CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE GENERAL CONFERENCE DOCUMENT: Unions and Ordination to the Gospel Ministry
Prior to the August 19 North Pacific Union Conference (NPUC) Executive Committee meeting, the General Conference Secretariat released a document entitled, “Unions and the Ordination to the Gospel Ministry: Brief Summary and Comprehensive Working Policy Explanation.” General Conference President Ted N. C. Wilson wrote to division presidents to explain its purpose.
In his accompanying letter, he states, “The document is provided since there have been some who have proposed the idea that unions have the full prerogative to decide about all aspects of ordination including criteria. As the GC Secretariat document shows, the authority for the unions to make decisions about the approval process for ordination candidates is delegated by the GC Executive Committee and is limited to that review and approval process. The authority for setting the criteria for ordination is not delegated since that is the purview of the world church as outlined in GC WP L 35 and voted on by world representation at Annual Council.”
The letter’s tone is clear and positive. Each division president is requested to forward the material promptly to their respective division officers and to all union presidents. We are grateful to God for the work of responsible leadership at our General Conference to correct a misunderstanding regarding the authority of unions that has created confusion and disunity.
The Secretariat document is a reminder of the principle of delegated authority. Workers across the global field operate under this plan. Members from every part of the world are represented at the GC Session, and this authority is delegated to the elected GC Executive Committee. One of the responsibilities of the GC President as Executive Committee Chair is to help the various units of the church to work together harmoniously according to the authority vested in them by the world body.
We appreciate the work of the Secretariat and the leadership of Elder Wilson and all of our leaders at the GC in producing this wise and well researched policy and historical review document to bring clarification, correction and encouragement to the Church. The clarification should aid units of the church which have erred to make immediate substantive changes so as to come into harmony with the divinely-led vote July 8 in San Antonio. At the General Conference Session in San Antonio, the Church in session agreed with the longstanding Seventh-day Adventist practice of appointing only qualified male spiritual leaders as ordained clergy and as presidents of conferences, unions, and divisions.
10 replies on “Unions and Ordination to the Gospel Ministry”
I think, you are on the wrong way. The highest law, the law and precepts of God, are all the time are broken, if the ordination of women as elders and as commissioned ministers are going on. The vote of delegates was clear for Position 1, that forbids women as elders and WO througth the back door. We cannot see only the letter, we must see the whole content of the question and the will of the delegates. The decision of them was based on the bible, Spirit of prophecy and TOSC-Posion 1, and the vote in Indiana against WO was still valid. The Interpretation of Ted Wilson according the vote in Indiana and his conclusions were not well balanced and not in obedience to the word of God.
That´s right, that the unions cannot decide alone. But according to the working policy it is right and the duty of the GC to discipline officers in the unions and conferences or divisions, who are not working according to the working policy. The Netherland-Union rebells in the issue of women Ordination and homosexuality. But nothing happened until today. Ted Wilson and the GC-committee neglect this holy duty since years, and this we cannot appreciate. We must see the whole. And what about the rebellious transgressors. Sandra Roberts is still conference-president and many women are ordained ministers further on? Did they repent and give this robbed ordination and püosition back? The unpleasant work delays and the guilt must bear the whole church as a collektive one (see for example of Achan in the bible and the clear comments of Ellen G. White). And it is my opinion, that also ordinationtruth.com goes after San Antonio the wrong way of Ted Wilson together with him and the GC, and not longer the way of the bible and and the truth. Only trough compromising with sin (WO through the back door) is a peace outside. And Doug Batchelor has expierienced this foul peace, he may not preach everywhere, because he has a biblical opinion about WO – and I have nothing read about it in OrdinationTruth, and Ted Wilson did not defend him. This is very, very sad! Please think about it!
All of this remains me some abstract soap opera with a plot that never gets to its culmination.
And things go so obviously wrong and Ted Wilson looks so white and fluffy and righteous as an Orleans virgin, and I almost ready to shout “Hail Ted Wilson! he’s so righteous and resolves all our problems!”
I just cannot stand to read those pathetic statements any more.
Excuse me my incontinence, but in the Bible I read “yes-yes, no-no”.
If the man means business lets him do business on the top of his speeches.
But nothing changes from his talking, literally nothing. Everything stays the same regardless what Ted Wilson says.
Adrian: The document was sent to the union last month, August. The vote hapened just two months ago, July. Why are you so impatient? Give the rebellious Unions time to think; give Ted Wilson and GC time to act after the Unions are allowed to think about what they have done. I don’t think you have everything solved in your life within the timeline you are placing on a large organization. I met Ted Wilson, and your evaluation is way, way off. Chill 😉
Dear Jody, I’d gladly give them as much time as they want to have 🙂
The only issue with this – my generosity doesn’t make any difference.
I just expressed my feelings about this situation, that’s all.
And I have another feeling that the changes even if they eventually happen, will not improve the situation but rather makes it worse.
I just read Isaiah, 5th and it so reminds me of where we are now..
I mean, f you see the signs that the Church has loose its fence and the enemies start to devastate Gods vineyard, then we are in deep trouble as the God’s people!
Because nothing would happen to the Church without God’s will.
And at such a time there is no difference how good and how right our leaders speaks and what a great plans they have.
God removes the hedge and broke the wall in His vineyard and nothing can stop treading it down.
So I’m afraid my evaluation is too mild comparing to reality.
ERIC……..LET THEM GROW TOGETHER …..DONT UPROOT…YOU WILL CAUSE MORE DAMAGE
mathew 13:24 Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.
27 “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’
28 “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.
“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’…..(.ERIC IS ASKING)
29 “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”
BE careful when inwardly we habour feelings like “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” God is in control even when violent waves hit the boat….stay in the boat…..hE CARES …YOU WILL NOT PERISH…HE IS NOY LYING ASLEEP….THE WINDS AND THE WAVES SHALL OBEY gOD S WILL
Read William Miller s dream
notice how he was saddened by people handling the precious jewels carelessly and while he was weeping……
While I was thus weeping and mourning for my great loss and accountability, I remembered God, and earnestly prayed that he would send me help. Immediately the door opened, and a man entered the room, when the people left it; and he, having a dirt-brush in his hand, opened the windows, and began to brush the dust and rubbish from the room. I cried to him to forbear, for there were some precious jewels scattered among the rubbish. He told me to “fear not,” for he would “take care of them.”…
…Then, while he brushed, the dust and rubbish, false jewels and counterfeit coin, all rose and went out of the windows like a cloud, and the wind carried them away. In the bustle I closed my eyes for a moment; when I opened them, the rubbish was all gone…
Lovemore, I think you misunderstood the parable of tares. Ellen White clearly states:
“Christ has plainly taught that those who persist in open sin must be separated from the church, but He has not committed to us the work of judging character and motive.” (COB 71)
It is´t an issue of motive and character, what we have to handle, but an open transgression against the precepts of God. Open sin must be disciplined according to the word of God.
We cannot like “Babylon” the unity keep above truth, and we cannot make compromises with sin (women ordination as elders), that we may have peace with sinners and sin.
True love to God, does not put away truth!
Read the whole article ERIC by Ellen white on that parable…We are in danger of quoting one line and abandoning the cautions given in that parable both from the Greater light and lesser light
“The teaching of this parable is illustrated in God’s own dealing with men and angels. Satan is a deceiver. When he sinned in heaven, even the loyal angels did not fully discern his character. This was why God did not at once destroy Satan. Had He done so, the holy angels would not have perceived the justice and love of God. A doubt of God’s goodness would have been as evil seed that would yield the bitter fruit of sin and woe. Therefore the author of evil was spared, fully to develop his character. Through long ages God has borne the anguish of beholding the work of evil, He has given the infinite Gift of Calvary, rather than leave any to be deceived by the misrepresentations of the wicked one; for the tares could not be plucked up without danger of uprooting the precious grain. And shall we not be as forbearing toward our fellow men as the Lord of heaven and earth is toward Satan?”
ERIC……while the moment of expulsion from heaven eventually came for Satan and his angels,notice how even now the man of sin must be fully revealed……..
ERIC…….Give this WO issue a cooling off period now that the GC sessions has made its vote clear…..let brethrens review their positions one by one.God is speaking to hearts 24/7 and decisions are being made…..those who have closed their hearts to the truth will not change even if further evidence to convince them is presented(checkout Herod and Pilate)
a huge class supported WO influenced by another class and did not allow the Holy Spirit to influence their choices…..allow them to review and watch the development of character in those pushing this agenda…….
i did not understand the whole WO debate at all myself,but as i prayed i slowly wondered about the church in my house(called the church at home) and as i drove to our church(called church at church) and was parking my car i wondered what changed from my house to this parking slot “at the church at church”. Why was i a priest in my house and as i park the car at church whats changed? God made it very simple for me……..between my house to church we have met a lot of traffic……traffic of ideas and by the time we are in the main church some stickers on cars we have read during the traffic congestions have made more impact than Pauline writings
Give them time Eric……i beg you
I must admit I am saddened that even after the GC vote people are still making such an issue of WO. I thought the GC was like the US Supreme court once they voted that was it it is now law. Regardless of how the vote came down for or against your view point. But, it appears if you don’t like the vote then well lets find a way around it. In this way we are keeping the letter of the law but not the intent of the law. I was hoping this vote would bring unity to our church but with a very saddened heart I must admit it has not.
Clearly this publication and the replies set forth are anything but open and comprehensive
relative to presenting both sides of the argument(s) for or against Women’s Ordination. However beyond trying to make a statement(s) or re-printing sections of the SOP where Sister White clearly does not leave me with her, a messenger of God, stating a definitive “NO” to women being ordain. I would like to draw attention to a situation that reflects how our highly educated GC executives who should reflect the standards of Christianity in action especially during highly visible meeting of the church behaved. Sandra Roberts who was asked and voted to be South Eastern Conference President with great entipudation and encouragement made the trip the GC meeting. Upon her arrival it was made clear to her, the GC attendees and most likely the world that’s watching closely that there was not a seat for her. Nor was she allowed in the Auditorium but had to stand outside. I would like to thank the GC leadership for demostrating the fine Christian men of God that run our church. After all it would be very risky for this women to sit in the Autoriam of 2000 to 3000 men that have made it clear that she not one us. She did not put herself into the role of Conference President but was overwhelmingly voted in.