March 31, 2021
Pastor Glenn Townend
Chancellor, Avondale University College
and President, South Pacific Division of SDAs
Dear Pastor Townend,
You would know Andre Afamasaga, an ex-Pastor (SDA) who came out as Gay and received a lot of media attention, saying he wants to help Gay People hurt by Israel Folau. Links:
Did you know he was invited to give his views in an Avondale-sponsored podcast? Two young SDA pastors on a program called "Burn The Haystack" ask him what people should do if they were confused about their Sexuality and he recommends:
Adventist Kinship
David Gushee, who says Christians should fully affirm gay relationships
Anthony Venn-Brown, the Australian Pentecostal ex-pastor and LGBTQIA campaigner
the Brave LGBTQIA network in Melbourne https://thebravenetwork.org
Matthew Vines, who wrote God and the Gay Christian: The Biblical Case in Support of Same-Sex Relationships
Mr Afamasaga also spent a lot of time giving the usual arguments against classic Christian teaching: “Jesus taught love. We should not just think of biblical theology. We need to ask how rainbow people read the texts. We mustn't weaponise the Bible, etc..”
The interviewers barely challenged his views at all and often expressed agreement with his answers. It was a very "soft" interview. And there was no balance. They have never interviewed or mentioned Christians like:
Rachel Gilson, author of Born Again This Way
In the interview Mr Afamasaga jokes that they will "get their sponsorship by Avondale removed" for interviewing him (59:45). But they didn't. Avondale University College comes on screen at the beginning and their sponsorship "of this episode" is written on the website.
You can find their interview on the Facebook page Burn The Haystack or here:
It seems obvious that leaders at Avondale are pushing the SDA Church towards full Affirmation of Gay Relationships. And they're doing it by stealth, not honest dialogue.
The interviewers say their aim is to attract people to church. Should we attract fornicators, adulterers and pornography to church by affirming their sin without any challenge to be born again? The Bible says those who do these things will not inherit the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
When young, Bible-believing Christians see Avondale compromising like this, we cringe. Our church's college is accepting the Left agenda, not swimming against the tide of our culture, but going with the flow like a dead fish.
Questions
Would a student at Avondale ever hear academic support for the biblical view? From whom? This is why some of us would rather go to a University. The lectures will not support biblical Christianity, but at least they don't pretend to support it and draw a wage from my Church.
Pastor Townend, with respect, did you as Avondale's Chancellor know about this? If not, why not? If so, do you approve of it? Or do you tolerate it so as to avoid conflict? Is Avondale under your leadership or not?
Will you act on this or just tell the relevant people to keep quiet, and allow them to keep white-anting?
I think a lot of young Seventh-day Adventists like me would like to know the truth about what is really happening at Avondale. So would our parents and grandparents, whose tithes and offerings have ended up sponsoring a show that they would not believe was biblical. Please be the transparent, accountable, courageous leader our church needs. Please.
I am praying for you,
Sincerely
Claire Parker
clairemareeparker@gmail.com