Rebellion in the Church > Women's Ordination

Mid America Union Concerned Over GC Actions

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Richard Myers:
Published Dec. 15, 2016 in Outlook  the MAU magazine.

The Mid-America Union Conference executive committee, after reviewing the “Unity in Mission” document voted by the General Conference executive committee at the 2016 Annual Council, wishes to express the following thoughts about this action:

    We share the need for and pray for worldwide unity and mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
    We affirm the document’s call to mutual listening, consultation, and prayer as we work together over differences.
    We, as a Protestant organization, believe the true authority of our church lies with the local members comprising our churches. Furthermore, we recognize our working policies delegate authority to our constituencies as voted by our church members.
    We believe all members and entities in the church should be held accountable when needed by the constituencies to which they are responsible, as has been outlined by our church’s working policies. We see this as paramount, because to do otherwise would be a departure from our Protestant heritage. By staying with and following our long-held policies for accountability, the appearance or threat of kingly power is held in check.
    We express grave concern with the Unity Document’s establishing working policy as on par with our fundamental beliefs. Whereas policy is made for the organizing of our church for the purpose of mission, our fundamental beliefs speak to the Biblical truths we hold as a people.

   We are alarmed by the “Unity in Mission” document and object to the direction it is taking our church. True unity will not be achieved based on voted policies, but rather through showing our spirit of “Christlike forbearance,” as Ellen White counsels us to do.

How long has the rebellion been active? How long have conferences been going contrary to their bylaws, the world church constitution, and the Word of God? Forbearance? God has been more than patient, and so has the church, towards the rebellious conferences.

The MAUC executive committee voted the following statement:

"We affirm our prior voted action regarding our support of women in ministry and believe there is no biblical barrier for ordaining women."

Gary Thurber, the union president said “These are serious times.“ "And right now it is important for us to speak our concerns. God has a plan and a way forward. I don’t know what it is yet, but He has a plan.”

Speaking concerns is one thing, voting to go contrary to the Word of God and the World Church is rebellion  against God and His church. Has the Mid America union been ordaining women pastors? It was the first union in the NAD to vote to do so in 2012. Thus, it was a leader in the rebellion against God and His church.

The Mid America Union is part of the organization of world churches. They do not stand apart from the sisterhood of churches. The doctrinal beliefs of God's church are not decided be each church or each conference, but by a representative government. When decisions are voted by this representative government, they are law to be followed by all churches. And when the law they are organized under is not followed, then what shall happen to the organization they have agreed to be a part of. This is not a hard subject, but one that has been left out of the discussion we are reading about.

It appears Elder Gary Thurber has been careful to not cross the line and join in the rebellion. For this we are thankful. We love him and pray for him and his fellow ministers in the Mid America Union. May they give much prayer to the decisions they make in what Elder Thurber has called "serious times."  Precious souls hang in the balance.

colporteur:

This sounds a bit like the protest submitted by some of the democrats after the presidential election. Since they do not like the outcome they wish to claim victory through popular vote from San Francisco.

Richard Myers:
Yes, cp. And, it goes further. There are many in California that want the state to secede from the union after the nation elected Trump. Is that not another parallel which appears on the horizon?

colporteur:
It is interesting that they are "alarmed " that when the Mid American Union ( and others) go against their own by-laws and against the repeated decision of the world church that it would be voiced by higher church authority, that there will be consequences. This is what is alarming. Mr. Thurber does not know where things are heading ? While we do not have all the specific details we have an Inspired outline. None need be blind sided by this.

Pastor Dwight Nelson has voiced his opinion that the work will not be finished until women get their just due as pastors. It is my opinion that those who hold to that opinion will make the same statement regarding practicing homosexuals. Some are already implying as much.

colporteur:
Some of this is very subtle and sneaky.  The Iowa/ Missouri conference gives impression on the surface that it is conservative but leadership has slid consistently since president Wampler retired. The current president is often out of the country on a mission. The executive secretary and previous ministerial director, Robert Wagley is more or less the acting president much of the time. President Cordian was interviewed by Steve Wolberg as it appears that he is conservative. Meanwhile Robert Wagley, the planter of new ideas, has a mission for contemporary worship. I have seen him in action up close and personal several times as I grew up in Iowa and was a member there for several years before moving. I have observed as Dean Cordain went from being a pastor under Robert Wagley ( ministerial director) to becoming president over him. I could say more but suffice to say they have partnered together for some time. Some may know that Mr. Wagley invited  SDA speaker Keaven Haden ( former SDA) to speak at our campmeeting. Things were so tense there that they even checked at the door what papers people brought in. Some of the elderly left in tears as Haden mocked "Sister Moses." Mr. Wagley also invited Doug Kitchner to Mason City Iowa for a pilot program. I think I still have a copy of Kitchner's article somewhere and it wreaked of entirely converting worship to contemporary change, removing pews, inviting emotional break outs with mics staged everywhere and where emotions rather than doctrine would drive the service. You get the idea.  The laity has been somewhat resistant of such change but they keep pushing it. I and another elder called Kitcher on his contemporary push much to the dismay of our pastor.  My point in bringing this up is that some of these conferences, are very adept at giving impression on the surface that they are good, old fashioned traditional SDAs  when they are not. Those who watch closely and attend venues that are experimental see right through the smoke screen. The Dakota Conference is the very same. I can only speak about conferences that I have had first hand experience with. These two conferences are very much women's ordination proponents they just do not broadcast it real loud.

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