Where Adventist Monte Sahlin on 25 Years A Charismatic in Today Came From of Seventh-day Search of a Message

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novemberSPRING | december 2018 2006 • WWW.ATODAY.ORG adventist today volume 14 issue 6 Perspectives on 1844: Putting the Pieces Together Today

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Looking back aT gLacier view: : 08 1844, a PersonaL Journey: : 18 25 1993 • YEARS • 2018

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• ANALYSIS • OPINION JULY - AUGUST 1994 Volume 2 Number 4 $3.75

NEWS • ANALYSIS • OPINION Volume 1 Number 1

RELIGION AND THE WACO CULT

• Ex-Adventists at Mount Carmel

• History and Fatal of Branch Davidians Today INSIDEVOL. 26 NO. 2 Adventist Executive Editor Loren Seibold Copy Editor Debra J. Hicks Contributing Editors James Walters, John McLarty, Jeff Boyd, J. David Newman Art Director Chris Komisar Digital Media News Editor, Bjorn Karlman; Editorial Associates, Mark Gutman, Carmen Seibold; Weekly Email Edition Editor, Lindsey Painter; Monthly Edition Editor, Heather Gutman; Correspondents, Alethia Nkosi, Tyson Jacob Executive Director Monte Sahlin Chief Operating Officer features Paul Richardson 4 From the Archives DEPARTMENTS Chief Technology Strategist By Raymond Cottrell 3 Editorial Warren Nelson Membership Secretary 5 Ex-Adventists at Mt. Carmel: Apologetics and Apologies Jaimie Derting PR Problem or Learning By Loren Seibold FOUNDATION BOARD Nate Schilt (chair), Jim Walters, (vice chair) Monte Opportunity? Sahlin (secretary), Andrew Clark, Keith Colburn, Chris By the Editors in May 1993 22 Heritage Daley, Larry Downing, Elwin Dunn, Bill Garber, John A Charismatic in Search of a Message Hoehn, Bjorn Karlman, Mailen Kootsey, Alvin Masarira, Keisha McKenzie, Chuck Mitchell, Jim Nelson, Nathan 6 The Birth of Adventist Today By Aage Rendalen Nelson, Warren Nelson, Lindsey Painter, Gene Platt, By Jim Walters E. Gary Raines, Paul Richardson, Sasha Ross, Timothy Ruybalid, Ed Sammons, Dan Savino, Carmen & Loren 26 Heritage Seibold, J. Gordon Short, James Stirling, Ervin Taylor, 6 Adventist Today Highlights Ellen White’s Ingratiating David Van Putten, John Vogt By Jim Walters Amalgamation Statements SENIOR LIFETIME ADVISORS ($25,000+) 7 Where Are We After a By T. Joe Willey Tim & Lois Blackwelder, Patricia & Douglas Ewing, Quarter-Century? Kathi & Richard Guth, John Hoehn, Judy & John 32 Story Jacobson, Al Koppel, Joan Ogden, Thaine Price, Judy By Monte Sahlin & Gordon Rick, Mike Scofield, Lovina & J. Gordon Church People Short, Marilynn & Ervin Taylor, Nancy & John Vogt, Priscilla & James Walters 12 A Profile ofAdventist Today’s By John McLarty LIFETIME ADVISORS ($10,000+) First Editor, Raymond F. Cottrell Jane Bainum, Susan & Hernan Barros, Diana & Ken 34 Adventist Today Bauer, Kelli & Robert Black, Ginny & Todd Burley, By Richard W. Coffen Tierrasanta Church, Pat & Ron Cople, Kathryn & Fascinating Facts! James Dexter, Rosemary & Merlyn Duerksen, Dan 14 An Interview with Adventist Engeberg, Sandra & Sam Geli, Patricia Hare, Jackie & Victorian illustrations captioned Jim Henneberg, Mariellyn & Edwin Hill, Carmen & Clive Today Columnist Alden by Maylan Schurch Holland, Erika & Brian Johnson, Carmen & Yung Lau, David T. Person II, Patricia Phillips, R. Marina & Gary Thompson Raines, Judith Rausch, Dee Dee & Nate Schilt, By Loren Seibold 37 Contributors Stewart Shankel, James Stirling, Tierrasanta SDA Church, Kit Watts 17 Book Review 38 Barely Adventist UNDERWRITING ADVISORS Inspiration, by Alden Thompson News Briefs ($2,500+ DURING THE LAST TWO YEARS) Keith Colburn, L. Humberto Covarrubias, Lawrence By Ed Reifsnyder Downing, William Garber, Lyndon Marter, Corinne & Michael Pestes, Paul Richardson, Yvonne Stratton, 20 Can We Talk? Alden Thompson, Amabel & Eric Tsao, T. Joe Willey By Charles Scriven GENERAL ADVISORS ($500+/YEAR PLAN) Edward Allred, Cherry Ashlock, Almon Balkins, Adventist Today brings contemporary issues of importance to interested readers. Adventist Today is a member of The Associated Church Press. Following Charlotte & Robert Brody, Steve & Marit Case, Beverly basic principles of ethics and canons of journalism, this publication strives for fairness, candor, and good taste. Unsolicited submissions are encouraged. & Sidney Christiansen, Ruth Christensen & Glenn Payment is competitive. Send an email to [email protected] or mail to Adventist Today, PO Box 683, Milton Freewater OR 97862. Call 800.236.3641. Henriksen, Joshua W. Dee, Debra & Anders Engdahl, Website: www.atoday.org Ed Fry, Jiggs Gallagher, Karita & DeWitt Goulbourne, As an independent press, Adventist Today relies on memberships and donations to meet its operating expenses. To support Adventist Today and continue Helen Grattan, Judy & Richard Hart, Dolores & Robert receiving this magazine, go to www.atoday.org, and click on Membership or Donate at the top. Mail payments to the address above. All donations are Hasse, Georgia Hodkin, Melva Hicks, John G. Jacobson, tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Catherine Lang-Titus, Carl & Evangeline Lundstrom, Lillian McNeily, Vincent Melashenko, Barbara & Dale Adventist Today (ISSN: 1079-5499) is published quarterly by Adventist Today Foundation, 14605 SE 262nd Avenue, Boring OR 97009-6038. Periodical postage is Morrison, Cleta Nelson, Claudia Peterson, Edwin paid at Boring OR, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Adventist Today PO Box 683, Milton Freewater OR 97862. Racine, Orlene & James Riggs, Tracy & Craig Reynolds, Copyright (c) 2018 by Adventist Today Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering open dialogue in the Adventist community and beyond. Ruth & Beryl Rivers, Gretchen & Monte Sahlin, Beverly & David Sandquist, Carolyn & Robert Tandy, Gary & Diane Russell, Jackie & Hal Williams 2 ADVENTIST TODAY T I S T N T E O D V A D

Y EDITORIAL A 25 1993 • YEARS • 2018 Apologetics and Apologies By Loren Seibold

If you have followed the online versions of Adventist quite-different purposes of organized religion. Today and its cousin publication, Spectrum, you Because Seventh-day Adventists have officially have likely noticed comments such as these: “I can’t had nothing but a century of apologetics, writing believe you people are really Seventh-day Adventists.” that questions old positions seems dangerous, Or “What kind of Adventists would raise questions destabilizing. It frightens people—and I understand like this?” Or “How dare you criticize the church that. One of the faults of the alternative Adventist [doctrine, leader, policy, or decision]?” press is that we haven’t always been as sensitive as we There are many variations, but the essence is should be. that good Seventh-day Adventists applaud only the So here’s an honest and heartfelt apology. You traditional version of our shared faith, and every part might find something in our magazines and websites of the organization that professes it; that even the (I have surely been guilty) that takes on a bitter most thoughtful critique, or the most undeniable but tone. I can make the excuse that this is because a unwelcome fact, should never be voiced, much less generation of us felt deceived, ill-used. We grew written. That we should engage in nothing but the most up on certainties that turned out to be not at all banal and harmless apologetics characterizes modern certain, on threats and fears that made the blessed Seventh-day Adventism across most of its range. hope into a carnival freak show of beasts and popes One of the and persecution, that made salvation in Christ into faults of the Beyond Apologetics a discouraging perfectionism, that exalted Ellen The use of this word root is different from its use when White above Jesus and the church bureaucracy over alternative congregations and communities. telling someone you’re sorry. Apology is admitting you Adventist were wrong, while apologetics is insisting you were Too often, in our disappointment with and anger right all along, even if on fairly thin evidence. Religious at the church, we did our therapy in print. We might press is that groups are more enthusiastic for the latter than the first, have tried harder to shape our faith in solid, defensible, though both should be a part of our repertoire. meaningful ways, taking advantage of our shared we haven’t Of course, all of us rely upon apologetic culture and history to build a stronger faith community. always been as arguments. When I preach to my congregations, I argue in every sermon that Jesus’ exemplary life, Questioners Needed sensitive as we atoning death, and triumphant resurrection give us Yet it remains that if the early Adventists hadn’t asked should be. reason for hope. any questions, we wouldn’t be Seventh-day Adventists What some don’t understand about publications today. William Miller wondered what the prophecies of such as these (by which I mean both Adventist Today Daniel 2, 8, and 9 meant. Ellen and James White asked and Spectrum—you may prefer one to the other, but why the churches around them didn’t take the second we’re all friends and do similar work) is that our coming of Jesus seriously. asked why so business isn’t confined to apologetics. Apologetics few were honoring the Saturday Sabbath. For a while we is ably attended to by the Review, Signs of the Times, were at the leading edge of questioning and challenging. and the Sabbath School Quarterly. By contrast, we’re Once we got an organization and a name, our addressing what those organs cannot, or will not. focus seems to have shifted to apologetics. And Here we’re opening windows and doors. We’re trying we’re not unique in that. The fate of truth-seeking to hold both leaders and doctrines to account for the organizations is that, having invested in an identity, deeper truths of the gospel. We’re defending those they lose the ability to seek truth. Where they were whom the church has sometimes spurned. Guarding once on the offense for truth, they become strikingly against cunningly devised fables. Trying to prevent defensive. Questions represent challenge and change, the gospel from being sucked into and diluted by the Continued on page 36

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FROM THE ARCHIVES The first issue of Adventist Today was published in May of 1993. The editor, Raymond Cottrell, wrote an editorial recalling that our pioneers were open-minded and willing to ask questions, and that we should be, too—a philosophy Adventist Today still holds. Cottrell and his staff were planning the first magazine issue when agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives attempted a poorly planned raid on David Koresh’s Branch Davidian compound. After a 51-day siege, the FBI launched an assault on April 19 that started the compound on fire, resulting in the deaths of many former Adventists. At a time when the Seventh-day Adventist Church was distancing itself from the Branch Davidians, Adventist Today editors bravely pointed to our common roots with Koresh and his followers and questioned the wisdom of the church’s public relations campaign.

NEWS • ANALYSIS • OPINION Welcome to Adventist Today medium of communication such as Volume 1 Number 1 The pioneers of the Seventh-day this journal aspires to be—a place Adventist Church were open-minded where all segments and age groups can men and women, open to new vistas of find common ground and share their the everlasting gospel appropriate for aspirations and concerns for the church in their time. Open-mindedness is a prime forthright, responsible dialogue. RELIGION AND THE WACO CULT • Ex-Adventists at Mount Carmel requisite for becoming a bona fide Seventh- Adventist Today is primarily a news • History and Fatal Theology of Branch Davidians day Adventist, and no less for continuing journal that aspires to present the growth as a dedicated admirer of Jesus information thoughtful members of the Christ. Surely we do not want people church need in order to form a mature, to close their minds once they become accurate, and equitable understanding of members of the church. Closed minds will matters of concern to the church in North never complete the gospel commission. America. There will also be a responsible Adventist Today aspires to follow the expression of opinion about matters of open-minded tradition of the pioneers. current interest and concern. Open-mindedness means openness Recent events in Waco, Texas, have toward one another and willingness altered our original plans for this, the first to listen to one another attentively, issue of Adventist Today. In order to make perceptively, amenably. What a joy room for the cluster of articles on this membership in the Seventh-day Adventist topic—certainly one of major concern to Church can be if there is full and complete the entire church—it has been necessary openness in such matters as our corporate to reschedule some features originally quest for an ever more perfect and intended for this issue. ... complete understanding of God’s Word, Proponents of alternative points of view relationships between church leaders and on these subjects have been invited to share the membership of the church, and the their perspective of the facts. Adventist conduct of church affairs! Today will be the convenor and moderator, Adventist Today is a response to the and our readers will be the jury. widespread conviction that the church Welcome aboard! needs an open and straightforward Raymond Cottrell

4 ADVENTIST TODAY EX-ADVENTISTS AT MT. CARMEL PR PROBLEM OR LEARNING OPPORTUNITY?

Enjoy this reprint of the first editorial from David Koresh, the notorious Branch The Seventh-day Adventist Adventist Today’s premier issue, a thought- Davidian leader, was reared as a Seventh- denomination wisely disavowed the provoking piece that remains relevant 25 day Adventist in Dallas and was a baptized Shepherd’s Rod movement long ago. The years after it first appeared in print. member before joining the self-named denomination abhors the tragedy at Mt. Branch Davidian Seventh-day Adventists. Carmel. Nevertheless, several questions The Adventist Church can take at Ninety percent of Koresh’s followers are deserve serious attention in the aftermath least two approaches to the Waco incident. former Seventh-day Adventists, according of Waco: First, it can handle the situation as a PR to Marc Breault, a recent master’s graduate —Are there elements in the popular problem. This approach is understandable in religion from Adventist belief system that lend and in many ways appropriate—and who for a time was a member of the themselves to warped exploitation by well underway. The church hired a crisis Branch Davidians. charismatic leaders? management firm to devise a strategy. David Koresh actively recruited in —Does the church’s emphasis on the Officials from the church have spoken Adventist centers, including Loma “imminence” of God’s kingdom need to be of damage control and the need to “play Linda; Honolulu; Sydney, Australia; re-evaluated? down the Adventist connection,” and and Bracknell, England. In England, —What type of Biblical interpretation the Southern Conference has one former Adventist pastor and four (a “proof-text” approach or a historical- attempted to restrict church-member Newbold College theology students contextual perspective) is more or less contact with the media by sending out a accepted Koresh’s perspective, claims likely to foster idiosyncratic beliefs? directive to all of its congregations. Breault. —What concrete steps should the Second, the church can seek to learn Many Branch Davidians continue to denomination take to help its members from the Waco incident. Such a response adhere to traditional Adventist emphases, avoid the allure of any number of may be more involved than merely such as healthful living and Saturday Adventist “fundamentalisms” that offer shoring up public relations, but it is no less Sabbath observance. Their notoriety has simple answers to complex issues? important. The following cluster of essays come from their interest in prophetic —What is the relationship between offers perspectives that may help in this interpretation and belief in the imminent personal psychology and religious belief? learning process. ending of the world—ideas hardly alien to —How could committed, sometimes Some will say that what happened Adventism. highly educated church members opt for in Texas has nothing to do with the Before Koresh developed the religious Koresh’s line of belief? Seventh-day Adventist church, since this ideas for which he is now notorious, These are at least some of the Waco cult was merely a “branch” or an he attracted the interest of a number of questions raised by the Mt. Carmel “offshoot” of a group that split from the traditional Adventists precisely because episode. Because of the considerable church over 60 years ago. True, the Branch of his command of extensive passages Adventist connection, we believe that the Davidians developed out of the Shepherd’s from the and Ellen White’s writings. denomination would do well to appoint a Rod movement—a movement started Unusual interpretations of obscure Bible high-level study commission to examine in the 1930s by relatively few Seventh- texts have led Koresh to claim to be the the Koresh phenomenon and make day Adventists. However, in addition to modem David—even Jesus Christ—and to recommendations. AT this historical connection, the Branch believe in a biblical warrant for active and —THE EDITORS Davidians have had ongoing connection violent cleansing of the world. to the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

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The idea of Adventist Today was conceived in early 1992. Ervin Taylor, a professor of anthropology at the University of California in Riverside, had expressed interest in founding a The Birth of journal that could compete with the theologically conservative Journal of the Adventist Theological Society, which had begun publication in 1990. His initial idea was for an annual scholarly publication, and he shared this dream with several of us who were Adventist Today fellow members of the Sabbath Seminar, a Sabbath School class at Loma Linda University Church. At the time, I’d been a professor in the LLU School of Religion BY JIM WALTERS for 12 years. I immediately saw value in Erv’s idea of a new, independent Adventist publication. Spectrum magazine had just published a profile on David B. Hinshaw, then the influential dean of Loma Linda University’s School of Medicine. I recall observing to a colleague that Hinshaw was a more colorful figure than portrayed in Spectrum. This contributed to my agreement with Erv that a second independent journal could be helpful. Since I’d majored in communications as well as theology in college, I was interested in being part of such a project. Although Spectrum may have fumbled a bit on the Hinshaw piece, it had long been doing well at publishing scholarly articles

MAY • JUNE 1996 Adventist Today Highlights VOL. 4, NO.3

I.R.S. REDEFINES THE LAUNCH. We mailed the initial issue the publication for a year or two, some 25 ADVENTIST MINISTRY by Missy and TITHE or Solomon's Tax? (May-June 1993) to some 40,000 church percent discontinued. Richard Rouhe, members in the North American Division. EARLY FUNDING. To get initial funds to in Riverside; Editor Raymond Cottrell and his staff launch Adventist Today, we organized Jackie and Jim used his denominational reputation in our meetings—usually on Friday night or Henneberg, in Pasadena; NEWS • ANALYSIS • OPINION publicity to grow an Volume 1 Number 1 Sabbath afternoon—at the homes of

CAMPUS HILL CHURCH CHOOSES initial subscription base SENIOR PASTOR Karen and Bob several of our early supporters. Typically, BLACK WOMAN of approximately 2,500 a supporter in a geographic concentration Torrey, in Loma subscribers. We charged Linda; and Judy and Gordon Rick, in the RELIGION AND THE WACO CULT of Adventist members in Southern • Ex-Adventists at Mount Carmel

• History and Fatal Theology of Branch Davidians a subscription price of California would invite 20 or 30 people area. $18 for individuals, $12 whom we thought would be interested SUBSIDIZED SUBSCRIPTIONS. We knew for students, and $29 in knowing what Adventist Today was from the beginning that this magazine for institutions. During and had to offer. At these meetings would not be self-funding and that we our first couple of years, Raymond Cottrell would usually describe needed contributions. In the first several the subscription level • ANALYSIS • OPINION JANUARy-FEBRUARY the magazine years, subscriptions covered some 60 1993 Volume 2 Number 1 went down to 1,800- $3.75 conceptually, percent of the costs of publication— 1,900, where it stayed for several years. I while I’d speak payment for publication, fundraising, surmise that many church members were of our financial and a full-time office manager. For a few initially attracted by the Cottrell name and need. Four years, a couple of the founder-families didn’t know exactly what Adventist Today such meetings actually donated $5,000 annually for the would be like. After they had received were hosted opportunity to work on Adventist Today!

6 ADVENTIST TODAY

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~ Jd"'l rtJ. ~IS'~4\ ' I. S that met the need Erv was sensing—and continues to do superb service as a leading editor for the new Seventh-day Adventist Bible work. At the time, I suggested that the most urgent need in Commentary and as associate editor for the , Ray the Adventist free press was for a more popular journal with had retired in the Loma Linda area. He had continued to shake articles no more than three pages long; after all, you don’t have up the status quo by writing articles and speaking at Adventist to be eternal to be profound. Another concern—a pastoral one Forum chapters. Ray readily accepted the editorship, with in those pre-Internet days—was that perhaps thousands of assurance that his role would be to help shape Adventist Today’s educated, widely read church members were frustrated with the vision and determine its content, while others would oversee sanitized news from the official church organs. They had bigger marketing, fundraising, editing, printing, and distribution. questions about Adventist theology and practice, and they felt In the early years, Erv Taylor served as either board chair or that they were alone. board secretary/treasurer. I served at various times as associate Erv Taylor and I may have emerged as the most active editor, executive editor, publisher, and board chair. Others who proponents of starting a new independent magazine, but other supported Ray were Cherie Rouse and Colleen Moore Tinker as Sabbath Seminar class members who joined in were John Jones, managing editors at different times, and Hanan Sadek as office Keith Colburn, and Donna Evans. They and a few others met manager. The division of responsibilities worked very well until several times on Sabbath afternoons for brainstorming sessions Ray decided to devote himself to unfinished writing projects. at the Colburn family’s mountain home in Oak Glen, near Soon thereafter his health began to decline. Ray served as editor Loma Linda. from May 1993 until August 1997 and then as editor emeritus One of our first steps was to draft the legendary Raymond until his death in January 2003. F. Cottrell as editor. (Read Richard Coffen’s portrait of Cottrell We considered a variety of names for the new magazine. I in this issue.) After a distinguished career in Adventist higher polled 20 medical students in my ethics class on several potential education at in the 1940s, followed by magazine names. Adventist Today was the clear favorite. Adventist

WEBSITE. In 1998 board member John posted news articles, and soon afterward editorialized that Adventist Today “is Vogt donated $5,000 for the establishment we added past issues of the magazine. primarily a news journal that aspires of an Adventist Today website. Sensing DAVID KORESH. The initial issue of to present the information thoughtful Adventist Today, May/June 1993, was members of the church need in order supposed to focus on how different to form a mature, accurate, and generations of church members—teens, equitable understanding of matters twenty-somethings, Baby Boomers, and of concern to the church in North senior members—view their church. America.” Accordingly, the magazine’s However, a few months before the masthead read, in part: “The purpose of inaugural issue was published, David Adventist Today is to report and discuss Koresh clashed with federal and state contemporary issues of importance agents in Waco, Texas. So the magazine’s to Adventist members. Following the cover featured the drawing of a robust basic principles of ethics and canons of Koresh, with a 3-inch-wide bullet belt journalism, this publication strives for slung over his shoulder, holding a huge fairness, candor, and good taste.” That Bible simulating a machine gun. “Religion sentence about ethics and journalism and the Waco Cult” headlined a section of continues to appear on the masthead of that the Internet was the communication five articles on the topic. each issue of Adventist Today. wave of the future, we set up a site with BOARD CHAIRS AND STAFF. I served as MAGAZINE’S MISSION. help from Greg Billock, an Internet-savvy In the the first board chair (for 18 months), and Adventist student at Cal Tech. At first we introductory issue, Raymond Cottrell then Erv Taylor assumed board leadership

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Today was chosen to convey a contemporary Adventism; in covered, and the way Ray’s and my writing styles sometimes contrast to the implications of the backward-pointing word didn’t adequately convey our immense appreciation for our “review” in Adventist Review, we would confront the challenges church, I realized that the magazine’s image was suffering. John and interests of today’s Adventist members. likewise loved the church, and he was able to convey his passion In early 1997 a pastor from the Pacific Northwest, John to every reader without sacrificing the power and directness of McLarty, knocked on my LLU office door. John admired the content. John went on to become Adventist Today’s longest- serving editor (1997-2007). The name Adventist Today was chosen Preparation for launching Adventist Today in May 1993 took about a year. Although initial setup took considerable effort, I to convey a contemporary Adventism recall thinking that there was a pretty good chance Adventist … [and show that] we would confront Today would fail—for any number of reasons. On the other hand, it could succeed, and we would have the challenge of the the challenges and interests of today’s proverbial tiger-by-the-tail situation. Maintaining Adventist Today as a quality ministry has been and continues to be a Adventist members. challenge. We’re thankful for Monte Sahlin, who as a topflight entrepreneurial and journalistic churchman has led the Adventist Today and what it was doing in the denomination. organization in becoming so much more than a magazine. Since Ray Cottrell was slowing down, the board appointed Never before has Adventism needed a free press as it does John as editor. With the Internet coming of age, it was possible today, in an era when differing views on church authority and for John to assume editorship while remaining at his parish women’s ordination are polarizing the denomination. Without an in Tacoma, . Ray and I dearly loved our church, independent Adventist press, we would surely be an immensely but because of the often-controversial topics the publication different denomination—and a less-informed one. AT

for three years. Doug Schultz took the EDITORIAL VISION. Editors of the and current editor Loren Seibold position in 1998, and then I again served magazine have included founding editor (2015-present). In addition to myself, as chair until early 2000, when I was Raymond F. Cottrell (1993-1997); our others who have served as editor for short facing burnout. At that time, Adventist longest-serving editor, John McLarty periods are Ervin Taylor, Andy Nash, and Today was rescued when longtime board (1997-2007); former Ministry magazine Monte Sahlin. member Elwin Dunn editor J. David Newman (2009-2015); stepped forward to assume leadership, a post he held with distinction for nearly nine years (2000- 2008). Larry Downing

(2008-2010) and Clive Raymond Cottrell John McLarty Ervin Taylor Andy Nash Holland (2010-2011) 1993-1997 1997-2007 2007 2008-2009 served as board chairs before Nathan Schilt (2012-present) took the helm. Two staff persons who gave particularly important service are office manager Hanan Sadek (1996-2009) and development director J. David Newman Monte Sahlin Loren Seibold Edwin Schwisow (2005-2018). 2009-2015 2015 2016-Present

8 ADVENTIST TODAY where are we after a quarter- century? By Monte Sahlin

In 1993 when the first issue of this had subsided. A number of pastors had at least in North America, Europe, and magazine came out, the global Adventist left the denomination, and an unknown Australia. The Adventist faith has become population was estimated at 25 million number of members had also dropped less sectarian and more international. A people and had just begun to catch the out, although the official membership similar trend has developed in Africa, attention of scholars who study religions.1 totals continued to grow. Asia, and Latin America as a larger and Adventists were shocked to find that a Many educated Adventists felt the need larger percentage of the Adventists in the fundamentalist splinter group was willing for a more grace-oriented and progressive Southern Hemisphere attain some higher to get into a shooting war with authorities faith—one less tied to traditional education, move to the cities, and find outside of Waco, Texas, which ended interpretations of apocalyptic passages in employment in the new economy there. tragically with at least 85 deaths following Scripture. There was a strong sense that it Perhaps the largest development of a siege that drew the focus of international was still important to be Adventist and to the last 25 years is a shift of the center of media for 51 days. embrace the hope of Christ’s return, but gravity in Christendom from the global By the early 1990s, much of the overt that a dogmatic focus on “prophecy” led north to the global south.2 The Adventist conflict from the 1980 Glacier View to extreme positions. The events in Waco denomination is in the middle of this meeting and the reactions to the critique proved how dangerous that could be, global shift; Africa, Asia, and Latin put forward by the widely respected especially when mixed with an egocentric America have become home to the large Adventist Bible scholar Dr. Desmond Ford leader and blind dedication. majority of Adventists, while a decreasing, How far have we come in the quarter- small percentage are found in Europe and century since? What has changed? What remains the same? Is God leading in this journey, or is something else going on? Today there is definitely a greater focus on a more grace-oriented faith,

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North America—less than 7 percent in brings new challenges and opportunities. repeated waves of the Valuegenesis study 2018. The change has been so dramatic These include finding “employment results, which have shown the impact that many church administrators think for the millions of energetic young of Adventist schools, families, and that our current General Conference (GC) people … new converts [who are] poor, congregations on children growing up president will likely be the last American uneducated, hungry, and orphaned.”4 The in the faith. It has become clear that the to hold that position. Adventist Church must include economic majority of children born into Adventist The decline of Christian faith is most development along with health and homes will not be active church members dramatic in Europe, yet recent polls in education as essential parts of its mission. by the time they reach their mid-20s, the show significant growth The denomination must also educate more although many more will continue to in the percentage of “Nones” (people pastors to provide spiritual care, maturing carry some kind of Adventist identity. who prefer no religion), especially the vast numbers of new converts. And it The term “cultural Adventist” has among young adults. In 1990, 86 percent must learn to co-exist with vigorous world become a new label. It relates to the of Americans identified themselves religions beyond . reality that someone who is raised as an africa, asia, and latin america have become home to the large majority of adventists while a decreasing, small percentage are found in europe and north america—less than 7 percent in 2018. as Christians, but two decades later it For the first time in the history of the Adventist has the imprint of a subculture was down to 75 percent. The Adventist denomination, we saw a GC president regardless of his or her doctrinal beliefs Church has found it difficult to adapt forced to resign because of questions or spiritual journey. Although used as a to this new reality, as some pastors and about his business ethics. Robert S. negative appellation by traditionalists, congregations try new approaches while Folkenberg resigned on Feb. 8, 1999, it is a more positive notion for a larger other Adventists hold to traditional after a committee at denominational number—those with a lifelong moral methods, decrying any innovation. headquarters examined a lawsuit filed by vision and sense of hope, regardless A 2015 article in Christianity Today an entrepreneur in California. On March of their current involvement with the identified the Adventist Church as one 1 a church administrator from Europe was Adventist organization or theology. of the fastest-growing denominations in elected GC president, which was another I will declare my bias right here. I the world,3 and the largest portion of this first. Dr. Jan Paulsen, a Norwegian, had am a fourth-generation Adventist who growth is in Africa. During the last 25 been a missionary in Africa, seminary has given my entire life to serving the years, Africa has become the new center professor, college president, and chairman denomination. The last requirement of the Adventist denomination, and this of the board for Adventist Development that I completed toward my Master and Relief Agency (ADRA). Guide pin was to turn 16. I spent my We have learned much from the 10-year college years organizing the Adventist longitudinal study of Adventist young Collegiate Taskforce (ACT) summer people directed by Dr. Roger Dudley urban ministries program. I have worked at the Institute of Church Ministry at every level of the denomination, from at , as well as the local pastor to GC staff. I have also seen the denomination from the outside, due to my involvement with many community

10 ADVENTIST TODAY organizations over the years and then Holness was elected prime minister in that issue since that time. The reality behind becoming executive secretary of the Caribbean nation. of all the nuance and noise is the question interfaith Cooperative Congregational A political crisis in New Guinea in 2012 of whether tradition or Bible will be the Studies Partnership. and another in Kenya in 2017 revealed the basis for Adventist belief and practice. I am a fully devoted Adventist, degree to which Adventist professionals On three occasions over the decades, pragmatic about our strengths and play key roles in these nations. In both of the GC has appointed a panel of Bible weaknesses as well as clear that God these constitutional crises, Adventists held scholars who have each time reported is not limited to one organization to key government positions on the opposing that there is no Scripture mandate to achieve His purposes. I believe that over sides. In a class I was teaching, a student prohibit the ordination of women. But a the past 25 years, we have matured as a from one of these countries told me that majority of delegates at GC Sessions have faith community. We have become less “they could settle this over fellowship continued to vote for a traditional role sectarian and more cosmopolitan. The dinner after church,” because key officials limitation for women. As we approach tragedy of Waco that filled the first issue of attended the same congregation. 175 years since the Adventist movement Adventist Today probably marked the low The number of women serving as clergy began, such votes may not be surprising. point of sectarian Adventism, and (thank has more than doubled in North America This is how tradition becomes established God) we have come a long way since that over the past 25 years, although they still in a religion and, eventually, more sad day. make up a small percentage of the total. authoritative than the Bible. The denomination has recognized One woman has been elected a conference We are at a turning point in the history the most significant social trend of our president, although the GC seeks to hide of the Adventist movement. Will we era: urbanization. Over the past two this fact by refusing to publish her name continue to be faithful to a heritage that decades, the missionary strategy of the in the Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook. is inclusive, compassionate, progressive, denomination has refocused on the cities. Throughout the world thousands of hopeful and Christ-centered? Or will This is where the majority of the world’s women are now serving as local elders, a we allow tradition to supplant this free- population now lives. The developing role that for Adventists has always been a church heritage, as have so many other nations are urbanizing at a rapid rate, part of the ordained category. Christian denominations? It is even more and urbanization means profound One issue has become a primary marker important today than it was 25 years change in the culture and religion of for change in the Adventist denomination: ago to provide an independent source of these countries, just as it has for those the ordination of women. It has roots as journalism and commentary on current that became primarily urban in the first far back as 1881, but it came back on the developments in the Adventist faith. AT half of the 20th century. Although official denomination’s contemporary agenda 1 This number is based on the work of scholars who denominational journals are careful how in the 1970s, and by 1993 it was a full- study the demographics of religions, not the official membership statistics of the denomination. Official they report on these projects, significant fledged topic of debate. The 1990 GC membership numbers do not include children too innovations are underway by local Session had decided not to authorize the young to be baptized or the significant number of adults who tell the census and poll interviewers that Adventist ministries in metropolitan ordination of women clergy, with the they consider themselves Adventists. areas around the world. Some people specific understanding that it was an issue 2 See Philip Jenkins, The Next Christendom (2011). 3 still see the Adventist faith in terms of its of “unity,” not Scripture or doctrine. At Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra, “The Season of Adventists,” Christianity Today, Vol. 59, No. 1 (January-February th original rural, 19 -century context, but the same time, it specifically authorized 2015) p. 18. others are beginning to envision it in a the ordination of women as local elders, 4 Christopher R. Mwashinga, “Global South st Christianity and Adventism,” Andrews University new 21 -century urban frame. underlining the ambiguity of the stand. Seminary Student Journal, Vol. 2, No. 1 (Spring We have come to see Adventists play Adventist Today has carefully reported 2016), p. 49. an increasingly important role in many the complex back-and-forth over this developing countries. In 2009 Pastor Patrick Allen, the union conference president in Jamaica, was appointed Governor General by Queen Elizabeth, and in 2016 an Adventist named Andrew

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Y A 25 25 YEARS OF ADVENTIST TODAY 1993 • YEARS • 2018 A PROFILE of ADVENTIST TODAY'S By Richard W. Coffen

FIRST EDITOR, RAYMOND F. COTTRELLBY SMUTS VAN ROOYEN In 1970 I abandoned the society of While serving in as a ministerial intern, Ray was singing Seventh-day Adventist pastors and entered Christmas carols during Harvest Ingathering and having a hard the domain of denominational editors. time reading the music in the darkness. Elizabeth Landis solved I “saw giants there”—Kenneth Holland, the problem by shining her flashlight onto the music, and that Roland Hegstad, Julia Neuffer, Don Neufeld, initial acquaintance developed into a lifelong admiration. Ray and Merwin Thurber, Kenneth Wood, and Elizabeth were married in 1932, and their union continued until Raymond Cottrell—and next to them I felt her death, a few months short of their 70th anniversary. like a grasshopper (see Num. 13:33, NLT). All were outstanding professional role models. But I especially A Man for His Time admired Ray Cottrell, with whom I became personally acquainted Ray enjoyed an astonishingly varied career. He was a pastor in when he was a book editor for the Review and Herald Publishing the Pacific Union (1930-1934), a missionary to Manchuria, China Association. I felt awed by the breadth of his biblical knowledge. (1934-1941), a teacher at Adventist academies (1941-1945), an He left “footprints on the sands of time” of this denomination, as instructor of biblical at Pacific Union College (1945- the American poet Longfellow said: 1952), associate editor of the multivolume Seventh-day Adventist Footprints, that perhaps another, Bible Commentary series (1952-1957), associate editor of the Sailing o’er life’s solemn main, ... Adventist Review (1957-1964), associate book editor at the Review Seeing, shall take heart again.1 and Herald Publishing Association (1964-1971), member of the Ray was the founding editor of Adventist Today, and those who Biblical Study Committee, adjunct faculty member of Loma Linda were part of creating this journal agree that his keen mind and University, and special consultant for the Southeastern California editorial judgment set its course and made the magazine, as well Conference and the General Conference (1977-2003). as the organization that publishes it, what it is today. While at Pacific Union College, Ray cofounded the Bible Research Fellowship (BRF), though the organization was Ray’s Heritage disbanded after General Conference President W. H. Branson Ray was born in , California, on Apr. 21, 1911. grew suspicious of its intent. It remained dormant for years but He was a fourth-generation Seventh-day Adventist, although was later reincarnated as today’s Biblical Research Institute (BRI). further back his ancestry contained Albigensian and Seventh- Ray suggested that it seek the guidance and monitoring of the day Baptist heritage. His great-grandfather, Roswell Fenner General Conference, an idea that received official approval by Cottrell (1814-1892), wrote for our denominational papers the General Conference Committee in 1952. Later iterations during the late 1800s and early 1900s. That R. F. Cottrell penned of the organization include the Adventist Society for Religious 20 published poems, including “It’s Jewish,” which defended Studies (ASRS), which continues to meet yearly in conjunction the ongoing celebration of the seventh-day Sabbath among with annual meetings of the Society of Biblical Literature and Christians. I remember that my dad, Pastor George A. Coffen, American Academy of Religion. The Adventist Theological used this poem in his evangelistic meetings. Society, which spun off from ASRS in 1988, attracts scholars who Ray’s first job for the church was as principal of an academy share a more conservative perspective. in San Bernardino. Later he went back to earn B.A. and M.A. degrees from Pacific Union College. An insatiable appetite Lasting Legacy for knowledge prompted Ray to learn six languages (among In the early 1950s, F. D. Nichol, editor of the Adventist Review, them Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek), master the principles of invited Ray to join him and Don Neufeld to produce the Seventh- serious biblical research, and study geology, astronomy, and day Adventist Bible Commentary (SDABC) series. This is arguably cosmology. Ray was never able to pursue his academic goal of the most significant contribution Ray made to the church. He earning a doctorate in biblical studies; however, in 1972 Andrews estimated that he invested more than 15,000 hours of study, University awarded him an honorary doctorate degree. personally writing 2,000 pages of the series. With his editorial

12 ADVENTIST TODAY work, he probably contributed more than any other writer. He also Review Committee … Aug. 10-15, 1980, was the most important wrote many entries for the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Dictionary event of this nature in Adventist history since the 1888 General and the Seventh-day Adventist Encyclopedia. Conference in Minneapolis.”3 Adventist historians will have to Ray is especially remembered for a pivotal concept of decide whether or not he exaggerated. Adventist theology: conditional prophecy. For Volume 4 of the commentary, he wrote a singular essay, “The Role of Israel in Adventist Today and Other Accomplishments Prophecy,” in which he developed the idea that Along with Walter Specht, New Testament scholar from Loma Old Testament prophecies, including the messianic promises, Linda University, Ray agreed in 1983 to a request from the General were dependent upon the response of the Jewish people. The Conference to assess Ellen White’s use of sources in The Desire influence of this essay, which made sense of otherwise troubling of Ages. The following year, Ray prepared for the Association prophecies, has been immeasurable for Seventh-day Adventists.2 of an in-depth analysis of the structure and As an editor for the SDABC, the Adventist Review, and other governance of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in comparison books, Ray’s lifelong aim was to encourage Adventists to lay aside and contrast with 11 other American denominations. careless methods of studying Scripture. He urged all who wish During 1992, Ray joined with Keith Colburn, Richard to take seriously God’s Word to adopt valid exegetical principles Hammill, Ervin Taylor, and Jim Walters (all members of the same by utilizing the growing mass of scholarly knowledge of original Sabbath school class in Loma Linda, California), to brainstorm biblical languages, immediate literary context, and the larger the idea of creating a journal that would be thoroughly Adventist historical and social contexts. in spirit but would remain independent of official organizational Ray himself practiced intense discipline in Bible study. He once control. For a while, Ray himself edited the newborn publication. told me that he had memorized the entire Hebrew/Aramaic text Within five years, the paid circulation had escalated to nearly of the book of Daniel. He’d repeat the text to himself as he took his 2,500 subscribers who lived in more than 12 nations. Since its daily walks, during which he’d mentally analyze the grammar and origin 25 years ago, Adventist Today has gained respect for its syntax. He later wrote a manuscript based on his study of Daniel. progressive stance and its willingness to report denominational In addition, he personally studied and wrote about the news not addressed in the pages of the Adventist Review.4 meaning of the Hebrew sanctuary, biblical eschatology, In 1996, Ray served on the Gender Inclusiveness Commission the biblical basis for church structure and governance, established by the Southeastern California Conference. His the importance of the role of women in all levels of the insights from scriptural exegesis provided guidance for those denomination, the interrelationship of theology and science, and who wrote the monographs read before that Commission. the legitimate use of Ellen White’s writings. During retirement in Southern California, Ray read 12 papers at Although I could never approach Ray’s level of scholarship, his the San Diego chapter of the Adventist Forum. His final paper on solid exegetical approach appealed to me as something I would Feb. 9, 2002, was titled “The ‘Sanctuary Doctrine’: Asset or Liability?” try to emulate in my own life. Even in retirement, Ray continued doing what he loved— teaching, writing, editing, and lecturing—until his final months. Glacier View Committee He died during his 90th year, on Jan. 12, 2003. In August of 1980 at the infamous Glacier View “trial” of Desmond I found Ray’s biblical knowledge and willingness to pioneer Ford, both Ray and I were among the official 129 invitees. We met untraditional and even unpopular ideas to be extremely unofficially and largely surreptitiously with a small group of like- encouraging. He could remain a committed SDA employee minded friends during the noon breaks. We’d talk about what was while pushing back the frontiers of his own mind and that said during the morning breakout sessions and what we might of others. On one occasion Ray and I were riding alone in an say—if anything—during the afternoon plenary sessions, then we elevator at the publishing house. I commented about the lack would close with prayer for divine guidance. of progressive thought on the part of Seventh-day Adventist Ray carried a pack of index cards at these crucial meetings. Church leaders. “We young Turks are getting impatient,” I said. He’d learned shorthand at the urging of his father and was Ray replied without hesitation: “So are we old Turks!” taking shorthand notes of everything said. (Somewhere those Raymond Cottrell was to me a ray of hope. AT index cards are catalogued and waiting for a researcher!) The 1 Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, “A Psalm of Life,” originally published in 1838. afternoon discussions were taped, but GC President Neal C. 2 Richard W. Coffen, “Seventh-day Adventists, Conditional Prophecy, and Free Wilson ordered that the tapes be locked up in the GC archives, Will,” Adventist Today, Vol. 25, No. 4 (Fall 2017), pp. 11-13. 3 Raymond F. Cottrell, “The Sanctuary Review Committee and its New unavailable to researchers. Consensus,” Spectrum, Vol. 11, No. 2 (November 1980), p. 2. Ray later wrote: “The meeting of the Glacier View Sanctuary 4 See atoday.org/history-of-adventist-today

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An Interview with Adventist Today Columnist Alden Thompson Alden Thompson began writing for Adventist Today when it was established in 1993, and his regular column in this magazine has been a much-anticipated feature since 2004. Loren Seibold, Adventist Today’s Executive Editor and a former student of Dr. Thompson, queried him about his spiritual development, teaching career, and writing.

You’ve been my teacher and friend for many years, yet I’ve never While a student at Walla Walla College, I was Grove’s reader for asked about your family, spiritual, and educational heritage. three years. I am a fourth-generation Adventist, a product of Adventist After graduation, I served as a pastor at Redlands and then education until my doctoral studies at the University of Fontana in the Southeastern California Conference. Each year Edinburgh. Edinburgh was a significant first step outside the Grove would call to ask if I would be willing to become a faculty Adventist cocoon, a transformative event for me. member at Walla Walla College (WWC). I told him that I didn’t Three early memories have shaped my life, stories from when want to abandon the pulpit for the classroom. But in the third my father taught at our school in Medellin, Colombia, until we year, Robert Reynolds, WWC president, phoned me. returned to the States when I was age 4. “I would prefer to continue with my work here for one more My parents told me that I contracted trenchmouth, a deadly year,” I told him. tropical disease. I was near death when the church held a special “But we need you this fall,” he responded. I joined the faculty prayer session, and the Lord intervened. in 1970 and have been here ever since. I also remember my mother telling the story of an emergency landing in a DC-3 when we were returning from Bogota. The Everyone has life events, whether joyous or tragic, that have weather closed in on us, and a sandspit briefly opened up in the been hinges or turning points. middle of the river. Miraculously, the pilot was able to ditch the Certainly Wanda’s health situation looms largest on our plane just in the nick of time. My mother reported that I asked: horizon. In 1979 in , she contracted what was probably “Where is the sidewalk to the airport?” viral encephalitis. That was overlaid with Lyme disease, Our home at the school bordered on the property of a wealthy bequeathed to her by a tick in in 1980, though not Catholic rancher who was contesting the school’s use of a well diagnosed until seven years later. The end result is that she has adjacent to his land. While the courts were sorting things out, Señor very limited energy, and I have way too much. Restrepo hid in the bushes outside our window with his loaded But out of this trauma, blessings emerged. A fairly average gun aimed at the place where Climaco Joya, a young ministerial marriage has turned into a thing of beauty as we have learned to student, would come to turn on the pump at midnight, as per the talk things through with a better perception of the other’s needs court-approved arrangements. I remember hearing Restrepo's angry and desires. Later a doctor suggested that Wanda find something shouts and feeling afraid. He later died after his wife accidentally meaningful to do that didn’t require so much energy. Because gave him the poison he had purchased to put in our well. she’d always enjoyed art, on “doctor’s orders” she embarked Those stories left their mark on my soul. on a B.A. degree in fine arts. The fruit of her art education has emerged in the seven art-and-reflections page dividers in the new What led you to study for ministry, and then enter teaching? edition of Inspiration and will also be displayed in full color in My father was a physician, but I couldn’t stand the sight of her own book, which will probably be off the press by the time blood so was prevented from studying medicine. J. Paul Grove, this article appears. Reflections on Scripture, Dandelions, and the teacher to whom I dedicated my book Inspiration, held Sparrows is published by Energion, the same publisher of the a week of prayer at Upper Columbia Academy when I was a current editions of my books Who’s Afraid of the Old Testament student there. That week pointed me in the direction of ministry. God? and Inspiration.

14 ADVENTIST TODAY Other major turning points include my four years as academic Ellen White herself grew in grace and understanding through dean at Walla Walla, a time of pain and impossible challenges. the years. Some of my conservative Adventist colleagues are But I learned a great deal. deeply troubled by the growth model, but I don’t know of any Central to my writing have been our experiences in Scotland other way to account for the dramatic changes in Ellen White’s and Germany. In Scotland, my eyes were opened to the effects perspective (or, for that matter, the striking contrasts between the of culture, and I began to realize why the Old Testament is the two Testaments of Scripture). way it is. Typically Americans adapt much more quickly to Take her description of John the Baptist’s experience. In 1858 change. The Scots were more likely to say, “We don’t do it that she wrote: “John’s life was without pleasure. It was sorrowful and way here”—discussion ended!—so if we wanted to make changes self-denying.”3 But in 1897 she said that “he enjoyed his life of at all, they had to come very slowly. I sensed the challenge God simplicity.”4 The first time I faced in dealing with the people of the Old Testament: if he shared that contrast in class, wanted to win them instead of bullying them, he would have to When I look one of my students quipped: be very patient. “You mean the more Ellen If Scotland opened my eyes to culture, our experience at in the mirror White enjoyed her walk with Seminar Marienhöhe in , Germany, where I was an the Lord the more John the exchange teacher for a year, opened my eyes to differences in I don’t think Baptist enjoyed his!” Precisely. temperament. Germans were and are intense. Americans keep Our view of God shapes looking for an easier way to do things. Germans simply rely on I am that the stories we tell. And a strength and energy. better story is just one step intimidating, ahead of each of us. In Ellen Besides your family and Wanda, to whom do you owe the White’s view, such growth greatest debts for your theological and spiritual development? but somehow will continue throughout Two Walla Walla teachers, J. Paul Grove and Richard Litke, eternity: “Every faculty will loom large in my story. As for authors, Ellen White and C. S. those church be developed, every capacity Lewis have played key roles. increased.”5 When I finished my doctoral studies, I knew that if I were leaders who to make my study of the Old Testament useful to the church, I consider my What is the church’s biggest would have to become more familiar with my own Adventist challenge right now? heritage. So I set myself the task of reading through all nine book dangerous Learning to talk with each volumes of the Testimonies for the Church, which cover the years other with trust and good 1855 to 1909. I had tried to read the Testimonies a few times in have found faith. When I look in the my younger years—I was a very devout teenager—but had never mirror I don’t think I am that gotten very far. I hadn’t discarded them, but neither had I found it almost intimidating, but somehow them meaningful. Once I had the model in mind that I had those church leaders who developed during my doctoral studies, however (i.e., a move from impossible to consider my book dangerous fear and external motivation to joy and internal motivation), I have found it almost was ready to roll. talk with me. impossible to talk with me. It didn’t take me long to discover why I hadn’t been able to That is a great sadness. One read the Testimonies: the smoke almost comes curling up from of my favorite Ellen White quotes is this one: “When men cease the early volumes. “The dreadful frown” on the face of Christ,1 to depend upon men, when they make God their efficiency, then which young Ellen had seen in vision, frightened her. There’s there will be more confidence manifested one in another. Our also this 1856 passage: “God will have a people separate and faith in God is altogether too feeble and our confidence in one distinct from the world. And as soon as any have a desire to another altogether too meager.”6 imitate the fashions of the world, that they do not immediately I would love to see the church become a community where subdue, just so soon God ceases to acknowledge them as trust is natural. It’s Jeremiah’s new covenant promise: “No longer His children.”2 shall they teach one another, or say to each other, ‘Know the

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Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the Of my own temperament, I’m convinced that the structuring greatest, says the Lord; for I will forgive their iniquity, and safety provided by my Adventist heritage has kept me out of all remember their sin no more” (Jeremiah 31:34, NRSV). kinds of trouble. I wish I could live out this description from The original covenant that Adventists used when they the Quaker mystic, Thomas Kelly: “In some we regret a well- organized in 1861 would be a wonderful piece to place at the intentioned but feverish overbusyness, not completely grounded head of our Fundamental Beliefs, and it’s a covenant I would in the depths of peace, and we wish they would not blur the gladly sign: “We, the undersigned, hereby associate ourselves beauty of their souls by fast motion.”9 together, as a church, taking the name, Seventh-day Adventists, covenanting to keep the commandments of God, and the faith of What are you looking forward to? What are the challenges ahead Jesus Christ [Rev. 14:12].”7 for you? I have a host of books and articles that I want to write. A book You’ve spoken and written about the role of temperament in the for the larger world could be titled There Are No Problems in kind of theology we end up with. the Bible: A High View of Scripture Without Inerrancy. One for In all of my classes, I use a pie diagram to illustrate the Adventists might be Small Bonnets, White Bread, and Strong different ways we use the terms “liberal” and “conservative.” Cravings: Ellen White and the Adventist Lifestyle. (The meaning and implications of the chart are explained in I want to work with my fellow brothers and sisters toward a Part IV of my book Beyond “big tent” Adventism, and that goal is enormous. There are plenty Common Ground, pp. 117- of reasons to be humble, and if the Lord had not bequeathed There are 146.) I use the Myers-Briggs me such a passionate over-the-top enthusiasm, I could easily be temperament profile, because discouraged. plenty of it is merely descriptive and In general, I have a great burden for angry Adventists and nonjudgmental: whatever you angry ex-Adventists. The woods are full of them. But I would reasons to are is “normal.” much rather deal with anger than apathy. Angry people can at From playing racquetball least tell you where to start. AT be humble, I learned that our initial 1 Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 1 (1868 edition), p. 74. 2 reactions are often ibid. (1856), p. 136. and if the 3 White, Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 1 (1858), p. 29. nonvolitional. We can change, 4 White, Youth’s Instructor (Jan. 7, 1897). but only God knows how 5 White, The Great Controversy (1911), p. 677. Lord had not 6 White, Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers (1923), p. 214. much and how quickly. One of 7 “Doings of the Battle Creek Conference, Oct. 5 & 6, 1861,” Review and Herald, Ellen White’s more astonishing Vol. 18 No. 19 (Oct. 8, 1861). 8 bequeathed statements is this one: “Every White, The Ministry of Healing (1905), p. 483. 9 Thomas R. Kelly, A Testament of Devotion (1941), p. 43. association of life calls for me such a the exercise of self-control, forbearance, and sympathy. We passionate differ so widely in disposition, over-the-top habits, education, that our ways of looking at things vary. enthusiasm, I We judge differently. Our understanding of truth, our could easily be ideas in regard to the conduct of life, are not in all respects discouraged. the same. There are no two whose experience is alike in every particular. The trials of one are not the trials of another. The duties that one finds light are to another most difficult and perplexing.”8

16 ADVENTIST TODAY BOOK REVIEW Seventh-day Adventist theology in the last those instances to human writers. Notably, 25 years. A well-known senior pastor of though, this is not a faith-threatening an eminent institutional church told me book. Thompson strives to create a new recently that when he read Inspiration, it kind of confidence in the Bible, and for cemented his confidence in Scriptures. It’s me, he succeeds. Inspiration done the same for me. by Alden Thompson, Ellen White’s Views of Inspiration Energion Publications (2016), 433 pages. Why Inspiration Was Written In large part, Thompson bases his views of Reviewed by Ed Reifsnyder One morning while reading the Bible, inspiration on Ellen White’s. He believes my wife noticed that Mark and John tell that her views on inspiration could give My dad, an factually different stories about Jesus’ the Seventh-day Adventist Church an Adventist calling Andrew and Peter. She said to me, advantage within Christianity. (Though, minister and “If God had dictated that incident, would of course, her views of inspiration are also educator, read he not have dictated the same story?” All interpreted with differing hermeneutics— the first edition of us have, in our Bible reading, run across something that becomes clear when of Alden versions of events with differing, sometimes reading the ATS rebuttal book.) Thompson’s contradictory, storylines or facts. The Variances about the meaning of Inspiration and variances may not be fatal to faith, but they inspiration go back to early Adventism. then burned it. are there and must of necessity inform our Thompson contrasts statements made by When I asked view of inspiration. Ellen White with those in a 1911 book him why he Thompson says he wrote the book in by Milton C. Wilcox, long-time editor of didn’t just throw response to difficulties he saw his students Signs of the Times: it away, he said he didn’t want to risk that experience as they tried to make sense Wilcox: “It was not the person who was someone might find it in the trash and of the Bible. In particular, he saw the inspired; it was the God-breathed Word.”3 rescue it. impact of theories like inerrancy and White: “It is not the words of the Bible He wasn’t alone in his hostility to literal dictation by God of exact words that are inspired, but the men that were the book. In 1992, the year following to writers who were mere stenographers. inspired. Inspiration acts not on the man’s the publication of Inspiration, the To students, and to congregations across words or his expressions, but on the man Adventist Theological Society published the Pacific Northwest, he had tried to himself….”4 a rebuttal titled Issues in and provide a framework into which Bible Clearly there were, and still are, sharply Inspiration. It is a compilation by the readers could fit messages from God, conflicting views of inspiration within brand-name-of-the-day theologians of along with the reality of the humanity of Adventism and, indeed, all of Christianity. the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The Bible writers, without a diminishment of Here is a smattering of Ellen White table of contents shows point-by-point the spiritual value of Scripture. “I got sick quotes that demonstrate what Thompson rebuttals of Thompson’s premises. In the and tired of seeing students lose their faith found in her writings about inspiration. Preface the editors wrote, “At stake is the when they found things in their Bible they The progression of logic in these quotes very authority of the Scriptures and the didn’t think were supposed to be there,” lays a foundation for Thompson’s continued existence of the Seventh-day Thompson writes. “So I decided to write subsequent building blocks. Adventist people as a Bible-centered, a book that highlights those universal • “The truths revealed are all ‘given by 1 Bible-based movement and church.” principles that never change … as a secure inspiration of God’ (2 Timothy 3:16); yet In the second edition of Inspiration, foundation for grappling with those things they are expressed in the words of men.”5 Alden Thompson recognizes the that do change.”2 • “[It is the inspired Bible writer] who, controversy when he offers “a somewhat Inspiration is a book with a distinct view under the influence of the Holy Ghost, awkward but grateful thank-you to those of inspiration and, correspondingly, of the is imbued with thoughts. But the words who responded in genuine horror to the Bible. It is a view contrary to the theory and thoughts receive the impress of the first edition.” of inerrancy and its other theoretical individual mind. The divine mind is I believe Inspiration to be one of cousins. It recognizes inconsistencies and diffused. The divine mind and will is the most important contributions to variances in the Bible, and it attributes combined with the human mind and will;

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thus the utterances of the man are the its development. for us.12 Thompson asserts that we have to word of God.”6 Perhaps the possibility of imperfection use our minds and reason to understand • “But the Bible, with its God-given in Scripture is what causes the crises of what is eternal. truths expressed in the language of men, faith that Thompson has observed in Believers may be reluctant to adopt presents a union of the divine and the students and in churches. If you hold the casebook concept out of fear that it human.”7 that Scripture is perfect, and then you may seem too open-ended and possibly • “The Bible must be given in the find something that appears to be an undermine the authority of scriptures, language of men. Everything that is imperfection, your faith could be shaken Thompson concedes. Perhaps this is why human is imperfect.”8 and you could be put crosswise with your one of the major changes between the first During a conversation with Thompson, fellow believers who think otherwise. and second editions of Inspiration was a I suggested that his interpretation of Ellen 2. God’s word as casebook and codebook. change in a chapter title that in the first White’s views of inspiration would tend The basic idea of casebook vs. codebook is edition asked the question, “Casebook to support a more progressive school of that not everything in Scripture functions or Codebook?” but in the second edition simply asserts that the Bible is both. This is not a faith-threatening book. Thompson strives to create a 3. The One, the Two, and the Ten. Though much of the Bible is casebook, new kind of confidence in the Bible, and for me, he succeeds. it is also codebook. Thompson proposes that the essential codebook portions of the thought about inspiration. He responded as code in the legal sense. Not everything Bible consist of the One, the Two and the that in her later years, Ellen White was “a is directive to the reader. Not everything Ten. These describe a sort of law pyramid. flaming liberal.” establishes eternal precedent. The pinnacle of the pyramid is the “[A] codebook is at home in legal enduring principle of “the one great law of Premises of Inspiration circles.… A casebook describes a series love, which is the absolute foundation of Thompson relies on three key premises of examples which reflect a variety of God’s being and government.”13 The One as building blocks to create a conceptual responses under varied circumstances. overarching law of love can be divided structure of inspiration. None of the cases may be fully definitive into the Two great commands: love to 1. Scripture as incarnation. Not unlike or prescriptive in other settings, but each God and love to people. The Two can Ellen White’s description of inspiration … could be helpful to someone facing be further divided into the Ten: the Ten above, Thompson describes the making similar circumstances.”10 Commandments. So there are three layers of Scripture as an act of incarnation, To Thompson, just a few passages of the pyramid, with each successive layer where humanity and divinity are blended. of Scripture are code, and the rest is adding detail. The pyramid constitutes “Incarnation” is usually used to describe a casebook. “Except for the law pyramid eternal principles, values, and guidance. blending of divine and human in a person, [see below], scripture is more like a They never change and are always but here Thompson combines the two in casebook than a codebook.”11 applicable. scripture itself. There are two sets of inputs, Casebook may include stories, It is difficult to synthesize Thompson’s so Scripture is a product of both God and incidents, histories, genealogies, prayers, views into a compact statement, but humanity, each affecting the final product. poetry, prophecies, and philosophy. let’s use a quote from the book: “While In a chapter titled “Heavenly Message, Casebook is valuable as a means of the authoritative codebook elements in Earthly Vessel,” Thompson quotes White: observing and learning from God’s Scripture are found in the ONE, the TWO, “The treasure was entrusted to earthen relationships with mankind through and the TEN, every portion of Scripture is vessels, yet it is, nonetheless, from history. a concrete, albeit partial, revelation of God Heaven.”9 Combine the description of But casebook does not constitute in time and place. ‘All Scripture is given by Bible writers as “earthen vessels” with her eternally applicable or permanent inspiration of God’ (2 Timothy 3:16). But statement that “Everything that is human guidance. “If we clearly define scripture because that revelation is adapted to the is imperfect,” and you’ll understand why as a casebook, then we are admitting the conditions of fallen humanity, it partakes this book is so controversial: the logical Bible lays before us the many differing of the imperfections of that humanity. conclusion is that Scripture could be ways that God has guided his people in In the words of Ellen White: ‘Everything imperfect, because humans had a hand in the past, but without making our decision that is human is imperfect’ (1SM, p. 20).

18 ADVENTIST TODAY Thus ‘God and Heaven alone are infallible’ can make inferences about the process). the Seventh-day Adventist church today. (CWE, p. 37).”14 The most well-known, 2 Timothy 3:16, is I fear that many Adventists may read the A full third of the book explores the not rich in detail about the nature of—or, Bible to confirm what they already believe human element in Scripture: challenges should I say, the mystery of—inspiration. rather than seeing with fresh eyes what such as differences in parallel passages, It says Scripture was “God-breathed.” On it actually says. Those are two different inconsistencies, prayers of hatefulness, those two words entire have experiences entirely.18 and other such manifestations. been created. Inspiration boosts my confidence in the Thompson understands that some I don’t know exactly what God Bible. Besides a practical and comforting people will see his ideas as the beginning breathed. Did he breathe words? If so, did framework for relating to the Bible, it of a slippery slope, fearing what may he breathe them very slowly so the writer is an antidote to the theory of direct happen if they accept that the Bible is not could hold the thought in mind while he transcription of God’s inerrant words the result of word-for-word dictation by wrote? Did God breath detailed pictures dictated to mere stenographers. God. After all, once a person recognizes that the writer then drew from to create Why would God need the help of that faulty human elements are potentially words? Did God breathe out a warm aura human writers at all? Couldn’t he just in the text, where does such thinking stop? that created a compulsion to write? I don’t deliver the finished product himself? But Here are three relevant quotations: know. But it feels like I should allow for God seems to always work with human “By affirming the enduring value of the mystery in the transmission of whatever it partners, and the humanity of his partners Law Pyramid and the universal validity was that God breathed. shows up clearly, whether humans are of the ONE, the TWO, and the TEN, It is all too tempting to develop theories working on behalf of God’s kingdom or protection is provided against the slippery that provide the comfort of certainty. writing about it. I cannot believe that the slope. Other aspects of God’s revelation That’s why large doses of humility are Holy Spirit installed a filter somewhere may be seen to be adapted to particular needed when considering the nature between each Bible writer’s brain and needs…without undermining the of inspiration. But instead of humility, fingers that magically screened out any authority of Scripture as a whole.”15 there is too often a desire to construct trace of the person’s humanity and culture. “Recognizing the casebook element in a theory of inspiration that serves to The writers were creatures of their time, Scripture allows apparent contradictions protect an established set of beliefs and place, character, and culture. in Scripture to be seen as consistent presuppositions. It is precisely this aspect that Inspiration adaptations of the law of love to the needs In a conversation I had with Thompson wrestles with so engagingly, and that of individuals or groups in particular while writing this review, he related makes it such a necessary book for us. AT circumstances. Yet every adaptation can to me an experience that is illustrative 1 Issues in Revelation and Inspiration, p. 8. 2 Alden Thompson, Inspiration, p. 3. be seen as consistent with the ONE, the of this point. He was having difficulty 3 16 Thompson, Inspiration, p. 56. TWO, and the TEN.” understanding why some theologians 4 Ellen G. White, Manuscript 24, 1886. “When the unity of Scripture is seen had opposed Inspiration so vigorously, 5 White, Letter 206 to Dr. Paulson, June 14, 1906. 6 White, Manuscript 24, 1886. more in its MOTIVATIONAL focus than and finally he asked one of them. The 7 White, The Great Controversy, Introduction in its theoretical content, then every man explained that Thompson had used (1911), p. v. 8 passage of Scripture has a practical and the “wrong method.” He had used the White, Manuscript 24, 1886. 9 White, The Great Controversy, p. vi. concrete purpose that takes precedence inductive method, his critic said, when he 10 Thompson, Inspiration, p. 116. over its abstract and doctrinal value.”17 should have used the deductive method, 11 Thompson, Inspiration, p. 115. 12 Thompson, Inspiration, p. 124. in which you always start with what you 13 Thompson, Inspiration, p. 134. A Personal Assessment know to be true. How can you read the 14 Thompson, Inspiration, pp. 326-327. 15 Thompson, Inspiration, p. 328. The proponents of various theologies of Bible objectively, listening intently to what 16 ibid. inspiration are quite avid in promoting and it says, if you start with a presupposition 17 Thompson, Inspiration, pp. 328-329. 18 protecting their views. In my opinion, these about what it says? “But with such an Coincidentally, James Londis posted this unrelated but relevant comment on the Spectrum are little more than theoretical constructs, approach,” Thompson grants, “one would website on Feb. 1, 2018: “More conservative due to the paucity of direct information never modify an opinion or conviction on scholars, especially those leaning toward inerrancy, come at the text with their own historical doctrinal about inspiration. Precious few Bible the basis of Scripture.” baggage (as we do) and cannot admit the text says verses actually address the subject directly This incident helps pinpoint the root of what it says.” (though there are more from which we many of the theological divisions we see in

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attention to the Anabaptist part of our heritage would help us focus on the one thing that matters most: our solidarity with Christ. Perhaps it should please me that no one has refuted these remarks, either, or even can we attempted to do so. But it does not. Maybe these essays said nothing that deserves careful scrutiny. But during these years, Adventists who read and want to understand the wider culture have agreed, I think, that honest dialogue and an eagerness to learn are too little honored in talk?BY CHARLES SCRIVEN our community. They have felt, too, that preoccupations inimical to our solidarity with Christ continue to cause harm; that many Adventists still favor lockstep At age 30, some two generations ago, adherence to points of belief that actually I published “The Case for Renewal in distract from, or even subvert, genuine Adventist Theology.” The article said that discipleship. Here I need only mention, light from our own tradition encourages for example, the age of the Earth or the us to refresh, or even to adjust, our station of men compared with women. convictions. Renewal, it said, depends I thought about all of this a few on humility and eagerness to learn. The Sabbaths back while I was witness to argument abounded with supporting lively current effort to refresh and adjust quotations from the pioneers, including religious conviction. I had accompanied Ellen White. my wife to Andrews University, and Perhaps it should please me that no one we attended a Sabbath School class led refuted what I said—or even attempted to that day by Lucile Sabas, a Sorbonne- do so. But it does not. educated economist in the university’s About two decades later, I published business department. She explained “The Radical Vision and the Renewal neoliberalism—what we today might of the Church.” By then I knew that think of as conservative economic Adventism’s roots lie in the Radical doctrine—by tracing its history and key Reformation. So I stressed that our ideas. She then asked the class to reflect forebears, the Anabaptists in particular, on questions like these: How does your thought Christians should engage their Christian perspective affect the way you questions and disagreements through feel about the various economic systems? a method a later writer would dub “the If economic life requires trade-offs dialogue of those concerned.” The method “between efficiency and equality,” how was based on Matthew 18, and the point might a people steeped in Scripture deal was to reach, through conversation, the with this challenge? kind of shared understanding that would The economy is something that nearly build up the life of the church and enable everyone thinks about a little, and the members to live out a deeper authenticity most engaged members of any community and faithfulness. I stressed, too, that or nation have strong opinions about it.

20 ADVENTIST TODAY So I was not surprised when the well- prophets and to Jesus himself, have spoken Again and again, reputable Adventist educated class members sprang into out like Fortin, but the point seems not to pastors and scholars present arguments action like ballplayers emerging from a sink in—not widely, at least. Adventism’s for doubting some convention or dugout. One thought or question followed Statement of 28 Fundamental Beliefs, first embracing some fresh idea. Again and another in a shared struggle toward set forth in 1980 and revised somewhat again, the bureaucracy fails to give deeper comprehension of Scripture’s in the years after, makes no mention of all these arguments respectful notice, or relevance. this, whether in remarks on the “gift of even discourages open consideration Afterward, my wife and I walked the prophecy” or “stewardship” or “Christian of them. The experience I mentioned short way to Buller Hall for worship at behavior” or the mission of “the remnant” at the beginning illustrates the point, at what is called “One Place.” Here students or anything else. least in part. Now, in view of anticipated and faculty, gathered in a tiered classroom, sang together and listened to Scripture In view of anticipated attention to biblical hermeneutics at the next General before hearing a “teaching pastor”—Denis Conference Session, I have been trying to stimulate a public exchange between Fortin, a volunteer from the seminary faculty—speak on the first several chapters conservative scholars who work at and for the General Conference and other, less of Micah. He began by recounting how conservative, ones who teach in our colleges and universities. the day before, at a nearby pharmacy, he had observed a senior citizen presenting a The silence is dumbfounding. Who attention to biblical hermeneutics at the prescription for much-needed medicine. has refuted the Hebrew prophets? Who next General Conference Session, I have Fortin related, using present tense, that the has refuted Jesus? Who has refuted those been trying to stimulate a public exchange man hears the (very high) price and just who say these scriptural giants have between conservative scholars who work “melts,” his “whole body” signaling how something to teach us today? No one at and for the General Conference and overwhelmed he feels. He simply does has. People fixated on “what we’ve always other, less conservative, ones who teach not have enough money. The pharmacist believed” may offer hasty dismissals in our colleges and universities. I envision explains to the customer, with evident of “social” concern, but no one has something that could become available, dismay, that he cannot walk out with the attempted a serious refutation of this perhaps by video, to all church members. medicine unless he pays the price, and the central biblical theme. But one General Conference insider told distraught man has to turn away, fearful What we call “free inquiry” concerning me that it would be very hard to make this and empty-handed. Adventist belief does take place, as happen, especially if the proposal involved “It shouldn’t be like this,” said Fortin. my wife and I saw during that fine people who have a connection with [one With mounting intensity, he then Sabbath in . What is more, the of the church’s independent magazines]. explained how upset Micah would be “independent press,” which has flowered I had the feeling (without being certain) by such a thing. The prophet declared through websites and magazines such as that this insider would be open to such an that God is a “witness” against his own Adventist Today, has given opportunity exchange, but I also had the feeling that people when the sorrows of the poor go for expression of opinion that can reach top-down pressure would rule it out. As unaddressed. If in the face of oppressive the entire church. But resistance remains, for this latter, I would certainly welcome inequity the “priests” and “prophets” hold much of it concentrated within high- correction. How, after all, can refusal of their tongues, the piety they display is a echelon administrative leadership. One conversation even be Christian? How sham, and one day God will set aright evidence is that church employees who can it withstand attention to the spirit of both the inequity and the sham. But answer to administrators have a fear of Matthew 18? where, Fortin asked, is the “prophetic speaking their minds, especially in public. A step beyond free inquiry is voice” within our own church? Another is that top officials so often (if engagement in generous dialogue— Messages like this from the Hebrew not quite always) deal with opinion and dialogue that includes church leaders prophets seem always new and disturbing. scholarship they don’t appreciate by and the scholars who identify with them. At least since the early 1970s, a few failing—or even refusing—to engage in That’s why I intend, again and again, to ask Adventists, appealing both to these the conversation. this simple question: Can we talk? AT

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A CHARISMATIC IN SEARCH OF A MESSAGE By Aage Rendalen Much space has been wasted in life-changing mental pathology.3 can converse with perfect composure. trying to explain Ellen Harmon White The Rev. George Baxter, a staid In other cases they are unable to speak: in terms of pathology, instead of seeing clergyman from Boston who was the pulse becomes weak, and they draw her for what she was: a charismatic, serving as principal of Washington a difficult breath about one in a minute; embedded in a 40-year-old revival College in ,4 happened to in some instances, their extremities tradition. I remain unimpressed with be present at the famed Cane Ridge become cold, and pulsation, breathing the theories of physicians Delbert Revival in Kentucky in 1801. He gives and all signs of life forsake them for Hodder and Molleurus Couperus this dramatic firsthand account of the nearly an hour.”5 that Ellen White’s visions might startling display of phenomena that People who attended such country be attributed to “partial-complex characterized 19th-century charismatic revivals did not all receive religious seizures”1 resulting from a traumatic camp meetings: “Immediately before experiences because of traumatic brain brain injury caused by being hit in they become powerless, they are seized injuries. This was simply the religious the face with a stone when 9 years with a general tremor, and sometimes, environment in which Ellen White old, and I am equally unmoved though not often, they utter one or came of age. Of some of the early by neurologist Donald Peterson’s two piercing shrieks in the moment Adventist meetings, she would write: 1988 response to them.2 There is no of falling.… Persons in this situation “Sunday the power of God came upon reason, in my opinion, to give undue are affected in different degrees; us like a mighty rushing wind. All attention to the accident that may have sometimes, when unable to stand or sit, arose upon their feet and praised God caused an identity crisis but was not a they have the use of their hands, and with a loud voice; it was something

22 ADVENTIST TODAY Ellen G. White walking with her son William “Willie” Much of Ellen White’s charismatic evangelizing organization. Ellen’s C. White and his wife at Washington Training College in May 1905. speech in the early days was of this writings needed a more universal Photo: Ronald D. Graybill via Jacqueline Leslie nature; it survives only because she, appeal. The Great Controversy theme, Trott-Bally unlike many other charismatics, already well-known to most Christians, committed it to writing. Note the became the unifying theological thesis emotional tone and narrow scope of her writings. This is the story of in these examples from an 1850 how Jesus’ blood brother Lucifer (at manuscript release: “I saw that Brother this time in Adventist history, Jesus Bates’s heart must be open, ready to was thought a created being) accused as it was when the foundation of the yield up a dear point when the clear the Father of favoritism. Jesus was the house of God was laid. The voice of light shines. I saw that we must be more cosmic Abel, and Lucifer was Cain. weeping could not be told from the like Jesus. Everything in heaven is in Jealousy drove Lucifer to recruit a third voice of shouting. It was a triumphant perfect order, and the events of the of the angels and mount a coup d’état time; all were strengthened and judgment will come in perfect order. against his own immortal Creator.10 refreshed. I never witnessed such a Then I saw James [White] and Brother Here is where problems arose for powerful time before.”6 Bates. Said the angel, ‘Press together, Ellen White. She needed to flesh out Two weeks later she wrote: “Our press together, press together, press the story beyond the scant details last conference was one of deep together, ye shepherds, lest the sheep be that were held in common by most interest. … It was a powerful time as scattered.”8 Protestants, but where would she find I ever witnessed; the slaying power In pages upon pages of White’s the material? A partial explanation of God was in our midst. Shouts of writings, God leaves the rest of for Ellen White’s “borrowing” is victory filled the dwelling. The saints the world to its own fate in order that her charismatic experience did here seem to be rising and growing in to straighten out a small group of not provide as much background grace and knowledge of the truth.”7 apocalyptic charismatics in New information as she needed, so she took Later in life, Ellen White would be England. The content of her experience it from others. embarrassed by her participation in was confined to the people and beliefs We see the emergence of a pattern. these charismatic excesses and deny she knew. She would write about future Ellen White would announce a vision vehemently that she’d had any part in events, but even these but often wait a year or two to publish them. She claimed to have opposed were for the community she knew it. And when she did, she would any “fanaticism” that had tainted the personally and were in harmony with explain that while yes, she had in fact post-1844 Millerite movement in their beliefs. Here is another example: had the source material in her house Maine. The old charismatic wanted “We gathered about Jesus, and just as that her supporters recognized, she to be seen as a messenger of the Lord, He closed the gates of the city, the curse had not read it. not a shouting “holy roller.” was pronounced upon the wicked. The In 1847 Ellen White wrote to Joseph gates were shut. Then the saints used Bates, who had expressed concern Experience, Not Content their wings and mounted to the top of about the similarity of her visions One characteristic of charismatic the wall of the city.”9 with the writings of Joseph Turner, worship is that it focuses on experience, Over time White’s parochial leader of the post-1844 shut-door not on message. God communicates in writings—essentially charismatic in Millerites in Portland, Maine. She said: unknown tongues to the faithful, and nature—were gathered into Testimonies “Brother Bates, you write in a letter to those with the gift of interpretation for the Church, nine volumes of James [White] something about the might translate the sacred words to the Talmudic guidance and chastisement. Bridegroom’s coming, as stated in the congregants. But record isn’t necessarily first published visions. By the letter kept of this divine speech. The message Finding Content you would like to know whether I to the faithful is that God speaks; what he Adventism gradually became less a had light on the Bridegroom’s coming speaks is of relatively trivial importance. shared experience and more a growing, before I saw it in vision. I can readily

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answer, No. The Lord showed me “After the vision was given me, my Piracy the travel of the Advent band and husband was aroused upon the health In the face of repeated charges of midnight cry in December, but He did questions. He obtained books upon his wife’s unoriginality, James White not show me the Bridegroom’s coming our eastern journey, but I would not asserted that she was a master not until February following. Perhaps you read them. My view was clear, and I only of inspiring, but also of inspired would like to have me give a statement did not want to read anything until writing: “Mrs. White has written and in relation to both visions. At the time I had fully completed my books. My spoken a hundred things, as truthful I had the vision of the midnight cry I views were written independent of as they are beautiful and harmonious, 12 had given it up in the past and thought books or of the opinions of others.” which cannot be found in the it future, as also most of the band had. writings of others, they are new to the I know not what time J. Turner got The Testimonies most intelligent readers and hearers. out his paper. I knew he had one out Critics also charged that White’s And if they are not to be found in and one was in the house, but I knew epistolary testimonies were not print, and are not brought out in Whether intentionally or not, she did cross the line. Ellen White allowed herself to be seen as what she was not: an infallible interpreter of the Bible who did not depend on others for her authoritative statements.

not what was in it, for I did not read inspired so much as researched. If so, sermons from the pulpit, where did a word in it. I had been, and still was this is another example of a tendency Mrs. White find them? From what very sick. I took no interest in reading, to supplement charismatic impressions. source has she received the new and for it injured my head and made The charge—repeated by John Harvey rich thoughts which are to be found 11 me nervous.” Kellogg in his 1907 exit interview from in her writings and oral addresses? the Adventist church in Battle Creek13— She could not have learned them Health Reform was that the guidance in Testimonies for from books, from the fact that they When Ellen White’s health reform the Church was based on information do not contain such thought.”15 vision from 1863 was published in provided to her from a network of Yet her writings, however inspired, 1865, the same questions arose. She informants. In the following “so what if weren’t so inspiring when Ellen answered: “That which I have written I did?” statement, she nearly concedes was left to depend on her own in regard to health was not taken the point: “Suppose—some would make talents. In 1974 Adventist historian from books or papers. As I related to it appear, incorrectly however—that I Donald McAdams completed his others the things which I had been was influenced to write as I did by letters study of Ellen White’s handwritten shown, the question was asked, ‘Have received from members of the church. manuscript about John Huss, a you seen the paper The Laws of Life How was it with the apostle Paul? The chapter of The Great Controversy or the Water Cure Journal?’ I told news he received through the household so badly written that the only thing them no, I had not seen either of the of Chloe concerning the condition of the retained for publication was what she papers. Said they, ‘What you have church at Corinth was what caused him had borrowed from historians such seen agrees very much with much of to write his first epistle to that church. as Wylie. Here is a sample: “When their teachings.’ I talked freely with Private letters had come to him stating ever there has existed and continue Dr. Lay and many others upon the the facts as they existed, and in his to exist a self righteousness and a things which had been shown me in answers he laid down general principles persecuting spirit there is nothing reference to health. I had never seen a which if heeded would correct the like a missionary spirit how ever they paper treating upon health. existing evils.”14 may weare the missionary cload let

24 ADVENTIST TODAY us look to see if the Spirit of men are prophetic gift, which she expressed 2 Donald I. Peterson, Visions or Seizures: Was Ellen White the Victim of Epilepsy? (1988). changed who have not the restorative periodically from the beginning of 3 When I compare the photos of Ellen and power of the Gospel of Christ Jesus her career to the end. Although more her fraternal twin sister Elizabeth, I see up to the time of the Lord 2500 years than 20 such statements appear in her no indication of disfigurement, though ex-Adventist Robert K. Sanders has made after the time [“when this” crossed writings, Ellen persisted against the a credible case for her photos being heavily out] of the murder of Abel what is the tide of self-doubt, driven perhaps by retouched and her being preoccupied with photographs and the desire to appear prettier decision of our Lord. He was the truth the enthusiastic support of followers than nature had deigned to make the Harmon his judgment must *therefore* be true who provided her with validation, girls. Yet given her longevity, I’m disposed to He was one who could read the hearts not to mention recognition and some see her accident as part of the prophetic legend rather than a persistent mental pathology. of all men and he would not darken prosperity. 4 Letter from George Baxter to Archibald the picture already dark enough He Was she a “fraud,” as some critics Alexander, Jan. 1, 1802, Evangelical Magazine, Vol. 10 (1802), p. 375. says out of the heart of men proceed assert? I hesitate to use that word. 5 “Religious Intelligence,” Christian Observer, evil thoughts adulterous fornications There is no doubt that in the early Vol. I (October 1802), pp. 670-672. 6 Ellen G. White, Letter 28, Nov. 27, 1850. murders thefts covetousness days she had genuine spiritual 7 White, Letter 30, Dec. 13, 1850. wickedness and deceit lacivious and experiences, which she interpreted 8 White, Manuscript 14, 1850. 9 evil eye blasphemy pride foolishness. as divine intervention in her life, and White, Early Writings (1882), p. 53. 10 In Age of Reason (1794), Thomas Paine All these were [“working with a” that she felt a call to duty. She was a shows how well-known the Great Controversy crossed out] active agents until the charismatic, but not a classic fraud in theme was in this vehement attack of it: “Having thus made an insurrection and a battle charicter be benovalent Jesus proved it the sense of being calculating. in Heaven, in which none of the combatants before all heaven before the universe It is indisputable, however, that could be either killed or wounded—put Satan he the perfection of all [“exeel” crossed whether intentionally or not, she did into the pit—let him out again—giving him a triumph over the whole creation—damned out] excellence the brightness of the cross the line. Ellen White allowed all mankind by the eating of an apple, these Fathers glory come to earth and as herself to be seen as what she was Christian Mythologists bring the two ends of their fable together. They represent this a messenger from heaven to restore not: an infallible interpreter of the virtuous and amiable man, Jesus Christ, to by his precept his example the moral Bible who did not depend on others be at once both God and Man, and also the Son of God, celestially begotten, on purpose image of God in man. But his own for her authoritative statements. She to be sacrificed, because they say that Eve in nation said he hast a Devil crucify him used words and information provided her longing had eaten an apple. Putting aside Who was it the chief priests the rulers by others and took credit for them. everything that might excite laughter by its absurdity, or detestation by its profaneness, and of the people came down to the period At the very least, she was guilty of confining ourselves merely to an examination after his death and resurrection and compartmentalization. At times she of the parts, it is impossible to conceive a 16 story more derogatory to the Almighty, ascention to heaven...” grossly distorted her past history, to more inconsistent with his wisdom, more It goes on like this until one is the point of lying. contradictory to his power, than this story is.” 11 forced to ask: If this was the quality White, Letter 3, July 13, 1847. But “fraud”? If so, she lived her 12 White, Manuscript 7, 1867. of Ellen White’s writing, how much fraud as if it were the truth. I’m more 13 See https://m.egwwritings.org/en/ that was published in her name was comfortable calling her a conflicted book/697.2#6 14 White, Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5 actually written by her? We now know charismatic who was a few revelations (1889), p. 65. that she sometimes received help from short of the prophet she aspired to be. 15 James White, Life Sketches (1880), pp. 328-329. James, her first editor, and that later What remains is a charismatic who 16 Donald R. McAdams, “Ellen G. White and she employed several editors. struggled to shoulder the burden of the Protestant Historians: The Evidence from infusing message and content into an Unpublished Manuscript on John Huss” (1974). Self-doubt mere experience. AT This pattern of borrowing content 1 Delbert H. Hodder, “Visions or Partial- to fill in the gaps of her charismatic Complex Seizures?” Evangelica, Vol. 2, No. 5 (November 1981), p. 35; Molleurus Couperus, experience may help to explain Ellen “The Significance of Ellen White’s Head Injury,” White’s frequent direct and implicit Adventist Currents, Vol. 1, No. 6 (June 1985), pp. 17-23. references to doubts about her own

WWW.ATODAY.ORG 25 HERITAGE ELLEN WHITE'S INGRATIATING AMALGAMATION STATEMENTS By T. Joe Willey

More than 150 years have passed her nation was then immersed. To Visions of E. G. White Not of God after without consensus from Adventist speak plainly, White was following being in direct contact with White and biologists, historians, critics, and up her renunciation of radical her visions. Both B. F. Snook (a former apologists on the interpretation of Ellen abolitionism with a rejection of racial Methodist preacher) and William H. White’s disconcerting amalgamation intermarriage. Denis Fortin and Brinkerhoff (a lawyer and teacher) statements. To many modern readers Jerry Moon in The Ellen G. White were ordained by James White and of Spiritual Gifts, her 1864 references Encyclopedia note that Mrs. White had served as president and secretary, to “amalgamation of man and beast”1 “appears to have supported her respectively, of the newly formed appear problematic. When Mrs. White messages with information that was Iowa Conference. But after attending mentions strange creatures produced commonly accepted in her day, but a spring meeting of the General by “unholy alliance between humans that is now known to be incorrect in Conference in Battle Creek in 1865, and beasts,” is it possible that she is important particulars.”4 This viewpoint these men withdrew their membership referring to fanciful fables of blighted is confirmed in the truculent in the church.6 Among their 50 races that are a genetic mixture of man amalgamation statements. objections to Ellen White’s visions, and beast resulting from bestiality? This The intensity of America’s debate Snook and Brinkerhoff included would, after all, be serious enough to in the press over emancipation of amalgamation as antagonistic to the qualify as the “base crime” for which Southern slaves is most likely the teachings of the Bible, calling it “absurd she says God destroyed the world. provocative force that aggravated White and contradictory.” In an effort to establish a modern to take a religious position against This pamphlet serves as an excellent scientific explanation, some bio- amalgamation. The lens through which starting point for understanding theologians have claimed that she viewed this “base crime” grew White’s assertions on race and her White must be describing varieties out of a cultural hysteria associated theological (and nonscientific) views of mankind that were the genetic with the re-election campaign of of human origins. It states: “These combination of human and animal Abraham Lincoln. The direct and visions teach that the Negro race is not genomes inserted either by Satan (the fearless advocacy of both emancipation human. This charge they deny, but we great primal hybridizer) or notorious and amalgamation, as promoted by will let the reader decide for himself. antediluvians sophisticated enough to abolitionists in 1864, was an “idea of ... But what are we to understand create chimeras.2 which the American people [were] by certain races of men? She [Mrs. But from a historical perspective, more afraid than any other.”5 White] has not informed us in her such speculation goes in the wrong writings but left us to fix the stigma direction.3 Interbreeding of humans “Absurd and Contradictory” of amalgamation where we may see with animals is not what Mrs. A second important source of historical fit. But the interpretation has come to White was writing about. Instead, context, which was left out in previous light. She told it to her husband, and the amalgamation statements interpretations, is a 27-page pamphlet he made it known to Eld. [William] signal White’s full understanding published in 1866 by two apostate Ingraham,7 and he divulged the secret of the historical context in which Adventist evangelists. They wrote The to the writer [Snook] that Sister White

26 ADVENTIST TODAY had seen that God never made the Darkey. … Oh, shame on such visions! Is not the poor Negro debased low To speak plainly, enough with chains and shackles, without depriving him of the honor White was of being a creature of God, a human being.” following up her This heterodox pamphlet prompted a defense of White’s visions within the renunciation pages of the Review, written in 1866 of immediate by , the journal’s editor.8 Smith also defended White’s spiritual abolitionism gifts in 1878 by writing a pamphlet designed for wide circulation at with a radical Adventist camp meetings.9 In it, Smith pointed out that the effects of rejection of racial amalgamation were still visible in certain races of men, saying that no intermarriage. one can deny this, but “If they did, they could easily be silenced by a reference to such cases as the wild to explore the relevant historical Mrs. White attached heaven’s Bushmen of Africa, some tribes of the perspectives within the 1864 context authority to Spiritual Gifts, claiming Hottentots, and perhaps the Digger of these statements. “that the Lord has made me His Indians of our own country.” But, he During the re-election campaign of humble instrument in shedding remarked, “as long as these varieties Abraham Lincoln, no topic was more some rays of precious light upon the had original Adamic blood in their passionately discussed in America p a s t .” 16 But acceptance of her theory veins,” they were human. Under this than amalgamation (also called on the ambiguous origin of “certain defense, Smith confused the issue miscegenation) and the emancipation races of men” due to “amalgamation without hesitation when he argued: of the slaves. Some Northerners felt of man and beast [animals]” would “Naturalists affirm that the line of hard-pressed to prove an absolute make God’s original Adamic creations demarcation between the human and immutable species difference in subject to manipulation by Satan or and animal races is lost in confusion. order to justify labeling interracial sex some other unknown biological laws. It is impossible, as they affirm, to as a deviant, unnatural practice. This (Biblical literalists, though they believe tell just where the human ends and is apparent in White’s writings when that all men are of one species, are still the animal begins. Can we suppose she referred to amalgamation as “one not able to account for the physical that this was so ordained of God sin above another which called for the diversity of the races.) in the beginning?”10 Clearly, Smith destruction of the race by the flood.”12 understood the “beast” in White’s Ellen White did not invent the word Distanced from Abolitionists amalgamation statements to be a “amalgamation.”13 Nor, for that matter, White was definitely not an abolitionist human, not an animal. did she come up with the popular view or an amalgamationist.17 Without Smith’s defense apparently stifled that a worldwide flood represented ever explaining her amalgamation further ecclesial analysis on the God’s reaction to the practice of racial statements (she let Smith defend her), amalgamation statements until a intermarriage.14 In religious circles, she did reveal her lingering prejudicial self-proclaimed geologist, George amalgamation linked to Noah’s flood views18 decades later: “No one is McCready Price, entered his review had a common and profane usage,15 capable of clearly defining the proper of these ideas in 1931 and started a and her Adventist readers would position of the colored people. Men cascade of speculative bio-theological readily understand what she meant by may advance theories, but I assure interpretations.11 Price failed, however, these messages. you that it will not do for us to follow

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human theories. So far as possible the In broaching color line question should be allowed to rest.”19 the matter of Although Adventists may have sounded vaguely like abolitionists, amalgamation to they embraced neither the hands-on political activism nor the account for species interracial ideology of those seeking emancipation by political means. In diversity, White the years leading up to the Civil War, expressed herself radical abolitionists had aggressively championed the right to interracial on a subject that marriage. As a result, the charge of amalgamation was successful in had been highly spurring violent opposition to the abolitionists. So powerful was the controversial as far rhetoric from 1838 to 1863 that as many as 165 anti-amalgamation riots back as the 1830s. broke out in the North, resulting in of slavery, White said that in vision the decisive victories of Grant and 20 destruction of property and life. it looked to her “like an impossibility Sherman. She does not return to the During this period, Adventists now for slavery to be done away. Civil War issues until the 1890s.”22 taught that the great reform would God alone can wrench the slave from As the Civil War intensified in 1863 come in God’s own time. Though the hand of his desperate, relentless and 1864, Adventist pioneers and they recognized slavery as profoundly oppressor.”21 White seemed less like the abolitionist evil, the change believers sought was In his essay “War, Slavery, and Race,” William Lloyd Garrison and more religious, not political. American Adventist historian Eric Anderson like the domestic feminist Catherine slavery revealed just how hopelessly notes that White did not pay the level Beecher. Following White’s health sinful society had become, so their of attention to the events and issues in vision in June of 1863 and the loss Advent hope prompted them to prepare this period that one might expect of of two sons, John Herbert (1860) spiritually for Christ’s soon coming. a political activist or social reformer. and Henry Nichols (1863), she and A perusal of White’s major Anderson writes: “Her commentary her husband visited James Caleb publications from this time reveals on the Civil War and slavery is, in Jackson’s health institute, Our Home scant yet passionate statements fact, surprisingly spotty. She had on the Hillside, in Dansville, New regarding freedom and slavery. When nothing to say about the Fugitive Slave York. Ellen’s newfound interest in she published her first version of Law until nearly a decade after its health reform was a world removed The Great Controversy in Spiritual enactment, when the law was already from the harrowing events of the war Gifts, Vol. 1, in 1858, she excoriated a dead letter in key areas of the North. and the ardent debate over Lincoln’s the nation for the fact that “human Her private correspondence yields re-election and amalgamation. beings, the workmanship of God, not a single reference to the name By the autumn of 1864, Mrs. White [were] reduced to the lowest depth of of Lincoln, a leader about whom the released her major writings on health degradation and placed on level with historian expects her to have definite and faced criticism from outsiders for the brute creation by their fellow man” and quotable opinions. After a flurry concentrating on hoops and hemlines (p. 191, emphasis added). But her of comments about slavery and (dress reform) rather than the critical intense jeremiad on such oppression disunion between 1858 and 1863, she political events of the times. Yet John covered only one page of the 219- drops the subject, giving no evaluation Loughborough remembered: “While page volume. Seeing no hope of a of the Emancipation Proclamation, from the year 1863 to the spring of political solution to the grave problem the employment of black troops, or 1865 the terrible war in the United

28 ADVENTIST TODAY States interfered with any great success $300, a sum equivalent to the average amusements of his comrades but tried in our public efforts to advance the annual income. They could also pay to obey as far as he could the teaching message, it seemed to be the Lord’s time someone to substitute for them in of God’s word.” Another Adventist for instruction in health reform—that the military, which turned the Civil “brother,” drafted into the army, which afterward should be ‘as the right War into a “rich man’s war but a served in Virginia and passed around arm and hand to the body’ in the rapid poor man’s fight.” Adventists availed the Review to his fellow soldiers; advancement of the work.”23 themselves of these means of avoiding he requested extra copies. A young military service until, on July 4, 1864, preacher from Wisconsin was drafted Staying Clear of National Politics Congress passed an amendment and, with “no means of his own,” If early Adventist leaders were active abolishing the opportunity of dodging attempted to raise the $300 to avoid in the anti-slavery and abolitionist the draft by financial means. In service. Able to raise only half the movements, if they were crusading for August, J. N. Andrews represented the amount, he was assured that church the emancipation and freedom of the General Conference in Washington, members would make up the rest. slave, it should have been most apparent D.C., pleading the church’s claim to In a small column on slavery, J. N. in 1864. In that year, the Civil War noncombatant status. Andrews was Andrews recommended reading The had reached an intense and turbulent successful, so Adventist draftees could Bible Against Slavery by abolitionist crescendo. Abraham Lincoln sought thereafter enter the army and work Theodore D. Weld. Throughout 1864, re-election in a field of condemning in a hospital or assist the Freedmen’s however, the Review devoted no space public orators and newspapers. Yet Bureau without bearing arms.25 to comments on the presidential the Adventists, newly organized as a When Adventists referred to the campaign. As an indication of church in 1863, seem to have paid little Civil War, they did so in their own Adventist insularity from Civil War attention to the social and political distinctive way. They saw themselves politics, the church paper did not turmoil swirling around them. as ascending a path toward heaven, report military successes or failures— Unlike other Protestant ministers, not traveling the road to free slaves. only the difficulties the South was Adventist pastors did not recruit As White depicted their worldview, having in provisioning its army. No volunteers in the Union Army from the rebellion of the South recreated evidence in the Review indicates that the pulpit. White and other church the “rebellion of Satan and his angels” Adventists believed the national crisis leaders sporadically condemned the in heaven. Now residing on Earth, called for participation in nursing system of slavery in the pages of the Satan and his hosts were “at war wounded soldiers, sewing and rolling Review, but they barely touched on the with commandment keepers, and bandages, providing charitable critical events of the time. The fears will work to bring them into trying assistance to slaves escaping to the and concerns that seized the country at positions.”26 Unlike the abolitionists North, providing chaplains, handing large earned no space and only a little or amalgamationists, Adventists out antislavery literature, or attending editorial commentary in the Review.24 did not view the Civil War as a holy women’s suffrage or antislavery By 1864, the draft became an crusade to emancipate slaves. Like meetings. No reports hint that important issue for Adventists, but the abolitionists, however, they did Adventists ever joined with Sojourner the matter reflected the church’s criticize the war as an attempt merely Truth in providing clothing, food, and disengagement from the war, not to preserve the Union. shelter to black volunteer troops near its involvement. Adventists sought During this period, the Review her Battle Creek home. exemption from the military draft published on the evils of smoking as conscientious objectors, but this tobacco and on women’s wearing of Opposition to Lincoln’s required official recognition of the hoops and on Sabbath-keeping. In Re-election denomination as a peace church, the obituary notices, one Adventist In 1864, no second-term president had a designation obtained only by the soldier was reported killed in the been elected since Andrew Jackson Quakers, Amish, and Mennonites. battle at Chickamauga, Tennessee, in in 1832. Opposition to Lincoln’s Another way to opt out of military September of 1863. “While a soldier,” re-election was so widespread that service was for individuals to pay it said, “he did not join in the sinful the press was calling for the president

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to step aside.27 The famous orator as the base crime “which afterward titled Miscegenation: The Theory of the Wendell Phillips from Massachusetts finally provoked God to destroy the Blending of the Races, Applied to the vowed he would “cut off both hands inhabitants of the earth by a flood.”31 White Man and the Negro. The authors before saying a good word for Lincoln.” She further stated, “Since the flood surreptitiously mailed it to newspapers, In England, a stuffed gorilla went on there has been amalgamation of abolition leaders, other reformers, and display, standing upright, holding a man and beast, as may be seen in the to Lincoln and his cabinet members. walking stick, and wearing a placard almost endless varieties of species of Among a sizeable public, they saw around its neck that read, “Am I a Man animals, and in certain races of men.”32 their pamphlet embraced as though and a Brother?” Southerners adopted By linking the diversity of human it were legitimate. To form the new the habit of calling Mr. Lincoln “the characteristics with a “base crime” word “miscegenation,” the journalists Gorilla.”28 First described by American against the Almighty, White made it had combined two Latin root words: anatomist Jeffries Wyman in 1847, the very unlikely that her followers would miscere, “to mix,” and genus, “race.” gorilla instantly became a man-beast become amalgamationists. Although the pamphlet was a hoax, cultural analog, invoking comparisons White was up against polygenists it was cleverly written, full of faux to “inferior blacks.”29 who claimed as many as a dozen scientific facts, mock arguments, and In this charged climate, racist separate creations for mankind. Such learned quotations that gave it an air of demagogues were prolific and reasoning opposed a literal reading authenticity.34 Quite likely White was vociferous. Newspaper accounts of the Bible, with Adam and Eve as aware of this pamphlet, because of its reflected the pervasive national worry the original parents of mankind. In wide circulation and coverage in the about the consequences of freeing the broaching the matter of amalgamation newspapers, but she did not adopt the slaves. Northerners feared that after to account for species diversity, White term miscegenation. emancipation, hordes of Southern expressed herself on a subject that The authors proclaimed that the blacks would migrate northward, had been highly controversial as mingling of the two races, white attract their women, compete for jobs, far back as the 1830s. Abolitionists and black, was not only desirable and eventually become dependent asserted that amalgamation would but also essential. It is a fact “that upon taxpayers. Due to rampant fears produce a racial blend—neither miscegenation or mixed races are in both the North and the South, white nor black—that improved the much superior, mentally, physically, questions on the origin of the black human race, not worsened it. But even and morally to those pure or “race” and the inferiority of Negroes literate African-Americans opposed unmixed.” They went on to state that came to the forefront. A small minority amalgamation. “We are often both the present war was not a war for the of scientists and ministers vigorously provoked and amused at hearing so Negro but, “if you please, a war of promoted polygenesis, a theory that much fuss about amalgamation. Our amalgamation looking at the final fruit accounts for the existence of dark- pale-faced brethren, certainly, must be of the blending of white and black.” skinned humans by suggesting multiple a very “conceitly [sic] set of beings.”33 The pamphlet was written to appear creations of different human species, as if it were coming from abolitionists including the Negro, by God at Miscegenation Replaces and was endorsed by Republicans. It different times and places. This theory, Amalgamation cleverly attempted to tie miscegenation in addition to the biblical account of a At the end of December 1863, to Lincoln and hurt his chances of 30 curse on Noah’s son Ham, was used two Democratic newsmen, David re-election. The copperhead wing of to support the beliefs of those who Goodman Croly and George the Democratic Party, who sought opposed racial intermixing. Wakeman, coined the word peace with the Confederates, quickly These scientifically and theologically “miscegenation” to function as a leapt on the content of the pamphlet unorthodox discussions in the weekly replacement for “amalgamation.” Both and used it as a campaign tool with religious press probably incited were anti-Lincoln writers to the New which to bludgeon Lincoln and the White to express her cultural views York World. Writing anonymously, they Republicans, as, no doubt, the writers on “amalgamation of man and beast” created a 72-page satirical pamphlet had intended. A follow-up pamphlet

30 ADVENTIST TODAY During the re-election slave to heaven, who has been kept in ignorance and degradation, knowing campaign of Abraham nothing of God, or the Bible.”41 In the minds of Adventists at the time, Lincoln, no topic was “The nation’s doom was foreordained. Only Christ’s , as one of more passionately Ellen White’s visions depicted it, would free the slaves.”42 Consequently, their discussed in America emancipation by 1864 was confusing than amalgamation and unexpected. When blacks later began to convert to Adventism, it (also called became clear to church leaders that some way must be found for blacks and miscegenation) and whites to share equally in the benefits of heaven, with nothing in the way of the emancipation of prejudices and injustices. Mrs. White came up with a simple solution. In a the slaves. 1901 sermon to recent black converts predicted that in the future black men, of a man, having the marks of the in Vicksburg, Mississippi, she told her the product of interracial coupling, black—Negro—race.”38 audience: “Remembering this, you will would “occupy public positions, from be able to bear the trials which you meet policemen up to the president”35—a No Color Line in Heaven here. In heaven there will be no color prophecy that former U.S. President Finally, it can be said that Mrs. White’s line; for all will be as white as Christ Barack Obama helped to fulfill. amalgamation statements arose himself (emphasis added). Let us thank Many years later, in connection during a third wave of concern in the God that we can be members of the 43 with the General Conference Session North over interracial marriages39 in royal family.” AT at Battle Creek in 1891, White direct response to the urgent question 1 Ellen G. White, Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 3 (1864), pp. 64, 75. urged church leaders to fulfill their raised by Lincoln’s Emancipation 2 See Ronald L. Numbers, The Creationists duty to the colored people in the Proclamation that freed the Southern (2006), pp. 101, 147. 3 South.36 She pointed out that while slaves. She took the prevailing cultural ibid. 4 Denis Fortin and Jerry Moon, The Ellen G. other denominations had advancing prohibition against marriage between White Encyclopedia (2014), p. 231. work, Adventists had little. More members of different races and gave 5 Sidney Kaplan, quoting the National Anti- Slavery Standard in his American Studies in than 50 years had lapsed since the it greater significance by claiming Black and White: Selected Essays, 1949-1989 amalgamation statements helped to inspiration for these prejudicial views. (1991), p. 58. 6 fuel the isolationist disposition of the For a fuller discussion of the Iowa Rebellion, Fundamentally, the prophet taught see Arthur L. White, Ellen G. White: The church and the “prevailing prejudice Adventist whites that blacks were Progressive Years, Vol. 2 (1986), p. 146. 7 against the colored people.”37 It was physically and socially inferior when William Ingraham was a frequent traveler with the Whites and was sent by them hard to throw off prejudice, she she linked “degradation” to the terms to attempt to reconcile with Snook and explained in a letter to her son James “brute beasts” or “brute creation” in Brinkerhoff. 8 40 Uriah Smith, “The Visions—Objections Edson White, “because of the white her writings. Racial thinkers often Answered,” Advent Review & Sabbath Herald people who have the slave master’s express a distaste for marriage across (June 12-July 31, 1866). 9 spirit with the slave master’s cruelty racial lines and understand their own Smith, The Visions of Mrs. E. G. White: A Manifestation of Spiritual Gifts According to the in exercising the same, as if the blacks race to be the superior one. Six years Scriptures (1868). were not more than beasts; and to before White wrote her amalgamation 10 ibid, p. 103. 11 George McCready Price, “The Problem of be treated worse than the dumb statements, she had been shown in Continued on page 36 animals because they are in the form a vision that “God cannot take the

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That was four years ago. Recently, assignment completed. It was finals week we had lunch again. We went to our at school, and the pressure of work and usual place, a burger joint with good school and his tutoring assignment was hamburgers and good veggie burgers. He too much. He apologized profusely to CHURCH told me again of his profound gratitude Garrett for wasting his time. Garrett for the family that had given him responded: “You’re not wasting my time. I sanctuary, and especially for the husband just want to see you succeed.” who modeled a radically different vision Those words lit a fire in Anil’s brain. PEOPLE of what it meant to be a father. (I recalled “No one had ever told me that before,” his story of tracking down his biological he said. “I couldn’t believe it. He was BY JOHN Mc LARTY father during his junior year of high going to get nothing out of it. He just school. When Anil asked why his dad had wanted me to make it!” It was pure never been in his life, he dismissed Anil’s altruism, something utterly alien in protest. Raising children was women’s Anil’s world. That was three years work, his dad had said.) ago. Anil has only one more math Anil was part of a church family— I asked about school. I remembered class, Calculus 3, and a physics class not by blood, not officially. But he lived that the transition to college from high to complete before he will be able to at their house, sharing a room with one school had been difficult. The discipline apply to transfer to the University of of the sons. He was a senior in high of study was not part of his native Washington engineering program. school. Part of his reason for moving to culture. In addition, he had to juggle Sitting there, listening to Anil, I was Washington from San Bernadino was work and school. Anil floundered at proud to be part of the church people Anil’s ambition to graduate. He figured times. I had worried he might give up who have touched Anil’s life. He was that if he stayed in the old neighborhood, he would end up in prison or dead, Anil floundered at times. I had worried he might because that’s what happened to the give up and settle for earning some money, buying young men he knew back home. So when his best friend’s family moved to Seattle, a car, getting a girlfriend. he joined them. And when the family went to church, he often went with them. and settle for earning some money, going to make it. He was going to escape The adjustment was difficult. Seattle buying a car, getting a girlfriend. We the doom that haunted so many of his was a different world. He missed his old continued to have lunch occasionally. He peers in his old neighborhood. friends. He missed the sun. Seattle did continued to plug along in school, taking Then he said something else, not feel like home. Still, his host family one or two classes at a time. He called something I had never heard from him provided sanctuary. The husband and me for help on math homework. I was before. I had always heard his ambition wife treated him like one of their own. flattered, but fairly quickly his questions to make it—to earn a decent income, After we met at church, Anil and I visited went beyond my abilities, and I sent him to become someone who would enjoy occasionally over lunch. I offered him my to a young person in the church who respect in society. But this time I heard standard deal for young people: I paid; was a math whiz. It worked. Anil got the something new. He wanted to finish his he talked. Through our conversations, help he needed, and the grades. degree, he said, and then he wanted to I sensed the allure of the old, wilder Our youth pastor connected him go back to his old neighborhood and life. I felt the alien nature of academic with Garrett, a church member who create an institute that would offer a focus and consistent study. I heard his worked at Google. Garrett offered to chance to “his people.” His ambition was ambition. He wanted a decent income tutor him in computer science. They to do good, to pay forward the goodness and the respect of being a professional. I worked on projects together. At one that his host family and Garrett had also felt the enormity of the hurdles in his point in this process, Anil showed up added to his life. path from here to there. for an appointment without having his That’s the effect of church people. AT

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34 ADVENTIST TODAY WWW.ATODAY.COM 35 report, was that the “nondescript” was a black man organizations—organizations with a lot Willey continued from page 31 who suffered from microcephaly, a development disorder that results in an unusually small skull to lose by way of reputation, real estate, Hybridization,” Ministry, Vol. 4, No. 4 (April 1931), that tapers back from the forehead.” See Reel, p. 93. employees and salaries, offices and titles, pp. 13-14. 30 G. Blair Nelson, Infidel Science! Polygenism in 12 constitutions and bylaws, and pension White, Spiritual Gifts. Vol. 3, p. 75. the Mid-Nineteenth-Century American Weekly 13 Americans appropriated the term from the field Religious Press (PhD dissertation, University of funds—is that they don’t want to upset of metallurgy as a shorthand for “race mixing.” By Wisconsin-Madison, 2014). the contributing saints. So the leaders 1830 “amalgamation” was in common usage and 31 E. G. White, “Adam’s Life,” Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 3. came to dominate the national debate. (1864), p. 51. inside these organizations who have 14 See Stephen R. Haynes, Noah’s Curse (2002), p. 112. 32 White, Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 3, p. 75. doubts just swallow hard, shut up, and 15 By 1852 John Fletcher of Louisiana, in his Studies 33 “Amalgamation,” editorial in Colored American carry on. on Slavery, popularized that the Flood represented (June 23, 1838). God’s anger to the sin of amalgamation between 34 Sidney Kaplan, “The Miscegenation Issue in the I’m not accusing anyone of hypocrisy, Adamites and the soul beasts (p. 250). Election of 1864,” in Werner Sollors, Interracialism: 16 though religion is by its very nature White, Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 3, p. vi. Black-White Intermarriage in American History, 17 This point was also made by Julia Neuffer in Literature, and Law (2000). a hypocritical business: like hospital- “How Activist Were Adventist Abolitionists?” 35 L. Seaman, What Miscegenation Is! What We Are acquired infections, hypocrisy isn’t Review and Herald, Vol. 147, No. 41 (Sept. 10, to Expect Now that Mr. Lincoln Is Re-elected (no 1970), p. 11. date), p. 3. something we want, but it’s inevitable. 18 See Ronald D. Graybill, E. G. White and Church 36 E. G. White, The Southern Work (2004), p. 9. I’m only admitting that religious Race Relations (1970), p. 15, and Roy Branson, 37 ibid. organizations, though they start with “Ellen G. White: Racist or Champion of Equality?” 38 E. G. White, Letter 223, June 22, 1899. Review and Herald, Vol. 147, No. 15 (April 9, 39 The first anti-amalgamation movement was ideals, quickly get caught up in their own 1970), pp. 2-3. during Thomas Jefferson’s election, and the 19 survival. They no longer self-examine. White, Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 9 (1909), concern arose a second time in 1830 because pp. 213-214. one of the tenets of the abolition movement was They want to reassure, not stir up. When 20 Elise Lemire, “Miscegenation”: Making Race in freedom to marry across racial lines. conflicts appear, they prefer to silence America (2002), pp. 55, 58, 95, 110. 40 Compare Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 1, p. 191 with p. 21 them and hope that no one points out White, Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 1. (1868), 193. p. 266. 41 E. G. White, Spiritual Gifts, Vol. 1, p. 193. See that the emperor is, if not naked, at 22 Eric Anderson, “War, Slavery, and Race,” also T. Joe Willey, “Steal Away to Jesus: Will God least rather shabbily attired. Even those Ellen Harmon White: American Prophet, ed. by Keep Slaves from Heaven?” Adventist Today, Vol. Terrie Dopp Aamodt, Gary Land, and Ronald L. 25, No. 2 (Spring 2017), p. 18. who applaud the Reformation are now Numbers (2014), pp. 262-263. 42 Douglas Morgan, Adventism and the American 23 reluctant to see anyone question their J. N. Loughborough, “Sketches of the Past—No. Republic (2001), p. 26. 129,” Pacific Union Recorder (Aug. 22, 1912), p. 1. 43 E. G. White, “Trust in God,” The Gospel Herald authority, as though this were a one-time 24 I read every issue from January to December (March 1901), p. 22. process that need never be repeated. So 1864 to make this analysis. 25 Peter Brock, “The Problem of the Civil War,” who watches the watchmen? (A phrase, Adventist Heritage, Vol. 1, No. 1 (January 1974), Editorial continued from page 3 by the way, that comes not from a graphic pp. 23-27. novel, but from the poet Juvenal, nearly 26 E. G. White, Testimonies, Vol. 1, p. 356. 27 John C. Waugh, Re-electing Lincoln: The Battle and though we’d all say we want to follow two millennia ago: “Quis custodiet for the 1864 Presidency (1997). the truth where it leads us, in the real ipsos custodes?”) When self-interest is 28 Monte Reel, Between Man and Beast, (2013), p. 191. By the 1830s, Americans knew a lot about world we’re more afraid of what we might involved, none of us wants to be watched non-human primates. Edward W. Clay’s “Practical lose. too closely. Amalgamation” series of images makes the point What I wish our defensive sisters and that abolitionism was pairing white women with I realize that no one likes to be dangerous animals. See Lemire, p. 100. brothers would realize is that even the challenged. I have a member of a 29 When Paul Du Chaillus opened his exhibit of leaders of our church at the headquarters midweek Bible study group who seems Gorilla (considered man’s closest relative and the wildest beast on the planet) on Broadway in in Silver Spring, Maryland, have many to question everything I say. It’s quite New York City in January 1860, P. T. Barnum of the very questions we voice here annoying. But why shouldn’t he? And advertised that his nearby museum had an “extraordinary living creature, just arrived from and feel the same doubts. For example, why shouldn’t I have to wrestle with the wilds of Africa. Is it a lower order of Man? nothing that scholars revealed to us in those questions? And why shouldn’t Or is it a higher development of the Monkey? Or the late 20th century about Ellen White’s congregations and pastors and church is it both in combination?” All of the New York newspapers raved about the strange exhibit. An plagiarism surprised church leaders at leaders and all of the rest of us be held to ad in the Sunday New York Times declared, “The all; they’d been aware of it for 150 years. account? new curiosity just added to the Museum stock seems to supply the real link between man and But what would happen if the common This is, I hope, what the alternative monkey.” The truth, which the papers did not people were to find out? The nature of big Adventist press does well.

36 ADVENTIST TODAY Uncertainty and Faith were certain were also the times when we of God; we never arrive, and if we think As we celebrate 25 years of Adventist persecuted people, that’s when we burned we arrive, we become idolaters.” Today, I propose two ideas that can people at the stake, that’s when we had The second, closely related, is that you continue to guide us in our next 25 years. religious wars. I think certainty is a vice in can be a questioner and still love your First, you can be less than absolutely religion, one of the things we ought to rid church. I hope that someday more of the certain and still be a person of faith. I like ourselves of, so I would constantly want to faithful, including our denominational this passage from Episcopal Bishop John hold this wrestling, this uncomfortable ‘I leaders, realize that the church is better Shelby Spong: “When you look at the don’t have it together,’ ‘we’re struggling in for having questioners, even if it doesn’t history of the church, the times when we this together’ as the proper image of the always like them. Christian faith. We walk into the mystery Contributors RICHARD W. COFFEN is a Adventist University and Andrews JIM WALTERS is a retired vice president University, and he received his foreign co-founder of Adventist of editorial services language training at the University of Today and a professor at Review and Herald Oslo in Norway. This article was written of religion at Loma Publishing Association before his death on March 23, 2018. Linda University, and writes from Green where he teaches ethics Valley, Arizona. MONTE SAHLIN is coursework and directs its humanities executive director program. JOHN McLARTY is a past of Adventist Today editor of Adventist Foundation, which T. JOE WILLEY graduated Today and currently publishes this magazine. from Walla Walla serves as pastor of the He retired in 2014 after University, received a Green Lake Seventh- working 44 years for the denomination, Ph.D. in Neuroscience day Adventist Church the last three decades as a research officer from University in Seattle, Washington. serving at local, union conference, and of California, division levels. Berkeley, and taught at Loma Linda ED REIFSNYDER writes Medical School as well as University from Fort Collins, CHARLES SCRIVEN chairs of California, Riverside; La Sierra Colorado, where the board of Adventist University; and . he enjoys life with Forum, publisher of He was a fellow with Sir John Eccles, Janelle. They have two Spectrum magazine. He a Nobel Prize winner at University of daughters. Heather is a resides with his wife, New York at Buffalo. Now retired, T. Joe writer/editor for Loma Linda Health and Rebekah, in Gilbert, enjoys reading, traveling, exploring, and a poet. Amy is a clinical psychologist, Arizona, where he plays tennis five writing on Adventist history. mother of Mathias and wife of Eric. mornings a week, preaches in his local church now and then, and writes book AAGE RENDALEN was reviews and articles for fun. a retired foreign BIBLE CREDITS LOREN SEIBOLD language teacher is New Revised Standard Version Bible, living in Richmond, a pastor and the copyright 1989, Division of Christian Virginia. He earned executive editor of Education of the National Council of the his undergraduate Adventist Today. Churches of Christ in the United States and graduate degrees in religion and of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. secondary education from Southern

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Angel-Friendly Theater Adventist Martial Law Designed for Hollywood to Enforce GC Unity LOS ANGELES, Calif. — In a SILVER SPRING, Md. — In bid to counter what it calls the a bid to ensure unity within “superficial filth machine that the church worldwide, the is Hollywood,” the Southern General Conference has California Conference (SCC) declared Adventist martial has opened the first “angel- law. “As of this moment, all of friendly” movie theater in the Adventism will resemble the denomination. campus of Southern Adventist NEWS BRIEFS “We have repurposed the University,” said Marcos property where Hollywood Nuevo, Unity Enhancement Adventist Today Event Seventh-day Adventist Church spokesperson. “Until we have Generates “Telling Data” used to sit in order to build a utter and complete unity SILVER SPRING, Md. — movie theater that we know around what gets decided in In its latest newsletter, the in our hearts angels are 100 this building, every Adventist Unity Oversight Committee percent OK with,” said an SCC will need to abide by an 11 p.m. reported that it gathered statement. “We are confident curfew.” He promised to send “telling data” on those who this will be a better use of the GC-sponsored equivalents attended Adventist Today’s 25th l an d .” of dorm resident assistants to anniversary event in Loma The theater has been make sure members were in Linda on April 21. specifically designed to avoid their homes on time. Committee members the aspects of theatergoing Nuevo also said that under who were present reported that have long been criticized denominational martial law, that the food was “sinfully by Adventists. Instead of Adventists will be required to delicious” and that their dark corners, the theater abide by an ultra-strict dress fellow attendees were the most will feature cafeteria lighting code. Men must wear collared entertaining Adventists they and widely spaced wooden shirts or suits to all worship had met in years. Although chairs with aggressively stiff experiences, and women the committee mourned chair backs that encourage should dress as the ladies do the lack of openness to GC focus and alertness. Creative who appear on Three Angels censorship among Adventist director Max Stoder says Broadcasting Network (3ABN). Today editors, its members that the theater will feature Church meeting attendance admitted privately that it was uplifting standards such as will be tracked via a worship sometimes refreshing to read Sound of Music and Veggie credit system. No credit will be commentary and news about Tales as well as what he calls given to members of churches the church that didn’t sound “a dynamic mix of stimulating led by ordained female pastors. like it had been edited by the and doctrinally appropriate Dissenting voices within North Korean Central PowerPoint presentations.” He Adventism will be written up News Agency. claimed that the space would and punished with “indefinite be perfect for Adventist dates amounts of manual labor at nights: “Who could say ‘no’ to some far-flung summer camp,” dinner and a State of the Dead said Nuevo. PowerPoint?”

38 ADVENTIST TODAY Check Your Bulletins GC Finally Approves Pay SWAT Team Frees 250 BarelyAdventist for Church Seating Chart for All Pastors’ Wives Trapped by Altar Call (barelyadventist.com) is ADVENTIST WORLD — SILVER SPRING, Md. — ATRAPADO, Fla. — Last a satire and humor blog For the first time in Adventist Adventist pastors’ wives Saturday, 250 souls were on Adventist culture and history, churches will feature around the world are freed from Atrapado Lane issues. by official seating charts. Each celebrating a groundbreaking Adventist Church by a SWAT committed Adventists member will have an assigned victory with the announcement team. The rescue mission took who have no interest in seat, and visitors will be that they will be added to the place after news that a visiting tearing down the church ushered to the very front of official church payroll. General preacher’s altar call had gone but don’t mind laughing the sanctuary, where the entire Conference Treasury Director on for more than an hour. “The at our idiosyncrasies. congregation can keep an eye Tom Briggins confirmed that guy just kept asking for one on them. pastors’ wives will be paid a more commitment,” said an GC director of church stipend equal to 60-70 percent exhausted deacon as medics rigidity, Mas Reglas, pushed of local pastoral compensation. swarmed around his stretcher. back on complaints that Deborah McNoughton, “And he wouldn’t stop, even seating charts were an president of Shepherdess after the stage was full of unnecessary intrusion into International (an association for volunteers.” church life. “Our churches wives of Adventist ministers), Another freed captive have had unofficial seating said that she was “elated” at told investigators that the charts for as long as I can the decision. “For years now congregation had sung “what remember,” said Reglas. we have pushed for some felt like every song in the “Members are super territorial form of hazard pay for our hymnbook” before the SWAT about where they sit; we constituents,” she said. “Regular team arrived. The visiting just decided to make things members have no idea how preacher was unrepentant. official.” Reglas explained difficult it can be to assume Before being hauled off in a that all congregations will be the thankless tasks of piano police van, he could be heard required to print their seating playing, small-group hosting, offering the arresting officer charts on the back page of and babysitting in Cradle Roll GLOW tracts and vegetarian their worship bulletins. He week after week simply because cooking classes. directed church leaders to of whom we married.” select their biggest deacon to Pastors’ wives will be paid act as the “Sabbath Bouncer” on a scale that takes into in case anyone disregards account the difficulty of the the chart. congregation(s) they must endure. Extra pay will go to those who must serve as Pathfinder director, coordinate aggressively vegan potlucks, supervise overly judgmental Dorcas crews, or attend two or more church services each week in small districts.

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Y A 25 1993 • YEARS • 2018

25Who would have imagined Gifts 25 years ago that a dream to provide innovative ministry resources and a source for independent journalism would bring us so far? As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, we have the opportunity to reflect on all that has been accomplished through God’s grace and an amazing number of people committed to this cause. It’s a time of gratitude. We hope you have seen our 25th-anniversary report, sent recently to your mailbox. Since it’s our silver anniversary, people have been asking what gifts they can give to celebrate this significant accomplishment. Maybe you’ve been wondering that, too! Well, we’ve been thinking about numbers with 25 in them. Would you consider giving to one of these areas?

$250 helps sponsor new print/digital features, $25,000 gives us the ability to work with innovative video/audio new books, and adds reporters. producers to develop new multimedia content in several languages. We want to pay young writers to provide original work and curate We want video and audio producers who bring us new stories content that helps us attract younger readers in North America, that are compelling, creative, and courageous. We want thought- Europe, the South Pacific, as well as Africa, India, and Central provoking video and audio short segments, author interviews, and America. If we could place and pay correspondents in those regions streamed ministry events. We want a video-streaming library of in the coming year, we would be delighted. Investigative journalism progressive, hopeful, compassionate sermons for congregations and is never inexpensive, but increasing the quality and creativity of house churches, to compete with the sermons that are currently Adventist Today’s content is one of our important values. Would you more readily available from ultra-conservative ministries. Adventist consider a $250 gift today? Today readers have given $25,000 and more—in one gift—before. We’re confident that it can happen again! $2,500 places Adventist Today representatives on Adventist campuses worldwide. TO MAKE YOUR 25 GIFT: We want to assure the future viability of Adventist Today by n Go to www.atoday.org, click the donate button on the menu bar increasing our visibility on many of the more than 100 Adventist at the top, and complete the form to make a credit card payment. college/university campuses worldwide. At each site we would n Send a check to Adventist Today, provide a stipend to a student who would make sure copies of our PO Box 683, Milton-Freewater OR 97862 magazine are available at strategic locations around the campus n Give us a call at 800.236.3641, and we’ll be happy to help you. and in campus churches. If that person is able to make comments on You have been a longtime reader, and no doubt supporter, who has campus at appropriate meetings or get announcements into campus invested in what you believe in. Your faithfulness to Adventist Today apps or websites, that would be a bonus. Would you give a gift of has been nothing short of amazing. You’ve taken seriously the advice $2,500 today? of 2 Corinthians 9:7: “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (NIV). Thank you!

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