An argument over attorney-client privilege during the deposition of Pacific Union Conference President Ricardo Graham has brought to  light the role of General Conference President Ted Wilson in the saga of La Sierra University’s accreditation.

Depositions are now underway in the case of the three La Sierra University employees who were coerced to resign in 2011. On Friday, May 17, 2013, their attorney Richard D. McCune filed a motion to compel testimony by Ricardo Graham, the chairman of the LSU Board.

Work of the Theology of Ordination Study Committee moved ahead this week with the issuing of two draft documents and announcement of plans for the coming months. The 64-page paper “Toward a Theology of Ordination” reviews Biblical texts and Ellen G. White statements about ordination with the intention of being an introductory document for the committee’s discussion. Secondly, a 700-word consensus statement on the theology of ordination gives a glimpse of what the committee intends to produce as a summary of its work.

Emphasizing the importance of denominational policies to the boards of Seventh-day Adventist colleges and universities, the General Conference has issued a proposed new policy on board independence.

The 5-page discussion draft was distributed in April to the presidents of senior colleges and universities plus General Conference officers, education department directors and associate directors, division presidents, and the office of General Counsel.

This January, when the Theology of Ordination Study Committee met in Laurel, Maryland, the setting of the proceedings, just outside of Washington, D.C., inspired a couple of comments that seemed to help change the tone of the conversation from sharp disagreements to more thoughtful reflection. Describing that committee's proceedings at the annual meeting of West coast university and college religion professors this past weekend were committee members Kendra Haloviak Valentine, John Brunt, Chris Oberg, and Randy Roberts.

On April 1^st, with all appropriate documents signed, the Southern California Conference of Seventh-day Adventists released a statement regarding Pastor Ryan Bell and the Hollywood Adventist Church. It said their Personnel Committee had “voted to accept the (his) resignation, under counsel.”

Tonight, March 28, the Southern California Conference Personnel Committee meets, and one of the items on their agenda is a consideration of the future of Hollywood Church Senior Pastor Ryan Bell.

Earlier this week, Bell posted on his Facebook account that he would be leaving the Hollywood Church as of April 1, making this week his last Sabbath at the church. His comments gave the impression that he was being forced out of his position, prompting surprise and disappointment among his friends around the country.

While the members of the La Sierra University Constituency gathered today at Westlake Village, California, the home of the Pacific Union Conference office, no vote was taken on the proposed changes to the University bylaws.

In the weeks and months since the Pacific Union and the Columbia Union voted to proceed with ordination without regard to gender, there have been services of ordination honoring women who served significantly over the years without the recognition of ordination, as well as services providing new credentials to those who were previously commissioned, but not ordained.

If Stephen Cahill is right, we learn history in pieces. And the pieces of Adventist history dealing with women’s ordination are proliferating as the committees of the General Conference and the various world divisions begin their appointed studies.

As Thornton Wilder said, “The happiness of life is made up of little things—a smile, a helping hand, a caring heart, a word of praise, a moment of shared laughter.” 

So the contributions to our Spectrum cup have brought us happiness. However, there is one little thing that has caused unanticipated distress—the widget for the contributions has not worked. It continues to register as $0, in spite of the fact that many people have already donated.