplish­ ment of their individual and collective mis­ aried concepts of the sion to the world. This ministry includes the Vchurch and its objec­ present well-being of all human beings, and tives find expression in diverse forms of their reconciliation to Jesus Christ in prepa­ church government. The New Testament ration for his soon return and life eternal. conceives of the church as a community New Testament principles and church of faith composed of people who, individu­ members' governmental expectations will ally, accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord find expression in the organizational struc­ and commit their lives and service to him as ture adopted by the membership. In the head over the church. It is what they are, North American Division, it will be collectively and corporately; it is not an constitutional and representative, and au­ impersonal entity or a hierarchy to which thority will be exercised in harmony with they belong. In this community of fai th all are the gospel and the informed will of the equal, all are one in Christ, bound together church as a whole. Members of the church in allegiance to him by the bond of the Holy have a duty to cooperate intelligently and Spirit. As a corporate body the church responsibly with those to whom they entrust belongs equally to all of its members. Each authority. Those elected or appointed to has a legitimate, inalienable interest in and positions of authority and leadership will be concern for its effective operation and a responsible to God and to the church for the God-given responsibility to contribute to manner in which they exercise the authority the success of its mission. This is the entrusted to them and discharge their corpora te aspect of the priesthood of all several responsibilities. They are to serve, believers. not to rule over, the church. Each member, According to the New Testament, the according to his or her natural abilities and church provides an environment and a spiritual gifts, will contribute to the well­ fellowship within which its members, as being of all and to the mission of the church 26 Spectrum to the world. Directly, or indirectly through Article 2: The Conference Session elected representatives, each will have a meaningful role in the decision-making process, in the election of leaders to elegates. Supreme leg­ implement the decisions made, and in D islative authority for evaluating the quality of their leadership the Conference shall be vested in and the manner in which they exercise a Triennial Conference Session, to which authority. delegates shall be elected by the congrega­ tions and conference-operated institutions. Each congregation shall have one delegate for the congregation plus one additional delegate for each 100 members or major fraction thereof, to be chosen by the Article I: The Conference congregation. Delegates from conference­ operated institutions shall include the rank­ ing officer of each institution or his or her his conference shall designee plus one additional delegate for T be known as the each 50 employees or major fraction thereof, ____Conference of Seventh-day Ad­ to be chosen by the employees of the ventists. It is one of conferences institution. Elected conference officers, associated together in the North American senior pastors ofcongrega tions, and associa te Division of Seventh-day Adventists, its pastors of congregations shall be voting designated territory being . Act­ delegates ex officio. All delegates shall be ing in harmony wi th the will of its members of congregations within the con­ constituent congregations,which it repre­ ference. Voting delegates shall be elected not sents, it is the highest authority of the church later than four months prior to the session. within its territory. Apportionments shall be calculated as of the Membership. The membership of this end of the preceding calendar year. Fifty-one conference consists of the organized congre­ percent of the voting delegates to any regular gations and conference-operated institu­ or special session shall constitute a quorum tions within its territory that have been or for the transaction ofbusiness. Unless elected shall be accepted as such by vote of the by their respective congregations or institu­ conference in regular or special session. tions as delegates or unless they are voting Each congregation shall administer its own delegates ex officio, members of permanent affairs and cooperate with the other commissions, committees, and boards of the congregations in the basic decision-making conference (as specified in this constitution), and electoral processes of the conference. administrators of conference-operated insti­ Authority. This conference, an integral tutions, and guest officers of organizations part of the world church, derives its above the conference level, duly appointed to constitutional authority from its constituent the session, shall be non-voting delegates. congregations and membership, and imple­ Such delegates may speak in the same manner ments the policies they initiate, and those of as other delegates. As space permits, the church at large, in so far as they are members of the constituent congregations of applicable and appropriate to the church in the conference may be present as observers the Conference. Title to all real but shall have no voice in the session property and fixtures appertaining to deliberations. institutions, congregations, and companies Calling Regular and Special Sessions. The of the conference shall be held in the name of Conference Executive Committee shall the conference. designate the time and place of regular and Volume 14, Number 4 27 special sessions. Notice of a regular or special all offices, voting shall be by secret ballot. A session shall be given by publication in two majority vote shall elect and shall determine consecutive issues of a regular publication all other matters except amendments to this designated by the session, the last of which constitution and matters specified in the notices shall appear at least two weeks prior latest edition of Robert's Rules of Order as to the session. requiring a different proportion. A special session may be called by a Agenda Proposals. Not- later than four majority vote of the Executive Committee. months prior to each regular session the vice A special session shall be called by the president for administration shall solicit Executive Committee when so requested by agenda proposals for consideration at the submission to the vice president for admini­ session from congregations, conference­ stration of a petition signed by at least 20 operated institutions, the Conference Exec­ percent of the delegates. utive Committee, departmental directors, Authority of the Session. The Conference and the permanent commissions, commit­ Session shall have authority to amend this tees, and boards of the conference. The vice constitution; to elect a president. a vice president for administration shall accept for president for administration, a vice presi­ consideration any other proposals that may dent for finance, members of the Confer­ be submitted. All proposals shall be ence Executive Committee and of the submitted in writing, shall include an permanent commissions, committees, and explanation of the proposal and an argument boards of the conference (as specified in this in favor not to exceed 500 words in length, constitution); to determine the basic admin­ and shall bear the name and position of one istrative policies of the conference; to to three principal sponsors of the proposal. authorize conference programs; to accept The Conference Executive Committee shall congregations or institutions into the review all proposals and prepare an agenda constituency and to expel congregations or for the session. The agenda shall include any institutions from the constituency; to proposal signed by at least 10 percent of the authorize ministerial credentials and li­ delegates. censes; and to transact such other business as Not later than two months prior to the may properly come before it. session, the vice president for administration Session Personnel. At least one month prior shall transmit to all congregations, confer­ to a regular session, and a t the time a special ence-operated institutions, the Conference session may be called, the Adjudicatory Executive Committee, departmental direc­ Commission (as constituted in Article VI) tors, and the permanent commissions, shall appoint a session chairperson and vice committees, and boards of the conference a chairperson, parliamentarian and vice parli­ statement in full of the proposals approved amentarian, and secretary and vice secre­ for the session agenda, with a request for tary. The parliamentarian shall, when arguments against these proposals. Such requested by the chairperson, rule on arguments, not to exceed 500 words in procedural matters, using as a guide the length, and bearing the name and position of latest edition of Robert's Rules of Order. The one to three principal opponents of the secretary shall preserve a true and accura te proposal, shall be submitted to the vice record of the proceedings and actions of the president for administration. From these he session and shall be responsible for the or she shall select one that most effectively tallying of all votes cast. During a session as presents reasons for opposing the proposal. at other times, the Adjudicatory Commis­ Session Booklet. Not later than one month sion shall interpret this constitution when prior to the session the vice president for questions arise about its intent. administration shall publish a session book­ . Voting. In the election of personnel to fill let and shall send it to each prospective 28 Spectrum delegate, each pastor and head elder of a with the delegates. These meetings shall congregation, each ranking officer of a occur between two to four months before conference institution, each officer of the the date of the session. The chairperson for conference, each departmental director, and each meeting shall be designated by the each member of a permanent conference Executive Committee and shall not be an commission, committee, or board. Copies of employee of the conference. Items for the booklet shall be available for distribu­ discussion at these meetings shall come from tion at the conference office to other persons the delegates. requesting it. The session booklet shall Tenure and Duties of Delegates. Delegates to contain: each Triennial Conference Session shall a. The agenda, including all proposals retain their delegate status for three years, accepted for the agenda, which shall until delegates are chosen for the next be given in full. Triennial Conference Session. They shall be b. A brief summary of the background delegates to any special conference session and content of each proposal, prepared called during the interim between regular by the vice president for administra­ sessions, except that delegates who for any tion. reason may no longer be able to serve or c. A brief estimate of the fiScal impact of who no longer represent their congregation each proposal, prepared by the vice or institution may be replaced by that con­ president for finance. gregation or institution. Following each d. For each proposal, the argument in conference session, delegates shall make a favor of the proposal. full report to their respective constituencies, e. For each proposal against which argu­ explaining actions taken and assisting in ments were submitted, one such argu­ implementing such actions within their con­ ment selected by the vice president stituencies. for administration, as specified above. Delegate Roster and Identification Card. Each f. A statement concerning the organiza­ congregation and conference institution tion and procedures of the session shall maintain a permanent roster of its and the responsibilities of delegates. delegates, removing the names of those who g. A list of the delegates, indicating their cease to represent it or who may no longer status (elected or ex officio) and the be able to serve and adding the names of congregation, institution, or other replacements. The church clerk shall inform conference entity they represent or the conference vice president for admini­ which with they are affiliated. stration of such changes. h. A copy of this constitution, and of pro­ The conference vice president for admin­ posed amendments thereto. istration shall maintain a permanent roster The summary and estimate referred to in of all voting delegates, with their signatures. (b) and (c) above shall be informatory only He or she shall update this roster at least in nature and shall not be so written or once each year and shall send this roster presented as to constitute advocacy for or annually to all delegates. He or she shall also against any proposal. issue each voting delegate an official Additional information needed by the delegate's identification card bearing the delegates to discharge their responsibilities delegate's name, the name of the constit­ shall be supplied to the delegates with the uency the delegate represents, and the session booklet by the vice president for delegate's term of service and signature. administra tion. The Organizing Committee. A t least three Pre-Session Delegate Meetings. Prior to each months prior to the session, each delegation regular session, the conference president representing a congregation, acting as a shall arrange for at least five area meetings unit, shall elect from among its members Volume 14, Number 4 29 people to serve on the Session Organizing mittee shall hear all people who request in Committee. Each- congregation shall be writing an opportunity to appear before it entitled to one member of the Organizing and shall receive all documents presented to Committee, and one additional member for it that are relevant to its duties. Upon the each 500 members or major fraction thereof, committee's request, the vice president for computed on the basis of its membership at administra tion shall furnish to the commi t­ the close of the preceding year. The tee any conference documents that the Organizing Committee shall meet at least committee shall deem necessary for the ten calendar weeks before the session. At discharge of its responsibilities. that time it shall choose its own chairperson The Nominating Committee may recom­ and shall select the members of the mend that the session remove from office Nominating Committee. In choosing the any appointed conference official. Proposals Nominating Committee, the Organizing for removal of appointed officials may also Committee shall recognize that it has a duty be made to the session delegates by petitions to consider the diversity of members within signed by at least 20 percent of the delegates. the conference. Either before or during the Proposals for removal of appointed officials session it shall perform such other duties as shall take effect if approved by majority may be requested by the Conference vote of the delegates present. Vacancies Executive Committee. created in this matter shall be filled in the The Nominating Committee. The Nominat­ same way as other vacancies in appointed ing Committee shall consist of not more positions. than 21 members and shall select its own Special Sessions and Action without Meeting. chairperson. It shall meet at least two Special conference sessions may be called by months before each regular session. At least majority vote of the Conference Executive two-thirds of its members shall be laypeople Committee or by submission to the vice not in the employ of the conference. For all president for administration of a petition permanent commissions, committees, and signed by at least 20 percent of the delegates boards it may nominate more people than and submitted to the vice president for minimally necessary to fill available posi­ administration at least three weeks before tions. It shall be the duty of the Nominating the special session. Committee to compile for each nominee a A session booklet for the special session resume of the nominee's service record, shall be prepared by the vice president for qualifications, and major objectives if administration at .least two weeks in elected. The Nominating Committee shall advance of the session. It shall include all of recognize in its nominations to all Confer­ those items specified above for the regular ence committees, commissions, and boards session booklet. that it has a duty to consider the diversity of Elected or appointed conference officials members within the conference. All nomi­ may be removed from office at a special nees shall have indicated in writing their session by a two-thirds vote of the delegates intention to serve if elected. present, if their removal was specified as an The Nominating Committee may nomi­ item on the agenda for the special session. nate more than one person for each position. By a majority vote of the Conference Any eligible person favored by at least one­ Executive Committee or by submission to third of the committee or for whom a the vice president for administration of a nominating petition signed by at least 20 petition signed by at least 20 percent of the percent of the delegates is submitted to the delegates, any business except removal of committee shall appear on the ballot. conference elective and appointive person­ Meetings of the Nominating Committee nel may be brought to the delegates without shall be closed, but the Nominating Com- meeting. In such case, the vice president for 30 Spectrum

administration shall obtain and circulate to posltlon and not inconsistent with this the delegates for each proposal the sum­ constitution, may be established by the mary, financial estimate, and arguments for Conference Executive Committee. Such and against the proposal specified above for criteria shall be reviewed by the Conference inclusion in the session booklet, in addition Executive Committee four to six months to any other relevant information needed by before each regular conference session. the delegates to discharge their responsibili­ The Election. Early in the session, the ties. Votes on such actions shall be returned Nominating Committee shall present its in person or by mail to the vice president for report, which shall be accompanied for each administration. Actions taken by the dele­ nominee by the nominee's service record, gates in a special session and without qualifications, and major objectives if meeting shall have equal force with actions elected. Additional nominations from the taken at a regular conference session. floor at the session shall not be permitted. Election to all offices shall be by secret ballot. Where only one position is being filled, a simply majority of the votes shall Article 3: Electoral Procedures elect. If a simple majority is not obtained on the first ballot, the two names receiving the lective Personnel. The highest number of votes shall appear on a E president, vice presi­ second ballot. For all elective committees, dent for administration, vice president for boards, and commissions, the available finance, and members of the Conference positions shall be filled by the nominees Executive Committee and other permanent receiving the largest number of votes. If commissions, committees, or boards of the only one nominee is presented for a position, conference (as specified in Article 6) shall the ballot shall provide for an affirmative or be elected at each regular conference negative vote. If negative votes exceed session. Unless otherwise specified herein, affirmative votes for any nominee, the their term of office shall be three years, or Nominating Committee shall resubmit a from the time of their election until their nominee or nominees (who may include the successors are elected. first nominee), and a simple majority shall Qualifications. The conference president elect. If a simple majority is not obtained on shall be an ordained Seventh-day Adventist the first ballot, the two names receiving the minister. All other offices and positions shall highest number of votes shall appear on a be equally open to all church members. Any second ballot. For members of the Executive person elected or appointed to conference Committee and of all permanent commis­ offices or positions shall be a member of a sions, committees, and boards, more names constituent congregation or company of the may appear on the ballot than positions to be conference at election or appointment or filled. In case of a tie for the last posi tion to shall become a member within a reasonable be filled, the tying names shall appear on a time after election or appointment. second ballot. The vice president for administration shall have education in administration or a related field and administrative experience before nomination. The vice president for Article 4: Officers and Their Duties finance shall have education in business or finance and business experience before he officers of the nomination. T conference shall be a Additional qualifications for these posi­ president, a vice president for administra­ tions, clearly related to the duties of the tion, and a vice president for finance, Volume 14, Number 4 31 elected at each Triennial Session. They shall she shall supervise, control, and be responsi­ enter upon their respective duties when ble for the keeping of accounts and books of elected and shall hold office for a term of the conference in a manner consistent with three years, or until their successors are the policies, procedures, and guidelines elected and assume their duties. established by the Conference Executive As chief executive officer of the confer­ Committee, the North American Division, ence the president shall administer its affairs and the General Conference. He or she shall subject to this constitution and as directed pay and receive all monies in whatever form by the Conference Executive Committee. necessary to carry out his or her duties. He He shall foster and coordinate all branches or she shall make and file a full annual report of the work of the church within the of all financial business transacted by the conference, and all conference programs. conference, and make and submit such other He shall call meetings of the Executive written reports and statements as may be Committee and preside at its meetings, or required by the Executive Committee. He designate another member of the Executive or she shall supervise and audit the financial Committee to do so; or a chairperson pro records of each congregation, company, tern may be chosen by the Committee on its and conference institution, or cause this to own initiative to serve in the absence of the be done. He or she shall report to the president or his designee. He shall coordi­ conference session for review. nate the work of the Executive Committee The records and accounts of this Confer­ and the permanent commissions, commit­ ence shall be audited by the auditor of the tees, and boards, and supervise the work of North American Division or by an inde­ the other officers, the staff, and the pendent certified public accountant. employees of the conference. He shall perform all other duties appropriate to the office of president except those reserved by Article 5: Administration this constitution to other conference of­ ficers, committees, commissions, and boards. 7"1he Executive Commit­ He shall report to the conference session for .1 tee. Administrative reVlew. authority for this conference between The vice president for administration shall sessions of the constituency shall be vested preserve a full and complete record of all in an Executive Committee of 16 members conference proceedings and serve and elected by and responsible to the Confer­ publish all official conference notices. He or ence Session. It shall consist of the she shall prepare the agenda for each conference president, vice president for conference session and publish the session administration, and vice president for fi­ booklet. He or she shall perform other duties nance, and at least eight laypeople not in the assigned to him or her by this constitution, employ of the conference or having business by the president, or by the Conference dealings involving more than 10 percent Executive Committee and shall report to of their business with the church or its the conference session for review. subsidiaries. The Executive Committee The vice president for finance shall receive shall have jurisdiction over all matters not and have custody of all conference monies reserved by this constitution to the confer­ deposited with him or her, together with ence session or to permanent commissions, gifts, legacies, and bequests. In consultation committees, or boards of the conference with the conference president he or she shall elected by the conference session. prepare a budget for the conference, which Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be submitted to the Conference may be called at any time by order of the Executive Committee for approval. He or president or at the president's request by the 32 Spectrum vice president for administration. Upon the Executive Committee may dismiss any written request of five or more members of elected officer or member of a permanent the Executive Committee, the president or commission, committee, or board of the the vice president for administration shall conference upon a clear showing of promptly call a special meeting. At such a misconduct in office. By majority vote the meeting, in the absenc~ of the president or a Executive Committee may initiate pro­ chairperson designated by him or her the cedures for removal of any elected officer or committee may choose a chairperson pro tem, member of a permanent commISSIOn, who shall serve for that meeting only. committee, or board of the conference, as Written notice of the time and place of specified in the provisions of Article 2 for meeting and agenda shall be given to each special sessions. member of the committee by mail, or Appointed personnel may be removed by otherwise sent or delivered by the vice majority vote of the Executive Committee president for administration or other person on recommendation of the president. Hired authorized to give such notice, at least 10 personnel shall be discharged only for days prior to a regular meeting. Notice and failure to fulfill the duties and requirements agenda of a special meeting shall be of their position as set forth in the job provided in a manner to permit adequate description. time for members to attend. Meetings shall Interim Vacancies. An interim vacancy in be scheduled at times and places convenient the conference presidency may be filled only for the members. Notices of meeting and at a special session. An interim vacancy in agendas for regular meetings shall also be any other elective or appointive position transmitted at least 10 days prior to a regular shall be filled by vote of the Executive meeting to the senior pastor of each Committee according to procedures that it congregation in the conference. shall establish. No person who ceases to be a A majority of the full Executive Commit­ member in good standing of the Seventh­ tee, excluding vacant positions, shall consti­ day Adventist Church, as determined by his tute a quorum for the transaction of or her congregation (or decision of appro­ business. priate adjudicatory authority on appeal) Items may be placed on the agenda of the shall continue to serve the conference in any Executive Committee by any member of the policy-making, elective, or electoral capac­ Executive Committee. ity. Personnel. Subject to confirmation by the Pastors. The Conference Executive Com­ Executive Committee, the president shall mittee shall assign pastors to constituent appoint assistants to the conference officers, congregations and organized companies departmental directors, and assistants to the after determining their acceptability to each departmental directors. Personnel below congregation or organized company. It shall these levels shall not be subject to issue credentials and/or licenses to all appointment and confirmation but shall be people in the service of the conference. hired according to their abilities and background on the basis of job descriptions which shall indicate with particularity the Article 6: Permanent Commissions) nature and requirements of the position. Such hiring ,shall not discriminate by age, Committees) and Boards sex, race, or national origin. The perma­ nent boards, commissions, and committees n this article, as else­ of the conference shall appoint their own I where in this consti­ staff. tution, the term "layperson" shall be de­ Dismissal. By a two-thirds vote the fined as in Article 5. At the time when Volume 14, Number 4 33 members of bodies specified in this article by the conference session. In addition to are first elected, their terms of office may be these six members, the president of the adjusted to allow for overlapping (stag­ conference shall be a member of this gered) terms where required. commission ex officio. The commission Ministerial Commission. There shall be a shall elect its own chairperson. Except for permanent Ministerial Commission consist­ the president, incumbent conference of­ ing of five ordained ministers and five ficers and staff shall not be eligible to serve laypeople elected by the conference session. on this commission. At least two of its Half of its members shall be elected at each members shall be attorneys who are regular conference session and half at the members of the State Bar and have neither following regular session. They shall serve business nor suit with the conference during terms of six years and shall not be eligible their term of service on the commission. for re-election until the next regular session Three members of this commission shall be following the expiration of their terms of elected to the commission at each regular service. In addition to the above 10 people, conference session. They shall serve terms of the conference president shall be a member six years and shall not be eligible for re­ of this commission ex officio and shall be its election until the next regular conference chairperson. At least two members of this session following the expiration of their commission shall be people educated and term of office. experienced in biblical studies and theology, Upon request, this commission shall preferable on the graduate level. At least review and decide differences of opinion one member of this commission shall be a with respect to the interpretation of this person educated, experienced, and profes­ constitution. Upon request, it may review sionally licensed in a field related to the case of a member disfellowshipped by a counseling. congregation, and may, at its discretion, This commission shall be responsible to reinstate disfellowshipped members in the the Conference Executive Committee and conference church. Its decisions with re­ shall make recommendations to it. It shall spect to the interpretation of this constitu­ receive requests for consideration from the tion and to the reinstatement of disfellow­ Executive Committee, from any member of shipped members shall be final. In all other the ministerial staff of the conference, or matters its decisions shall be advisory. With from any congregation; and it may investi­ respect to disputes between church mem­ gate on its own initiative. It shall consider all bers, congregations,and institutions of the matters and questions relating to the conference it may, upon request, review and professional competence and conduct of make recommendations for resolving such members of the ministerial staff of the differences. conference, such as eligibility for ordina­ The Adjudicatory Commission shall have tion, credentials and licenses, and doctrine. access to all documents and all information It shall foster the continuing education of it deems necessary for the conduct of its pastors and seek in every way to encourage a responsibilities. It shall adopt rules and high level of competence and quality in their regulations for the conduct of its duties and ministry. For renewal and continuance of shall report to each regular session. Within credentials, each active ordained person the specifications of this constitution, the shall meet minimum requirements for Adjudicatory Committee shall determine its continuing education as determined by this own jurisdiction. commISSIOn. Constitution Committee. There shall be a Adjudicatory Commission. There shall be a permanent Constitution Committee elected permanent Adjudicatory Commission of by the conference session. The Constitution seven members, six of whom shall be elected Committee shall receive and initiate sugges- 34 Spectrum tions for amending this constitution and The Conference Executive Committee shall propose amendments. It shall consist of shall make available to the Board of In­ five members, who shall serve a term of formation a sum adequate for the discharge three years and shall be eligible for re­ of its duties, including publication of the election. At least four members must be lay­ organ of general information, as determined persons, and one member of this committee by mutual agreement between the Execu­ shall be an attorney who is a member of tive Committee and the board. Monies the State Bar and has neither business nor accruing to this fund shall be kept by the suit with the conference during his term of conference vice president for finance as a service on the committee. The committee trust fund, and disbursements from this fund shall be responsible to and report to the shall be at the discretion of the Board of conference session. All proposals for amend­ Information. ing this constitution shall be published in This board shall draw up a statement of the session booklet. principles concerning freedom of informa­ Board of Information. There shall be a tion within the conference, guidelines for its permanent Board of Information consisting own operation, and rules and regulations by of seven members, six of whom shall be which to implement freedom of informa tion elected to the board by the conference in the conference. It shall submit this session. The responsibility of the Board of statement to the next regular conference Information shall be to assure the availabil­ session after its completion for amendment ity to members of constituent congregations and approval. The resulting document shall and companies of the conference of full henceforth govern freedom of informa tion information on all aspects of the operation in the conference and may be amended only of the conterence. Its members shall include by a majority vote of the conference session. the vice president for administration of Pending approval of this statement, the the conference as a member ex officio, at board shall discharge its responsibilities as least three laypeople, at least one pastor of a specified in and in harmony with this congregation, and the editor of its publica­ constitution. The board shall report for tion organ; it shall elect its own chairperson. review at each regular conference session Three of its members shall be elected to the and shall be responsible to the session. board at each conference session. They shall serve terms of six years, after which they shall be eligible for re-election. The Board of Information shall publish an organ of general information, for which it shall serve Article 7: Freedom of Information as the publication board. The editor of this publication shall be nominated by the board vailability of infor­ and confirmed by the Conference Executive A mation on all opera­ Committee. The editor shall be a member of tions of the conference is necessary for the the board and responsible to it. Subject to existence and effective operation of repre­ this constitution and to the board, he or she sentative government. Conference opera­ shall have full editorial discretion. Among tions shall be conducted in recognition of other things, this publication organ shall this principle. convey news of local church and conference In particular, all documents rela ting to activities and shall provide an open forum conference operations shall be available for for the responsible discussion of issues public inspection, except for documents affecting the church at large, the confer­ whose confidentiality is necessary for the ence, its congregations and companies, and effective and proper conduct of conference their members. operations. Documents may be certified as Volume 14, Number 4 35 confidential by the relevant decision­ Article 8: Amendments making body, which shall file an open statement of the reasons for making each his constitution may such document confidential. T be amended by a All meetings of conference commi ttees, two-thirds vote of the delegates present at commissions, boards, or other executive, any regular or special conference session, legislative, adjudicatory, or administrative subject to confirmation by two-thirds of the bodies at all levels of conference operations constituent congregations of the conference shall be open meetings unless the body shall in business session. Proposed amendments determine to go into executive session. If shall be submitted in writing to the such a determination is made, the body shall Constitution Committee, together with an within five days file a statement of the explanatory statement setting forth the reasons for going into executive session and reasons for the proposed amendments. This a list of the subjects considered, but not the statement shall not exceed 500 words in substance of the discussion. This statement length. The Constitution Committee shall shall be a matter of public record. Differ­ study the proposed amendments and submit ences of opinion with respect to the themto the Conference Executive Commit­ classification of documents shall be referred tee with a recommendation for acceptance to the Adjudicatory Commission, whose or rejection. Proposed amendments shall be decision shall be final. placed on the agenda for the next confer­ The Board of Information shall imple­ ence session, with the recommendations of ment these principles and shall monitor both the Constitution Committee and the freedom of information within the confer­ Conference Executive Committee ap­ ence. pended thereto. Task Force Report Explaining Participation: A Commentary

by George Colvin

rom its inception, the as possible. Involvement of members should Fmodel conference be informed and meaningful. All conference constitution was intended to illustrate the positions except the presidency are equally way in which principles of structure could open to all members (Article 3). The be put into practice. Of the many principles constitution promotes participation by re­ that appear in the constitution, four seem maining rigorously sex-neutral. Because particularly important: (1) the importance the task force thought that the conference of opportunity for participation in church president should be someone who had made governance; (2) the need for improved the intensive commitment to the work of the information; (3) the necessity for leaders to church that ordination involves and ordina­ be accountable to the members; and (4) the tion is now restricted by the denomination desirability of balance among the parts of to males, the unintended effect of the task the structure. All of these principles are force's recommendation is to limit con­ suggested in the preamble to the constitu­ ference presidencies to men. tion. This topical discussion provides rea­ In many ways, the constitution opens sons for major proposals in the constitution ways for laypeople to participate decisively and explains their interrelatedness. For in conference operations. At least half of the example, freedom of information about executive committee must be lay, and laity conference operations is important in itself, are heavily involved on the other four but also affects implementation of the other committees, commissions, or boards (Ar­ three principles. However, this commen­ ticles 5 and 6). The requirement that tary cannot replace a careful reading of the executive committee agendas be made constitution itself. available ahead of time (Article 5) is primarily informational, but taken together Participation with the requirement for open committee meetings (Article 7) it allows members to he task force be­ know in advance which committee meetings T lieved that oppor­ they wish to attend. Retention of local tumtIes for participation at all levels of church delegates as delegates between church structure should be opened as widely sessions decisively increases the influence of George Colvin is a doctoral candidate in govern­ laypeople. The substantial reduction of ex ment at Claremont Graduate School and secretary officio voting delegates to the session also of the Association of Adventist Forums Task Force increases opportunities for participation by on Church Structure. laypeople who are delegates from local Volume 14, Number 4 37 churches. The provisions regarding avail­ these bodies and to improve their ability to ability of information would also improve deal with other information in their the equality of participation. deliberations. The three most important Various features of the constituency provisions related to information are the meeting procedures would make participa­ session procedures (Article 2), the Board of tion more meaningful. For example, the Information (Article 6), and the Freedom of constitution suggests several methods dele­ Information article (Article 7). gates may use to introduce names into The session procedures provide for high election contests or place matters on the levels of information. The delegates are session agenda (Article 2). elected well ahead of time, and pre-session Participation by minorities of all kinds is meetings (already in place in the South­ heavily protected. The various petitioning eastern California Conference) permit dele­ requirements (Article 2) permit minorities gates to become informed. The elaborate of the session delegates to put matters on the procedures for agenda proposals are in­ agenda, to call for a special session, or to call tended largely to improve the quality of for a vote without a session meeting. One­ information available about agenda items. third of the session nominating committee is The session booklet (which is not intended to sufficient to put a name on the session ballot be the only information available to the for vote (Article2). Each of the 16 executive delegates) is a device to provide general committee members may place an item on information on agenda items and other the executive committee agenda, and five session-related matters. It should be fairly members may call a special meeting (Article short, cheaply printed, and widely available. 5). Although the task force rejected the The organizing and nominating committees idea of specific quotas, the constitution would meet well ahead of the session to protects groups that are often neglected by permit the nominating committee enough specifying that the session organizing and time to gain the information necessary for nominating committees "shall ... con­ an informed choice. The nominating com­ sider the diversity of members within the mittee would be assisted by the availability Conference" (Article 2). of conference informa tion, although the task force did not address the issue of improving information from outside the Information conference. The principle undergirding the Board of ecause it believed Information is that those who make the B better information news are not the best persons to report it. to be both a pressing need within the Ad­ The powers and composition given the ventist Church and an important support to board give it appropriate freedom of action, all effective structure, the task force placed while keeping it an organic part of the great emphasis on this principle in the conference's work. The task force believed constitution. Although church members that this arrangement would allow the will continue to be unequally informed, the board to increase the flow of information information provisions are intended to while maintaining its credibility. The task improve both the quality and quantity of force believes tha t increasing credible information available. Some of these provi­ communication will increase the involve­ sions are relatively minor, such as the ment of members in the conference and requirements for education and professional thereby strengthen their loyalty. knowledge by some members of conference Article 7 is intended to raise confidence in bodies. These requirements are intended to the conference among both members and bring relevant professional information to the public by demonstrating that the 38 Spectrum conference has nothing to hide. It also At the same time, the task force did not permits the development of an information want to require the session delegates to base on which accountability can rest. remove the president in order to obtain replacement of a departmental director, and it did want to make the departmental Accountability directors somewhat responsible and ac­ countable to the members they ultimately side from the trien­ serve. Therefore the constitution provides A nial sessions and the (Article 2) that appointed officials may be review and reporting requirements, the removed, although not replaced, by a sp'ecial principal means of making elected and or regular session. (The resulting vacancy appointed people accountable to the mem­ would be filled by the executive commit­ bers are freedom of information, the Board tee.) The constitution also aims to provide of Information, and the provision that local substantial job security for secretaries and church delegates retain their delegate status other support personnel who are hired between sessions. (rather than appointed or elected). The current practice of selecting a body of local church leaders to be session Balance delegates and then discharging them after one day's work was considered wasteful. n any organization Conference operations should be continu­ I where authority is ingly responsive to these local church not to be completely centralized and un­ leaders. The authority of the delegates to limited, some forms of balance (formal or remove elected or appointed officials at informal) must exist. Yet these balances are special or regular sessions and to act outside often the hardest things to perceive, of constituency meetings on other matters precisely because (as in the model consti tu­ helps to maintain accountability. The task tion) they are so pervasive. As a funda­ force believes that increasing the responsi­ mental principle, the task force tried to bility of the delegates will improve the balance the need for administration to motivation and performance of delegates. operate efficiently with the need to prevent In one way conference personnel might authority from being abused. seem to be less responsive under the A complete explication of the balances constitution than in present practice. Con­ provided by the constitution would be ference departmental directors are now excessively lengthy. A few examples, generally chosen by the session directly. drawn from various portions of the docu­ Under the constitution, they would be ment, should suggest the forms of balance nominated by the president and approved by that were thought desirable. the executive committee. The task force The constitution (Articles 4 and 5) grants made this change because the departmental the officers and a majority of the Executive positions increasingly require specialized Committee substantial authority. In prac­ expertise and therefore are best filled by a tice, the executive committee and confer­ non-elective method. The task force also ence officers would probably accrue greater believed that departmental directors should authority. However, their authority is not have electoral standing independent of balanced in various ways: the requirements the three top elected conference officers. for information; the various provisions for Finally, the task force wished to provide the responsibility and accountability; the au­ president with an opportunity to compose thority of the Adjudicatory Commission to his own "team" to manage conference interpret the constitution (Article 6); the activities. Ministerial Commission's advisory author- Volume 14, Number 4 39 ity concerning the ministerial staff (Article policy process was needed to handle some 6); and the ability of special sessions to tasks. The commission's authority over remove elective or appointive personnel constitutional interpretation, disfellowship, (Article 2). appointment of session personnel, and Because of concern that congregational disputes about classification of documents ownership would lead to organizational (Articles 2 and 6) balances the power of splintering, the constitution proposes that many other bodies. At the same time, the the conference (not the conference associa­ Adjudicatory Commission is itself balanced tion) retain ownership of local church real by the power of the executive committee property. The substantial authority in­ and the session (special or regular) to volved in this provision is balanced by the remove commission members (Articles 2 requirements that the conference must act and 5); the executive's committee's control "in harmony with the will of its constituent over funding of the commission; ex officio congrega tions" (Article 1), that the execu­ membership of the conference president tive committee must consult with local (Article 6); and the requirements for congregations and companies about pastoral openness applicable to all conference agen­ assignments (Article 5), and that local cies (Article 7). The Board of Information churches are directly involved in ratifica­ similarly balances and is balanced by other tion of constitutional amendments (Article groups. 8). Several general concerns should be Although the constitution presumes that considered in reading the constitution. The the local conference will retain a substantial task force envisioned the conference as the degree of autonomy from higher levels of most important organizational unit in North the church structure, the conference's America and believed the number of financial policies are brought under division conferences should be reduced. Conse­ and General Conference guidelines (Article quently, conference administrations would 4). The conference is explicitly said to be have a larger field of operations and exercise "an integral part of the world church" much more "vertical" authority. As a result (Article 1). "horizontal" balances are more appropriate Balances also exist between the officers and necessary. Also, the constitution in and the executive committee. The officers some ways gives conference leaders more have primary power over budgets, appoint­ powers than they now have. It is interesting ments, and other administrative areas to note that secular governmental execu­ (Article 4); but the executive committee, on tives function well with many more which they sit, has power to remove them balances and limits than the constitution between sessions for "misconduct in office" proposes for conference leadership. (Article 5) and must approve their budgets In writing the constitution, the task force and appointments (Articles 4 and 5). did not intend to end discussion. Rather, it The Adjudicatory Commission was based hopes that the constitution it proposes will on the belief that a body separate from the inspire others to surpass its vision. Task Force Report The Varieties of Church Structure

by Raymond F. Cottrell

he polity of a church American church bodies with a combined T reflects what the membership of 90 million, representing the church thinks it is and should become. This spectrum of polities from the purely comparative study of church polities exam­ hierarchical through the representative to ines the structure and modus operandi of a the purely congregational. Direct contact variety of representative church bodies in was made with the national headquarters of North America, with particular attention to each church. Some responded fully by their electoral, decision-making, and ad­ personal letter to a series of specific ministrative processes, and the role of the questions, others with more or less extensive laity in these processes. This study assumes documents, including, in several instances, that the participation of knowledgeable their official publications on church order laypeople, with the clergy, in the govern­ and discipline. Interviews were on occasion ance of the church will strengthen its ability conducted with local representatives, or by to fulfill its mission to its own members and phone with national headquarters. the world. Obviously the objective of this study was Of special importance in evaluating the to compare the Seventh-day Adventist polity of a church are such matters as Church polity with that of other churches. structure (levels of authority and admini­ According to the SDA Encyclopedia (Article stration and their relation to each other), "Organization"), electoral process (how a church selects its The SDA form of church government came to have leaders), legislative process (how it deter­ characteristics of several systems-particularly the mines its objectives, policy, plans, and modus congregational, with its emphasis on local church operandi), administration (how a church authority; the presbyterian, which provides for government by elected representatives; and in some implements its policies and how it holds its points the Methodist, in that it has conferences as orga­ leaders accountable for the way in which nizational units and in that the conference assigns min­ they administer its affairs), and adjudication isters to the local churches. (how it resolves differences of opinion The church bodies covered in this report respecting constitutional and administrative were selected to provide a spectrum of matters). Also important is the balance church polities in North America. In between clerical and lay participation in addition to those mentioned by the SDA church government. Encyclopedia, the Roman Catholic Church Case studies were made of 12 North was added as a representative of pure hierar­ chy and because of basic similarities be­ Raymond Cottrell is the former associate editor of tween its polity and that of the Seventh-day the Adventist Review and the Seventh-day Adventist Adventist Church; the Lutheran Church­ Bible Commentary. Missouri Synod because of certain similari- Volume 14, Number 4 41

ties to Seventh-day Adventist polity; and the represented in the United States by an Southern Baptist Convention because of the "apostolic delegate." noteworthy way in which it combines con­ The 49,812,178 members of the Roman gregationalism with highly effective co­ Catholic Church in the United States belong operation in aspects of service and mission. to 24,161 parishes, which makes an average Data for each of the church organizatjons of2,062 to a parish. There are 59,059 priests, (except the Roman Catholic Church and the or one to every 843 members. The parishes congrega tional churches) are presented in are grouped together in 170 dioceses, over five sections covering structure, the elec­ each of which a bishop (or archbishop) toral process, the legislative process, admin­ presides-with approximately 142 parishes istration, and adjudication. The order in to a diocese. Although each bishop is which the churches appear suggest their directly and solely responsible to the Holy approximate polity type, from strict hier­ See, within his own diocese he has absolute archy (in which the local congregation and authority. laypeople have little or no voice in the Vatican Council II gave the bishops of a government of the church as a whole) country permission to organize a national through various degrees of representative episcopal conference in which they can meet government to a strictly congregational regularly to share experiences, exchange polity. For purposes of comparison, a similar views, and jointly formulate a program for analysis of Seventh-day Adventist polity the common good of the church. These appears in sequence, at its appropriate national conferences do not have legislative, location in the spectrum of church polities. administrative, or adjudicatory authority An important aspect of church polity is because canon law prohibits any other the concept that structure and procedure are authority between the Holy See and the dynamic and not static. As the faith and life bishops. The bishops of the United States of a church and its members are an formed an organization known as the expression of its divine dimension, so National Conference ofCatholic Bishops, a structure and function reflect its human "canonical entity," and the United States dimension. Being human, structure and Catholic Conference, a "civil entity." Both operating procedures require attention and organizations are sponsored by the bishops adjustment from time to time in order to and are responsible to them. meet the needs of a changing church in a The National Conference of Catholic changing world. A comparative study of Bishops, or "Episcopal Conference" of the church polities implies that an in-depth church in the United States, is composed of study of the Adventist church structure and some 350 bishops who meet twice each year modus operandi would contribute to a more to consider the pastoral needs of the church. effective realization of its objectives. The I ts officers are elected for a term of three ability to carry through a meaningful years, except the general secretary who evaluation of this kind requires a high level serves for five years. The Episcopal Confer­ of maturity on the. part of the church. ence has an administrative committee composed of 48 bishops, an executive Roman Catholic Church committee composed of the National Con­ ference of Catholic Bishops officers, one -he Roman Catholic member of the administrative committee T Church is a pure elected by that body, more than 30 standing hierarchy. Supreme legislative administra­ and ad hoc committees, and a general tive/adjudicatory authority resides in the secretariat. Holy See, who governs the church through The administrative committee, which the Roman Curia. The Holy See is conducts the work of the Episcopal Confer- 42 Spectrum ence between plenary sessions, meets four collective action is considered desirable; times a year. Its members are the officers, specifically, "to organize and conduct the chairmen of its standing committees, religious, charitable,· and social welfare chairmen and elected members of the work at home and abroad; to aid in United States Catholic Conference commit­ education; to care for immigrants; and tees, and representatives of the 12 geo­ generally to enter into and promote by graphical regions of the Episcopal Con­ education, publication, and direction the ference committees. The National Confer­ objects of its being." It is organized around ence of Catholic Bishops committees, all of committees and departments concerned whose members are bishops, prepare pro­ with communication, education, social posals for action by the National Conference development, and world peace. These of Catholic Bishops, and review the activi­ committees are composed of bishops, ties of departments in the corresponding clergy, religious, and laity. Their chairmen United States Catholic Conference. Chair­ are bishops elected by the Episcopal men of the standing committees are elected Conference, who also elect two other by the body of bishops; chairmen of the ad episcopal members of each committee. hoc committees are appointed by the presi­ These committees formulate and recom­ dent of the National Conference of Catholic mend policy to the administrative board and Bishops. to the National Conference of Catholic The National Conference of Catholic Bishops. Bishops is the parent body of the United States Catholic Conference, hereafter re­ Seventh-day Adventist Church ferred to as the "Catholic Conference," and is the organization through which it carries tructure. At the local out its programs. The officers of the Sconference level the National Conference of Catholic Bishops Seventh-day Adventist Church has a repre­ are the officers of the Catholic Conference; sentative form of government. Above that the same general secretary is responsible for level the polity of the Seventh-day Advent­ administering both organizations. The ist Church is hierarchical: authority flows Catholic Conference has an administrative downward and members in local congrega­ board identical in membership to the tions have virtually no voice. Above that administrative committee of the Episcopal level, the Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Conference. Its executive committee is closed, self-operating, and self-perpetuating composed of the officers of both organiza­ system similar to the Roman Catholic tions. The General Secretariat coordinates Church, in which those in authority are not both. The Episcopal and Catholic confer­ responsible to lower echelons. Above the ences are served by the United States local conference level, those in authority are Bishops' Advisory Council, a 60-member not elected by, representative of, or national body of bishops, clergy, religious, administratively accountable to, local con­ and laity who meet twice each year to gregations or the membership at large. discuss issues, to review activities, and to In North America there are 622,961 make recommendations. The National Seventh-day Adventists in 4,043 congrega­ Council of Catholic Laity and various social tions, which makes an average of 154 to a service groups work in close association congrega tion. These congregations are with the Catholic Conference. associated together in 58 conferences, with The purpose of the Catholic Conference about 70 congregations to a conference. is defined as "to unify, coordinate, promote, Conferences are grouped in nine union and carryon all Catholic activities in the conferences, approximately six conferences United States" in areas where voluntary to a union. There are 3,454 ordained Volume 14, Number 4 43 ministers, or approximately one to every ence and of the division. " Local conferences 180 members. are responsible to the union conference of There is a nominal North American which they are part, and "are administered Division operated by General Conference in harmony with the policies which govern personnel at General Conference head­ the union." The executive committee of quarters. The highest legislative/governing each conference is elected by delegates body of the church in North America is the representing the local congregations and is General Conference Committee, which "vested with the delegated authority of the exercises this authority through a subcom­ churches within the conference." mittee, the North American Division Each division committee is a section of Committee on Administration. There is no the General Conference Committee, and constituency just for the North American available members of the General Confer­ Division. Between sessions of the General ence Committee are automatically members Conference, designated members of the of any division committee. Whereas union General Conference headquarters staff conferences and missions outside of North supervise the church in North America. The America "are expected to maintain close North Americ~n Division has no designated counsel with their respective division president; the president of the General offices," union conferences in North Amer­ Conference functions ex officio in this ica "shall maintain close counsel directly capacity, and a vice president of the General with the General Conference." Conference supervises North America for The General Conference is the highest organization the General Conference. in the administration of our worldwide work (and) all A policy revision authorized by the subordinate organizations and institutions throughout the world will recognize the General Conference in 1983 Annual Council reinforces this hier­ session, and the executive committee between sessions, archical structure above the local confer­ as the highest authority, under God, among us. Adventist ence level. The divisions are considered to Review, 160:1181-1182, November 24, 1983. be "sections" of the General Conference The Electoral Process. At a conference itself. Union conferences "are responsible to constituency meeting, delegates elected by the respective division section (of the the constituent congregations elect the General Conference) of which they are part, conference officers and departmental di­ and are administered in harmony with the rectors. Each local conference executive operating policies of the General Confer- committee appoints delegates to a union

STATISTICS

Members Congregations Ordained Clergy Churches (Millions) (Thousands) (Thousands) Roman Catholic 51.2 24.3 58.5 Seventh-day Adventist 0.6 3.8 4.5 Episcopal 2.8 7.2 12.9 Nazarene 0.5 4.9 7.9 Lutheran Church/Missouri Synod 2.6 5.7 7.4 American Lutheran 2.3 4.9 7.1 Lutheran Church in America 2.9 5.8 8.1 United Presbyterian 2.4 8.9 14.7 United Methodist 9.7 38.6 36.1 Assemblies of God 1.8 9.9 23.9 Southern Baptist 13.8 36.0 61.4 Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 1.2 4.3 6.6 Congrega tional 0.1 0.4 0.7 Statistics are from the Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches, 1983, by Constant H. Jacquet. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1983. The 1983 Yearbook does not provide statistics for the United Methodist church; those given are from the 1982 Yearbook. Dashes indicate information not applicable or available. 44 Spectrum conference session, which elects the union the 21 members of the Southeastern conference officers and departmental di­ California Conference executive commit­ rectors. The union conferences in North tee are laypeople, as are 10 of the 50 America appoint delegates to a General members of the Pacific Union Conference Conference session. There they caucus, and executive committee. On the General recommend officers to be elected by the Conference level, there are 11 general General Conference session to serve the departments and 18 service boards, corpora­ General Conference for North America. At tions, and other organizations. every level, nominating committees ap­ Adjudication. Otherwise irreconcilable dif­ pointed by each session recommend one ferences· of opinion on constitutional and name for each position to be filled. administrative matters are usually decided The Legislative Process. Delegates to a local by the conference or union conference conference constituency meeting are committee. Ad hoc adjudicatory committees elected by the local congregations. The appointed by each conference committee pastor may, or may not, be elected to serve function as needed, and report to their as a delegate, but is usually a delegate ex respective conference executive commit­ officio. Local conference executive com­ tees. mittees select delegates for the union con­ Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod ference constituency meeting. Conference officers serve ex officio. There is no distinct tructure. The Lutheran constituency for the North American Divi­ SChurch - Missouri sion. The agenda of each local and union Synod has a representative form of govern­ conference constituency meeting is pre­ ment, but assigns the clergy a dominant role pared by the incumbent administrative along with major provision for lay partici­ staff. pation. The 2,623,181 members of the At the 1981 Pacific Union Conference Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod meet in session, 170 of 457 delegates were lay­ 5,689 congregations, which makes an aver­ people appointed by the constituent con­ age of 461 per congregation. The 5,689 ference executive committees. At the 1983 congregations are grouped in "circuits" Southeastern California Conference con­ consisting of seven to 10 congregations each. stituency meeting, 420 of the 650 delegates The Synod, as the Lutheran Church­ were laypeople elected by their congrega­ Missouri Synod commonly refers to itself, tions. In addition, there were 85 youth has divided the United States into five observers selected by the conferences and districts, each of which is considered to be their educational institutions. No tally was the Synod itself performing the functions of kept of lay people among the 1,335 delegates the Synod within its designated territory. to the 1980 General Conference session; the There are 7,211 ordained clergy, or one to General Conference had recommended that every 364 members. The chief administra­ 10 percent of each division delegation be tive officer is known as president. The laypeople. "Delegate Convention of the Synod," the Administration. At each level of organiza­ highest legislative/governing authority in tion, interim business is conducted by a Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, meets president and officer staff. The officers, triennially. Between sessions of the Synod, along with the directors of the various the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod is departments, representatives of specified administered by a board of directors institutions, and some laypeople, constitute through the five districts and 17 "program its executive committee. As already noted, boards" and commissions responsible for however, working policy provides that the various aspects of the life and work of the conference conform to union policy. Nine of church. Volume 14, Number 4 45

The Electoral Process. An elaborate pre­ roster of nominees thus compiled, the five convention nominating procedure involving receiving the highest number of votes for the entire church assembles a roster of each office become candidates at the Synod candidates for each position to be filled at a convention. Each voting delegate may synodical convention. Twelve months in nominate as many people as there are other advance, the secretary of the Synod solicits vice presidents to be elected. From these from every congregation, district director, nominations a ballot, with three times the circuit counselor, board, and from other number of candidates as there are offices to sources the names of potential candidates for be filled, is drawn up for the delegates to the various offices and boards of the Synod, vote on. At least two names must appear on with a statement on the qualifications of the ballot for each of the positions to be each proposed candidate. A permanent filled. Commission on Convention Nominations, The Legislative Process. Congregations, half of whose members are laypeople, begins ministers, and teachers constitute the mem­ to function Sept. 1 of the year immediately bership of the Synod. Voting delegates to a preceding a convention. Each district elects synodical convention consist of one "visita­ one person to serve on the commission. tion circuit," or of two adjacent visitation Following a specified procedure, the com­ circuits, as may be necessary for each pair of mission draws a roster of candidates from delegates to represent at least seven and not the nominations it receives. This roster, more than 20 congregations. Each electoral which contains biographical information circuit elects its pair of delegates not later on each candidate, is published at least than nine months before the convention. five months before the convention. Delegates thus elected serve a three-year Four months before the Synod convention term beginning with the convention. Dur­ opens, a special procedure solicits from each ing this time they not only represent the voting congregation the names of two congregations of the circuit at the conven­ clergymen as nominees for Synod president tion, but report its actions to the congrega­ and two for first vice president. From the tions of the circuit, serve as members of the

STRUCTURE

Equal Lay International! Form of Participation Churches National Government At All Levels Roman Catholic I H No Seventh-day Adventist I H No Episcopal N R Yes Nazarene N R Yes Lutheran Church/Missouri Synod N R Yes American Lutheran N R Yes Lutheran Church in America N R Yes United Presbyterian N R Yes United Methodist N R Yes Assemblies of God N R Yes Southern Baptist N C Yes Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) N C Yes Congregational C H = hierarchical, with the locus of authority at the top and authority flowing downward. R = representative, with delegates, chosen by the various congregations, participating in the decision-making process at all levels. In a hierarchy, the leaders rule the church; in a representative polity, they serve the church. In most representative polities, laypeople participate in equal numbers with the clergy as convention delegates, and in the electoral process at all levels. C = congregational, with each congregation autonomous and not responsible to any higher authority. Cooperation with other congregations is voluntary. 46 Spectrum circuit forum and as resource persons in the Within his own circuit, each counselor circuit, and assist in implementing synodical serves as an assistant to the district resolutions within the circuit. Not later than president. A Circuit Forum consists of the 10 weeks before the convention, the dele­ pastors of each congregation. It meets at gates receive a copy of a convention manual least twice a year to plan missionary which contains information pertaining to all outreach and to develop programs and of the business on the agenda. services to meet the needs of its congrega­ The principal business of a synodical tions, pastors, and teachers. convention is to (1) elect officers of the Adjudication. There is a synodical Commis­ Synod board of directors and all other Synod sion on Adjudication, and a District boards, and (2) consider "overtures" (rec­ Commission on Adjudication for each ommendations). These overtures may origi­ district. Each commission is elected by the nate with any congregation, circuit, district, constituency it serves. There is also a board, institution, faculty, or pastoral Commission on Appeals. Each district conference, and must be submitted to the commission consists of four clergymen and Synod president not less than 16 weeks three laypeople, at least two of whom must in advance of the session. Those he approves be lawyers. The synodical commission are published in the official convention consists of five clergymen and four lay­ manual and appear on the agenda. people, at least two of whom must be Administration. Between conventions of lawyers. the Synod, a board of directors elected by the Synod and accountable to it administers United Presbyterian Church Synod business. The board is required to meet at least four times each year. Eight of tructure. The United its 15 voting members are laypeople. SPresbyterian Church Seventeen program boards and commissions has a fully developed form of representative are responsible for various aspects of the life church government. The 2,477 ,364 members and work of the church. Nearly half of their of the United Presbyterian Church worship members are laypeople. together in 8,633 congregations of approxi­ A council of presidents composed of the mately 287 members each. Twelve or more synodical president and first vice president, congregations constitute a "presbytery," and the presidents of the five districts, meets and at least three presbyteries a "synod," of three times each year. A council of which there are 15. The General Assembly, administrators reviews and supervises the the highest legislative/governing authority plans, programs, and budget of the Synod. in the church, meets at least once each year. Each district president represents the A "judicatory" is a session of the local Synod in his district. The relationship of a church board, a presbytery, a synod, or the congregation to a district is the same as it is General Assembly. There are 14,092 or­ to the Synod. Like the Synod, each district dained clergy, or one to every 276 members. has a delegate assembly which establishes The ranking officer is known as the and evaluates policies, and provides direc­ moderator. tion for the district. A district likewise has a Decentralization of authority and admin­ board of directors. The nomination and istration is a basic principle of Presbyterian election of the officers and boards of a organization. So also is representation, with district is similar to that for the Synod. each judicatory represented in the next Each district is divided into circuits higher judicatory. Each judicatory is re­ consisting of between seven and 20 congre­ sponsible for planning and administration gations. The principal administrative officer within its own geographical area, but is of a circuit is called a circuit counselor. interdependent with the others. Volume 14, Number 4 47

ELECTORAL PROCESS

Permanent Multiple Names Congregations Nominating On Ballot For Churches May Nominate Committee Each Office Roman Catholic Seventh-day Adventist No No No Episcopal Yes Yes Nazarene No Lutheran Church/Missouri Synod Yes Yes Yes American Lutheran Yes Lutheran Church in America No No Yes United Presbyterian Yes Yes Yes United Methodist No No Yes Assemblies of God Yes No Southern Baptist Yes No Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) No No Congregational Yes No In some churches, every congregation has the right to nominate candidates for election at all levels. Some churches provide a permanent nominating committee, its purpose being wider participation in the selection ofcandidates. The electoral process is conducted in the open, and a more informed choice among the candidates is possible on the basis of their records and their announced policies.

The Electoral Process. The General Assem­ The Legislative Process. A presbytery is a bly has a permanent nominating committee group of at least 12 congregations in a consisting of 15 members, to nominate particular geographical area. The members members of the various councils, commis­ of a presbytery are its ministers and an equal sions, and boards of the church. This number of ruling elders, or commissioners, committee is appointed by the moderators elected by the member congregations for a of the General Assembly: three committee term of one year. A regularly organized members are selected by each moderator for congregation without a pastor is repre­ staggered terms of five years. The commit­ sented by a ruling elder. Each presbytery has tee represents fairly the various interests and charge of its ministers, serves the congrega­ geographical areas of the church, including tions in its area, and appoints commissioners men, women, young adults, disabled people, to the synod and the general assembly. and minority and ethnic representatives. A synod consists of the ministers and This committee nominates candidates to ruling elders of not fewer than three serve on the various councils, commissions, presbyteries within a specified geographic and boards of the church. Incumbent region. Its membership consists of commis­ members of these organizations are not sioners elected by the presbyteries, each eligible to serve on the committee. No delegation being composed equally of person may be reappointed to serve until ministers and ruling elders. Meeting at least four years have passed since the expiration biennially, it oversees and promotes all of his previous term of appointment. The aspects of the life and work of the church moderator of the General Assembly and the within its territory, reviews and approves stated clerk (the chief executive officer) the records of its presbyteries, promotes the are elected at each session of the assembly. prosperity and enlargment of the church, When elected by their respective congre­ and assists and guides its presbyteries in their gations to serve as commissioners to higher ministries. judicatories of the church, both men and The General Assembly, highest judica­ and women become eligible for election to tory of the church, meets at least once each church office at all levels. year. It consists of an equal number of 48 Spectrum ministers and ruling elders appointed by synod, and each presbytery elects from the their respective presbyteries. Before being ministers and ruling elders subject to its enrolled as members of the General Assem­ jurisdiction, in equal numbers, a permanent bly, the commissioners are required to judicial commission of 15, 11, and seven present a statement signed by the moderator members, respectively. They serve in of their presbytery to the effect that they staggered classes for terms of six years each have been fully oriented with respect to and are not eligible for re-election. No their duties and privileges, and to the incumbent member of any commission, organization, procedures, and documents of committee, or agency of the General the General Assembly. The General Assem­ Assembly is eligible to serve. bly has jurisdiction over all doctrinal and constitutional questions, and general over­ United Methodist Church sight of the church as a whole. Administration. A council on administra­ tructure. The United tion appointed by the General Assembly, SMethodist Church coordinates the administrative functions of has a fully developed representative form of the church on the various levels of church government. The 9,653,388 United organization. Each presbytery has an execu­ Methodists are members of 38,567 congre­ tive in charge of administering the presby­ gations, with an average of 250 to each tery, and each synod a synod executive, each congregation. Each congregation or cluster with a staff. of smaller adjacent congregations is a The General Assembly Mission Council is "charge." These congregations are associ­ charged with cultivating and promoting the ated together in 73 "annual conferences" of spiritual welfare of the whole church. It approximately 528 congregations each. The engages in church-wide planning of objec­ annual conference is the basic structural unit tives and priorities, prepares the budget for of the United Methodist Church. The the General Assembly Mission Council, and annual conferences are grouped together in conducts its work through a number of five jurisdictions of some 15 conferences agenCIes. each. The supreme legislative/governing Adjudication. The General Assembly, each body of the United Methodist Church is its

LEGISLATIVE PROCESS

Years Between Congregations Congregations Highest Level Affect Agenda Elect Delegates Churches Sessions All Levels All Levels Roman Catholic Seventh-day Adventist 5 No No Episcopal 3 Yes Nazarene 4 Yes Lutheran Church/Missouri Synod 2 Yes Yes American Lutheran 2 Yes Yes Lutheran Church in America 2 Yes Yes United Presbyterian 1 No Yes United Methodist 4 Yes Yes Assemblies of God 2 Yes Southern Baptist 1 Yes Yes Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 2 Yes Yes Congregational 1 Yes Yes A shorter period between sessions brings administrators into a closer, more responsible relationship with the church at large. In most churches, congregations elect delegates to represent them at every level, in equal numbers with the clergy, or they elect delegates who, in tum, elect representatives to the national delegate session. Volume 14, Number 4 49 General Conference, which meets quadren­ Religion, the Confession of Faith, doctrinal nially. Between sessions of the General standards, or the general rules of the church. Conference, the affairs of the church are It may recommend changes in the constitu­ administered by bishops serving as "general. tion of the church, which require the superintendents," their staffs, and various consent of two-thirds of the members of the councils, boards, commissions, and commit­ annual conferences. tees. There are 36,066 ordained ministers, or Within two months after each General one to every 268 members. The chief United Conference session, the same delegates meet Methodist Church administrative officer is in their respective jurisdictional confer­ its president. ences, together with a proportionate num­ The Electoral Process. Bishops of the United ber of additional ministers and laypeople. Methodist Church are elected by their The jurisdictional conference elects its jurisdictional conferences. Officers of the bishop and members of most of the boards General Conference other than bishops, and and general agencies within the jurisdiction, of its boards, councils, and commissions, are and lays plans for the following four years. elected by the General Conference in The jurisdictional conferences meet simul­ session; the various boards, councils, and taneously. They propose changes in the commissions elect their own executive staff constitution, which are considered by the members. Members of the jurisdictional next General Conference and, if approved, conferences are elected by the annual are referred to the annual conferences for conferences, delegates to which are in turn approval. elected by the congregations composing an The annual conference, the basic legisla­ annual conference. Delegates to the General tive unit of the United Methodist Church, is Conference are elected by the annual composed of the pastors of its congregations conferences. and an equal number oflaypeople elected by The Legislative Process. The highest legisla­ the constituent congregations. It determines tive authority of the United Methodist the eligibility of the ministers who serve as Church is its General Conference, to which pastors within its territory, authorizes their clergy and laity elected by the annual con­ ordination, and locates them. It votes ferences serve as delegates, in equal num­ approval or disapproval of constitutional bers. There are no appointive or ex officio amendments proposed by the General members. The ministers of each annual Conference. It has jurisdiction over all conference elect their ministerial dele­ matters not specifj.cally assigned to the gates, and laypeople their lay delegates. General Conference and the jurisdictional Bishops of the church preside over its conferences. General Conference sessions, but are not At its own discretion, an annual confer­ . members of the General Conference and do ence may convene district conferences once not vote. The ministerial and lay delegates a year, delegates to which are the ministers vote as one body. Any organization, agency, of the conference and an equal number of minister, or layperson may petition its laypeople. The district superintendent legislative bodies, and such petitions become (bishop) presides over the conference. A a part of the agenda. conference administers the district, informs The General Conference enacts laws, and the superintendent with respect to the defines the powers of subsidiary administra­ progress of the churches in the district in tive units. It plans and directs the various terms of plans and objectives, and reviews enterprises of the church. It has sweeping the state of church property and institutions. powers to enact legislation it may deem Each charge has its charge conference necessary, subject to the constitution. It does and its administrative board, with the same not elect· bishops or change the Articles of people serving on both but performing 50 Spectrum different functions. The charge conference agencies of the church sustain an "account­ is a congregation's governing authority; the able relationship" to the General Confer­ administrative board, which technically ence and report to it for review of their derives its authority from the charge operations. There are 15 general boards, conference, is its administrative arm. The councils, and commissions. Of the two charge conference must meet at least once a general councils, one deals with matters of - year; the administrative board meets finance and administration and the other ~~--".---~ .. -"---- monthly. It elects church officers for the with ministries. A general board is a following year and determines its minister's continuing body accountable to the General salary. The administrative board serves as Conference for specified programs, admin­ the connecting link between the local istration, or service foundations. A commis­ congregation and Methodism as a whole. It sion is assigned a specific function, ei ther on has important executive powers, including a continuing basis or for a specified length of jurisdiction over all church property. The time. primary duty of the administrative board is Adjudication. There is a Judicial Council overall supervision of a church. whose nine members are elected by the At all levels above the local congregation, General Conference from a panel of ministers and laypeople of the United candidates nominated by the Council of Methodist Church participate in equal Bishops and from candidates nominated numbers in the election of officers and in the from the floor. Ministers and laypeople are formulation of policy. represented in approximately equal num­ Administration. There is a Bishops' Council bers, with either at any particular time whose decisions are advisory. The ranking constituting a majority of one. As the administrative officers at all levels of the supreme court of the United Methodist United Methodist Church are its bishop Church, it is concerned primarily with "superintendents." The secretary and other constitutional questions, which may come to officers of the General Conference may be it from any entity or agency of the church, either ministers or laypeople. The activities or from individual clergymen or laypeople. of the church are conducted by various The Judicial Council is independent of all councils, boards, commissions, and comit­ other church organizations and agencies, tees. All subsidiary organizations and and its decisions are final. It responds to

ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS

Levels Between Congregation Accountability Most Offices Churches &: Highest Level To Congregations Open to Laity ROII\an Catholic 1 No No Seventh-day Adventist 3 No No Episcopal 1 No Yes Nazarene 2 Lutheran Church/Missouri Synod 2 Yes Yes American Lutheran 2 Yes Yes Lutheran Church in America 1 Yes Yes United Presbyterian 2 No Yes United Methodist 2 No Yes Assemblies of God 1 No No Southern Baptist 2 Yes Yes Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 1 Yes Yes Congregational Many administrative levels makes a system cumbersome and tends to isolate congregations from the decision­ making process. Some churches require elected officers to report to their delegate sessions, and answer questions. Volume 14, Number 4 51

ADJUDICATORY PROCESS

Churches Clearly Defined Permanent Independent Roman Catholic Yes Yes Yes Seventh-day Adventist No No No Episcopal No No No Nazarene Yes Yes Lutheran Church/Missouri Synod Yes Yes Yes American Lutheran Yes Yes Yes Lutheran Church in America Yes Yes Yes United Presbyterian Yes Yes Yes United Methodist Yes Yes Yes Assemblies of God No No No Southern Baptist Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Congregational A permanent, independent, adjudicatory commission at each level or organization provides an orderly way to resolve differences resulting from administrative decisions, and encourages confidence in authority. requests for declaratory opinions as well as range of matters of mutual interest and to appeals. concern, for the good of all. Baptist confessions or declarations of faith are likewise voluntary expressions. No general Southern Baptist Convention council, synod, or other organization re­ quires uniformity, and no congregation is tructure. Churches af­ bound to observe any action of any other Sfilia ted wi th the Baptist organization. There are 56,200 Southern Baptist Convention are congre­ ordained ministers, or one to every 245 gational in their form of government, but members. The ranking administrative of­ voluntarily cooperate in many ways for the ficer of the Southern Baptist Convention is common good. The 13,789,580 Southern its president. Baptists are members of36,079 autonomous The Southern Baptist Convention meets congregations that fellowship together annually. Each local church is entitled to at voluntarily in 1,209 district associations and least one messenger, or delegate, plus an 34 state conventions. On the average, there additional messenger for every $250 it are 382 members to each congregation, 30 contributes to the Southern Baptist Conven­ congregations to a district, and 19 districts tion, or for each 250 members in its to a state convention. Each church, district congregation up to a limit of 10 messengers association, state convention, and agency is from one church. At each national conven­ independent and sovereign within its own tion approximately 18,000 messengers are sphere. There is no Southern Baptist Church present. Actions of the Southern Baptist as such, but only Southern Baptist churches, Convention are binding on the national each of which is an autonomous member of Southern Baptist Convention officers and the Southern Baptist Convention. agencies, but advisory with respect to The local church is preeminent. It chooses individual churches and other associates and its own pastor, administers its own prop-:­ agencies. Like all other Southern Baptist erty, controls its own finances, and makes entities, the Southern Baptist Convention is voluntary contributions to Baptist associa­ independent and sovereign in its own tions and institutions. Southern Baptist sphere. Its authority is derived from the churches are strictly congregational, but at churches whose messengers make up the the same time cooperate effectively with corporate body of the annual session. other Baptist churches and agencies in wide The Southern Baptist Convention pro- 52 Spectrum vides Southern Baptists with a sense of approximately 400 congregations volun­ community and fellowship, and a wide tarily associate together in the National variety of services in education, music, Associa tion of Congrega tional Churches for publishing, and foreign missions which fellowship, for a measure of unity and would not be feasible for local churches to community, and in order to consult together attempt. The Southern Baptist Convention on matters of common interest and concern. exists to assist the local churches in their The stated objective of the denomination is mission, and serves as their fiscal agent in to continue the congregational way of faith accomplishing their mutual projects. With and order in church life. Many congrega­ an executive committee of 67 members to tional churches are not members of the act for the Convention between sessions, the National Association of Congregational Southern Baptist Convention conducts its Churches. Statistics are not available for work through twenty boards, commissions, either the total number of congregations or councils, agencies, and offices. It acts in an their membership. advisory capacity on all questions of Congregational churches are included in cooperation between and among Southern this study because of their historic role in the Baptist agencies. United States, and in order to complete the A tangible evidence of the value and spectrum of church polity with which this effectiveness of the Southern Baptist Con­ study is concerned. Their independence does vention form of government, and of the not reflect non-recognition of other Chris­ dedication of its component congregations tian bodies as valid witnesses to the gospel, and their members, is the fact that the for they "seek and extend ... fellowship Convention conducts the largest Protestant and cooperation with other churches." foreign mission program in existence. In They simply prefer the congregational way 1981 its foreign mission board was support­ of church life. ing 3,139 missionaries in 95 countries, with The National Association of Congrega­ an additional 4,709 volunteer missionaries in tional Churches meets annually. It has an 63 countries. executive committee of 12 members who Each of the 34 state organizations are "directors of the corporation." It serves operates its own colleges, hospitals, chil­ association members through seven com­ dren's homes, and other institutions. The missions, four divisions, and three standing Southern Baptist Convention has no juris­ committees. The executive committee, diction over their policies or their opera­ which elects its own chairman, acts for the tion, but works with all of them and makes association between the annual meetings, recommendations to them. The 1,209 local and its operation is subject to review and or district associations are likewise volun­ ratification at the next annual meeting of tary and independent. They provide close the association. It is "the association ad fellowship of the churches in their respec­ interim. " tive areas, and opportunity to work together One of the standing commi ttees is a in their special ministries. nominating committee that submits a list of nominees to the member churches 30 days before the annual meeting. Its principal National Association of divisions are concerned with missions, finances, theological studies, and new Congregational Churches churches. Each Congregational Church functions as ach Congregational a complete church as well as a complete EChristian Church is congregation. It has its own constitution, independent and autonomous. However, legal corporation, and officers and their Volume 14, Number 4 53 duties. It establishes a church council and the which the church conducts its varIOUS various boards and committees t4rough activities.

NOTES AND REFERENCES

American Lutheran Church: Letter from Arnold Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod: Handbook of the M. Mickelson, General Secretary, and a series Luthern Church-Missouri Synod, 1981 Edition. of organizational charts. Roman Catholic Church: Letter from William Assemblies of God: Letter from Joseph R. Flower, Ryan, Associate Secretary for Public Affairs, General Secretary, and an organizational chart; United States Catholic Conference; pamphlets. Constitution and Bylaws, revised 1981. Southern Baptist Convention: Letter from Donald Christian Church: Letter from D. Baugh, Secretary, S. Hepburn, Southern Baptist General Conven­ Office of Communication; six structural tion of California; xerox excerpts from Encyclo­ charts; mimeographed material. pedia of Southern Baptists, Nashville, TN, 1958; Church of the Nazarene: 1980 Church of the Nazarene pamphlets, xerox materials. Manual, Kansas City, MO, Nazarene Publishing United Methodist Church: The Organization of the House, 1980. United Methodist Church, Nashville, TN, Abing­ Episcopal Church: Letter from The Rev. John A. don Press, 1970; Book of Discipline, Nashville, Schultz; a series of organiza tional charts; TN, Abingdon Press, 1980. a pamphlet: The Episcopal Church: Essential United Presbyterian Church: Letter from Robert F. Facts. Stevenson, Associate Stated Clerk; The Book of Lutheran Church in America: Letter from Roberta Order, New York, NY, Office of the General Schott, Planning Analyst; Constitution and By­ Assembly, 1967. laws of the Lutheran Church in America; organiza­ Statistical information: Yearbook of American and tional charts; Report of the Commission on Function Canadian Churches, 1981, Nashville, TN, Abing­ and Structure. don Press, 1981.

Reprints Available Reprints of the task force report are available from Spectrum for $1.75 per copy. Pay by check made out to the Association of Adventist Forums. RevieuJs

White on White: A role the visions played," and "to present in the narrative, in a natural way, confidence­ Confinning Biography confirming features" (V: 9-11). Conse­ quently, the reader must not make compari­ sons with doctoral dissertations or scholarly monographs. It is literature to nurture the Arthur L. White. Ellen G. White: The Early Elmshaven faith of believers and not a contribution to Years, 1900-1905 and Ellen G. White: The Later Elm­ scholarly debate. No new thesis is presented shaven Years, 1905-1915 (Volumes 5 and 6 of the by Arthur White, but old convictions re­ author's projected 6-volume biography.) Vol. 5: 448 pp., Vol. 6: 472 pp., illus., bibl., index. Wash­ ceive further confirmation, illustration, and ington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Asso­ elaboration. The author does not propose to ciation, 1981, 1982. $16.95 each. initiate debate with scholars or critics, or to deal extensively with hostile sources. Ar­ reviewed by Frederick G. Hoyt thur White's fundamental objective is that , , If Ellen White be- the reader share with him "a confidence­ comes better known confirming experience." as an individual. . . as well as the messen­ Using incidents from Ellen White's 1910 ger of the Lord," Arthur L. White writes in return voyage from Australia to America, the final sentence to the foreword of. The Arthur White portrays Ellen "as a very Early Elmshaven Years, 1900-1905 (volume human person" who could be both satisfied five of his planned six-volume biography of and annoyed (V: 10). She seemed "pleased Ellen G. White), "the objectives of the with her room" (V: 16), and she was "a good author will have been largely met" (V: 12). sailor" (V: 17), but during the first Sabbath That is certainly a reasonable desire, but at sea she was disturbed by noise from the every reader of this and subsequent volumes, deck above her stateroom where passen­ in this long-awaited biography of the au­ gers were "pitching quoits" (V: 17). At thor's grandmother should study the entire Auckland, sleep was impossible because of foreword carefully before reading a word of t h e " constant, t h un d erous roar "has t e sh· Ip ,s the text. The author's polite request in the coal bunkers were filled (V: 18); she con­ title of the foreword (" An Explanation the tinued to be bothered by quoit playing on Author Would Like to Have You Read") the deck above her bridal suite and "at should have been phrased more forcefully. night, when everyone should be sleeping, In fairness to both the author and to himself, there was dancing on deck over her head till it is mandatory that any reader carefully the wee hours of the morning" (V: 23). study this introductory section. Smoking especially irked her. Several times Arthur White has aimed, with this mas­ she asked men smoking near her to refrain, sive biography, "to portray accurately the but they rudely told her that "she could go life and work of Ellen White as the Lord's 'somewhere else.'" An officer to whom she messenger in the Seventh-day Adventist finally appealed stated that he was helpless Church," to "illustrate her prophetic mis­ (V: 23). sion," to emphasize constantly "the major Her major complaint aboard ship con- Volume 14, Number 4 55 cerned her anxiety over anticipated celebra­ fragrance, as of beautiful flowers. ' Then she tions: "As they neared the California arrival fell asleep once more and was awakened in time, late Thursday night, Ellen White felt the same way" (V: 23-25). she could hardly endure the expected party­ For many years Mrs. White experienced ing that traditionally marks the final day of a frequent visions,but during her last years voyage" (V: 23). Both she and her son, they became rare, usually appearing as Willie, prayed for a storm. Their prayers "visions of the night" or dreams given in were abundantly answered when the sea private. However, Arthur White mentions became so rough that the party was can­ that a public standing vision occurred in Los celled, but she had to remain in her berth, Angeles during a church service on March 9, too sick "to turn over" (V: 25). 1901,14 years before her death (V: 57-58). A Arthur White balances these brief very special type of vision occurred several glimpses of an "ordinarily human" Ellen times during this period-but Ellen White with his efforts "to keep constantly before declares that in previous years she had the reader the major role the visions (of experienced this" a hundred times or more" Ellen White) played in almost every phase (V: 53 )-in which an unusual soft light of the experiences comprising the narra­ (sometimes described as azure) filled the tive" (V: 11). Although references to Ellen room or circled around in it, together with a White's VISIOns are widely scattered sweet fragrance and beautiful music. These throughout the two volumes rather than special occasions apparently were when gathered into a single chapter, most readers Christ himself appeared to her without will recognize the critical importance of this using the usual angel intermediaries. Thus, topic. Had God not communicated with her on one such occasion, "a Voice" spoke to on a regular basis from her first vision in her, declaring, "I am your Saviour (VI: South Portland, Maine, in December 1844, 123-24; see also V: 23-24, 53-54). through the years down to her last vision at Chapter one of volume five picks up the Elmshaven on the morning of March 3, 1915, thread of Ellen G. White's long and com­ she would today be little more than a census plex life in 1900, and introduces us to statistic, and the Seventh-day Adventist William Clarence White, her son, clearly a Church would doubtless never have come very important figure in the period ofSDA into existence. The varied details concern­ history covered by these two volumes, ing these visions, quite apart from their second only to his mother. But the reader content, make for fascinating reading. must quickly comprehend that the author Ellen White apparently experienced sev­ identifies him in a variety of ways and eral visions during her return from Aus­ without any explanation of his varied roles: tralia. Direct quotations from her "instruc­ as just Willie or William; as W. C. White, tor" during these visions indicate clearly Willie White, William C. White, or Wil­ that the speaker was Christ (V: 22). In her liam White; or just W.C. or WCW. More last vision during the voyage, she explained unfortunately, Willie is a tantalizingly elu­ later in a letter to an unidentified person, sive figure in these pages. He appears in the "The Lord revealed Himself to me. . . and book and was almost always present when comforted me, assuring me that He had a critical denominational decisions had to be refuge prepared for me, where I would have made, but Arthur White usually fails to quiet and rest." She had fallen asleep in "a define his specific roles and does not identify little anteroom" while filled with dread his official or de facto position. Neither is his concerning "the next day's carousal," when relationship to his mother adequately delin­ she "was awakened by a voice speaking to eated. her. As she gained her senses, she knew what The complex relationship of Ellen it meant. 'The room was filled with a sweet White's two surviving sons, James Edson 56 Spectrum (the elder by five years) and William Clar­ this case, these problems were compounded ence, to each other and to their mother, and by her "workers" quoting some materials she to them, is an intriguing subject. What incorrectly in order to make them, accord­ must have been longstanding sibling rivalry, ing to Mrs. White, "a little better" (VI: and the elder son's profound distress at being 311). It should be carefully rea4 by all ~ho supplanted by his younger brother, surface seek publication, but especially by those dramatically in 1906 when word reached interested in Great Controversy's circuitous Elmshaven that Edson in Battle Creek was road to publication. Apparently there were declaring that Willie "manipulated" his no formal citations in the original edition of mother's writings. The result was a six-page The Great Controversy for the 417 quotations letter to Edson from his mother (which "drawn from seventy-five authors, ten peri­ Arthur White characterizes as one of "cut­ odicals, and three encyclopedias" (VI: 308). ting reproof and censure "). These long­ Either the manuS'Cript for, the 1888 edition standing difficulties, which Mrs. White had been lost or the citations had never called "the grief of my life," were finally existed there. Ellen White's memory of resolved only when she reluctantly revealed where she had copied these materials was that Christ himself had given her specific in­ apparently no help. structions on how to handle the situation, It simply boggles the mind that someone with Willie designated "My counselor" and would not have urged Ellen White to adopt Edson rejected (VI: 100-102,355-57). In his such a simple, and fairly obvious technique discussion of this rivalry, Arthur White as writing down references to sources used, sides with W. C., his father, and subtly iso­ both as a help to those who would read the lates Edson, using no nicknames for him (as book as well as for her own use. Did no one he does for Willie) and never referring to want to check the accuracy or the context of him as "Elder," although I presume that a single quotation prior to printing and both brothers were ordained. request a full reference from the author? Perhaps the third most important person After some four months of research by a in these volumes is John Harvey Kellogg. number of people in libraries in the United Index references to him are more extensive States and Europe, "almost all the quota­ than for any person except Mrs. White. His tions" had been located. Thus, "A minimum dominant role justifies the extensive treat­ of quoted materials were left in quotation ment given him by Arthur White, although marks but without references" (VI: 308). some may feel that he unjustifiably has been Just how many quotations still remained made the bete noire of the story. It is simply without attribution is not indicated; even incomprehensible that Richard Schwarz's one should have been considered absolutely excellent, scholarly, book-length study,John unacceptable (as it is for any college fresh­ Harvey Kellogg, M.D. (based on his ph.D. man paper in a reputable institution). None dissertation at the University of Michigan of this effort, of course, was directed toward and printed by Southern Publishing Associa­ finding the sources for paraphrased mate­ tion in 1970) is not among the sources used rials. There is no indication that anyone was for these sections. embarrassed at the time by such problems. Arthur White relates several captivating These volumes are filled with fascinating stories in his biography, but chapter 23 of minor details concerning Adventist history. volume six, "The 1911 Edition of The Great In some instances these are interesting but Controversy," contains dramatic insights into easily forgettable items; in other instances the formation of Great Controversy and illus­ readers may well wish for more informa­ trates the horrendous difficulties created tions. "The author has encountered some when research notes or manuscripts fail to differences of opinion in the minds of give complete citations for sources used. In different readers as to the value of some of Volume 14, Number 4 57 the details presented," Arthur White states vinced the author as he witnessed disturbing in the foreword of volume five. "It is his problems in the church, with historic paral­ opinion that they make a major contribution lels to the last years of Ellen White's life. to reading interest and rather intimate Another factor may well have been opera- acquaintance with Ellen White, so they have been retained for the sake of the record" (V: 11-12). It is interesting to learn Surely she would find this work by that Mrs. White's salary was only $50 per her youngest grandson a confirming month, but we are not told whether she witness to her long and productive received other allowances, "fringe bene- life of faith and works. fiIts, " or a "kpac age dea, I" nor wereh t h·IS salary placed her on the denominational wage scale (V: 28). I leave other delightful tive: a major writing project is often begun trivia for the reader to look up: Ellen with the section that presents the least White's problems with false teeth (V: 142, difficulties. Arthur White would naturally 319); President Theodore Roosevelt bowing feel most comfortable with that period of his to her (V: 348); how she answered "a rather grandmother's life that he had known per­ erratic church member who was on a sonally as a child. Also, the author casually crusade to save Seventh-day Adventists notes a fact that could only have been a· from the belief that the world is round" (V: source of great encouragement to any biog­ 351); an unusual wedding at Elmshaven in rapher: "The sources for this period (the 1906 (VI: 116); her shortest testimony (VI: Elmshaven years) are very full, almost 128); Loma Linda's original name (VI: 274); overwhelming" (V: to). the make of the automobile in which Ellen Arthur White is obviously concerned White had her first ride (V: 144); and what with possible charges that an inherent lack she paid for her 1913 Studebaker (VI: 392). of objectivity disqualifies him as the author The most puzzling aspect of this biog­ of this biography of his grandmother. Al­ raphy is the author's decision to write and though admitting that "he takes pride in his publish backwards, beginning with the re­ relationship to the subject of the biog­ tirement years and working in reverse to the raphy," he explains that "in the interests of first volume on Ellen White's early years. objectivity (he) has, as in his public ministry, Apparently it is the only multi-volume largely disassociated himself from family biography of an important American to ties" (Foreword, V: 12). Some may seriously have been produced in this manner. quesdo~ whether this is a psychological Arthur White's justification for this pro­ possibility, but we have the author's decla­ cedure is twofold: (1) Some people in­ ration that "he has endeavored to relate volved in this period were still living and himself to Ellen White as would any earnest thus could be interviewed; (2) "It seemed Seventh-day Adventist in possession of a that the issues that followed quickly on the good knowledge of her work." Each reader turn of the century have a particular rele­ must judge whether or not he has succeeded. vance to the church at present" (V: 10). The He has, however, scrupulously adhered to first reason is clearly lesser in weight, since his promise to not call Ellen White "Grand- any interviews could have been done and the moth er. " results preserved for future use. Also, any- These disclaimers are not repeated in the . one of critical importance for the years foreword to volume six. Yet his opening 1900-1905 must surely now be extremely sentence there is relevant and helpful: aged, with a memory highly suspect as far as " . . . he [Arthur L. White] has spent his recalling accurate details of the past. The working lifetime involved in the custody of second reason must obviously have con- the Ellen G. White writings ... "(VI: 9). 58 Spectrum He succeeded William C. ("Willie") White Adventist authors who have written con­ as secretary of the Ellen G. White Estate cerning Ellen White-Ronald Numbers, upon his father's death in 1937, and retained Donald McAdams, Jonathan Butler, and this position until his retirement, so that he Walter Rea-he makes no reference to might devote full time to the writing of this them. Neither are there citations to relevant biography. Spectrum articles, and surprisingly no refer­ For any author concerned with integrity ences to Schwarz's fine new college text­ and objectivity, truth should always be hotly book of denominational history, Light Bearers pursued with the full knowledge that to the Remnant. neither truth nor objectivity will be com~ Arthur White's writing style is adequate pletely apprehended in this life. Such integ­ and well-suited to his general Adventist rity, along with a clear statement from the audience. The high proportion of quoted author of his relationship to and involve­ materials set off in blocks may intimidate ment with the subject of his study, is all any many readers; and yet these quotations reader can demand. Within the parameters probably constitute the most valuable part established in the foreword to each of these of the work, particularly those from the volumes, and by his ancestry and dedicated White Estate files not previously published. work of a long lifetime, Arthur White has Extreme caution should be exercised in consistently maintained his integrity as an using the indexes. They are highly selective author. in the items listed, and they are not complete even for those. In checking for specific items, a reader should scan the pages of the appropriate sections rather than rely on the I leave other delightful trivia for the indexes. Occasionally there are puzzling reader to look up: the make of the statements in the two volumes that in some automobile in which she had her instances might have been resolved by a first ride and what she paid for her more complete index, but doubtless many 1913 Studebaker. . obscurities or confusions will be lessened when a reader can study the completed biography in chronological order. In a work An inspection of the citations to sources in of this length and detail (almost 900 pages of these volumes (using an informal but ade­ text in these two volumes), errors, either quate system) and the bibliographies reveals factual or typographical, are impressively that Arthur White has relied almost exclu­ few, and none is of major significance. sively on the· vast collection of primary The pictures in both volumes illustrate materials in the White Estate, plus a few the text well. Probably most readers will stan~ard works by Adventist authors. Of the complain that there are not more-particu­ only 17 works by SDA authors other than larly of Ellen White. Especially fascinating Ellen White listed in the two bibliographies, are the dress and hair styles. Those still high plus the SDA Yearbook for 1889, all are by collars must have been particularly uncom­ noncontroversial authors, except for The fortable for the men. Albion F. Ballenger Living Temple by John Harvey Kellogg. They sports an absolutely fantastic mustache, and all are from SDA publishing houses with one W. C. White ranks as an impressive modern puzzling exception: The San Francisco Earth­ patriarch with his luxuriant beard and mus­ quake by Gordon Thomas and Max Witts, tache, and his fierce eyes. published in New York in 1971 by Stein and With one exception, materials in the Day. appendices seem well-chosen and valuable Although Arthur White is undoubtedly to have in their original form. The materials familiar with recent relevant work by other on the Kellogg-Ballenger errors are clearly Volume 14, Number 4 59 relevant to Adventists of the 1980s, and the ical order once the set is complete. Perhaps details on the settlement of Ellen White's the most valuable aid for the serious reader estate are interesting and informative. would be a copy of Richard Schwarz's However, the document headed "A. G. nicely balanced and scholarly college-level Daniells' March 15,1910, Letter to a Former denominational history textbook, Light Pacific Union Conference President" is Bearers to the Remnant, which can be consulted puzzling. What justification is there for with profit on almost any topic treated by printing this letter in full? Why should the Arthur White. At the very least, it would union president's name be deleted here and provide an invaluable historical framework in the text when virtually everyone else of for this lengthy and detailed biography. any importance (and many minor figures) Arthur White has performed an invalu­ are named, including those, such as Kellogg able service for the Seventh-day Adventist and Ballenger, who are thoroughly de­ Church. His work is unique because of his nounced? It is difficult to know how this unique experience and position. The com­ document relates to the text and when it pleted six volumes will constitute as near a should be consulted. It conveys a strongly "definitive official biography" of Ellen G. supportive attitude on the part of Elder White as we are likely ever to have. Ideally Daniells, the General Conference president this magnum opus will stimulate many at that time, of Sister White, but even more articles and even a one-volume topical so, it seems, of Willie White. Is this why it treatment of Ellen G. White. was printed? "I know in whom I have believed," were These are fascinating and important Ellen White's last words. Surely she would books for all mature, thoughtful Adventists. find this work by her youngest grandson a All six volumes should be carefully read as confirming witness to her long and produc­ they appear, or, read in normal chronolog- tive life of faith and works. News Update

Black Adventists Riverside Adventist Hospital, established in 1927, had been sustaining -heavy financial Hold Ministry Meetings losses over the four years it had been administrated by Adventist Health Systems/ by Penelope Kellogg Winkler Sunbelt. While many black Adventists feel the General Conference should have done something to save the hospital, Riverside's ver 400 Adventist problems did not lie in the lack of continued O black pastors, evan­ General Conference support alone. One of gelists, and Bible workers from all over many factors involved was that blacks North America met on the Oakwood themselves did not patronize the small, 50- College campus during the 1983 Thanksgiv­ bed hospital when they felt they could get ing vacation for the annual Professional better care at larger, more modern hospi­ Growth in Ministry Meetings. These meet­ tals. In June of 1983, when it was closed by ings, which were started in 1977 by E. E. Adventist Health Systems/Sunbelt, River­ Cleveland, now director of missions at Oak­ side was $4.5 million in debt, including the wood College, and Calvin Rock, president mortgage left on the new hospital building. of Oakwood,. are designed to promote, Some black Adventist workers emphasize growth, morale, and professional pastoral that the mostly white-administered church competence within the black community in is not adequately supporting its black­ North America. Six years after the first of operated institutions in North America, and these meetings, they reveal the growth in ask if Riverside has been allowed to shut th,e regional conferences and continue to down, which of the other institutions will be sustain the morale of black Adventist next? Apart from the regional conferences, workers. the closing of Riverside Adventist Hospital An indi~ation that issues of church leaves the Seventh-day AdventIst ChUI-en politics were an important part of at least with only four black-operated institu­ the informal discussions at Oakwood was a tions-Oakwood College, Pine Forge T-shirt worn by some attendees. The T':' Academy, the "Breath of Life " telecast, and shirt both promoted the establishment of a Message magazine. black North American division, and decried At the meetings this year other workers the 'recent shutdown of the Riverside besides C. E. Dudley received plaques Adventist Hospital in Nashville, Tenn. (the mostly for achievements that dramatized only Adventist health institution operated the rapid growth of the black Adventist primarily by blacks). Indeed, at an awards community. Oscar Lane, a freelance evan­ ceremony held as part of the meetings, C. E. gelist, received an award for raising new Dudley, president of the South Central congregations in Huntsville, Ala. and At­ Conference, was presented ~ith a plaque by lanta, Ga. The new congregation in Atlanta E. E. Cleveland, chairperson of the meetings consists of over 1,000 members. An award -and former associate director of the Gen­ was also given to Joseph Rodriguez who, eral Conference Ministerial Association, for while still a senior at Oakwood, baptized Dudley's valiant efforts to prevent the 600 Liberians during the 1983 spring quarter closing of Riverside. he spent in western Africa:Finally,Randy Volume 14, Number 4 61 Stafford, pastor of a Kansas City, Mo., ahead and organize on their own. The first Seventh-day Adventist church, was recog­ two years, the General Conference sent un­ nized for baptizing 900 people in Zimbabwe official representatives to observe only. By during the summer of 1983. the third year of meetings, the General Con­ ference had voted the Professional Growth In Ministry Meetings onto the official his year's speakers church calendar, finally recognizing them, T included Roy Hart­ according to E. E. Cleveland, as a "positive bauer, member of the department of com­ rather than negative force in black Ad­ municative disorders at Andrews Univer­ ventist life." sity, talking about ministry to the handi­ E. E. Cleveland emphasizes the benefits capped; Harold Cleveland, past president of the meetings, and stresses the importance of the Allegheny West Conference and of both the "politics ofinformation" and the current director, for the regional confer­ "politics of growth" within the black com­ ences, of the Thousand Days of Reaping munity. Black Adventists are making a con­ program, surveying the "Thousand Days ot scious effort to bring myriad new members Reaping"; and Robert Olson, secretary of into the church. Eventually, the size of the the Ellen G. White Estate, discussing .Ellen regional conferences may make black unions White's view of the sanctuary. Caleb not only economically feasible, but politi­ Rosado, pastor of the All Nations Church in cally necessary. Berrien Springs, Mich., elicited the strong­ est response when he challenged black Penelope Kellogg Winkler teaches writing at church leaders to help Hispanics and Asians, Columbia Union College and is editorial associate of now suffering from the lack of visibility and Spectrum. representation within the Adventist church structure that used to plague black Advent­ ists. The 1983 meetings were coordinated by a Winds of Reform: planning committee which consists of E. E. Cleveland; Benjamin Reaves, chairperson of Structural Transition in the religion department at Oakwood Col­ lege; and Eric Ward, pastor of the Oakwood North America College Church. The annual Professional Growth In Ministry Meetings grew out of by Bonnie Dwyer a one-day session on professional growth held at Oakwood in 1977 for black workers y 1985, when the from the South Atlantic and South Central B General Conference conferences. The meetings are now spon­ session is held in New Orleans, the denomi­ sored by all nine of the regional conferences, nation's structure will have received many and the regional departments of the Pacific critiques from study groups established by and North Pacific unions. For the first two the church at various levels. The General years, workers from the regional confer­ Conference has already instituted a commit­ ences met without official General Confer­ tee, chaired by a general vice president, to ence sanction, violating an unwritten but look at the structure of the world church, generally observed church policy against and current plans indicate that not only unapproved inter-conference sessions. Al­ committees and commissions, but constitu­ though such meetings would usually be ency meetings of conferences will study the organized by the unions concerned, the topic as well. The Pacific Union has regional conference presidents decided to go appointed a committee to consider how to 62 Spectrum change church structure. In Mid-America a work their way up from the local church. As document has been prepared for the union a result of the suggestions being made by officers which lists options for reorganiza­ structural studies, the department structure tion, and five conferences in the North at both the local and union conferences will Pacific Union have established committees be much leaner. to study church structure. Church publica­ tions and public meetings, like the national conference of the Association of Adventist Forums, are also exploring comparisons Mid-America Union between the church and both corporate structural models and government struc­ ne of the most de­ tural models. O tailed proposals for Francis W. Wernick chairs the General change has emerged from the Mid-America Conference committee on structure that Union. At the request of the union officers, a began its deliberations January. The 21- document was prepared by Dean Hubbard, member committee is looking at the need president of Union College. His study listed for unions, conferences, and divisions within publishing, trust services, and education as the world church. The chairperson will give the areas with the most inefficiency. a report on the committee's findings at Hubbard said that the supervision of Annual Council in anticipation of action at publishing and education could best be the 1985 General Conference. handled at the union level. Trust services could be placed at the union level, or, preferably in a union-wide foundation. Pacific Union Most other functions could be performed more efficiently at the conference level. n the Pacific Union, Hubbard then outlined three plans, listing I where the most ex­ in descending order the extent of reorgani­ tensive study has been compiled, subcom­ zation each plan would require and the mittees report in March on the "opera­ savings that would result. In the first, most tional feasibility" of the recommendations extensive plan of reorganization, the union given to the union officers last year would be set up similar to a corporation (Spectrum, Vol. 14, No.1). The 39-member with a president and a number of vice committee created to study the recom­ presidents overseeing various functions. mendations divided itself into three sub­ "Supervision of the publishing and educa­ committees: Group 1 is looking at the local tional work would be done at the union level church and church ministry functions; with no conference functions in these areas. Group 2 is considering the local conference A union-wide foundation would take over and education and publishing systems; and the present association and trust services Group 3 is examining the union level and activities. In this first proposal, only the finance and administrative functions. Central States Conference would be discon­ Final recommendations from the large tinued, with a vice president for black committee are expected by September or affairs appointed at the union level. All October 1984, according to Chairperson other functions, including evangelism, DavidJ. Bieber. Adopting the commission's would reside at the local conference level report will probably take several years, but with a vice president for departmental Bieber expects to see a conceptual change in activities exercising general supervision at the way the church operates. Instead of ideas the union level." In the first plan, Hubbard disseminating from administration to the estimated Mid-America could save approxi­ churches for implementation, ideas will mately $2 million each year by eliminating Volume 14, Number 4 63 38V2 to 40V2 budgets annually (budgets tion to the union committee, which was include salary, secretarial support, travel, established after the Davenport discipline etc., for personnel). session by an expanded union executive Hubbard's second, more "moderate re­ committee, the Upper Columbia, Oregon, organization" proposal would maintain the Washington, and Montana conferences have present union structure, but limit supervi­ all established structure committees. sion of educational work to the union level, Morris Brusett chairs the IS-member with no conference positions in this arta. union committee which has seven lay "Publishing work would continue as both members in addition to Brusett. The union and conference functions, but super­ committee organized in September, met vision would be reduced. The Central States again in November, and plans four meetings Conference would be continued. A union­ in 1984. Three subcommittees are function­ wide foundation would assume association ing: a structural analysis committee, a and trust service activities. All other business management committee, and a functions, including evangelism, would constitution and bylaws committee. The full reside at the conference level with a director committee must have its recommendations of departmental affairs exercising general ready for the special union constituency supervision at the union level. "This second, meeting September 6. Therefore, Brusett more moderate, plan would eliminate 26 to wants to have the committee vote on final 28 budgets, and approximately $1.4 million recommendations before finally taking annually. them to the constituency. In Hubbard's third, most modest, re­ The local conference committees in the organization plan, the present union and North Pacific Union plan to give their conference structures, including depart­ recommendations to the union committee. ments (except for education, and the Glen Aufdehar, president of the Washing­ association and trust services) would be ton Conference, said the Washington maintained. Union departments would be committee was created during the confer­ reduced by attrition. Responsibility in these ence's May constituency meeting. Chaired areas would move gradually to the local by Art Ward, a layperson, the committee is conference level, until a departmental examining staffing, overhead, and dupli­ structure similar to that in the previously cated services. One member is thus able to described plans is achieved. Relying on pass along the thoughts and ideas of the attrition, this third reorganizational plan conference committee. could eventually save the union approxi­ mately $1 million to $1.2S million annually. Hubbard's document is being discussed by Mid-America, but no action has been taken. North Pacific Union

n the North Pacific Bonnie Dwyer is a graduate student in journalism I Union, five commit­ at California State University at Fullerton, and is tees are studying church structure. In addi- news editor of Spectrum. Responses

never been separate from loving, willing conformity to More On The Sanctuary God's standards of purity. This is both the message of Hebrews and of the Old Testament read "in the light of Hebrew"-an excellent way to study it! - Allow me to plead that we pray earnestly for an o the Editors: It was the expanding view of the divine author's magnitude group of three articles T together with a realization of our insignificance. We may under the general heading "The Sanctuary Revisited" then be less inclined to denigrate those who in the opinion (Vol. 14, No.1) which prompted me to write. of some are without the pale of the "remnant." Nearly seventy years ago I entered the Seventh-day Arthur W. Howard Adventist Church by birth. Twenty years later I received Somerset, England the rite of baptism. Through the decades of childhood, college, and subsequent responsibility in the work of God, the return ofeach Sabbath day has reminded me that I am his by creation and redemption, that Jesus is my loving savior and sustainer, priestly advocate and judge, Pierson Requests and coming king. Despite the foregoing, I am aware that no spiritual organization or system can justly lay claim to Correction a monopoly of final truth, and that infallibility resides in the godhead alone. The heart of one of our basic problems was surely o the Editors: In an article touched by Richard Rice when he quoted in his original Tby Bonnie Dwyer in the address: "All theology inevitably fails due to the greatness Volume 13, No.3, March 1983 issue, you stated that while of its object." As Fritz Guy also emphasized, nothing is I was chairman of the Christian Record Braille Founda­ entirely adequate to describe or explain the transcen­ tion the Board made a loan to Dr. Davenport. To keep the dental. "Descriptive fallacy" must be recognized for record straight-(1) I was never chairman of the Chris­ what it is and yield place to "transcendental reality." tian Record Board, and (2) the C.R.B.F. Board never God and his dwelling place are extra-dimensional, voted to authorize such a loan. completely beyond our comprehension. We begin to Thank you for correcting this error. grow up when we cease ascribing to God and his dwelling Robert H. Pierson place human concepts in thought and dimension. Hendersonville, N.C. Richard Rice will forgive me, I trust, if I object to his statement that "Salvation does not simply cancel the results of sin, although it mitigates its consequences over the long haul." To me this part of his thesis is one of despair. It seems to suggest that though I may experi­ Dwyer Responds ence forgiveness and salvation through Calvary, the re­ lder Pierson suggests he did sults of my conduct are extended in their effect on Enot know he had a conflict posterity, and therefore require blotting out at the end of interest when he invested with Dr. Davenport. (His of history. Such teaching can do no other than dilute personal loans to Davenport totalled $18,000 began in the joy of salvation. It may keep us mourning over our May 1971 and ended in August 1977. He J;"eceived 15 failures with family and friends, or our barren and de­ percent compounded interest yieldingjust under $32,000.) ficient example to others of our daily acquaintance. Perhaps he should have double-checked the institu­ The fact is overlooked that every individual born into this tional investment portfolios of the foundation just as we world is in the ultimate, personally responsible to God. should have double-checked the yearbook on his board Any attempt to discover, through various forms of position. While Elder Pierson did not chair the Christian philosophical or systematic theology, a middle ground for Record Braille Foundation board, he did serve on that 24- what has become to many a misconception of divine legal member body, and on Feb. 9, 1976, the foundation lent procedure may in the end prove reversionary. Only Donald Davenport $170,000. Elder Pierson says the loan the approach of sound, biblical exegjsis is secure and was made without the knowledge of the board. How­ its challenge irrefutable. The fact of final pre-Advent ever, no one was publicly disciplined for making the judgment stands firm, and every Bible-loving Adventist loan without board approval following the report of the will anticipate it without fear, for grace in the heart President's Review Commission. produces far more than "ethical" (a cold word) behavior. Bonnie Dwyer What Dybdahl calls the priestly-assurance position has Grand Terrace, CA Spectrum Advisory Council

Charlene and Floyd Anderson Albert and Elizabeth Koppel Julie and Charles Bensonhaver Doreen and Irwin Kuhn Ben R. Boice Verla and Alvin K wiram LeJean and Allen Botimer Carolyn and Curtis Lacy Neridah and Bernard Brandstater Karen and Mel Lake Betty and Bruce Branson Anita and Robert Lang Mary and Floyd Brauer Rae and Charles Lindsay Merrilyn Brown Roberta and Bradley Litchfield Marilyn and Robert Burman Ewald Lonser Harold S. Campbell Heidi and Richard Ludders Betty and -Bert Carson Thelma McAdoo Glenn and Judith Coe Irene ana Kenneth McGill Ronald and Pat Cople Marguerite and Robert Marsh Dos and Molleurus Couperus lola and Julius Martin Eryl Cummings Neva and Bill Meek Walter Cummings Ken and Mary Moe Elsie and Raymond Damazo Kenneth Moe Thelma and Lloyd Dayes Jacqueline and Robert Moncrieff Mary and James Dunn Lyla Neumann \ Bonnie and Thomas Dwyer Neil and Helen Northy Mary and Wilfred Eastman Valerie and Glenn Patchen Juanita and Richard Engel Marilyn and'Daniel Patchin Janine and Wilmer Engevik Susan and Daniel Paulien Mary and Rene Evard Sharon and Thomas Pello Lois and W al t Fahlsing James Pipers Erika and Jim Fallbeck Vema and Winslow B. Randall Marjorie and Albert Farver Marth, and Alfredo Rasi Karen and Ronald Fasano R. o. Rausch'" Beth and Jack Fleming Walter Rea Joy and Gerry Fuller Arl