RELH 155-CS3 Organizational Development PDF

Luke 14:28  Jesus said, “For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?” 1  RELH 155 –CS3 Organizational Development 1848 – 1863 2  Any form of church orga...

Luke 14:28  Jesus said, “For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?” 1  RELH 155 –CS3 Organizational Development 1848 – 1863 2  Any form of church organization was viewed by the early Sabbatarian Adventist as Babylon  George Storrs statement: “No church can be organized by man’s intention but that it becomes Babylon the moment it is organized” (MC, Feb. 15, 1844) 3  Took nearly 20 years before agreement on organization  Sabbatarian Conferences organized for the purpose of unity in faith  There were numerous views on bible doctrines  God gave Ellen white a vision that the believers were to unite on the 3rd angel’s message 4  Revelation 14:9-12  "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives his mark on the forehead or on the hand, he, too, will drink of the wine of God's fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath. He will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment rises for ever and ever. There is no rest day or night for those who worship the beast and his image, or for anyone who receives the mark of his name." This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who obey God's commandments and remain faithful to Jesus. 5 By the November 1849, the conferences were fulfilling their primary purpose “By the proclamation of the Sabbath truth in... Connection with the Advent movement” “Our Past Advent experience, and present position and future work is marked out in Rev. 14 Chap. as plain as the prophecies pencil could write it. Thank God that we see it....” (James White reporting to Brother Bowles) 6  The Sabbatarian Conferences help to foster unity in doctrine among the believers.  The first joint publications of the Sabbatarian leadership also set the stage for organization: A word to the “Little Flock” (1847)  Initial tract publications by Bates include: The opening Heavens (1864) The Seventh-day Sabbath, a Perpetual Sign (1846,1847) A Seal of the Living God (1849) 7  Ellen White’s vision in 1848  “You must begin to print a little paper and send it out to the people. Let it be small at first; but as the people read, they will send you means with which to print, and it will be a success from the first. From this small beginning it was shown to me to be like streams of light that went clear round the world” (LS 125) 8  James White began to write  The paper was taken to the printer  1000 copies of the 8 page Present Truth pamphlet were printed.  Prayer was offered on the pamphlets  Distribution was done at the post office  “Very soon letters came bringing means to publish the paper, and the good news of many souls embracing the truth” (LS 260) 9  The Present Truth (1849) Content: the Sabbath, the three angel’s messages and related doctrinal topics  The Advent Review (summer,1850) Content: mostly reprinting of the Millerite articles  The Second Advent Review and Sabbath Herald (Nov.1850) Content: a combination of the Present Truth and The Advent Review  Now known as the Adventist Review, the periodical did encircle the world today “like streams of light.” 10  The arrival of the Review provided the scattered Adventist with news of their church and fellow believers, sermons, and a sense of belonging.  1852- James White began publishing the Youth’s Instructor (now Insight) –1st organized attempt to do something for the young people.  1855- A publishing house was established in Battle Creek, Michigan  Problem of ownership of the publishing house eventually led to a more formal and legal organizational structure 11  Aggressive outreach through conferences and publication resulted in rapid growth of the Sabbatarian Adventist  Growth without any form of organization created many problems for the believers 12 Setting the stage for Organization  Conferences bring about Unity in doctrine  First joint publications brought a sense of belonging  Problem of ownership of the publishing house  Explosive Growth 13 Problems with lack of organization  Self-appointed “uncredentialed” ministers preached what they pleased  “appointed” ministers traveled without salary or paid expenses  Divisions among scattered groups of believers  No method for dealing with divisive heresies  Church properties were held in the name of some individual member and passed on to relatives when the member died 14  Ellen had a vision on “gospel order” Visions urged that in the “gospel order”, Heaven is orderly (Early Writings, pp. 97-107)  Believers resisted organization: “Babylon”  In 1853 -James White, the “father of our present church order,” wrote five editorials in the Review and Herald on the need for organization 15 James White’s reasons on the need for organization Own property Define doctrine officially Have criteria for membership and apply them Discipline church members when necessary Provide financial support for workers Establish institutions Ease to enter new fields 16 1850: some congregations ordained deacons for the celebration of the “ordinances of the Lord’s house.” 1851: discussion on  withdrawing the hand of fellowship of members mixing up spiritualism with other unchristian activities  ordination of deacons and ministers 17  Fear of Babylon led to opposition  1854: Gospel order “feared, neglected” (Early Writings, pp. 97-107)  But Mrs. White had theological insights and their practical applications continually insisted on unity and organization 18 Spiritual decline among the Sabbatarian Adventist  By 1856: Jesus has not come Overwork Underpayment  Ministers retired in Waukon, Iowa John N. Andrews Jonh Loughborough  Jonh Loughborough’s wage for three months Room and board A buffalo skin overcoat Ten Dollars 19 Systematic Benevolence (Sister Betsy)  By 1858 the Battle Creek Congregation formed a study group to search the Bible for plan to support the ministry  Report submitted in early 1859  “Sister Betsy” Men to contribute 20 cents per week Women -10 cents Both to give 1-5 cents for 100 dollar worth of property 20 James White’s questions in the Review -1860 Are there are not enough reasons and evidences for us to... form a legal organization to hold property? adopt a name for the developing denomination? 21  May 13, 1860, first legal organization of a local church: first steps in organization  October 1, 1860 the name “Seventh-day Adventists” was adopted Organized the first legal body: SDA Publising Association.  John Byington became the first president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church 22  May 3, 1861: the Seventh-day Adventist publishing house was incorporated  Oct. 5, 6, 1861: first conference: Michigan  May 20-23, 1863 - the General Conference was organized 23 The Seventh-day Adventist Mission To preach the Three Angels’ Message 24  First Angel’s Message To call the attention of everyone to God’s Hour of Judgement which has already began: all need to worship only the Creator to escape eternal death. 25  Second Angel’s Message To call the attention of everyone to get out of Babylon: 1. everyone to aleanate themselves from anything that has to do with Babylon (a system of confusion) because it presents falsehood as if it were the truth. Revelation 14:8 26  Third Angel’s Message To call the attention of everyone to worship the God (the Creator) because just before Jesus comes back everyone will be in two groups: 1. those who worship the false God and receive the mark of the beast. 2. those who worship the Creator/keep His commandments. They faithfully wait for Jesus to return. Revelation 14:9-12 27