Adventist Review, May 2, 1985
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Adventist Review General Paper of the Seventh-day Adventist Church May 2, 1985 A significant meeting Page 2 Adventist roots in Australia Page 5 Leslie Lemke's miracle music Page 15 Outreach in Philippine prisons Page 17 Cover: The problems a family faces when mother goes to work can either destroy or reinforce the qualities that make a house a home. See page 11. FROM THE EDITORS Church members at large need to We have not done so well during A significant seek for such attitudes toward each the twentieth century, however. At other. Regardless of where we the various levels of administra- meeting stand on the issue of women's tion—conference, union, division, ordination—an issue that clearly General Conference—very few March 26-28 I participated in one will be with us for some time—we women are to be found today; of the most interesting meetings I should seek to follow sound argu- women Bible instructors almost have ever attended—the commis- ments and not resort to personal have vanished. sion on the ordination of women to attacks. Already Adventist women What of the young women in our the gospel ministry. The ADVENT- in ministry, who, we should not midst? To what models of women IST REVIEW for April 25 reported on leaders in the church may they look the action of the Spring Meeting, today? The church has been squan- which, convening the following dering a large and important week, took up the recommenda- resource; will it squander the next tions of the commission. Here I will The Spirit will not generation also? share with readers several reflec- take us contrary to 3. Ordination. The church tions on the work of the commis- needs to tighten up its practices sion. the Word. If God relative to ordination to the gospel 1. The church in process. With wants to move His ministry. 66 members coming from each church forward to the Only those whom God has called division of the world church, the to preach, called to soul-winning commission in many ways provided ordination of women, labors, should be ordained. We a model of the church at work. clear, defensible should cease at once to ordain a Major speeches came from dele- arguments must be person simply for status or mone- gates from overseas and the 15 tary advantage. Enough of ordain- women members. All members advanced from the ing "the butcher, the baker, and the appointed to the commission kept Bible. candlestick maker"—we need to their appointment. All stayed by the return to the Biblical view of ordi- discussions, which on two suc- nation. cessive days lasted well into the 4. Ministry. We likewise need a night. clearer, more Biblical under- All entered into the deliberations forget, are there with the encour- standing of the ministry of those freely—at times vigorously. I wish agement and support of General who are ordained. that those church members who Conference actions reaching back Adventist ministers aren't complain that the church's deci- nearly ten years, have been called priests. Ordination does not confer sion-making process is cut and women's libbers, power-hungry, upon them a special grace. They do dried could have seen the frankness lesbians. On the other hand, those not hold a sacerdotal office. of exchange of opinions. opposing women's ordination have Nor are they essentially sales- Yet a spirit of mutual respect been called chauvinistic and patron- men, managers, or promoters. And prevailed. In contrast to the bitter- izing. certainly not power seekers. ness that the cause of women's No one will advance God's cause They are to be servants, follow- rights sometimes engenders in other by name-calling. ing in the steps of the One who left circles, each person who spoke took 2. The role of women in the heaven to give His all and who said, the "high road." We heard no church. Despite some criticisms, "You know that the rulers of the emotional outbursts, no imputing of the Seventh-day Adventist Church To page 13 motives. But we did hear an earnest from its outset gave women a public seeking to find and follow God's role. Ellen White gave towering will. leadership, but other women also served in a variety of offices, even to that of General Conference trea- surer. 2 (442) ADVENTIST REVIEW, MAY 2, 1985 TABLE OF CONTENTS EDITORIALS Adventist Review A Significant Meeting William G. Johnsson 2 March 26-28, 1985, the editor participated in meetings of the commission on the ordination of women to the gospel ministry. Here he shares reflections on the work of that commission. Is Confession Good for Us? Myron K. Widmer 13 Published continuously since 1849, the Adventist Review It's not always easy to say "I'm sorry." seeks to exalt Jesus Christ, our Saviour, Lord of the Sabbath, and coming King. It aims to inspire and inform as it presents $10,000 Witness Eugene F. Durand 13 the beliefs and news of the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church. Are you prepared to put your money where your mouth is? EDITOR William G. Johnsson HISTORY ASSOCIATE EDITOR Adventist Roots in Australia R. K. Brown 5 Myron K. Widmer One hundred years ago Adventist pioneers sailed out of San MANAGING EDITOR Francisco Harbor and headed for the lands beneath the Southern Cross. Jocelyn R. Fay A lot has happened since. ASSISTANT EDITORS James N. Coffin, Eugene F. Durand, In God's Order Russell Kranz 7 Deborah Anfenson-Vance Australasia is responsible for church structure as we know it today. ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY Corinne Russ WITNESS EDITORIAL SECRETARIES Chitra Barnabas, Jeanne James The Art of Inanimate Witnessing Charles R. Beeler 9 ART Henri used to sell cars. Then he became a robot for Jesus. Byron Steele, G. W. Busch CONSULTING EDITORS FAMILY LIVING Neal C. Wilson, Charles E. Bradford, L. L. Bock, L. L. Butler, Charles B. Hirsch, George W. Reid, Alf Lohne, When Mother Goes to Work Sharon R. Todd 11 Kenneth J. Mittleider, Enoch Oliveira, G. Ralph Thompson, Francis W. Wernick The problems a family faces when mom goes to work can either destroy or reinforce the qualities that make a house a home. SPECIAL CONTRIBUTORS Kenneth H. Wood, Robert H. Pierson, George W. Brown, G. J. Christo, W. T. Clark, Bekele Heye, R. J. Kloosterhuis, Edwin Ludescher, Jan Paulsen, W.R.L. Scragg, Joao Wolff WORLDVIEW SOUTHWESTERN UNION EDITION Leslie Lemke: His Music Is a Miracle 15 Editor, Richard W. Bendall Austria: SDA Restaurant Sets New Trend 16 AFRICA-INDIAN OCEAN EDITIONS Editor, James B. Kio; managing editor, James Fly Massachusetts: Hospital Reports Revenue Surplus 16 Outreach in Philippine Prison Impresses Visitor 17 INTER.AMERICAN DIVISION Editor, Wanda Sample Union College Still Hanging Golden Cords 18 SOUTH AMERICAN EDITIONS Pacific Union Elects First Hispanic VP 18 Editor, R. S. Lessa, Portuguese; acting editor, Rubem M. Scheffel, Portuguese; editor. Rolando Itin, Spanish NIH Issues Report of Baby Fae Review 18 CIRCULATION Arkansas-Louisiana: Conference Holds Constituency Meeting 19 Robert S. Smith, L. Rhea Harvey HOW TO SUBSCRIBE DEPARTMENTS Subscription prices: $34.95 one year, $16.95 six months, $8.95 three months From Our Readers 4 Ross Report 19 To place your order, send your name, address, and money to the local Adventist Book Center or the Review and Herald Readers Ask 4 News Notes 20 Publishing Association, 55 West Oak Ridge Drive, Hagers- town, Maryland 21740 Children's Corner 10 Bulletin Board 22 TO WRITERS Countdown to the 18 The Back Page 23 We welcome unsolicited manuscripts for the different GC Session sections of the Adventist Review. It is advisable to send a preliminary outline and purpose of your article before writing the article or submitting it to us. Notification of acceptance or rejection may be expected only if accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. Address all editorial correspon- dence to 6840 Eastern Avenue NW., Washington, D.C. 20012. COMING NEXT WEEK: INDEX An index is published in the last Review of June and ADVENTIST REVIEW presents a special Mother's December. The Adventist Review is indexed in the Seventh- Day issue: day Adventist Periodical Index. ■"When Mother Stays Home." Part 2 of a The Adventist Review (ISSN 0161-1119) is published Family Living feature by Sharon R. Todd. every Thursday. Copyright C 1985 Review and Herald ■ Publishing Association, 55 West Oak Ridge Drive, Hagers- "Mothers: The Keepers of the Springs," town, Maryland 21740. Second-class postage paid at by A. V. Wallenkampf. Hagerstown, Maryland. Postmaster, send address changes to Adventist Review, 55 West Oak Ridge Drive, Hagerstown, Bible credits: Texts credited to N.I.V. are from The Holy Bible: New Maryland 21740. Single copy, 90 cents U.S. currency. International Version. Copyright C 1973, 1978, International Bible Prices subject to change without notice. Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. Art and photo credits: Cover, p. 3, H. Armstrong Roberts; p. 5, Hedley Vol. 162, No. 18 Anderson; pp. 6, 8, R. K. Brown; p. 11, Tom Radcliffe; p. 15, Faith for Today; p. 17, Gary Martin; other photos, courtesy of the respective authors. ADVENTIST REVIEW, MAY 2, 1985 (443) 3 FROM OUR READERS Amen I appreciate your setting the p. 663. (Italics supplied.) "God songs for our boys and girls. has through the Testimonies 1 would like to suggest that Re "Too Long a Tenure for story straight. We need more of HERBERT KUNSMAN simplified the great truths the Sabbath School Department Church Executives?" (Speak- it. already given. "—Ibid., p. 665. give us examples and informa- ing Out, March 21).