How is a person elected General Conference president?
Q: Dear Pastor Wilson, how can one run for General Conference president? How does a person get their name in so that people can vote on it? — Matthewa A: Matthew, in the Seventh-day Adventist Church, people don’t “run” for positions, as one would for a political office. Instead, church leaders are elected by their…
Read MoreIs the Seventh-day Adventist Church just another fake?
Q: Didn’t Ellen White say in “Selected Messages, Book 1,” p. 204, that the Seventh-day Adventist Church would leave the pillars of faith which God gave to the remnant pioneers? Isn’t the Adventist Church just another fake following the fulfillment of this prophecy? — Cedric, from South Africa A: Cedric, the passage to which you…
Read MoreDoes Job contradict our belief in the state of the dead?
Q: Job 14:22 makes reference to pain and mourning by the soul and body. This is confusing as Job 14:1-21 is a good summary of the state of the dead. However, verse 22 seems to suggest consciousness in death. Would you please help me to understand this particular verse? — Taurai, from Zimbabwe A: Let’s…
Read MoreShould Adventists serve in the military?
Q: Should Adventists go to war to defend their countries, including bearing arms? If not, what is the difference between these wars, and the wars of the people of Israel in the Old Testament?—Marlon, from Panama, currently living in the United States A: Marlon, this is an interesting question, especially with the recent attention focusing…
Read MoreDo these Ellen White quotes show she supported women’s ordination?
Q: The quotes below seem to indicate Ellen White’s support for women to be ordained in pastoral ministry. Could you please comment on your understanding of these quotes? — Bronwyn, from Australia A: Bronwyn, thank you for your list of quotations by Ellen White, several of which appear below. Rather than just giving my understanding,…
Read MoreWas Ellen White an ordained minister?
Q: Was Ellen White an ordained minister? I’ve seen pictures posted of her ministerial credentials showing that she was an ordained minister, and I understand that the White Estate has several of her ministerial credentials in their files. — April, from the United States A: April, according to the Ellen G. White Estate, Mrs. White…
Read MoreCan women preach from the pulpit on Sabbath?
Q: Pastor Ted, are women supposed to preach on the pulpit on the Sabbath day? — Andrew, from Malawi A: Andrew, a person doesn’t need to be an ordained pastor to preach. Women (and men) can preach anywhere God calls them to preach. God needs everyone to reach others for Him, and no one is…
Read MoreWhat authority do church unions have in ordaining ministers?
Q: When unions were established, God saw to it that they had final authority to determine who gets ordained. How is it that when they exercise that authority they are rebellious? Has the General Conference decided that they know better? How does this (what absolutely appears to be an) exercise of kingly authority promote unity?…
Read MoreCould you clarify the role of divisions and unions in light of the unity document?
Q: The 2015 General Conference Session vote in San Antonio was not to allow the power to decide ordination to go to a division level. As far as I’m aware, no division has taken such an action. So exactly which division is out of keeping with policy? I’m confused by the use of the term…
Read MoreWhat’s next after Annual Council approved the unity document?
Q: A document about church unity was voted during 2016 Annual Council. What exactly is this document, and what will happen now that it was approved by Annual Council? — Sherrie, U.S. A: Sherrie, much thought, prayer, and consultation went into producing the “Unity in Mission: Procedures in Church Reconciliation” document. This document is the…
Read More