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S Reaction of many:
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‘I am out’
Is this my church?’
This generation’s ‘Great Disappointment’
S Jared Wright (Spectrum) Tale of Two Cities: ‘The best and the worst of times’
S Kendra Haloviak: ‘A sense of belonging, and feeling an outsider.’

S Membership ca. 18. million
S Delegates
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2.566
% female
% under 30
% under 40
Delegates
17 %
8 %
8 + 8 = 16%
NAD / EUD / TED / SPD - 464 = 18 %
(Note: ‘Yes’ vote: 977 )

S Dominance from the North to the South
S From spiritual to political
S Church Manual: from descriptive to prescriptive
S Fundamental Beliefs: Increasingly creedal
S Theologically: from the middle to the right
S Presidency increasingly imperial
S Source: dr. Gilbert Valentine

S No sudden changes, but process
S Pendulum movement in open discussions
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1943-1950: Bible Research Fellowship (250 members; unofficial)
BRI /ATS (but also Spectrum / AT)
S Illustration: Presidencies
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Reuben Figuhr
Robert Pierson
Neal C. Wilson
Robert Folkenberg
Jan Paulsen
Ted N.C. Wilson
(1893-1986)
(1911-1989)
(1920-2010)
(1941 -
(1936 -
(1950 -

S Stability
S Openness
S Major projects:
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Questions on Doctrine
SDA Bible Commentary

S ‘Revival and Reformation’
S VP: W. Hacket
S Documents: Inspiration and Creation
S Attempt to make leaders / teachers sign
S ‘Decade of obscurantism’: Robert Pierson, Gordon Hyde,
Gerhard Hasel
S Uncanny similarity with TNC Wilson

S Expansion of the Church
S Global Mission
S 1980 : Fundamental Beliefs
S Power / church politics: 1980, Desmond Ford
S ‘Political’

S Expansion
S Emphasis on technology
S Document: Total Commitment
S Attempt to control higher education
S Removed from office

S Emphasis on unity
S Stress on social involvement
S Initiates faith and science dialogue
S Encounters with young people
S New: Unions of churches
S Suspicion: too liberal

S ‘Revival and Reformation’
S Back to Adventist basics
S Emphasis on ‘plain reading’ and EGW
S Women’s ordination debate
S ‘most divisive president’ to date

S Christians in North / South (Philip Jenkins)
S (in millions)
North
South
1910
502
856
2010
509
1.328

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S
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Projection number of Catholics:
Latin America
Europe
Africa
Asia
North America
2000 2025
461 606
286
120
276
228
110
71
160
81

World
North-America
Europe
Australia/NZ
Inter-America
South-America
Africa
1980
3.488
604
192
66
646
496
663
2000
11.687
933
257
61
2.078
1.817
3.800
2015
18.479
1.201
263
76
3.608
2.328
7.027

Total tithes
(million dollars)
North-America
EUD/TED
Australia/NZ
Inter-America
South-America
Africa
1980
392
243
39
23
31
2000
1.093
656
89
33
108
108
2015
2.396
1.201
201
65
244
556
156

Tithe income divisions 2014 (millions of $)
East Central Africa
Euro-Asia
Inter-America
Inter-European Div.
North America
N. Asia Pacific
South America
Southern Asia
Southern-Asia Pacific
Trans-European
West-Central Africa
36,1
39,3
244,1
133,6
948,7
73,9
556,3
5,7
65.2
67,2
25,9

S North America
S Europe
S Australia/NZ
S Total
1980
62
10
6
78
2000
60
8
3
71
2015
50
8
3
61

Total NAD
Andrews University
LLU
Newbold
Collonges
Total SAD
Babcock (Nigeria)
Samyuk Univ. (Korea)
2000
20.000
2.749
3.362
346
131
8.400
3.410
980
2015
26.000
3.876
4.729
248
138
20.000
7.300
7,700

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S Women’s Ordination
S Prognosis
S Repercussions?
S Theological Developments?
Power and Role of GC
Hermeneutics
Content and function of Fundamental Beliefs
Homosexuality
Church growth / Big cities and health evangelism /
Danger of Split? Further polarization?

S Will first term of T.N.C Wilson be honestly analyzed?
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Health of the church / unity? / polarization?
Increased fundamentalism?
Increased influence of ‘Last Generation Theology’
Projects?
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Revival and reformation
Bible reading projects and EGW emphasis
Great Controversy Project
Mission to the Cities
BRI activities

Prognosis:
Guarded positive responses from some divisions
More female leaders to be expected
NAD - some unions will continue to ordain women
TED - some unions will ordain women or decide not to ordain at all (some problems need to be solved)
EUD - maybe some some Unions? Germany?
SPD ???
Elsewhere: most will probably abide by GC vote for foreseeable future

Repercussion for dissenting organizations
* administrative measures (Yearbook, invitations, hindering promotions)?
* financial sanctions? – TED especially vulnerable
* union constituency meetings called by GC / divisions?
* attempts to change critical leadership?
* dissolve rebelling unions?

Theological Developments?
Headship Theology
Influence of publications?
e.g. Wiklander: Ordination Reconsidered
Discussions will continue / issue will reappear
Existing policies will not be changed (statement by TNCW)
Confusion will continue: ordained female elders / but no ordained female pastors commissioned minister
Will the church realize that FB 14 prohibits all kinds of gender discrimination?

S The church is one body with many members, called from every nation, kindred, tongue, and people. In Christ we are a new creation; distinctions of race, culture, learning, and nationality, and differences between high and low, rich and poor, male and female, must not be divisive among us. We are all equal
in Christ, who by one Spirit has bonded us into one fellowship with Him and with one another; we are to serve and be served without partiality or reservation. Through the revelation of Jesus Christ in the Scriptures we share the same faith and hope, and reach out in one witness to all.
This unity has its source in the oneness of the triune God, who has adopted us as His children.

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GC – highest authority of God on earth?
What does EGW say?
EGW support for some GC presidents / not for some others
EGW critical of ‘kingly power’
Authority of unions
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Delegated authority? (see recent document GC secretariat)
Why unions were created (1890’s)
Specific authority for local churches and conferences/unions
S Relationship to NAD (institutions; location)

S Widespread awareness: church needs to focus on hermeneutics.
S During GC – David Ripley’s remark receives broad assent
S Probably: study focus during next period
S Questions:
S Status of Rio document?
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Composition / role of BRI
Involvement broader scholarly community? Or only ATS/BRI?
Some kind of TOSC?
Involvement TNCW? (cf. his involvement evolution debate)

S 1980 27 Fundamental beliefs (28 th added in 2005)
S Involvement theologians Andrews
S 2015
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Theologians marginalized
TNCW : pushed for revision on evolution
‘pious manipulation’
Small committee dealing with suggestions from the floor:
Arthur Stele, Bill Knott, Angel Rodriguez. Gerhard Pfandl

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BRI/GRI sponsored meeting - Denver
TNCW chaired the meetings
S Wrote a concluding document – was voted down
Submitted this document to GC administration – accepted
Presented this later as outcome of Denver meetings.
S Revision 2015
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Not evidence-based
Introduction of EGW terms / not used in Bible:
‘Literal days; historical; recent; global’

S Earliest summaries : for convenience; intended for outside world
S Current FB:
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Positively: more gender inclusive
S But: marriage – partners replaced by men and women
Defining ourselves
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Who may belong to our community?
Exclusive
S How will it be used? To exclude / condemn people? How much loyalty will be expected?

S At the background of WO debate
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S Slippery slope? – danger of accepting same sex relations
Growing awareness of the issue in the SDA church
Growing awareness about the phenomenon of homosexuality S
(role of KINSHIP)
S Growing sense: biblical evidence is not as clear-cut many say
S People ‘coming out’
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(Young) people want no discrimination in their church
Issue will not go away
Again: matter of hermeneutics

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Traditional evangelism in the South will continue
Growth in North mainly through migration, some biological growth
Big City Evangelism – will remain problematic
Gap between North and South will widen
But: expect developments in the South – education
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Question: will experimentation be allowed? Or does GC panic if people speak about ‘emerging church’, etc.?
Problems re retention of members

S Recent disempowerment of women, youth and progressives.
S ‘Death of liberalism’?
S Exodus of (young) people will continue (millennials will be hesitant join)
S Often pastors discouraged, demotivated.
S Lack of relevancy
S ‘Will a thinking person want to join the church??

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In the North: growth among ethnic groups
Many European countries (esp. big cities) very diverse.
S Ex: Great Britain; Spain
North America:
S SDA ‘most diverse denomination in USA’
S 37% white
S 32 % black
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15 % Hispanic
8 % Asian
8 % various and mixed

S Increased polarization – at every level
S Split in two or more denominations? – not very likely
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SDA has history of staying together
Influence of statements by EGW
S Greater probability:
S Increased role of independent ministries
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Loud protests: church becomes too liberal
Many ‘liberals’ / ‘progressives’ will disappear
‘Right’ wing more vocal
Unless . . .

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A bleak picture? Yes and no.
Short term: many concerns
S Power struggle will continue
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GC will be marginalized in the NAD, Europe and (?) SPD
Theological development uncertain
Many: ‘Do I still feel at home in this church?’
Longer term
S Processes can be reversed
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We hope and pray for new leadership at the top
S Remember: Pierson is now footnote in SDA history
Importance of new leadership at lower levels
Many good things happening at local level!

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Not speak in terms of rebellion– rather: ‘loyal opposition’
Must dare to clearly voice opinions (publications)
Conviction: GC / FB cannot define what I believe!
Support scientific community
Emphasize need for diversity (and tolerance)
Foster spirituality and fellowship
Remain who you are!!