The Rocky Mountain Conference Executive Committee, in a special executive session on July 28, 2021, Nominated Mic Thurber to serve as Conference president, replacing Ed Barnett who retired at the end of August, 2021.
I am not certain of the date when Elder Thurber actually arrived and took office, but I think he had responsibilities he had to take care of before he came to Colorado.
To add to his workload, Constituency for the Conference is set for August 21, 2022. To prepare for Constituency, our Conference Administration holds Town Hall Meetings at the different regions of the Conference.
Before our Town Hall Meeting, which was scheduled for December 12, 2021, they had already had at least one in a different region, and I heard about it from a couple of members. They told me there was an obvious agenda by the new Administration to push for women’s ordination in our Conference.
With that in mind, I sent the following email to Elder Thurber. It includes my original email, his initial response, and one more reply from me:
Dec_6_2021, 12:04am_To Elder Mic Thurber, RMC President
Elder Thurber, I have listed on my calendar that you will be at Campion this coming Sunday, December 12, 2021 for a Town Hall Meeting. If the Good Lord be willing, and the creek don’t rise, I plan to be there, and I plan to ask some questions.
My questions are about the decision of the Delegates to the Mid-America Union Constituency Session April 22, 2021, and about how our Conference is going to respond to the option we now have of asking the Union Executive Committee to consider approving an ordained or commissioned credential for all recommended persons for ordination.
Question #1: Under what authority did the Delegates to the Mid-America Union Constituency Session override the decision of the Delegates to SDA Church General Conference Session of 2015?
Question #2: Do the Delegates to the RMC Constituency Session which meets next year (2022) have the same authority to override any decision made by the Delegates to the Mid-America Union Constituency Sessions? If not, why not?
The Campion SDA Church now has 790 members (each one a Delegate to any duly called Business Meeting).
Question #3: When we have a Campion Church Constituency Session (Church Business Meeting), do our delegates have the same authority to override any decision made by Rocky Mountain Conference Constituency Sessions? If not, why not?
Example: We are considering building a new elementary school in the near future. It will be expensive. As a Board Member, I could ask the Board to recommend to our Constituency Delegates that for two years we withhold ½ of the tithe we send to the Conference and apply it to the new building project. Would that be a valid recommendation that our Board should even consider? If not, why not?
Whereas the Campion Church affirms that the education of our youth is a responsibility placed upon us by God’s word and the revelation from the SOP ….
Whereas the Campion Church affirms that education at the present time, under the present Covid circumstances presents a tremendous evangelistic opportunity ….
And, Whereas the Campion Church affirms that … local conferences (were established) to support and serve local churches, and local churches to support and facilitate the work of ministry by its members … Do you see how it’s done?
If my recommendation is not valid (I affirm it is not), then any recommendation by the Conference Executive Committee to Constituency next year that we credential female pastors is equally not valid and would serve only to divide God’s people.
The GC session in San Antonio led some leaders, who participated in the vote, to become involved in a spirit of rebellion, and now has evolved into active rebellion. They call for a spirit of Christian forbearance (from those who object to what they are permitting), while they continue to allow entities for which they are responsible to continue to ordain women to the ministry, in defiance to the vote of the Representatives of His church from all parts of the earth, assembled in a General Conference Session.
Leaders at the General Conference are charged with denying ordination to women in ministry, but it was not the leaders of the GC, but the Representatives of His church who voted the issue. For the third time.
If only we could channel God!
Is it possible? Could we? Has God ordained a system which would, like the urim and thummim, leave all committed followers of God satisfied that they are following His will? Even if it is against our private judgment? What if I’ve prayed, studied, discussed, wrestled with the issues of morality and fairness, and have come to a rock solid personal conviction? Would I submit if God tells me that my private independence and private judgment must not be stubbornly maintained, but surrendered?
First, does God have a Church, or not? I’m talking about the visible and organized church. If God does have an organized Church, is that Church the Seventh-day Adventist Church?To begin, some Bible texts quoted in Acts of the Apostles, page 200:
"Notwithstanding the fact that Paul was personally taught by God, he had no strained ideas of individual responsibility. While looking to God for direct guidance, he was ever ready to recognize the authority vested in the body of believers united in church fellowship. He felt the need of counsel, and when matters of importance arose, he was glad to lay these before the church and to unite with his brethren in seeking God for wisdom to make right decisions. Even "the spirits of the prophets," he declared, "are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints." 1 Cor 14:32, 1 Cor 14:33. With Peter, he taught that all united in church capacity should be "subject one to another." 1 Pet 5:5.
Now, a quote on channeling God:
“God has made HIS CHURCH on the earth a channel of light, and through it He communicates His purposes and His will. He does not give to one of His servants an experience independent of and contrary to the experience of the church itself. Neither does He give one man a knowledge of His will for the entire church while the church—Christ's body —is left in darkness. In His providence He places His servants in close connection with His church in order that they may have less confidence in themselves and greater confidence in others whom He is leading out to advance His work.” AA_p163_1
We have a channel of light through which He communicates His purposes and His will! That channel is not me, and it’s not you, it’s not William G. Johnsson, it’s not George Knight, it’s not Dwight Nelson, it’s not Doug Bachelor, and it’s not even Elder Wilson. It is “the body of believers united in church fellowship.”
“God has ordained that the representatives of His church from all parts of the earth, when assembled in a General Conference, shall have authority. The error that some are in danger of committing is in giving to the mind and judgment of one man, or of a small group of men, the full measure of authority and influence that God has vested in His church in the judgment and voice of the General Conference assembled to plan for the prosperity and advancement of His work.” Test 9_p260_2
In between Sessions, Annual Councils and the GC Executive Committee have no right to override the decisions of the Church assembled in a General Conference. They must administer the decisions of the GC Session. That responsibility includes discipline. An Annual Council, or an Executive Committee which meets and fails to administer the decisions of the Representatives of the Church assembled in a General Conference has no legitimate purpose.
Leaders who refuse to recognize the channel of light through which God communicates His purposes and His will should face discipline.
The decisions of the GC session in San Antonio have yet to be administered. This must remain an object of prayer, lest God's Church be left divided and powerless.
I have faith that no matter how dire the situation appears, that the words of Jesus will be fulfilled:“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18
What Say You?
____________________________
Elder Thurber: I believe it is the very opposite of Christian Church leadership to even entertain a recommendation by a Conference Executive Committee that defies higher Church authority, as revealed by the Word and the SOP. It would be extremely unfair, and divisive, to poll our members about their “feelings” on the issue. We do not (should not) operate on feelings, but on revelation.
Full disclosure: First, I am requesting that this email be forwarded to each member of the Conference Executive Committee, with my email address intact. I commit on my part not to personally reach out to any ExComm member, unless I do so unknowingly. I am happy to dialogue with anyone who reaches out to me.
This missive is being shared with a number of other persons in our Conference and in my Church (Pastoral Team and Elders’ Board), and it may even become an article submitted for online publication. (Do you think Ray Dubrowski might consider it for Mountain Echoes? lol) That also includes any responses from you, and possibly a report on the upcoming Town Hall.
Hoping to ever remain Your Servant in Christ,<><Ben A. Trujillo
970-227-2785
reply from Mic Thurber Dec 7, 2021, 5:22 PM
“Hi Ben,
I was assuming I'd be hearing from you - your feelings on this matter are widely known. It may (or may not) surprise you to learn that I have some very good and treasured friends on both sides of this issue and I hope that you and I can defy the world, which right now says that if you disagree, you must be enemies. I don't believe it should or need be that way in the church. I hope to make a friend of you as time goes on.
You will be more than welcome to raise your questions at the Town Hall meeting if you wish, however, this is not a meeting to debate issues. That will come at our upcoming constituency meeting. The purpose of the Town Hall meetings is to provide reports to each area of the conference, and that's what we'll do.
It's been my experience over the years with this question that most people have pretty much made up their minds and discussion generally generates more heat than light. You have a point of view, and so do others. I respect yours, even if I don't agree with it. And I appreciated what you wrote me and I will give it due thought.”
My reply To Elder Thurber_Thursday Dec 9, 2021, 9:57 PM
Elder Thurber:
Thanks for the response. I don't think that on my part I'll have any trouble being friends with you.
I have many friends who are Roman Catholics, various sorts of Evangelicals, and at least one Jehovah's Witness. Of course, none of those friends expect me to look to them as my church leader, or to support with my influence, time, and treasure their particular view of how Church should be done. So.
You wrote, "You have a point of view, and so do others. I respect yours, even if I don't agree with it. And I appreciated what you wrote me and I will give it due thought." I thought it would be good to give you time to give it due thought (You have been in my prayers), and therefore have not responded till now.
Let me restate what I said, so there will be no misunderstanding of what you heard me say.
I believe it would be improper for me to try to convince the Campion Church Board to place on the agenda of the next Church Business Meeting that we withhold tithe to help pay for a Church School. It should be out of order for the discussion to even take place.
For the same reasons, I believe it would be improper for you to try to convince the Conference Executive Committee that they place on the agenda of the next Constituency Meeting the question that has been decided by GC Session about ordaining women. It should be out of order for the discussion to even take place.
I believe the following statements from the pen of EG White: “God has made HIS CHURCH on the earth a channel of light, and through it He communicates His purposes and His will."
And, "God has ordained that the representatives of His church from all parts of the earth, when assembled in a General Conference, shall have authority."
"God has ordained..." That is ordination I accept. I hope we all do.
The Rocky Mountain Conference has no authority to change the decisions made by the representatives of His church from all parts of the earth. They hold the full measure of authority and influence that God has vested in His church in the judgment and voice of the General Conference assembled to plan for the prosperity and advancement of His work.
I look forward to visiting with you at the Town Hall Meeting this coming Sunday, December 12 at Campion Church, 6:30pm.
Hoping to remain Your Servant in Christ,
<><Ben A. Trujillo
Update
On April 12, 2022, the Executive Committee of the Rocky Mountain Conference met and moved to place on the Agenda for Constituency a motion to permit the ordination of women to the gospel ministry. (I have been told the Administration would not itself support ordaining women unless the Constituency voted to do so. Apparently, if you have a Constituency, you can ignore all decisions made at a higher administrative level.)
I had requested that I be allowed to speak to the Committee at that meeting on two issues: (1) the motion to permit the ordination of women to the gospel ministry, and (2) the action of the Conference to ban Stephen Bohr from holding a week-long seminar at the Golden Seventh-day Adventist Church. (The Golden Church held its ground, but they had to rent a Marriott Hotel, they could not use the Conference owned Church facilities.)
I was allowed 10 minutes to speak to the Committee, but only on the issue of women's ordination. I was told I did not have standing to speak on the Stephen Bohr ban, because I was not a member of the Golden Church. (More to come on that issue.) They politely heard me out, they even fed me lunch (non-invited speakers are always heard 15 minutes before lunchtime, in my experience). Conference Administration was present, and presumably twenty-one members of the Executive Committee (I didn't count), and not one question or comment! Maybe everyone was hungry!
That was the day they placed on the Agenda the question of whether we would submit to the decision of the Representatives of the World Church meeting in full General Conference Session, or become a rebel Conference in a rebel Union in a rebel Division. Now I wonder, uncharitably, if they voted before, or after, they heard my point of view.
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<><Ben A. Trujillo
I am a lifelong member (75 years old) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. I have been a serving Elder for 58 years, and have taught an Adult SS Class for 57 years. I grew up in Green River, Wyoming, attended the Rock Springs Church. I now live in Loveland, Colorado, and attend the Campion Church. I worked on the Union Pacific Railroad for ten years, and have operated three different businesses. I started drawing my railroad pension fourteen years ago, and am still running my windshield repair business full-time.