In a Recent Sermon Our Pastor Said That Principles
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May 8, 1997 World Edition Who Prays First? Spring Without Mother Lessons From the Tan-tan Tree Beaten but Not Broken The faithful witness of Kazil Shemkov LETTERS South Mexico Keeping Ellen White Current James Version. Simply changing those I enjoyed William Johnsson’s “South It’s time somebody said it, so I will: quotes to a modern translation would Mexico—Baptisms Enough is enough! help readability—and there might be and Bloodshed” (Mar. According to Kit Watts (“Keeping Ellen less resistance to such changes. 13), which focused on White Current,” March NAD Edition), it’s the growth of the time to modernize Ellen White’s writings —Byron and Dawn Burke church despite because she quit writing an intolerable 85 VIA E-MAIL religious persecution. years ago and we can’t handle such ancient In August Mara- English. Never mind that middle school natha volunteers will kids still read eighteenth-century pieces in Women and the Church be constructing an urgently needed Carlos Medley should be commended school in the Pacific coastal region of Clarification for his excellent “Groundbreaking Chiapas. On a recent visit I found that “Are Homosexuals God’s Children?” Steps” (Mar. 13). Indeed, getting more the violence is centered in specific (April NAD Edition) is bringing heavy women into leadership positions will locations in the large state of Chiapas mail. Some readers expressed concern bring more balance to the church and is, and is virtually nonexistent in the that the article seemed to condone therefore, “good for the King’s business.” Pacific coastal regions. Maranatha homosexual practice. It was not However, just to keep history from hopes that these geographic differences intended to do so, and we apologize for gradually becoming skewed, please correct will be recognized and that many any misunderstanding. We draw a one inaccuracy. The editorial refers to people will help further expand the sharp distinction between homosexual “the General Conference session vote not Adventist Church in this area. tendencies and homosexual activity: to ordain women to the gospel ministry.” on biblical grounds we support people The 1995 General Conference — Kyle Fiess, MARANATHA who struggle with the former, but we session did not vote to not ordain VOLUNTEERS INTERNATIONAL reject the practice. women. It voted to not allow individual ([email protected]) Look for readers’ reactions to this world divisions to make policy decisions article beginning with the June NAD apart from the world body. Edition.—Editors. “South Mexico—Baptisms and Blood- —Madeline S. Johnston shed” caused me to join Robert literature class or that people still pay to BERRIEN SPRINGS, MICHIGAN Folkenberg in shedding tears of joy hear what Shakespeare wrote in the 1600s. and sorrow. Steps to Jesus was a fine book, done to As members of Mission Projects, help people who are learning English— Thanks to Carlos Medley for his thought- Inc. (supporting member of ASI), we far too worthy a project to be used as an ful and thought-provoking editorial. have since 1989 financially and emo- excuse for a wholesale translation of Getting representation in the tionally sponsored a lay ministry in Ellen White’s writings. church must begin at the local level. It Chiapas. These dedicated people joy- means having women active on the ously share the Adventist message at —Lewis R. Walton local church board. It means electing great sacrifice to themselves and their GLENNVILLE, CALIFORNIA women to serve as delegates to families. More than 8,000 baptisms constituency meetings at both the and 100 church groups have resulted. conference and the union level. It We’ve found that Ellen White is hardest means all boards and committees —Velma Beavon to understand when she quotes (some- carefully checking that they have DAYTON, MONTANA times long) passages from the King gender—as well as economic, ethnic, and 2 (610) ADVENTIST REVIEW, MAY 8, 1997 age—representation and balance. impression that Adventists are becoming increasingly biblically illiterate. What we — Ardis Stenbakken call Bible study is doctrinal study or ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, GENERAL something else. In Sabbath school we are CONFERENCE WOMEN’S MINISTRIES supposed to be studying books of the Bible, but most people just study the COVER STORY quarterly, if even that. Sexist attitudes die hard. Carlos Medley We are developing a terrific delivery 8 Beaten but Not Broken A story of faith’s triumph over writes: “As a church we must tap our system but have less and less to deliver. persecution. growing pool of female talent.” BY RAE PATTERSON In what sense is the “female talent” in —Robert M. Johnston, CHAIR our church a “growing pool”? Our church NEW TESTAMENT DEPARTMENT ARTICLES has always had more women than men. SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST The only way the pool of female talent can THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 12 Who Prays First? grow relative to the total pool of talent is BERRIEN SPRINGS, MICHIGAN A crisis made it a necessity— for today’s women to have more talent and a tradition. than before. This is an insult to the women BY LOREN DICKINSON who have borne an unrecognized share of Review Online (cont.) 16 Lessons From the our church work for many decades. Serving here at Adventist World Radio Tan-tan Tree It’s not the pool of female talent that for four and a half years, I haven’t Anything that begins so small can’t has changed, but that even male Ad- subscribed to the Review because it takes be that hard to get rid of. ventist leaders are forced to recognize up to two months to arrive. Today I BY DENISE AND GORDON RUTLEDGE that women have talent—that they can downloaded the Review and want to lead and manage and speak and write. thank you for making it available 24 Spring Without Mother It was her favorite time of year— Praise for a few outstanding women electronically. Keep up the good work! and she wasn’t here to see it. selected to fill token positions while BY MYRNA TETZ the majority of leadership and —Gary Benton, ASSISTANT ENGINEER management positions are filled by ADVENTIST WORLD RADIO-ASIA 27 The Waters of Life men of mediocre talent doesn’t cut it. The gospel in a few words. BY W. STEVE BASSHAM —Joyce Griffith I really appreciate the online edition of DEPARTMENTS CALDWELL, IDAHO the Review. When younger I would read the Review over Sabbath breakfast. This 2 Letters Sabbath morning my notebook computer 7 Give & Take The Commandment-challenged was my breakfast companion as I read the In “The Commandment-challenged” Review again. My thanks to the Review 14 Faith Alive! (Mar. 13), Gary Krause reports on 200 and to the Health and Temperance 15 Children’s Corner British clergy, of whom two thirds could Department for sponsoring. 19 World News & Perspectives not remember all ten commandments. Last quarter, in a midterm —Dave Jeffrey 28 Bible Questions Answered examination, I asked 47 first-year TRINIDAD, WEST INDIES 29 Bulletin Board seminarians a surprise question worth 30 Reflections bonus points: Write the Ten Command- Omission ments in correct order. They could write EDITORIALS them according to any translation, but While you have had changes in your staff, 5 Going for the Jugular all the pieces needed to be there. William Johnsson’s “What the New RAPHICS Eight of the 47 could do it. Another Review Taught Me” (January NAD 6 Treasure in a Brown G 18 could write them in summary form Edition) omits the most amazing thing Paper Bag (e.g., “Remember the sabbath day, to about the new Review. It is largely YNAMIC D keep it holy”—period). None of the produced by the same people who NEXT WEEK BY others got them right, including six who produced the old Review. That is a lesson TION did not even try. to all of us about what God can do. Married to an Atheist At first it didn’t seem to be a problem. These are seminarians. I don’t know LLUSTRA I how our ministers or church members —L. Fraser Jackson VER O would have fared, but I have the strong WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND C ADVENTIST REVIEW, MAY 8, 1997 (611) 3 “Behold, I come quickly . .” Our mission is to uplift Jesus Christ through stories of His matchless love, news of His present workings, help for knowing Him better, and hope in His soon return. The Adventist Review (ISSN 0161-1119), published since 1849, is the general paper of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It is published by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and is printed 40 times a year each Thursday except the first Thursday of each month by the Review and Herald® Publishing Association. Periodicals postage paid at Hagerstown, MD 21740. Copyright © 1997. Publishing Board: Robert S. Folkenberg, chair; Phil Follett, vice- chair; Lowell Cooper; William G. Johnsson; A. C. McClure; Rose Otis; Martin Ytreberg; Robert Nixon, legal advisor Executive Publisher and Editor William G. Johnsson Associate Editor Roy Adams Managing Editor Myrna Tetz News Editor Carlos Medley Assistant Editor Stephen Chavez Assistant Editor Andy Nash Editorial Assistant Ella Rydzewski Administrative Secretary Chitra Barnabas Editorial Secretaries Mary Maxson, Jean Sequeira Art Director Bill Kirstein Designer Bill Tymeson Design Assistant Alan Forquer Desktop Production Stephanie Kaping Ad Sales Melynie Tooley Subscriber Services Steve Hanson Director, Periodical Sales Ginger Church Consulting Editors: Robert S. Folkenberg, Matthew Bediako, Phil Follett, Robert J. Kloosterhuis, A. C. McClure, Jan Paulsen, Leo Ranzolin, R. F. Rawson, Calvin B. Rock, G. Ralph Thompson Special Contributors: Bryan Ball, M. E. Cherian, P. D. Chun, L. T. Daniel, Ulrich Frikart, Lee Huff, Israel Leito, Ruy H. Nagel, L. D. Raelly, Bertil Wiklander To Writers: We welcome unsolicited manuscripts.