Christ and Christmas

At about this time every year, the question arises in various circles as to what role the celebration of the Christmas season should play in the experience of Seventh-day Adventist Christians. There are those who believe that because of the holiday’s pagan origin and commercial exploitation, Christians should have little or nothing to do with it. In my ministry I have occasionally encountered devout souls among us who piously—and no doubt sincerely—insist that they don’t “do Christmas” in their homes or families.

Read More

NAD defends racially separated conferences

In a March 25 statement the North American Division (NAD) defended the need for regional conferences, despite concerns this structure promotes racial separation. The statement responded to requests made March 7 by the Andrews University chapter of the Adventist Peace Fellowship, in collaboration with the Andrews University Student Association and Black Student Christian Forum and 10 other student campus groups, asking the NAD to explain the separation of church conferences along racial lines.

Read More

[UPDATE] SCC distances itself from Eric Walsh

Southern California Conference (SCC) released a statement Tuesday distancing itself from the controversy surrounding past comments made by Pasadena Public Health Director and SDA associate pastor Dr. Eric Walsh regarding homosexuals, Catholics and Muslims. SCC spokeswoman Betty Cooney said, "[H]e does not hold ministerial credentials from the Adventist Church, does not speak on behalf of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination, and as far as we know, does not represent his views as anything other than his own.”

Read More