In a news item posted on November 3, 2016 on the Adventist News Network (“Important responsibility in following voted World Church actions”), General Conference president, pastor Ted N.C. Wilson reminded leaders in North America of their “sacred responsibility.” President Wilson indicated that every leader has a responsibility “to follow what the world church has voted in session (whether I agree with it or not).” The president had indicated previous to the 2015 San Antonio session vote that he would adhere to the results of the vote no matter the outcome.
In the article, the president clarified the authority of unions:
“When union conferences were established, they were given the responsibility of working within the policies outlined for the world church, which now generally takes place by world church representatives at an Annual Council and sometimes at a General Conference Session,” Wilson said. “Unions were established to make mission more local since the General Conference wasn’t able to cover the world with direct counsel for every situation, but unions are not a law unto themselves.”
Unions do not have authority over all aspects of ordination. They never have.
“While the union has the right to approve or disapprove of which individuals, recommended from local conferences, to ordain, that decision is to be made only within the framework of the Working Policy of the world church,” Wilson said. “In addition, the unions are not responsible for approving men to be ordained to the gospel ministry on the division or the General Conference levels. Each of those organizations and their institutions, through the respective executive committees, are authorized to approve ordinations. Therefore, the unions are not responsible for all aspects of ordination.”
Some advocates of women’s ordination have accused church leaders of exercising “kingly power” as they seek for integrity in other church leaders who can only be faithful by adhering to the decisions made by the world church. To one who had asked pastor Wilson about the exercise of “kingly authority, Wilson replied:
“Regarding your ‘kingly authority’ question,” Wilson responded, “what could be more of a ‘kingly authority’ action than to deliberately go against what has been voted by the worldwide representation of delegates from around the world at a General Conference Session? Three times this subject has been addressed in some form by a General Conference Session.”
The ANN article can be found at this link:
https://news.adventist.org/en/all-news/news/go/2016-11-03/importantresponsibility-in-following-voted-worldchurch-actions/
The detailed response by the president is found on his official blog here:
http://perspectives.adventist.org/en/questions-answers/questions/go/2016-10-22/what-authority-do-church-unions-have-in-ordaining-ministers/
Pastor Wilson’s Facebook page, quoted in the ANN article, is here:
https://www.facebook.com/PastorTedWilson/
The president often communicates with world church members via his Facebook page.
8 replies on “President Wilson: Sacred Responsibility of Church Leaders”
Seems to me that the burning question is:
How much longer Elder Wilson,will you allow the North American Division and the Pacific Union Conferences to continue unabated in their disrespect of ,not only the GC ,but us members as well.?
Elder Wilson just forget to mention what he is about to do for resolving the issue. As always we hear only correct banners and calls but there is no sign of changes.
We all want to see all this mess resolved, but if you were Elder Wilson, how would you resolve these issues? What did Moses do when there was rebellion and apostasy with Korah, Dathan, and their followers?
He humbly “fell on his face” (Num. 16:4) which suggests seeking God’s will in the matter. Then he called the rebellious leaders’ bluff. He trusted in God to “shew who are his” (16:5) He gave them specific directions on how to appear at the showdown. He rebuked their powergrab and reminded the tribe of Levi that God had chosen them for their service. He also pointed out that they had “gathered together against the Lord”; making it crystal clear who really was the target of their rebellion. Maybe yours was a rhetorical question, but I got caught up in reading the narrative myself! You can read it all in Numbers 16. Our GC leaders have followed these principles. It is hard to be patient with the process, but God (and we should) longs for the next years’ efforts to be redemptive! Our part is to watch and pray for all who are involved.
How would I do?
I’d give them time to repent, and if it wouldn’t help then visit them with brethren and propose to start looking for another job.
In corporation like this the things get resolving promptly unless there is no willingness to do this.
Defections Among Church Leaders
Many a star that we have admired for its brilliance will then go out in darkness.–PK 188 (c. 1914).
Men whom He has greatly honoured will, in the closing scenes of this earth’s history, pattern after ancient Israel. . . . A departure from the great principles Christ has laid down in His teachings, a working out of human projects, using the Scriptures to
justify a wrong course of action under the perverse working of Lucifer, will confirm men in misunderstanding, and the truth that they need to keep them from wrong practices will leak out of the soul like water from a leaky vessel.–13MR 379, 381 (1904).
Many will show that they are not one with Christ, that they are not dead to the world, that they may live with Him; and frequent will be the apostasies of men who have occupied responsible positions.–RH Sept. 11, 1888.
Dear Lord I pray for my President Ted N. C. Wilson, that you will give him guidance, and strengthen him in heart, that he may utilized the armour that you wrapped him in and continue giving him the power to ward off the “Wiles” of Satan!
Daniel Jackson, President of the NAD, knows better, and understands, the workings, of this “World Church” and its mission.
Wherefore there is no time to waste, the Brethren need to let Dan Jackson know that it’s “Decision Time” now! For the Second Coming of “JESUS CHRIST” is upon us, and time is running out! For tomorrow is not promised to any of us. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: John 10:27
Some how Daniel Jackson, is not listening, to the Lords voice anymore. Wherefore, knowing this, we have to follow what we have been taught!
And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
Matthew 5:30
We certainly are upon the days of great challenges and sorrows. Our Heavely Father as Christ promised will never leave His people astray. It is when we are at our lowest point that if we remain unwavered in faith, He is faithful to reach out and pick us up. He is not deaf that He could not hear us nor is His arm shorten that He could not reach out to help His faithful. Let us all fervently pray for the unity of the body of Christ.