The North American Division Union presidents presented to the General Conference president and officers an antagonistic statement in the January 19, 2017 meeting. The NAD leaders indicated while they see no consensus favoring women’s ordination among church members in the NAD, that the General Conference in seeking to maintain unity in the church, is overreaching its authority. The NAD Union Presidents’ statement offers no Scripture in defense of its position. Nor does it acknowledge the authority of the world church in its July 8, 2015 San Antonio vote which refused to authorize actions presently being taken within the North American Division to ordain women to the gospel ministry.
The presidents claimed “strong personal and collective unity” with the church, but also indicated themselves to be unified in support of women’s ordination to the gospel ministry, an unscriptural innovation which the Church has never, since its inception, practiced. The Union presidents go so far as to offer their “personal general observations” that in the NAD unions, membership sustains “a grass roots support for women’s ordination,” with “opposition in a few conferences.”
We believe that actually, the majority of church members in NAD oppose women’s ordination, and that the most telling statement in the document is the presidents’ claim that “An inclusive NAD survey taken in 2014 of conference, union and division leadership revealed a 90%-plus approval of women’s ordination” in the Division. That claim may actually be correct. If so, it points out the extreme disconnect between leadership and membership within the Division. The NAD presidents are trapped in an echo chamber of their own, and are operating in rejection of the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to them through the world church.
The presidents’ document claims that they “acknowledge the conscientious convictions” of those who oppose women’s ordination. But actually those who oppose the practice have been shut out of the main publications of the church. Excluded from publishing in union papers or the Adventist Review, these Adventists whose convictions are allegedly so respected have been refused opportunity to publish on NAD-run denominational presses and their only recourse has been to publish privately.
Even NAD young adults have been marginalized by NAD leadership, as evident in the video above.
The January 19 statement complains about the General Conference’s rejection years ago of NAD’s attempt to change the E-60 Working Policy. Read about the current NAD president’s role in that debacle in “E-60 and the WO Endgame” at http://ordinationtruth.com/featured/kirl-e60-and-the-wo-endgame/. On the even longer history of NAD’s decision to block opposing viewpoints and use NAD publications for pro-women’s ordination propaganda, read the 1997 NAD’s own words in “President’s Commission on Women in Ministry Report” at http://ordinationtruth.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Presidents-Commission-on-Women-in-Ministry-Report.pdf
Notable is statement number six in the document: “We believe the GC is dangerously overreaching its authority and potentially endangering the current and future unity and mission of the church (see SOP below).” But the statement goes on to say that “Non-doctrinal issues on which we have no consensus are not a basis for splitting the church.”
Then why is the North American Division leadership determined to split the Church? Are they so trapped within the culture they are charged to witness God’s revealed truth to, that they would burn down the Church rather than subordinate themselves to the humble, Spirit-led decision reached in General Conference Session after so much study and prayer?
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32 replies on “NAD Disunity Statement Surfaces”
How does one send their tithe to a conference outside the NAD?
I want to know.
Any adventist mission will gladly accept it. Just do not mention what kind of many it is and you all set. But pray before act and if Christ assure you that this is right step to do then do it.
Blessings!
I mean “Money”, not “many” of course..sorry
Please don’t feel you need to send your tithe away out of frustration… I know EGW counseled us to return our tithe in these difficult situations and let God handle the problems. Our responsibility is to be faithful and obedient. God Bless you
Thank you Roxanne for reminding us that God is in control. He will handle our problems. We are not to “pick and choose” programs we agree or disagree with when it comes to returning to God our tithes (and offerings). Returning tithe is to God is a stewardship relationship – not a political ‘ping-pong’ personal preference or desires tantrum. Stewardship would turn into a “popularity contest” – complete with ratings showing how much “I” agree or disagree with people and/or issues.
Yes, but I hope people are cognizant that tithe is based upon net earnings, not gross earnings. Anything beyond that is up to the individual where it goes.
I could make $100,000 a year, but if expenses cause me to only save $1,000 then I only need to tithe $100. 🙂
That is ridiculous. We can always build expenses up so we don’t really have to return to God anything for what he has done for us.
It’s Time… “GOD” bore long with Lucifer, and yet the time came when Lucifer had to be dealt with! Lucifer was cast out, because he refused to repent! Likewise, the president of the North American Division, have been given more than ample time to comply with the 60th General Conference Session; and by his own admission, and did write. The North American Division remains committed to empower and establish our “Women” in pastoral ministry. We will not give up on this ideal and goal.
We are grateful to God for your committed service to Him.
I recognize that there may be, in the coming days, significant
rumor mongering and conspiracy theories that predict dire outcomes, etc. My encouragement to you is to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.
My dear sisters, God will work things out in His time.
His purposes will succeed. Please keep holding on.
God bless each of you”.
Is this not outright and open Apostasy?
It’s Time gentlemen, the NAD President must be replaced, and all those that stand with him. We on a “MISSION”! Let’s stay together and complete that “MISSION” for we are “Responsible” and will be held “Accountable”.
Enough, is enough! Help Us Lord!
Amen
It is sad that those in our ranks will be shaking out. O what a sad day indeed that some of SDA who had the Oracles of Truth will fall and be burned with the weeds. If ony they would read and understand what EGW said about this, that she is talking about them who will not listen to the Holy Spirit.
I very much appreciate the leadership of the Union Conferences o 2 key issues: First, that Unions in our organizational structure have their own constituencies, with their own authority to apply church policies, including GC Working Policy, in their regions. Yes, Annual Council and GC Sessions set policy; administering policy is done by Unions and Conferences. Second, that decisions to ordain women and men are properly made by Unions – proper within SDA theology, Scripture and the SDA organizational structure.
Sadly, to call the Union statement as disunity simply foments arguments that undermine the health of SDA ministry and church life.
This is how a feel about the NAD leadership (pro WO). They have two faces. They say that they love this church, yet they are the ones over reaching their authority and rebelling against the world church, and teaching others how to be disobedient and divisive. If they don’t like the 3 votes already made at the GC, then they shouldn’t participate at all.
There are men who profess to be ministers of the Gospel who are teaching heresy, and deceiving many, and leading thousands in the way of apostasy. ST July 4, 1895, par. 4
Christ will be with His faithful ministers. Christ will instruct His earthly potentates. Christ is King of Zion; Christ is above all. He retains faithful watchmen on the church’s battlements, whose voices are heard in warning and entreaty in times when everything is in unrest. Apostasy and blasphemy will not decrease but increase. Now is the time for Zion, God’s commandment-keeping people, to understand where is the Source of their strength. Every shield and protection is His. His words I want in my mouth. Ms177-1897.19
There are many who have their names upon the church records, who claims to possess superior piety, and yet should Christ appear among them, they would rebuke the Son of God. There are men who profess to be ministers of the Gospel who are teaching heresy, and deceiving many, and leading thousands in the way of apostasy. ST July 4, 1895, par. 4
God has permitted this apostasy to take place in order to show how little dependence can be placed on man. We are always to look to God. His word is not yea and nay, but Yea and Amen. All our labors to bring souls to a knowledge of the truth in such a way that it works a decided reformation in the heart and life. EA 350.5
Regardless of where one stands on the issue, it does not take rocket science to see that the church is appearing as it’s about to fall… praise the Lord it will not. The chaff is being sifted out. Get your life jackets on, the storm is here.
AMEN!!!!
The church may appear as about to fall, but it does not fall. It remains, while the sinners in Zion will be sifted out—the chaff separated from the precious wheat. This is a terrible ordeal, but nevertheless it must take place.—Selected Messages 2:380 (1886). – {LDE 180.5}
The NAD may not be accurately representing the body, but we must hold fast to Jesus.
NAD leadership is not led by the Holy Spirit. They are, incredibly, allowing themselves to be led by the spirit of the god of this world. Pray for them!
Whether the official SDA denomination stands or not, is not relevant. What is relevant is whether we as individuals stand by the word of God. While we desire the church to remain united, it is not the final goal to be achieved at all cost.
We could hope the GC leaders understand this fact and will deal with any situation of difficulty on the basis of loyalty to the bible over and above loyalty to the church structure and then compromise truth for the sake of unity.
We need to take seriously this statement by EGW, who did not envision a long period of time for the Advent Movement to mature before Jesus would come. Thus, this statement is very relevant to our situation today and its meaning is so clear that “wayfaring men, though fools, need not err therein.”
“In the balances of the sanctuary the Seventh-day Adventist church is to be weighed. She will be judged by the privileges and advantages that she has had. If her spiritual experience does not correspond to the advantages that Christ, at infinite cost, has bestowed on her, if the blessings conferred have not qualified her to do the work entrusted to her, on her will be pronounced the sentence: “Found wanting.” By the light bestowed, the opportunities given, will she be judged.” 8T 247
The word “if” clearly denotes the possibility of failure for the church structure, but never for the historic message of the movement as articulated by EGW and affirmed in scripture.
Ordination Truth Staff,
My question is this. Does the GC have church like the conferences churches? Where your membership could be at that level. If they do have a GC Church then why could sent your tithe to them? Where does it say that the store house is the local conference?
Thank you for any information
The union statement allegedly says, “e. The North American Division is the entity that should work with any NAD unions considered out of compliance according to existing policy.”
If this is accurate, then either the NAD leadership should get busy and do their job, if they aren’t already doing it, or they should resign and let others take their place that will not shirk the very duty that the union presidents have here identified. End of story.
Does anyone know anything that NAD leadership has done since San Antonio to try to bring the renegade unions into line? I haven’t seen anything reported yet in the Review, or any other source, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that nothing has been done.
The problem is, as I understand it, that the NAD leadership itself is renegade, so I wouldn’t expect any help from them. They themselves need to be removed….
It appears that the context of the following statement is directly linked to the Sunday law. If so (and I believe it is) the appearance of a fall is yet to come. What we have now are the very early stages of appearance. The real shaking, yet to come. Just offering some balance…
“And all who will not bow to the decrees of the national councils and obey the national laws to exalt the sabbath instituted by the man of sin to the disregard of God’s holy day, will feel, not the oppressive power of popery alone, but of the Protestant world, the image of the beast. {12MR 324.2} Satan will work his miracles to deceive; he will set up his power as supreme. The church may appear as about to fall, but it does not fall.
Manuscript Releases, Volume 12 [Nos. 921-999, 1982-1983]. 1993; 2002 (324). Ellen G. White Estate.
Segments of the NAD disunity statement have been referenced and quoted. Where can one read the disunity statement in its entirety? Has it been published?
The full text is now available here:
http://www.fulcrum7.com/news/2017/1/28/purported-statement-of-union-presidents-emerges
Here we go again. These videos seem to always seem to roll back around the debate on WO. The world church has already spoken. These speeches should be about those who are willing to accept the world church’s decision regardless of their view on WO and those who are unwilling to accept the decision. Period.
I’m praying for wisdom for Ted Wilson and his staff. Rebellion has increased; hearts have hardened. Is this like the pressure God presented to pharaoh through his humble vessle, Moses? What is God thinking? What is going to happen?
Well said, Ray Jones. Acceptance of the vote by the world church is the real issue here, not W.O.
Ernest said on January 31, 2017 at 8:01 am:
Well said, Ray Jones. Acceptance of the vote by the world church is the real issue here, not W.O.
This is true, but the vehicle of the controversy is WO. Thus, WO must be resolved before the controversy can be resolved.
We must understand that those who support WO believe they are a “reformation” type ministry challenging what they consider to be a false authority manifested by the GC. So, either it is a type of the Protestant Reformation as they affirm, or a parallel to the rebellion against Moses by Korah as other claim. This is the issue and the vehicle for the controversy is WO.
HOW TO DEAL WITH REBELLION IN CHURCH
church has policy on how to deal with adultery in church?Yes
do we have policy to deal with rebellion?Yes same policy in mathew 18
let me explain,PLEASE FOLLOW CAREFULLY
WE HAD OUR PRE SAN ANTONIO DISAGREEMENTS ON WO and we went into private discussions
15 “If a brother sins against you, go to him privately and confront him with his fault. If he listens and confesses it, you have won back a brother.
WE GOT MORE WITNESSES WHEN WE HAD A STUDY GROUP AND STILL FAILED TO AGREE
16 But if not, then take one or two others with you and go back to him again, proving everything you say by these witnesses.
THEN WE TOOK THE MATTER TO THE WOLRD CHURCH IN SAN ANTONIO
17 If he still refuses to listen, then take your case to the church, and if the church’s verdict favors you, but he won’t accept it, then the church should excommunicate him.
procedure was correctly followed up to SAN ANTONIO…….but we are shy of the last part of verse 17 above…EXCOMMUNICATE
how many times should we forgive Peter asked ….70×7 and guess what when Jesus answered the 70 x7 weeks of years for the Jews were coming to an end too by which they should have put an end to sin…and then AD 70 came
Well stated
I mean well stated Bill Sorensen
It is good to see that the GC is reaching out, talking, and finding out the real issue with the NAD. IMHO, it should have been done after San Antonio, but I guess later is better than never.
“This document compiled by the Union Conference Presidents reveals their position going into the meeting” as per Spectrum’s web site, If that is the case, Can two walk together unless they agree?
as I expressed before:
“A sound message and direction needs to be set by the GC.
Daniel Jackson needs to be removed/fired from his position immediately. With him the princes that sided this rebellion for the last 10+ years that are still in a position of authority across the NAD.
Three times this issue has come up for discussion and a vote at the GC. It is time not just to knock down Goliath, but to separate the head from the body. Otherwise we will see this issue again at the next GC meeting.
The same goes for the Scandinavian and Netherlands unions.
This action might be interpret as punitive, but I hope it is also seen as redemptive. That a separation from the local church is a hint that this attitude of rebellion will not be accepted in heaven either. And that by it they will reconsider their stand with the body of Christ on earth at the end of time.”