3ABN's ordination survey: bubble or bombshell?

At the recent international ASI convention held in Grand Rapids, Mich., 3ABN broadcast a live program during which hosts Jim Gilley and Danny Shelton moderated an open study regarding women’s ordination. The panel featured Michigan conference president Jay Gallimore; Pastor Doug Batchelor, president of Amazing Facts; and Don Mackintosh, chaplain of Weimar Center of Health & Education. All the panelists on the program supported the historic Adventist view.

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The Record Keeper leaked online

The controversial web series funded by the General Conference that was originally cancelled has been leaked to the web. The series was leaked on director Jason Satterlund's YouTube channel July 2 and on Ricardo Raposo's YouTube channel August 2. No announcement of the series release has been made on Satterlund's website or the two Facebook pages promoting the site. It's also been released on http://www.thehaystack.tv/. The Daily Haystacks tweeted this yesterday.

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The Godhead and Dualism

There is a movement within Adventism that, as I write, appears to be growing exponentially. Those associated with it haven’t given themselves a name possibly because they, like our friends the feast-keepers, are not an organized body yet and, like the feast-keepers, there are differences of opinion among themselves on what they believe.  At the moment they are known as non-Trinitarians but rather than a negative label I'd prefer to give them a name that captures what they do believe so I'll refer to them here as Dualists.

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Judas and the Sons of Eli

The question of how to deal with religious offenders, whether doctrinal or moral, is one deeply troubling to many laypersons and leaders in the Seventh-day Adventist Church today.  How are we to properly address challenges to the integrity and practice of our faith?  How are justice and mercy to be balanced in such decisions?  At what point does responsible firmness give way to undue severity, Christian tolerance to secular license?

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Herb Montgomery Aligns with Kinship

Independent Adventist seminar speaker Herb Montgomery, who describes himself as “an author, internationally recognized speaker, and director of Renewed Heart Ministries,” has aligned with SDA Kinship, a homosexual organization that, among other activities, holds Kinship Kampmeeting each summer. Montgomery, who is married with three children and lives in West Virginia, was a featured speaker at last week's Kinship Kampmeeting.

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Put the flag up

Some are crippled by bitterness, some are crippled by guilt, and some paralyzed by fear. For some there are painful memories that they cling to, allowing the pain to define them. In this condition, we are the first to criticize, and the last to forgive. Some, crippled by lies, run from relationships, fearing the honesty that they demand. But that's not who you are, friend. God created each of us with the ability to give and receive love (1 John 4:7; 2 Cor. 7:2). 

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Pope hints at change to celibate priest rule

It appears that Pope Francis may be rethinking the idea of clerical celibacy.  In an interview with La Repubblica, an Italian daily newspaper, Pope Francis described the celibacy of the priesthood as "a problem" in need of a solution.  “There definitely is a problem but it is not a major one. This needs time but there are solutions and I will find them,” Francis said, without elaborating further. 

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Moses and the origin of homosexuality

Human sexuality, along with a pleasing sexual imperative, is introduced at the very beginning of the Bible story. Mankind was created with gender. Gender was created with purpose. Compliantly, in the narrative, Adam “knew” his wife and she conceived a son, and then another, and then a third. And though we don’t have details about differing sexual orientations before the flood, it is certain that only heterosexuals were on the Ark.

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Tough questions for regional women’s ordination

Throughout those regions where WO was permitted, would WO be optional or required? What would the policy be toward dissenters? For example: What should be the policy regarding a pro-BQ congregation (or pastor) in a  pro-WO conference in a pro-BQ union in a pro-WO division? How could regions not become increasingly polarized in hiring and firing decisions?

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The Strange Doctrine of the Vallejo Drive Church

Four days after censuring Vellejo Drive member Elizabeth Iskander in a business meeting on April 15th for “making people uncomfortable” by discussing homosexuality in private conversations with other members, Senior Pastor Mike Kim had this to say in his sermon, “We do not want to be concerned about whether we have practicing homosexuals in our midst. Why? Because that's immorality of the flesh, and how important is immorality of the flesh? NOT VERY IMPORTANT AT ALL!”

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They are for war: ordination and unnecessary conflict

In a nutshell, the moderate position accepts that the Bible reveals an organizational ideal for male leadership in the church.  It also recognizes, however, that the Bible indicates that this kind of organizational ideal is one that can be modified and adapted in certain circumstances, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to further the salvational mission and purpose of the Church.

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Interview with Steve Wohlberg on homosexuality and the new DVD "Coming Out"

Unless you're blind as a bat, surely you realize that the formerly 'taboo' topic of homosexuality is now being discussed on television, by media, in courts, schools, churches and in homes worldwide. Sometimes referred to as the LGBT (Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender) controversy, it's hot, and won't go away. Over 18 countries have now legalized same-sex marriage, and that number will most likely increase.

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