WHO HAS THE AUTHORITY IN THE SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH? JESUS CHRIST OR THE GENERAL CONFERENCE COMMITTEE?

“Break every yoke” Testimonies to Ministers p. 481

By Nyron Medina

Published by the Services of Thusia Seventh Day Adventist Church

“Another essential characteristic of a genuine Seventh Day Adventist is loyalty in spirit and conduct to the

church and its leaders, as they speak and act for Christ. The church is a team; and every member of the team

will play with the team and its leaders, not against them.” Review, Jan.6 1977 p.13

“Leadership will lead in love and understanding, and followership will support the Church leadership

unfailingly, even though necessarily critical of some decisions of leadership.” Walter R. Beach, Review, Oct. 25,

1979.

“The General Conference Committee is the highest authority in the Seventh Day Adventist Church. All other

organizations and institutions that carry the name Seventh Day Adventist have a subsidiary role to the General

Conference.” Neal Wilson, Court Reporters’ Transcript p. 372.

“The Administrative Authority of the General Conference is therefore the authority of the entire church joining

together by this form of organization for the doing of the gospel work and the maintaining of the unity of the

faith in all the world.” Constitution, By-Laws and Working Policy of the General Conference of Seventh Day

Adventists, 1927. P 17.

“The Seventh Day Adventist Church… maintains… a hierarchical structure of church authority…. The executive

committee wields all the power of the church, excepting two…” Excerpts Legal Documents EEOC Vs PPP – p

53, 44.

“The church is built upon Christ as its foundation, it is to obey Christ as its head, it is not to depend upon men,

nor to be controlled by men. Many claim that a position of trust in the church gives them authority to dictate

what other men shall believe and what they shall do. This claim God does not sanction. The Savior declares,

“All ye are Brethren.” Ellen. G. White, Desire of Ages p. 491. “The Apostle exalts Christ as the great head of

the church, and the only one to whom she should look for leadership in, Hebrews 12:1, 2.” James White,

Review and Herald, Dec 1, 1874.

“The great danger with our people has been that of depending upon men and making flesh their arm. Those

who have not been in the habit of searching the bible for themselves, or weighing evidence, have confidence

in the leading men and accept the decisions they make; and thus many will reject the very messages God

sends to His people, if these leading Brethren do not accept them.” Testimonies to Ministers p. 106,107

“That which makes me feel to the very depths of my being and makes me know that their works are not the

works of God, is that they suppose they have authority to rule their fellow men. The Lord has given them no

more right to rule others than he has given others to rule them. Those who assume the control of their

fellowmen take into their finite hands a work that devolves upon god alone.” Testimonies to Ministers p. 26.

At present the SDA Church which God has raised up to finish the work in these last days is certainly far from

being ready to fulfill its commission because a number of blocks have hindered the development of the

individual member and even ministers, thus preventing their qualification to do the last work of sounding the

last message of mercy to a perishing world.

In the light of this fact, a revival and reformation is needed in the church. Ellen G. White whom God inspire

wrote: “A revival of true godliness among us is the greatest and most urgent of all our needs. To seek this

should be our first work.” 1SM 121. “God’s people will not endure the test unless there is a revival and

reformation.” 7T 285.

How does she prophesy that it would come? Read the following quotation! “One member working in right

lines will lead other members to unite with him in making intercession for the revelation of the Holy Spirit…

The Lord will co-operate with His servants.” 8T 251. But how can this happen if ministers crush out the

initiative of every group that seeks personal bible study? How can it happen if the leaders listen to rumors

and stop groups from bible study? Mrs. White warned that through these ministers, members would be led to

give up the Sabbath in the final crisis. She said: “There is a need of a Sabbath Reform among us who profess

to observe God’s Holy Rest Day… The Lord has a controversy with His professed people in these last days. In

this controversy men in responsible positions will take a course directly opposite to that pursued by

Nehemiah. They will not only ignore and despise the Sabbath themselves, but they will try to keep it from

others by burying it beneath the rubbish of custom and tradition. In churches and in large gatherings in the

open air, ministers will urge upon the people the necessity of keeping the first day of the week.” E. G. White,

R & H Vol. 1 p. 405.

The form of church government held by the SDA Church today would cause the leading men who are led by

Satan and policy rather than by Jesus, to direct members to reject the revival. “The Lord’s people will be

called enthusiasts. Ministers will warn the people not to listen to them.” TM p. 233.

How can the SDA Church have a revival if the ministers are made servants to the general conference

committee, and if these ministers warn people not to listen to members who teach truth in the church

because the truth shows the church to be in error? Thus Mrs. White says: “This high-minded power that has

been developed, as though position made men gods, makes me afraid and ought to cause fear. It is a curse

wherever and by whomsoever it is exercised.” TM p. 361.

Thus God calls upon church members to study their bibles and to break free from the control of the men in the

SDA Organization, don’t depend upon them. Place your trust in God and get up and do the work for

yourselves. If in the governmental system that the SDA Church presently is, men should consult Christ for

direction from the bible as to how to deal with situations as they arise in the church, then they would know

when revival and reformation is coming, and would identify the germs of its beginning and so not crush it out.

But, alas, many leaders have strayed from the truth and are Luke warm, and so have no vision, so they depend

on a system of church policies and rumors from sin loving people who have no outstanding moral and spiritual

reputation. These leaders forbid aspiring individuals for fear of losing their authority and endangering their

jobs with the conference.

This state of affairs would have never existed if the advice of the spirit of prophecy had been take years ago by

ministers. Wanting in SDA Church are Ministers with courage to stand alone for truth though it is against the

organization and the ease loving crowd; if they lose their jobs, so what? Would not the God that called them

to stand for truth help them? If they cannot bear pressure from one minor community how would they bear

the world when it comes down upon them in a Sunday Law?

Much of these ministers are doomed except they repent! Says God: “My people hath been lost sheep, their

shepherds have caused them to go astray.” Jer 50:16.

And what does Sis White says? “To conference Presidents and men in responsible places, I bear the message:

Break the banks and fetters that have been placed upon God’s people. To you the word is spoken, ‘break

every yoke.’ Unless you cease the work of making man amenable to man, unless you become humble in heart

and yourselves learn the way of the Lord as little children the Lord will divorce you from His work.” TM p. 481.

Wake up, people, wake up, and study your bibles. Place your trust in God and stand for truth and

righteousness even if it is against the SDA Organization. Eze 34; Isa 9:15, 16; Jer 23:1.2.11, 15.

THE END WHO HAS THE AUTHORITY IN THE SEVENTH DAY

ADVENTIST CHURCH? JESUS CHRIST OR THE GENERAL

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE?