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International Journal for Pastors Letters International Journal for Pastors Letters Ghosts on the way to the pulpit non-Adventists. Similar studies in In fact, the pattern of pastoral I was about to dismiss the May Germany could not find a difference at ministry portrayed by Protestants back issue as an example of painful all. Second, sexual practices do not then wasn't even appealing to our early hypocrisy when I came upon the letter seem to have been taken into account. Adventist pioneers. They perceived it "Ghosts on the Way to the Pulpit." Even though we strongly prefer to be a waste of time, contrary to their Ballis is right on target. I am on the abstinence, "safe" sex (while by no understanding of the Parousia. Because verge of being an ex-minister largely means being safe) is certainly risk of this, pastoral ministry within our because of miscommunication and an reducing. Third and most important, church has not been given the "organizational culture of secrecy, the study does not demonstrate that emphasis it deserves until very deception, and oppression." The Adventist students are influenced in recently. handling of my particular situation has their risk behavior by their risk-taking Another factor that has contributed been very painful and disillusioning friends. Rather the study very clearly to the church's negligence of pastoral for me and my family. Political and shows that the example of parents is ministry is our lack in developing a institutional concerns have far highly significant and the input of clear, well-defined, biblical theology outweighed pastoral concerns. teachers is important. Thus we could on the role of the pastor. Hence the I freely admit bringing "ghosts" into draw the opposite conclusion and prevailing mentality that seemingly the ministry. This kind of vulnerability encourage non-SDA attendance as a places the pastor on the lowest rung in has left me open to emotional means of help and mission without the leadership of the church. devastation by a system that exploits increasing risks. The main conclusion What is needed is a careful and the weak. It is dangerous to be open and task, then, would be to include the systematic analysis of the teaching of and needy in a system as closed as parents in the education process. Quite the New Testament in the following ours. apart from the empirical argument, areas: (a) the nature and I believe we have "come of age" segregation and monastic solutions can responsibilities of elders and bishops; because our religious and institutional hardly be the Christian's answer to the (b) a correct biblical understanding of dysfunction and addictions can no gospel call. The primary task of our spiritual gifts, their variety, and longer cover up the obvious need for educational system cannot be implications; (c) understanding the ministries of healing and recovery that protection, but preparation for the real theological implication of Jesus' are resisted at all levels. Name work as well as for the world to charge to Peter and other biblical Withheld. come.—Andreas Bochmann, Ph.D., allusions to pastoral responsibilities. Neuenhagen, Germany. Such a study will portray the pastoral AIDS and Adventist youth ministry to be a dignified, satisfying, A research study has been presented Preserve the vessel, share the God-ordained, sacred office. on the AIDS risk among Adventist treasure Thank you once again for your youth in the July issue of Ministry Thank you for the article by Eric article.—Vince David, Bible teacher, ("Aids and Adventist Youth"). As a Winter entitled "Preserve the Vessel, Honiara, Solomon Islands. pastoral counselor I find it laudable Share the Treasure" (June 1996). that the topic is addressed at all, and as However, let me express my personal Remembering our Father a social scientist I am pleased to see observation regarding the status of a Ministry magazine is such a some relevant, readable, and reliable local church pastor in this part of the wonderful paper for clergy. Every research rather than opinions based on world field. month when it arrives it is instructional vague assumptions. It seems very apparent among the and upbuilding. Our ministry has However, I do have problems with laity and the clergy that the pastor of grown as a result of sharing its the apparent suggestion of the authors the local congregation is psycholo- contents. that one should consider reducing the gically perceived to be the lowest The June 1996 issue was packed number of non-Adventists in our officer in the ministry in contrast to the with good reading, and I was schools. The implicit hope that this exuberant evangelist and the particularly helped when I read would reduce the risk among Adventist departmental personnel. "Remembering Our Father," by Sharon students is not borne out by the We developed this concept early in Cress. It was a job well done. The Lord evidence. First of all, the authors admit our history because of our expectation used her to talk to pastors in a realistic the limitations of the self-selected of the imminent return of Jesus. We manner in relation to what we meet as sample. There are reasons to suspect grew with the understanding that the we execute the Master's business. He that the extremes of the spectrum (i.e., end was near and that time was short. goes the whole way with us.— the "goodies" and the "baddies") are As a result of this belief, our primary Cranmer B. Nkiriyehe, executive overrepresented, artificially increasing mission focus was on evangelism and director, Western Uganda Field. the differences between Adventists and evangelism alone. Continued on page 30 2 MINISTRY/DECEMBER 1996 First Glance A potent vision propelled the Seventh-day Adventist 2 Letters Church into existence. The vision received its fire, focus, and form from a promise that is often expressed in four words: 4 Going beyond unity in diversity Jesus is coming again, or better still, "I will come again" (John Will Eva 14:3, KJV, etc.). The promise takes incarnate wings and soars when the heart of faith hears it spoken by the voice of the 5 Cut it down! One who first uttered it in an hour of significant uncertainty Sharon Cress and confusion to those first followers of His. What it means here and now to the pastor who believes it, proclaims it, and 6 There is no delay lives by it, and what it increasingly means to a world in the Mario Veloso throes of even greater uncertainty and confusion, is incalculable. The intensity of the faith and passion that mounts 10 The end-time message in historical perspective in the Adventist soul when these words are spoken directly Hans K. LaRondelle affects the lifeblood of all we understand ourselves and this movement to be. 14 Is this the church? Or should we look for another? The theme articles by Mario Veloso, Hans LaRondelle, Auldwin Humphrey and Norman Gulley are dedicated to enlarging the vision and vitalizing the convictions of Seventh-day Adventist 17 A song in the night ministers when it comes to this integral aspect of the faith. Norman R. Gulley The support articles by Auldwin Humphrey and Jack Lange are also calculated to be genuinely encouraging, though in 20 The process of crisis intervention a different way. Martin W. Feldbush In this December issue we look forward to a new Ministry Seminary courses of Florida Hospital year, and among other things, to a new 1997 12-part series 24 Benjamin D. Schoun and Dick Tibbits overseen by Rex Edwards. Whereas our 1996 series spoke of the way a pastor might deal with the crises of his or her Burnout's subtle approach members, the 1997 series will speak candidly of the public, 26 Jack Lange personal, and even private challenges of the pastor, and how pastors have grown in the face of these real-life difficulties. I wish I had said that! Good reading! 29 James A. Cress 31 Shop Talk Ministry is the international journal Walter L. Pearson, Jr. Ekkhardt Mueller, Euro-Africa SUBSCRIBER SERVICES: Steve Hanson of the Seventh-day Adventist Joel Sarli P O. Box 219, CH 3000 Ministerial Association. Michael A. Speegle Berne 32, Switzerland Ministry, (ISSN 0026-5314), the interna- Heikki Silvet, Euro-Asia tional journal of the Seventh-day Adventist ASSOCIATION SECRETARY: CONSULTING EDITORS: lsakovskogo St. #4, Korpus 1, Ministerial Association B 1996, is published James A. Cress Matthew Bediako Stroghino, 123181 Moscow, Russia monthly by the General Conference of Ellen Bresee Jaime Castrejon, Inter-America Seventh-day Adventists and printed by the EDITOR: Willmore D. Eva Floyd Bresee P.O. Box 140760 Review and HcralP Publishing Association, Gerard Damsteegt Miami, FL 33114-0760 55 West Oak Ridge Drive, Hagerstown, MD ASSISTANT EDITOR: Julia W. Norcott Raoul Dederen William C. Scales, Jr.. North America 21740, U.S.A. Subscriptions: USS25.00 for Robert Folkenberg 12501 Old Columbia Pike 12 issues worldwide, air mail US$39.85. SEMINAR DIRECTOR: John M. Fowler Silver Spring, MD 20904 Single copy US$2.25. Member Associated Nikolaus Satelmajer Roland R. Hegstad Alejandro Bullon, South America Church Press. Periodicals postage paid at Karen Holford Caixa Postal 12-2600 Hagerstown. MD. This publication is avail- SPECIAL ASSISTANT EDITORS: Herbert Kiesler 70279 Brasilia. DF, Brazil able in microfilm from University Microfilms Miguel Angel Cerna Alfred C McClure Ray Zeeman, Southern Africa Union International. Call toll-free 1-800-521-3044. Esther F. R. Knott George W. Reid P.O. Box 468, Bloemfontein 9300 Or mail inquiry to: University Microfilms Eric C. Ward Angel Rodriguez Free State, South Africa International, 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Ariel Roth John Willmott, Southern Asia Arbor, MI 48106.
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