ATSS: Denis Fortin, “George I. Butler: An Honest but Misunderstood Church Leader”
6 March 2024 |
While George Ide Butler is not a household name among Adventists today, that was not true for those who lived in the second half of the 1800s. Twice president of the General Conference, Butler is probably better known for aggressively resisting A. T. Jones and E. J. Waggoner at the 1888 Minneapolis General Conference Session.
Denis Fortin will put readers into Butler’s shoes, revealing his heart, understanding his arguments, and viewing the young church through his lens. But this is much more than about Butler himself: it is a dynamic stream of Adventist history from Butler’s perspective as the denomination faced new stresses and strains—including complex family relationships and opposing power centers—as it sought to define itself and how it would operate.
It is a messy yet encouraging picture of Adventist leaders living in the real world as they sought to move the church into the future. That less-than-ideal historical picture helps us understand that even exceptional church leaders can be complex and fallible.
Step into Butler’s shoes for a fascinating walk through early Adventist history.
Teacher:
Moderator:
Gina Jett is a retired attorney from the Sacramento area.
How to join:
One-click link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82700896747
Passcode: ADVENTIST
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The class is intended to last about 2 hours, though the conversation often continues to 4 PM (Eastern time).
About our class:
- The AT Sabbath Seminar is intended to be a courteous forum. We discuss and ask questions politely. We don’t accuse, get angry, put people down, or judge the state of their salvation.
- Stick to the topic in both comments and chat discussion.
- Make your comments and questions short—don’t dominate.
- Keep your microphones muted unless you are called upon to make your comment or ask your question.
- Indicate your interest in speaking by raising your electronic hand—under the “reactions” button.
- Please use your name when you sign in! Not your phone number, not your initials. This will help us differentiate you from unwelcome guests who want to disrupt us. You can set your name after signing on by clicking on the 3 dots next to your picture, which drops down a menu.
We look forward to getting acquainted with you!
YouTube channel:
You can see all of our previous ATSS recordings here.
Coming up:
- Stephen Chavez
- Denis Fortin
- Andreas Bochmann
- Tom deBruin
- Reinder Bruinsma
