A Modest Proposal
by Andy Hanson, June 19, 2015: Wilson’s keynote—“The Truth as It Is in Jesus” At sexuality summit, Adventist Church president reflects on ‘human brokenness’ March 18, 2014 | Cape Town, South Africa
Adventist world church President Ted N. C. Wilson reflects on “human brokenness” during his keynote at the church’s summit on sexuality. The summit, “In God’s Name: Scripture. Sexuality. Society,” meets March 17 to 20 in Cape Town, South Africa. [photo: Ansel Oliver]
Wilson called it both “inconsistent and morally wrong for the Adventist Church to isolate practicing members of the LGBT community for discipline” while it ignores those engaged in heterosexual pre-marital sex or adultery (boldface mine).
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It seems that even our GC President finds it “inconsistent and morally wrong” for the church to “isolate and discipline” members of the LGBT community. This doesn’t seem to be just his opinion.* If not, shouldn’t our Church Policy statement reflect Ted Wilson’s more enlightened church position on “homosexual practice?” **
*Statement from the Communication Department of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.
Church leadership noted with concern some statements reportedly made by the Uganda Union Mission Executive Director in connection with the Anti-Homosexuality Bill under consideration in Uganda. These views do not reflect the values of the Church as expressed in published statements on same sex conduct.
Seventh-day Adventists continue to affirm the equal dignity and rights of every person as articulated in the relevant international human rights declarations and Covenants. –Rajmund Dabrowski, Communication Director
**Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual Revised 2005, 17th Edition Page 195
CHURCH DISCIPLINE
1. Denial of faith in the fundamentals of the gospel and in the cardinal doctrines of the church or teaching doctrines contrary to the same.
2. Violation of the law of God, such as worship of idols, murder, stealing, profanity, gambling, Sabbath breaking, and willful and habitual falsehood.
3. Violation of the seventh commandment of the law of God as it relates to the marriage institution, the Christian home, and biblical standards of moral conduct.
4. Such violations as fornication, promiscuity, incest, homosexual practice, sexual abuse of children and vulnerable adults, and other sexual perversions, and the remarriage of a divorced person, except of the spouse who has remained faithful to the marriage vow in a divorce for adultery or for sexual perversions.
5. Physical violence, including violence within the family.
6. Fraud or willful misrepresentation in business.
7. Disorderly conduct which brings reproach upon the church.
8. Adhering to or taking part in a divisive or disloyal movement or organization.
(See p. 190.)
9. Persistent refusal to recognize properly constituted church authority or to submit to the order and discipline of the church.
10. The use, manufacture, or sale of alcoholic beverages.
11. The use, manufacture, or sale of tobacco in any of its forms for human consumption.
12. The misuse of, or trafficking in, narcotics or other drugs.
The church cannot afford to deal lightly with such sins nor permit personal considerations to affect its actions. It must register its decisive and emphatic disapproval of the sins of fornication, adultery, all acts of moral indiscretion, and other grievous sins (Boldface mine).
