NEWS • ANALYSIS • OPINION Volume 1 Number 1 RELIGION AND THE WACO CULT • Ex-Adventists at Mount Carmel • History and Fatal Theology of Branch Davidians Welcome to ADVENTIST TODAY THE PIONEERS OF THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH were open-minded men and women, open to new vistas of the everlasting gospel appropriate for their time. Open-mindedness is a prime requisite for becoming a bona fide Seventh-day Adventist, and no less for continuing growth as a dedicated admirer of Jesus Christ. Surely we do not want people to close their minds once they become members of the church. Closed minds will never complete the gospel commission. ADVENTIST TODAY aspires to follow the open-minded tradition of the pioneers. Open- mindedness means openness toward.one ..another and willingness to listen to one FOUNDATION BOARD another-attentively, perceptively, amenably. What a joy membership in the Seventh- Keith Colburn day Adventist Church can be if there is full and complete openness in such matters as our corporate quest for an ever more perfect and complete understanding of God's Word, Raymond Cottrell relationships between church leaders and the membership of the church, and the conduct Donna Evans of church affairs! John Jones ErvinTaylor ADVENTIST TODAY is a response to the widespread conviction that the church needs an open James Walters and straightforward medium of communication such as this journal aspires to be-a place where all segments and age groups can fin<;icommon ground and share their aspirations and concerns for the church in for;h.fight, responsible dialogue. ADVISORY COUNCIL ADVENTIST TODAY is primarily a news journal that aspires to present the information thoughtful members oHthe church need in order to form a mature, accurate, and equi- Antonius & Lilia Brandon table 1.ll1<;i~r~t~~ing()t.~~ers of concern to the church in North America. There will Todd Burley ~alsobe.(1~esponsi81e~xPFe'$~iqnof opinion apout matters of current interest and concern. John & Charlotte Cassell Keith & Judy Colburn sh~ltered our original plans for this, the first issue of Anonymous ma,kero~l11 for the cluster of articles on this topic--eertainly Donna Evans prieofmajorcqIl.cern.to '.. ..~htire chili it has been necessary to reschedule some Anonymous feattrre~ originallyintendedforc thisis~ Dick & Kathy Guth Dennis & Jolene Hillidrd Wayne & Susan Jacobsen Don & Penny Mill~r Thaine B.& WantJa A Price Gordon M. Rick Glenn & Cherie RoUse Anonymous \ Don Shasky James & Maryan Stirling Ervin & Marilynn Taylor James & Priscilla Walters James & Betty Webster ~Othera.rticles;vill'.tqCl.lS9~c relatively new Adventist Theological Society and its ifuport;for,the£!lill:91ronllle issue of ordaining women to the gospel ministry, and on the provocative billboarding crusade in Orlando, ..Florida, and saturation of the city with a sensational edition of The Great Controversy. Proponents of alternative points of view on these subjects have been invited to share their perspective of the facts. ADVENTIST TODAY will be the convenor and moderator, and our readers will be the jury. Welcome aboard! I Raymond Cottrell . i 2 Adventist Today May IJune 1993 Editorial Introduction 2 ADVENTIST TODAY@1993 Vol. 1, NO.1 THEWACO CULT & RELIGION May/June 1993 Ex-Adventists at Mt. Carmel: PR Problem or Leaming Opportunity? .4 Editor: Raymond F. Cottrell Associate Editor: James W. Walters History and Fatal Theology of the Branch Davidians .5 Raymond Cottrell Managing Editor: Duane Covrig Editorial Consultants Interview with Pastor Charlie Liu 8 Mark August Tampa Tribune The Waco Syndrome 9 Antonius Brandon Lorna Linda University Raymond Cottrell Haraldo S. Camacho Colton, California David Koresh: Narcissistic Personality or Dysfunctional Religious Leader ..10 Barry Casey Noel Gardner and Antonius Brandon Columbia Union College Glenn Coe South Windsor, Connecticut Experiences in Loma Linda 11 Donna Evans Dalton Baldwin Lorna Linda Academy Frank Knittel Koresh on Ellen White 12 La Sierra University Beatrice Neall Dennis Hokama Union College Joel Sandefur REPORT: LSU and LLU-AFTER THE DIVORCE .13 . La Sierra University Deborah Vance Walla Walla College ADVENTISTS & ABORTION Art & Design Marlin Dolinsky: Cover& PublicationDesign Raynardo Flinoz: Cover Art Pro-life & Pro-choice: Can the Church Have It Both Ways? .16 Douglas Hackelman: Art Consultant Copy Editors 1992 Annual Council Guidelines 17 Cherie ,Rouse & Gayle Saxby A Higher Calling 18 Published bimonthly by the Adventist Today Foundation, a non-profit organiza- Ginger Hanks-Harwood tion dedicated to fostering open dialogue in the Adventist community. Myths and Maybes 19 The purpose of Adventist Today is to report John and Millie Youngberg on and discuss contemporary issues of importance to Adventist church members. Following basic principles of ethics and Finding a Consensus 20 canons of journalism, this publication Gerald Winslow strives for fairness, candor, and good taste. Unsolicited submissions are encouraged. Payment is competitive. OPINION Send a self-addressed stamped envelope for writers' guidelines. Editorial: Let Freedom Ring 21 Annual subscriptions: $18.00 for James Walters individuals, $12 for students, $29 for institutions. Add $10.00 for addresses Guest Editorial: Inauguration. of a President... 22 outside North America. KitWatts . POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Adventist Today Perspective: A Joyful Moan 23 P.O. Box 1220 Lorna Linda, CA 92354-1220 Alden Thompson Telephone & Fax: (909) 799-6724 Mission Statement.. Back Cover Adventist Today May /June 1993 3 Ex-Adventists at Mt. Carmel PR Problem or Learning Opp~rtunity? THE ADVENTIST CHURCH can percent of Koresh's followers are The Seventh-day Adventist take at least two approaches to the former Seventh-day Adventists, denomination wisely disavowed the Waco incident. First, it can handle the according to Marc Breault, a recent Shepherd's Rod movement long ago. situation as a PR problem. This master's graduate in religion from The denomination abhors the tragedy approach is understandable and in Loma Linda University, and for a time at Mt. Carmel. Nevertheless, several many ways appropriate-and well a member of the Branch Davidians. questions deserve serious attention in underway. The church hired a crisis the aftermath of Waco: David Koresh actively recruited in management firm to devise a strategy. Adventist centers, including Loma -Are there elements in the popular Officials from the church have spoken Linda; Honolulu; Sidney, Australia; Adventist belief system that lend of damage control and the need to and Bracknell, England (see Dalton themselves to warped exploitation by "play down the Adventist connection," Baldwin's article). In England one charismatic leaders? and the Southern Californip. Conference former Adventist pastor and four has attempted to restrict cnurch- --.:..Doesthe church's emphasis on the Newbold College theology students member contact with the media by "i.m.ntinence" of God's kingdom need accepted Koresh's perspective, claims sending out a directive to all its to be re-evaluated? Breault. congregations. I -What type of Biblical interpretation I Many Branch Davidians continue Second, the church can seek t6 (a "proof-text" approach or a historical- to adhere to traditional Adventist learn from the Waco incident. Such a contextual perspective) is more or less emphase~, such as healthful living and response may be more involved than likely to foster idiosyncratic beliefs? Saturday Sabbath observance. Their merely shoring up public relations, but notoriety ihas come from their interest it is no less important. The following -What concrete steps should the in prophetic interpretation and belief in cluster of essays offers perspectives that denomination take to help its members may help in this learning process. avoid the allure of any Many Branch Davidians continue to numoer of Adventist Some will say that what happened "fundamentalisms" that adhere to traditional Adventist in Texas has nothing to do with the offer simple answers to Seventh-day Adventist church since emphases such as healthful living comp,lex issues? this Waco cult was merely a "branch" and Sabbath observance. or an "offshoot" of a group that split -WHat is the relationship from the church over 60 years ago. ----.~.betweenpersonal psychol- True, the Branch Davidians developed the i.m.ntinent ending of the world- ogy and religious belief? out of the Shepherd's Rod move- ideas hardly alien to Adventism. -How could committed, sometimes ment-a movement started in the 1930s Before Koresh developed the highly educated, church members opt by relatively few Seventh-day Adven- religious ideas for which he is now for Koresh's line of belief? tists. Ray Cottrell's article documents notorious, he attracted the interest of a this development. However, in These are at least some of the number of traditional Adventists addition to this historical connection, questions raised by the Mt. Carmel precisely because of his command of the Branch Davidians have had on- episode. Because of the considerable extensive passages from the Bible and going connection to the Seventh-day Adventist connection we believe that Ellen White's writings (see Dennis Adventist Church. the denomination would do well to Hokama's report). Unusual interpreta- appoint a high-level study commission David Koresh, the notorious tions of obscure Bible texts have led to examine the Koresh phenomenon Branch Davidian leader, was reared as Koresh to claim to be the modem and make recommendations. 0 a Seventh-day Adventist