Divided We Stand: Traditionalists Rise Against Church Leadership
by Debbie Hooper | 3 September 2024 |
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is at a critical juncture, facing the need to address rising opposition from both progressive and traditional factions.
For a long time, Elder Wilson’s leadership of the General Conference has enjoyed the support of traditional/conservative factions, who share his goal of returning Adventism to fundamental beliefs and the core messages of the pioneers.
At the same time, Elder Wilson has marginalized liberal/progressive Adventists and their independent ministry associates, pushing back against those who challenge church leadership over doctrine and policy.
Yet a rising group of traditional Adventists now question the authority Wilson claims in statements such as these: “Personal opinions and convictions are to be laid aside,” and “The authority of the World Church [General Conference] is to be respected.”
The progressive predicament
Since the late ’70s Desmond Ford era, progressive efforts to influence church policy and doctrine have tended to exist on the periphery, with individuals and small groups working quietly within a system that attempted to silence or punish open discussion and curb organized political mobilization.
Former Adventist and host of the SDAQ&A (Seventh-day Adventist Questions and Answers) podcast Peter Dixon notes the silence of the church’s political left on hot potato issues:
“I have conversations with many ministers behind the scenes who support progressive causes like women’s ordination, but they fear speaking out for fear of potentially losing their jobs, which would have a catastrophic effect on their families.”
Unable to silence independent journalism or dissenters on social media platforms, church leaders stonewall requests for clarifying information and censor or censure employees who speak up. Where progress has been made, such as fundraising efforts in Australia to enhance opportunities for female ministers, Wilson’s policies have limited women’s authority to perform certain functions, and tried to insert an impenetrable glass ceiling.
Traditionalist uprising
In contrast, traditional Adventists are increasingly vocal in their criticism of the current leadership, showing none of the toned-down hesitancy of progressive voices. A recent example is Conrad Vine’s presentation at a Maine camp meeting, where he called for the resignation of any leader involved in the COVID-19 mandate. Vine suggested that traditional Adventists should form parallel congregations and divert their tithes to traditional conferences if the General Conference issued any further mandates. This would contradict Ted Wilson’s stance against congregationalism, and in favor of an enforced church unity.
The Northern New England Conference’s somewhat tepid response suggests a growing inability to control dissent in the traditional wing, and a desire to keep them pacified. Meanwhile, other traditionalists are imposing suppression within the ranks. The conservative CEO of the independent ministry “Secrets Unsealed,” Steven Bohr, responded by canceling Vine as an upcoming guest speaker. Whether Bohr came under pressure from the General Conference to exert influence on Vine would need more investigation—though it is more likely that Bohr realized that Vine had touched a topic that his contributors wouldn’t abide.
Is Wilson losing his support base with widespread traditionalist unrest, and progressives wanting to push the church in fresh directions?
Unlikely alliance
Curiously, this has led to an unusual alignment between progressive and traditional factions, against the current leadership. Mark Lastimoso of Mark Lastimoso Ministry and former Adventist Miles Christian of Answering Adventism occupy opposite ends of the theological spectrum, yet both criticize Ted Wilson’s claims to authority. In a recent YouTube recording, Lastimoso explicitly endorsed many of the conclusions arrived at by Miles Christian in an Answering Adventism video. Lastimoso went on to describe the current church leadership as “counterfeit Adventism” and “cultic” and called Ted Wilson’s leadership “despotic spiritual authority.” He also said that the authority of the Adventist Church “is to be rejected and it is to be exposed as dark….”
“It’s time to separate,” Lastimoso repeated several times throughout his presentation.
The broader context
A recurring righteousness by faith theme, first seen at the 1888 General Conference Session, has continued to raise its head throughout our history, along with issues about the interpretation of Adventist doctrine, the role of Ellen White’s writings, and how the church should relate to the broader Christian world. Yet unlike traditionalists Lastimoso and Vine, progressive Adventists seem less inclined to call on their supporters to separate from the official church, despite historical conflict between the two ideologies.
This conflict is not new to organized religion: many denominations also grapple with tensions between traditional and progressive elements, exacerbated by societal changes and generational shifts. Yet some have dealt with this conflict between ideologies more effectively than Adventism. Under Elder Wilson’s leadership, open and transparent dialogue on significant theological and social issues is discouraged—frequently by citing Ellen White’s writings to validate his views of the General Conference’s ultimate authority on earth.
The path forward
It’s time for change—but what, and how? Strategies suggested by church consulting practices may lead the General Conference out of this situation before it’s too late:
- Open dialogue: Facilitate rather than shut down open, respectful discussions between different factions.
- Transparency and honesty: Increased transparency in decision-making processes eventually rebuilds trust.
- Changes in structure/authority: A more decentralized structure (or recognition of the existing one’s authority) might allow for a greater diversity of thought and practice within the Church.
- Avoid personal agendas: Well-defined, transparent agendas emphasizing the organization’s mission instead of the motivation to increase control may result in forward momentum rather than stagnation.
- Focus on common ground: Emphasizing shared beliefs and values might help bridge ideological divides.
- Fiercely align to mission: Focus on the Church’s overall mission and demonstrate responsible stewardship of Church resources.
Questions remain. Does the future hold significant disruption for the 21,912,161 members of the worldwide Adventist Church, with Adventism splitting instead of remaining a single entity? The potential for a transformative shift is palpable. Will it be constructive or destructive?
It could be either a meaningful change, or simply a reshuffling of power dynamics. The church’s ability to navigate these challenges while staying true to its core mission will likely determine its relevance and vitality in the coming years.
Debbie Hooper writes from the Gold Coast of Queensland, Australia.
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