The role of women: In common with many conservative Christian churches, the
question of ordination of women is actively debated within the SDA church. The special
role of the SDA founder, Ellen White, is proof that women are able to contribute to church
life. However, although they have been allowed to be ordained as elders for
many years, none are eligible to become pastors. This
decision was based largely on the text of 1 Corinthians 14:34-37 when St. Paul presented
as a command of God that women should keep quiet in church, and remain subordinate. In 1
Timothy 2:12A, he said that no woman was to teach or have authority over a man; she is to
remain silent. As in other denominations, the debate concentrates on whether:
These were
commands for the first century church, or for all eras
These were commands for the Mediterranean region, or for all
cultures.
Whether these passages were written by St. Paul or were forgeries
written by others and attributed to Paul.
The North American Division (NAD) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
proposed to the 1995 General Conference in Utrecht, Netherlands that each
World Division be allowed to decide independently whether to ordain women to
the pastorate. The proposal was defeated by a vote of 1481 to 673. A few congregations
in North America rejected sexism in the denomination and proceeded to ordain women
as pastors in spite of the decision.
Homosexuality: The church's stand is identical to that seen
throughout the conservative Christian communities: that the Bible consistently condemns homosexuality as a sin. Gay candidates are not permitted to be
ordained as pastors. Gay and lesbian Adventists are expected to live a celibate
life. More information.
Seventh-day Adventist Kinship International is an organization
"devoted to the spiritual, emotional, social and physical well-being of
current and former Seventh-day Adventists who are lesbian, gay, bisexual
or transgendered."
Cult Status: Several prominent theologians in the
Counter Cult Movement, including ex-members of the
Seventh-day Adventists, have stated in the past that the SDA church is a cult. In doing
this, they do not imply that the church is a mind control cult
or a doomsday cult, but simply that some of their beliefs
deviate from those of traditional, conservative Christianity. Some attackers have quoted
isolated writings of some members of the church and incorrectly asserted that the thoughts
represented official church doctrine. Some of the criticisms include:
That the writings of Mrs. White are considered on a par with those of the
Bible:
inspired by God and infallible.
That the SDA church bases some of its doctrine on the writings of Mrs. White.
That the atonement of Christ was not finished at crucifixion.
None of the above criticisms appear to be valid. Most Christians and Christian organizations now
regard the Seventh Day Adventist church simply as a non-cultic denomination with some
unique beliefs and practices.1
Lawsuit: The Creation Seventh
Day - Adventist Church (CSDA) was founded in 1991 and created its
website in late 1996. They have been sued by the General
Conference of SDAs for trademark infringement. The CSDA writes:
"In the year 1981 the General Conference of
Seventh-day Adventists enacted a civil law with the United States
government, trademarking its name. From that time it has gone forward,
taking faithful individuals and ministries to court who could not, in
good conscience, either submit to the Conference's strategies or
surrender the name 'Seventh Day Adventist,' believing it to be a mark of
their faith. Where coercion and threats have failed, force has been
employed by the leaders of denominational Adventism to accomplish their
aims and 'protect the church' from those it perceives as its enemies.
During 2006-AUG, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Arbitration and Mediation
Center ruled that the CSDA must turn over control of four of its domain names to
the General Conference.
During 2006-OCT, the General Conference asked that
the CSDA turn over control of a domain name in Canada. 2
Sponsored links:
SDA Conscientious Objectors:
Many Seventh-day Adventists refuse to enter the army as combatants, but participate as
medics, ambulance drivers, etc. During World War II in Germany, many SDA conscientious
objectors were sent to concentration camps or mental institutions; some were executed.
Some Seventh-day Adventists volunteered for the US Army's Operation Whitecoat.
The Church preferred to call them "conscientious participants", because they
were willing to risk their lives as test subjects in potentially life-threatening
research. Over 2,200 Seventh-day Adventists volunteered in experiments involving
various infectious agents during the 1950's through the 1970's in Fort Detrick, MD.
3
Books in Print about SDA:
Roy Adams, "The Sanctuary: Understanding the Heart of Adventist Theology",
Review & Herald Pub Assn., (1994)
Everett N. Dick, "William Miller and the Advent Crisis 1831-1844, Andrews
Univ. Press (1994)
Madlyn Hamblin, "In the Wake of Waco: Why Were Adventists Among the
Victims?", Review & Herald Pub Assn., (1993)
Erwin Gane & Leo Van Dolson, "This We Believe: An Overview of the Teachings
of Seventh-day Adventists", Pacific Pr Pub Assn., (1993)
George R. Knight, "Anticipating the Advent : A Brief History of Seventh-day
Adventists", Pacific Pr Pub Assn., (1993)
Mikhail Kulakov, "God's Soviet Miracles: How Adventists Built the First
Protestant Seminary in Russian History", Pacific Pr Pub Assn., (1993)
Gary Land, "The World of Ellen G. White", Review & Herald Pub
Assn., (1987)
Walter Martin, "The Kingdom of the Cults", Bethany House Pub, (1985),
P. 409-500.
C. Mervyn Maxwell, "Magnificent Disappointment : What Really Happened in 1844...and Its
Meaning for Today", Pacific Pr Pub Assn. (1994)
Ronald L. Numbers, "The Disappointed : Millerism and Millenarianism in the
Nineteenth Century", Univ. of Tennessee Press, (1993)
Helmut Ott, "Perfect in Christ: The Mediation of Christ in the Writings of Ellen
G. White", Review & Herald Pub Assn., (1987)
Michael Pearson, "Millennial Dreams and Moral Dilemmas: Seventh-day Adventism
and Contemporary Ethics", Cambridge Univ. Press (1990)
William Shurtleff, "Bibliography and Sourcebook on Seventh-day Adventists' Work
With Soyfoods, Vegetarianism, and Wheat Gluten, 1866-1992 ", Soyfoods Center
(1992)
Allen R. Steele, "Loud Let It Ring : Adventist World Radio: Twenty-Five Years of
Miracles, Pacific Pr. Pub. Assn., (1996)
U.S. Government, Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Is Military Research Hazardous To
Veterans' Health?; Lessons Spanning Half a Century", 103rd Congress, 2nd Session,
Committee Print S. Prt. 103-97, (1994-DEC), Section C.
Ellen Gould, Harmon White & Phyllis C. Bailey, "The Quote Book : Gems from
the Pen of Ellen G. White", (1994)
Frank S. Mead, "The Handbook of Denominations," 9th Ed., Abingdon
Press, Nashville, TN, Pages 22-25.
"Seventh-day Adventists Believe," Review and Herald Publishing,
(1988). This is an official SDA publication and contains a good overview of SDA beliefs.
Internet Resources:
The following information sources were used to prepare and update the above
essay. The hyperlinks are not necessarily still active today.
The official SDA site is at: http://www.adventist.org/
If you are interested in exactly what the SDA denomination teaches, this
is the web site to consult. Their fundamental beliefs are at:
http://www.adventist.org/
The Bible Project at
http://www.thebibleproject.com/ posts stories and articles in the
topics, health, headline news, reformation, religion, liberty, science
and archaeology.
SDAnet encourages intercommunication among SDA groups, disseminate SDA
information and announce college and university meetings and conferences. See:
http://www.sdanet.org/ They also have a summary of SDA's
"27 Fundamental Beliefs" at: http://www.sdanet.org/
Samuel Koranteng-Pipim, "Receiving the Word,"
Berean Books (1996). Read
about the book
Samuel Koranteng-Pipim, "The spirit of rebellion: Another
look at post-Utrecht ordinations," an essay on female
ordination at: http://www.greatcontroversy.org/
SDA Kinship International Inc., the homosexual support group that is not affiliated with
the SDA is at: http://www.sdakinship.org/
Voice of Prophecy is an international, Christian radio broadcast. It was founded by
H.M.S. Richards in 1929, and is currently aired by more than 1,500 stations worldwide. See:
http://www.vop.com/
Into All the World Wide Web is a counter-cult group which
categorizes the SDA as a cult. They define "cult" as any Christian group that
deviates from traditional conservative Christendom. See: http://www.intowww.org/
SDA Anonymous is a supporting "transition ministry for both current and former SDA
Christians" who have decided to leave the denomination. See: http://www.sabbath.com/
References used:
The following information sources were used to prepare and update the above
essay. The hyperlinks are not necessarily still active today.
Walter Martin, "The Kingdom of the Cults", Bethany House Pub, (1985),
P. 409-500.
"The Creation Seventh Day Adventist Church," at:
http://csda.us/
Allen R. Steele, "Loud Let It Ring : Adventist World Radio: Twenty-Five Years of
Miracles, Pacific Pr. Pub. Assn., (1996)
