From a distance I followed the business meetings of the General Conference in St. Louis. The summaries via Twitter of what was happening helped me to stay informed about what was going on at any given time. The coverage through unofficial channels, such as Spectrum and Adventist Today, also provided a helpful perspective. I can’t say I missed not being physically present in St Louis. Except that I would have liked to have chatted with friends and people I met during my career in the church.
By now I have recovered a bit from my disappointment that Ted Wilson was re-elected as the president of our highest governing body. It was, however, no great surprise. And if the presidency had not gone to him, Erton Köhler would probably have become president. He is the recently elected (and now re-elected) general secretary of the General Conference, already waiting in the wings to take over from Wilson. This Köhler, who is from South America, is in many ways a copy of Wilson. We can expect Köhler to be the main candidate for the highest church post in the next round of elections. But I would not at all be surprised if Wilson finds a reason to resign shortly before the expiration of his new term, and then puts Köhler forward via an election process at an Autumn Council. This has now become a tried and tested method of ensuring the continuity of a particular vision for the church.
What is particularly striking in the election of the hundred-plus GC-positions is the huge percentage of re-elections of incumbent leaders. Is it really so difficult to find new leaders whose creativity and fresh ideas can revitalize the church? Or do we simply see an attempt to obstruct all innovation and to leave everything as it is? It was to be expected that the only woman on the presidential team (Ella Simmons who is retiring) would be replaced by another woman (Audrey Anderson). Incidentally, of course, it remains extremely strange that a woman who is elected as one of the vice-presidents of the world church does not have to be an ordained minister, while she cannot become the president of a local conference, because the (once again tightened) rules do not allow for this. Anyone who understands this should try explaining it to me . . .
My interest was, of course, mainly in the election of the new leadership team in the Trans-European Division, to which the church in the Netherlands also belongs. That there was going to be a new president did not surprise me. I am curious to hear in the coming weeks from insiders about the considerations that played a role in this. The choice of Dr. Daniel Duda is reassuring. He is someone in the theological middle, and I know him as someone who does not hide his personal, often progressive, opinions. Moreover, he is an inspiring speaker. But whether it is wise to choose all three division top executives from the countries of Eastern and Central Europe is a question for me. Although, as I write these words, I immediately realize that in the past, administrators with a Western- or Northern European origin were always over-represented!
The agenda of the 61st General Conference was extremely boring. Unfortunately, there were all kinds of signs that the current conservative course must be safeguarded. The ill-fated idea of having someone appointed in local congregations to promote Ellen White will only reinforce the current polarization around her person. It will be interesting to see how many local congregations will comply . . . The Damsteegts’ attempts to reverse what little has been accomplished in recent years in terms of the recognition of women in the church have, thankfully, remained unsuccesful.
That most of the comments from Spectrum and Adventist Today sympathizers have been negative should surprise no one. The newly elected leaders of the church can simply ignore them, because, after all, they come from a relatively small percentage of church members who are already on the margins of the church. That reaction, however, would be as wrong as it is short-sighted. For these negative comments reflect the opinion of an ever-growing number of Adventists who are in the process of dropping out, because they no longer feel connected with what is happening at the higher church echelons. The leaders who are now beginning a new term are facing an ever-growing segment of the church that no longer cares about what they do and say. That should worry them. If they are determined to continue the policies of recent years, they will find that they are becoming increasingly irrelevant to large numbers of fellow-believers.
Thank you again for your honest critique of the irrelevance of higher church structure to local congregations. However I am very thankful for Daniel Duda’s appointment. I pray his focus on the good news of Jesus’s message is allowed to shine through.
I feel more and more that the SDA Church is leaving me, not vice versa.
Irrelevantie?
Much appreciated article… positive and yet challenging.
Thanks for writing this post. You are so right about Erton Köhler. If Ted had retired, Erton was properly aligned to be the continuation of the same policies.
Fact is that not much is going to change, except that now they will build up a SS Police (!) … Silver Spring Police to enforce the SOP in each local church. Didn’t we hear about another SS doing something similar a few decades ago?
Is this not hearsay, Reinder? “The summaries via Twitter of what was happening helped me to stay informed about what was going on at any given time. The coverage through official channels, such as Spectrum and Adventist Today, also provided a helpful perspective.”
To me, this is affirming Hearsay, since all those respected critics were not there.
I recall, you were always fiercely against “alligations of hearsay” against ministers and administrators when you were at the helm in the Netherlands. Protestors were asked, ‘where you actually watching the conduct with your own eyes?’ and dismissed.
Fact is, Reinder, you do not know the considerations of concerns, for you nor your critics were invited at the round table. CF Job:38:2
It is for almost 5 years now that you use your sacred trust to cause divisions, under the simple in this field.
I implore you once again, when is enough, enough?
Step aside, my brother. Your rivalry seems to have become an obsession.
Is this not hearsay, Reinder? “The summaries via Twitter of what was happening helped me to stay informed about what was going on at any given time. The coverage through official channels, such as Spectrum and Adventist Today, also provided a helpful perspective.”
To me, this is affirming Hearsay, since all those respected critics were not there.
I recall, you were always fiercely against “alligations of hearsay” against ministers and administrators when you were at the helm in the Netherlands. Protestors were asked, ‘where you actually watching the conduct with your own eyes?’ and dismissed.
Fact is, Reinder, you do not know the considerations of concerns, for you nor your critics were invited at the round table. CF Job:38:2.
I’m do sorry to say Reinder, but to my humble opinion, as I’ve been observing your critique at times, I cannot do anything else than to raise my eyebrows with the question if you are feeding division. Many trust you, I think we can all benefit more if you use that trust that many seem to have in your insights to unite us more, Esther than to keep the brethren apart.
NO, this is not “hearsay”. In fact, the Twitter channel I referred to is the official SDA twitter channel. Concerning Spectrum and Adventist Today: I referred to them as “unofficial” channels. But they did send representatives to St. Louis who were welcome as accredited journalists.
Am I causing division? That is a hard question to answer. Some would agree with you, but many would say that you are guilty of that. I intend to contribute to a necessary dialogue. There have been quite a few people who have actually told me that I have helped them to remain a seventh-day Adventist and to not give up on there church.
Is this not hearsay, Reinder? “The summaries via Twitter of what was happening helped me to stay informed about what was going on at any given time. The coverage through official channels, such as Spectrum and Adventist Today, also provided a helpful perspective.”
To me, this is affirming Hearsay, since all those respected critics were not there.
I recall, you were always fiercely against “alligations of hearsay” against ministers and administrators when you were at the helm in the Netherlands. Protestors were asked, ‘where you actually watching the conduct with your own eyes?’ and dismissed.
Fact is, Reinder, you do not know the considerations of concerns, for you nor your critics were invited at the round table. CF Job:38:2.
I’m do sorry to say Reinder, but to my humble opinion, as I’ve been observing your critique at times, I cannot do anything else than to raise my eyebrows with the question if you are feeding division. Many trust you, I think we can all benefit more if you use that trust that many seem to have in your insights to unite us more, rathet than to keep the brethren apart.
Dear Reinder,
My third comment is the one I want to share with you and your readers. You have no edit button.
Be gentle, and post that one..
There is a typho in the second word of the final paragraph – do must be so.
Be gentle and correct it.
The correct spelling is typo, rather than typho.
Perfect example of pettiness
Thank you for your cogent explanation of the recent GC leadership voting.
Your side comment ( or possibly someone replying) brings sadness to me as so many of our younger members are leaving in droves. When talking with some they say the church ignores their input. Any ideas for adding young adults outreach are squashed. Senior (65+) members with dwindling church membership areas in total control and continue refuse to consider input from those younger. One church lost almost 200 adults below the age of 40 when the pastor approached each one and inquired as to their total belief in EGW and her visions and prophesies. Then if reply was not total yes to all his questions they were told that they did not belong on that church. They left en mass with few remaining SDA and joining another local SDA congregation.
My opinion is the potential of this happening to us all now appearances imminent.