Spring Council Tuesday
After the opening preliminaries and treasurer’s report, there was a presentation on the Human Sexuality website, launched in December 2023. This website contains a wealth of material supporting the biblical standard of sexuality. Feel free to use it without hesitation as an accompaniment to Coming Out Ministries and dozens of articles on Fulcrum7, both of which defend the biblical worldview regarding sexuality.
Following the website presentation, Mario Brito was asked to speak about the situation in Germany. Last year, a German SDA pastor announced to his congregation that he was homosexual/bisexual. He was supported by his Conference, which is in turn supported by the liberal North German Union, a collective unwashed thumb in the eye of the entire Seventh-day Adventist Church and a sin of the high hand against God and His Word.
Mario Brito spoke on the homosexual pastor in North Germany, the Queergedacht Paper, and the wayward Unions in Germany. These are serious problems that defile the conscience of the entire Seventh-day Adventist Church.
The vast majority of members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church want this problem of the homosexual pastor in North Germany to be resolved.
Brito says the church has a complex decision-making process involving assemblies, committees and boards. Each level of our church has its own ecclesiastical and administrative autonomy. He suggests that members around the world who “don’t have all the information” are expecting a quicker resolution to the problem. We do expect that, because we have read Ecclesiastes 8:11 and other verses.
According to Brito, this cumbersome process must be followed in order to avoid making disastrous mistakes. He said “We are thankful to God that the tensions have subsided.” What does that mean?
His summation statement: “We should focus our efforts on the mission of proclaiming the good news of His (Christ) soon return.”
Ted Wilson “They are patiently and carefully working on the situation and you need to know that. So thank you Pastor Brito for your explanation.”
Commentary
As to the cumbersome layers of SDA church bureaucracy, there are probably areas of the world church in which this structure works properly. In the case of the outright rebellion of western church entities, it does not work, especially when coupled with organizational timidity. Here are some things that would work
Elder Wilson has a Facebook page. He could use it to speak directly to the people. Pull back the veil of silence that covers up the complicated committees, backroom deals, and bureaucratic intemperance, and put out a video directly to the people. It doesn’t have to be long, in fact, short is better. Tell them what the problem is in Germany, tell them what is causing it, and then ask the question “How do we fix it?” Outline specific steps how the problem can be resolved. Be firm; use righteous indignation as needed. Let them see you mean it. Ask for their help and support as we work through this existential challenge as a church. I believe such a video would go absolutely viral around the world. The support from church members would be unprecedented; they would also be encouraged beyond our imagination.
Brito said “I thank God tensions have subsided.” I don’t thank God for that at all. Especially if a temporary lull is the result of capitulation to apostate Union leaders. It is not “peace and safety” that we are seeking (1 Thess. 5:3), but “Well done thou good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23). If these insubordinate Unions are hardened in their incurable rebellion, then there needs to be tension between them and those who follow righteousness (2 Corinthians 6:15). Thank God there is tension between Christ and Belial.
We are in a war, friends. This is not a time for appeasement, rote bureaucracy, and empty diplomatic efforts. Not Chamberlin. Churchill. Reagan, not Carter. Better yet, Hezekiah, not Eli.
Inform the two German Unions by official letter that church entities in Germany, both Unions and Conferences alike, can use the name Seventh-day Adventist as long as they are in harmony with the biblical beliefs of the church. If not, they are not permitted to use the name ‘Seventh-day Adventist’. This is fair to them, and more than fair to 21 million members around the world who don’t want their biblical Adventist identity smeared by sexual idolatry.
If the wayward unions throw a tantrum over this and leave the church, so be it. At that point we are already halfway into a self-correcting solution (1 John 2:19).
Set up a new Union in Germany. Invite Eugen Hartwich (or equal) to be the leader of this new union. Ask him to submit three names of like-minded people who could lead new conferences and/or staff the new structure in Germany. As this effort grows, people around the world will catch the vision and want to be a part of this new balance of faith. When you take a courageous stand for biblical righteousness, SDA people around the world will take notice. They will support the new Union, the apostate ones will wither on the vine. That’s a home run (pardon the analogy).
In this humbling process, the Lord reminds us that He is far more interested in weighing ‘Israel’, than counting them.
So, I conclude what is not a depressing approach to the existential problem in Germany, but rather an upbeat one.
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