The following is a conversation between Seventh Day Adventist Texas Conference Executive Secretary Richard M. White ([email protected]) and an elder at the Kerrville Texas SDA Church. In a church business meeting it had been voted that the man in question return to ministry and fellowship after being disfellowshipped by the Verified Volunteers program and the Texas Conference. The man in question was an elder in the church and a Sabbath School teacher. Although a registered sex offender, for 30 years the local Church knew the man, his past, his spirituality, and the fruit of his life. Does Christ have the power to change a man or not? The Texas Conference doesn't think He does. They would rather permanently condemn people who are guilty of certain sins. Who would be better to judge this situation, the Texas Conference or the local church who fellowships with the man in question? I think the clip speaks for itself. How well do you know your leadership? Please make sure our delegates see this before May 19th. Here's what Ellen White had to say about this type of behavior from leadership:
Remove the Dictator--The spirit of domination is extending to the presidents of our conferences. If a man is sanguine of his own powers and seeks to exercise dominion over his brethren, feeling that he is invested with authority to make his will the ruling power, the best and only safe course is to remove him, lest great harm be done, and he lose his own soul, and imperil the souls of others. "All ye are brethren.".-Testimonies to Ministers, p. 362. {ChL 35.3}
Force must never come in. All who thought that their position gave them power to command their fellow beings, and control conscience, must be deprived of their position; for this is not God's plan. {RH, September 7, 1897 par. 8}
Matthew 20:25-28 King James Version (KJV)
25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Update 05/08/2019:
I think it needs to be made very clear that the man in question did not take part in an act of pedophilia, the woman in question was not a young child, she was 15. I’m not writing this to down play what happened, but there is a huge difference between a 15 year old girl and a child half that age. The conference is painting this man as a drug addict and a pedophile, and nothing could be further from the truth. They are spinning things to make it look like they were somehow justified in their actions – closing churches – banning good brothers from ministry, etc.
The issue here is not this case though but the fact that the church is taking its direction from an organization with strong ties to Rome – our insurance company. It’s all connected back to A. J. Gallagher & Co. The philosophy driving these policies is one of collectivism/communism – protect the group and not individual liberty. The real problem I have with this policy is that it denies the Gospel message and that Christ Jesus has the power to heal and change a man. Their policy is completely satanic and usurps the authority that the local church has to deal with these issues. By their fruits you shall know them Christ said.
Another point that I wanted to bring up, that Fulcrum 7 totally ignored in their article of the church closing in Fort Worth, was that the main reason they closed was that they had a bible worker that was a registered sex offender – who was paid by the conference. The pastor defended him – that’s why the church closed.
The Texas Conference leaders Carlos Craig and Richard White could care less for individual cases or why you are on the sex offender registry. If you did something 30 or 40 years ago before you came to Christ, then you are not eligible to lead out in an SDA ministry in any way shape or form period, and you may only attend church if you sign a document admitting that you are currently a sex offender and then you must have an escort the entire time you are on church property, or you will go to jail. This policy is complete tyranny and tramples individual liberty and the gospel message. Can only righteous people attend the SDA church? I thought Christ came to save the sinners. How can that happen if they can’t take part in our church? Mary Magdalene could not be a Seventh Day Adventist today!
Folks, this is only one issue, but I believe this is very indicative of the type of leadership we have in our conference and that we can expect more of the same to come.
Pray for our Church and it’s leaders!
More detailed information here:
https://thetruths.food.blog/2019/05/07/the-truth-about-the-falsely-accused-church-member/
