The Current provides a quick survey of news and media relevant to the Adventist conversation.
Southern California Conference Cancels Summer Camp Citing Facility, Staffing Needs
The Southern California Conference has canceled its 2024 summer camp program, stating that camp facilities—the playing field, sports courts, restrooms, and cabins—”require attention.” The conference also indicated that recent leadership changes in the conference youth department set back camp readiness in programming and staffing.
SCC holds summer camp at Camp Cedar Falls in the San Bernardino Mountains east of Los Angeles. After assessing the camp facilities, conference leaders determined they could not “run an excellent and safe camp for our children.”
The conference has experienced high turnover in the youth department (which oversees summer camp operations), previously split into senior youth and young adult ministries and youth ministries.
After Camp Cedar Falls was closed a year and a quarter because of the 2020 pandemic, the camp reopened its weekend family camp in 2021 under interim youth ministries director Kevin Morris. Salvador Garcia became youth ministries director in December, 2022, but only remained in the position until November 2023, according to his LinkedIn page. He was not replaced.
In May 2022, Iki Taimi left the role of SCC senior youth and young adult ministries director to join La Sierra University Church as lead pastor. One year later, Geoffrey Sewell, a former physician, moved from Hawaii to Southern California to serve as director of youth and senior youth/young adult ministries.
SCC anticipates reopening summer camp in 2025, and for parents who had planned on sending their children to camp this year, the conference recommends vacation Bible school programs at local churches and the international Pathfinder camporee in Gillette, Wyoming in August.
Oregon Conference’s 2024 camp meeting is the latest casualty of financial readjustments dating back to October, 2023, when the conference announced 20 percent staff cuts.
On April 19, the Oregon Conference executive committee disclosed plans to suspend this year’s English and Spanish camp meetings, stating that holding the events “would have required the conference to borrow approximately $380,000.”
In March, Oregon Conference president Dan Linrud survived a no confidence vote stemming from the conference’s budget shortfall that required dramatic belt-tightening measures. Historically low church attendance and inflation were blamed for the conference’s inability to meet its budget. The conference has offered pastors early retirement buyouts.
Now, with camp meeting suspended, Linrud says preliminary talks have begun to provide “regional convocations” to fill the summer programming gap. “More prayer and conversation will need to take place in this regard,” the conference said.
Lake Union Hopes $1M in Scholarships will Help Andrews Students Pursue Teaching, Pastoring
Citing looming teacher and pastor shortages, the Lake Union has pledged $1 million in new scholarships to help Andrews University students train for those vocations. Union president Ken Denslow named money as a key factor for those considering church work. “As educators move or retire, we notice it is increasingly difficult to fill these roles,” he told the Lake Union Herald. “There are young people who would be open to the call of being educators and pastors, but cost gets in the way.”
The Lake Union anticipates “dozens” of K-12 teaching vacancies next school year. And while the union projects few pastoral openings, across the North American Division, the number is high—as many as 2,000 positions may need to be filled.
The Lake Union looks to recruit from Andrews University within its territory when positions open, but rising tuition costs may cause prospective students to reconsider. Union vice president for multicultural ministries Carmelo Mercado sees challenges and opportunities for immigrant families in particular. “Many of our youth are interested in serving the church,” Mercado said, “but as first-generation students they don’t have the resources to attend our universities.” He called the union’s promised scholarships “a blessing to them.”
The Lake Union said a steering committee of union, conference, and university leaders will establish criteria for apportioning scholarship money.
Teen Vogue Takes On Conversion Therapy, Coming Out Ministries
In an article for Teen Vogue, Andrews University alum Eliel Cruz raised concerns about a change ministry relocating to Berrien Springs, Michigan.
Recently, an ex-gay group called Coming Out Ministries bought a building across from my alma mater, Andrews University, a Seventh-day Adventist University, intending to “work closely” with the university on LGBTQ issues “from a redemptive perspective.” Groups like Changed Movement and Coming Out Ministries see LGBTQ young people’s identities as “confusion” instead of who they are intrinsically. Their ideology stems from a theological understanding of sexuality that does not take into account science or the world as it exists around them. Anti-LGBTQ theology fuels conversion therapy, and it’s not only flawed but also inherently harmful and violent.
Cruz noted the ways organizations like Coming Out work to evade laws that ban conversion therapy, observing that many “have reemerged, using religious language to promote change therapies.”
In a report by the Trevor Project, researchers found at least 1,320 conversion therapy practitioners in almost all 50 states, including states with active conversion therapy bans for minors. Almost half of those counselors are unlicensed, and most are attached to some sort of religious ministry. While couching their language and pretending to be there to help LGBTQ people, the danger of these groups and practitioners cannot be understated.
John McLarty’s Michiana Adventist Forum Topic: “A Clergyman’s Journey to Late-life Happiness”
The Michiana Adventist Forum meets this Saturday, April 20, at 3:30 P.M. at the Berrien Springs Courthouse (1839 County Courthouse) at 313 N. Cass St., Berrien Springs, Michigan.
Retired pastor John McClarty will be the speaker. His title: “From Reformer to Contemplative: A Clergyman’s Journey to Late-life Happiness.”
McLarty wrote about the event on his Facebook page, saying,
“It seems to me that a young person thinking of a career as a pastor ought to have fire in their bones and a dream of making ‘a better church and a better world.’ But at some point in our lives, it ought to become clear that the capacity of people to change is small but our capacity for affection and admiration is large. As we age, devoting more of our energy to the cultivation of our own affection and admiration for the cosmos is wise.
“There comes a time when our convictions (opinions, notions, ideas) about how society and the church should be structured become irrelevant to the actual course of the future. People young enough to be our children or grandchildren will be making the decisions. It’s smart to leave it to them.”
McLarty served for 40 years as an Adventist pastor. He says that he began with a young zealot’s dreams of saving the world and fixing the church, full of theological and philosophical conviction and angst. He devoted his life to the church, and characterizes the institution as being uncommonly good to him.
Since retiring three years ago, he has focused on cultivating spiritual and religious practices compatible with his current station in life as a self-described “retired, institutionally-irrelevant old man.”
McLarty’s presentation will describe his current spiritual practice and some of the insights and convictions that have grown from that practice.
Adventist Voices Podcast: Kyle Portbury Discusses “The Hopeful” Film (Part 2)
This is the second part of Alexander Carpenter’s interview with Kyle Portbury, director of The Hopeful, about why he chose to tell this early Adventist story for a wider public.
Portbury is an Emmy® Award-winning, 3-time Australian Directors Guild nominated writer/director who has taught at Southwestern Adventist University. He worked with Hope Channel International’s (HCI) cinema branch, Hope Studios, to produce this 90-min drama about the founding of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
If you missed part one of this conversation, watch it here or listen to the podcast here.
Australian Union Appoints Lyndelle Peterson Ministerial Secretary
The Australian Union has announced that Lyndelle Peterson has been appointed to replace former union ministerial secretary Brendan Pratt. In February, Pratt accepted a call to serve as director of the General Conference Global Mission Center for Secular and Post-Christian Mission. Peterson is the first woman to serve as the union’s ministerial secretary. She previously served as associate ministerial secretary and Sabbath school and stewardship director for the Australia Union.
The Adventist Record reported that Nicu Dumbrava, currently the personal ministries director and pastor for Hughesdale Seventh-day Adventist Church in Melbourne, Victoria, will succeed Peterson as associate ministerial secretary. “Dumbrava will continue serving as personal ministries director while also undertaking this new role,” the Record noted.
The Recordreported that “Peterson is the first woman Seventh-day Adventist pastor to be employed to work across all areas of the Ministerial Association, including ministry development, resourcing, and working with conference Ministerial leaders to develop and implement strategies to support and inspire pastors around Australia.”
Peterson will continue to lead the Australia Union Sabbath school and stewardship departments.”
“I am honored and excited to be able to serve in the Ministerial Association,” Peterson told the Record, “and I’m looking forward to working with the team of Ministerial secretaries across Australia.”
She noted that women make up 10 percent of the pastoral workforce. “Being able to have representation in these types of conversations is a good step forward,” she said.
Up wind and against the tide the egret stalked his reflection in the marsh deliberate and grave. From the highway straight as a ruler he was an S-curve floating white over gold, clouds clotting the grasses around his legs. I hoped to see him lift off, those wide wings heavier than air, white finger-feathers trailing, two beats and into the sky. When spirit gleams of an instant unrepeatable, we turn with all that is in us, eager for the dawn, lifting the clouds with a tug and a snap like rolling up a map. But he remained earth-bound, as did I — then to my eye the day’s full sum was granted me in a flash.
Barry Casey taught religion, philosophy, ethics, and communications for 37 years at universities in Maryland and Washington, DC. He is now retired and writing in Burtonsville, Maryland. More of the author’s writing can be found on his blog, Dante’s Woods.
“High Hope” (National Poetry Month)
Hope hangs high out of reach Of manipulation, it’s frilly edges Bright with the light of the sun, Beautiful, fearful, Constantly moving and changing shape, Drifting, appearing and disappearing Against the unchanging blue beyond; It’s center dark and pregnant With mysterious life that, When it comes to term, Showers down all we awaited And more, Asking nothing in return!
-Jim McMillan, MD
If hope sits high, then I sit low. Alone. This hope with its Golden frills is beyond my grasp The terrain of my reality is changing and it’s changing all too fast. High hope, high hope, will you be worth the wait? Will you rain down golden promises? Will you cleanse the window of my pain? Will you require nothing of me? Is this a gift you freely bestow? Or do you take pity on me for my land is parched and desolate and you know, oh hope you know! High hope, high hope do you really require nothing in return? Is this waiting a blissful season? or will this waiting be like tinder? Will I burn oh hope, will I burn?
-Ezrica Bennett
During the pandemic, a collaborative project initiated by one of my dearest friends and the daughter of my co-author provided a platform for people to connect through art. The project involved one person starting a piece, whether it be painting, sculpting, poetry, etc., and sending it through the mail or digitally to their partner, who would then finish the piece.
Dr. McMillan initiated the poem “High Hope,” which I completed. This poem beautifully illustrates humanity’s capacity to connect through art, even in challenging times, while also delving into the nuances of individual experiences. Both Dr. McMillan and I discussed our relationship with hope during that period of our lives. The words of the poem provided solace, reminding us that regardless of our circumstances, poetry allows us to find beauty in every season. -Ezrica Bennett
Blackness… Deep, depth, unknown-known Darkness… On the side, the periphery, the margins, objectified, othered Establishing the light, the revealed, the side we’re oriented towards. Lightness…. Surface, depthless, known-bound. Lightness… Facing us, we face it, centered, objectified, normalized.
The chiaro pushing aside the scuro what a penumbra it creates. What the objectified, unnormalized scuro covets yet longs to hate. Black scuro divided by Kant to become something for incomplete light to target Blackness targeted by Whitefield and Edwards that the othered could be a market. Red Friday, black Friday—fri-ing the black like something to be consumed. Fri-ing that which makes the whole; the blackness which must be resumed. Chiaroscuro is incomplete, incomprehensible without the scuro within. The surface, the appearance, the obvious not a living soul but an incomplete skin—
Our faces turned against the periphery, the margins, taught to fear blackness Making sacred the light; demonizing the dark. In the darkness lies other possibilities, the possibilities of otherness. Making sacred the dark, humanizing the light, giving it its spark. Routine, familiarity, comfort yields our lighted orientation; Fear, ignorance, allusion of invincibility distances our inward humanity The Thinker, alone in the mind’s zone, reasoning becoming salvation. Averted from the community of chaos, confusion, messiness full of calamity. Walking and thinking among the masses: people masses, hungry masses, poor masses. Leaving the masses to think, separately, to think in isolation away from People masses, hungry masses, poor masses, othered masses, black masses. Once giving alms to the masses, we abandon and give nothing. Creating a blackness, a scuro outside of self to avoid our inner black something. That which we tamed to remain on the margin, becoming that which we fear That which we long for knowing it will bring some tear, some tear That which we hide without worry, without any care. Wanting to stay normal, stay formal as sounds bounce off the high sacred rafters. Escaping the hidden fighting, struggling to be free unable to sound off the low sacred ceiling.
We are all black facing the known, living in the known, walking in isolation. The pushed aside, set aside, put behind unfaced requiring indignation. That we can live, exist, in the allusion of acceptable, normal, of right, of divine. But the left-alone-soul, the essence of the abyss, leaves community, experiences decline. Hence there’s D. Trump, H. Walker, C. Thomas, on the decline of destruction. Think of self above others, above real community, selfishness the allure, the seduction. Claiming the community, the part of humanity blackified, breaks the allusion. Requiring a turning from the chiaro towards the scuro to explore humanity in seclusion. Not averting the light but embracing the blackness, that which embodies the made-up blackness. That which is in the black has always been with us but dividing it from us, objectifying The object becomes a commodity to be manipulated and exploited, falsifying. Black is what we must be, must claim, to see the totality of our humanity. Our humanity as individuals, as collectives, as community. Until we confess our sin that shed lights on that which we have blackened, We cannot embrace the possibility that lingers in that blackness. The valley does have a lily, the wilderness does have a garden Physics says black is the absence; art says black is the fullness Division makes absent the color that would be in the light. Community makes present the full color found in the black. Let’s be black, let’s be whole. (4:11 am) Now that’s a queer thought—hmm!
Benson Prigg is professor and chair of English and foreign languages at Oakwood University.
Audrey Andersson, Human Sexuality Taskforce Disappoints and Shows a Lack of Research
In private comments to Spectrum, two church leaders mentioned their disappointment with General Conference Vice President Audrey Andersson’s statements about gender and sexuality during the first day of the 2024 Spring Meeting. “She knows better,” stated a member of the GC Executive Committee who requested anonymity to speak publicly. Beginning her remarks by citing a Google search as a source on the complexity of gender showed a sub undergraduate level of research skills. This lack of seriousness shows a lack of engagement on a topic that not only affects all humans but currently impacts the theology and administrative structure of the global denomination Andersson serves.
The GC’s Human Sexuality Taskforce presentation, which Andersson introduced, focused on its website which appears to be a mostly static aggregation of previously published articles and videos. Some of the articles are over a decade old.
Website editor Gina Whalen stated in her presentation that “all articles are peer-reviewed” and “they go through a quite robust reading before we post them.” While some articles include footnotes, others appear to be reprinted from newsletters, or even be adapted from presentations. An example is this transcript from a Mark Finley online presentation. While an widely admired evangelist, Finley is not known for his use of footnotes. This presentation received significant critique as he seemed to mistake two humorous remarks as evidence of conspiracy. An article on “navigating masturbation” includes zero citations beyond biblical references. A brief article by Audrey Andersson titled “Pornography: A rising phenomenon,” includes three citations, all websites, all accessed the same day, the third of which is just https://www.psychologytoday.com/.
Interview with Adventist filmmaker on his new movie, The Hopeful
I interview Kyle Portbury, director of The Hopeful, about why he chose to tell this early Adventist story for a wider public. Portbury is an Emmy® Award-winning, 3-time Australian Directors Guild nominated writer/director who has taught at Southwestern Adventist University. He worked with Hope Channel International’s (HCI) cinema branch, Hope Studios, to produce this 90-min drama about the founding of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. An example of what some are calling digital or cinema evangelism, The Hopeful requires tickets to see in theaters on April 17 and 18.
George Butler & 1888: Denis Fortin Discusses His New Biography
Denis Fortin, professor of historical theology at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, Andrews University, is the author of the new George Butler biography. The book’s summary promises, “a dynamic stream of Adventist history from Butler’s perspective as the young denomination faced new stresses and strains—including complex family relationships and opposing power centers—as it sought to define itself and how it would operate.”
A pioneering Adventist administrator—General Conference president from 1871-1874 and 1880-1888, and founding president of the Southern Union—the life story of Fortin’s 680-page G. I. Butler: An Honest but Misunderstood Church Leader functions like a prosopography, adding dimension to what’s known about other influential early Adventists, such as Ellen G. White and John Harvey Kellogg. Published by Pacific Press, it is the latest volume in the Adventist Pioneer Series, edited by George Knight.
In this new interview—part two on the book—by Michael Campbell and Greg Howell, Fortin focuses on the issues surrounding 1888 and Butler.
Vice President for Finance Leaving Oregon Conference
The Oregon Conference of Seventh-day Adventists announced that Eric C. Davis, the vice president for finance, will be leaving his position on April 11. Davis’s departure comes amid a budget crisis at the conference that has led to a planned 20 percent workforce reduction.
Davis became vice president in May 2023 after serving as the association treasurer for the conference. He was the associate treasurer of the Washington Conference for seven years before joining Oregon in 2022.
According to documents obtained by Spectrum, the Oregon Conference 2023 budget was proposed before Davis became vice president. By late 2023, the conference sustained several million dollars in losses, leading to cutbacks announced earlier this year.
“I thank the conference administrative team for placing confidence in me to have helped chart a course toward improved fiscal health for the Conference going forward,” Davis said in the conference’s statement announcing his departure. “I also embrace this opportunity to prioritize spending more time with my wife and young son.”
President Dan Linrud praised Davis’s work. “The Oregon Conference truly has been blessed by Eric’s contributions during this financially challenging period; he has provided tremendous leadership with our administrative team under God’s guidance,” Linrud said in the statement.
“Why Are Young People Leaving?” the Adventist Church Asks on Instagram
In a recent post, the Adventist Church’s official Instagram account asked for people to respond why they think a large number of young members leave the denomination.
Many left comments. “Young people have vocally, honestly been answering this question for over a decade now—but ironically the GC and those who emulate it just respond with ‘No, it can’t be that,’” wrote Adventist creator Kaleb Eisele.
Spectrum has also covered the topic extensively over the years. Recently, Samuel Girven interviewed 16 young adults who left the church and 5 who stayed. As one would expect, the reasons for leaving are diverse, but there is much to learn from their personal stories.
In Kettering Health Investigation Shadow, Columbia Union Elects Marcellus Robinson President
Today, in a special session led by G. Alexander Bryant, president of the North American Division, the Columbia Union executive committee elected Marcellus T. Robinson its next president. Robinson will immediately fill the office, left vacant after Dave Weigley’s sudden retirement on March 1.
Robinson is currently president of the Allegheny East Conference and will lead both entities “for a period of time,” according to the union.
The Allegheny East Conference elected Robinson president in October 2022. Prior to that, he held roles including departmental director and secretary/vice president for administration.
As Columbia Union president, Robinson succeeds Dave Weigley, the only person in the North American Division to simultaneously chair the boards of two healthcare systems—Adventist HealthCare and Kettering Health.
Weigley left office amid an ongoing investigation by the Ohio Attorney General over alleged financial misconduct at Kettering Health during Weigley’s tenure as its board chair. “I don’t wish to be a distraction from the mission of the church,” Weigley said, announcing his departure. “It’s in the best interest of the Columbia Union for me to retire at this time.”
According to WHIO-TV, Weigley and former Kettering Health CEO Fred Manchur have been referred to as the “masterminds behind the abuse of charitable funds.” The duo allegedly used hospital funds to cover personal and political expenses.
Oregon Conference Votes Confidence in President Dan Linrud
In a March 22 communique, the Oregon Conference announced that its executive committee voted confidence in president Dan Linrud despite the conference’s “emerging financial challenges” and conference-wide staff cuts.
Spectrumreported one week earlier that five executive committee members called for the vote of confidence or no confidence in Linrud’s leadership.
On February 13, the conference announced a 20 percent pastoral staff reduction and a 20 percent reduction in conference headquarters personnel.
In its March 22 statement, the conference stated that 15 conference-employed pastors “were able to accept our retirement/resignation offer.” Those pastors will receive buyouts, the conference said.
The vote of confidence means that Linrud will continue leading the conference as it implements further belt-tightening measures. Conference leadership vowed more transparency going forward.
“Our administrative team has pledged to keep our entire Oregon Conference family better informed about the difficult decisions still to come,” the conference said. They also pledged compassion “because that’s the spirit in which God would have us treat those who hurt.”
In April, the conference said, it “will have to reduce our pastoral team by another 10 individuals.”
The alumni-led Concerned Oakwoodites group that last December called for Oakwood University president Leslie Pollard’s removal has announced an in-person event: “Real Issues, Real Talk, Real Solutions.”
The event for Oakwood alumni, students, parents, and friends will take place from 3:30-5:00 P.M. on March 29, 2024, during the university’s alumni weekend.
Noting limited space, event organizers ask prospective attendees to RSVP. In a promotional video, Concerned Oakwoodite leadership members Sheila McNeil and Joe Booth extended personal invitations.
Between 2021 and 2022, Oakwood University’s liabilities increased from $22 million to $43 million, according to financial statements. The Concerned Oakwoodites group coalesced in November 2023 to address concerns over the university’s finances, infrastructure, leadership, and lack of transparency.
Spectrumreported on an open letter in which the Oakwoodites highlighted a net institutional income drop of 234 percent from 2018 to 2022. President Pollard and his wife, a former university vice president and dean of the School of Graduate Studies, received a 25 percent wage increase during the same time. The group called on Oakwood’s board to remove Pollard, but the board reaffirmed its support for him.
This afternoon, March 23, Oakwood University posted a Facebook announcement regarding student safety at its upper-class women’s dormitory, Wade Hall.
“Earlier today, a boiler failure at Wade Hall led to reports of a gas smell,” the announcement said. “A student’s prompt action in calling 911 helped to ensure the safety of herself and her fellow Wade Hall residents.”
The boiler is now shut down, making hot water temporarily unavailable. A permanent replacement for the boiler will be available in six weeks. In the mean time, staff have begun working on a temporary fix.
An Oakwood University media representative spoke to Spectrum minimizing student and Concerned Oakwoodite reports about limited access to hot water at Wade Hall back in mid-February.
The alumni weekend Concerned Oakwoodites event will lay out the group’s next steps. Those unable to attend the event in person may RSVP to join via Zoom. The link will be emailed upon registration.
Dr. Yamileth Bazan will be the next president of Union College, the board of trustees announced on March 18. According to the college’s statement, Bazan has worked in Adventist higher education for more than 17 years. Most recently, she has been the associate dean for student affairs at the Loma Linda University School of Medicine. Previously, she was the vice president of student life at La Sierra University.
“The experience she brings in serving young people, mentoring them spiritually and building leaders, is a perfect fit for Union,” said Gary Thurber, president of the Mid-America Union and chair of the college’s board of trustees. “She lives and breathes the mission and values of the Adventist Church and this university.” Before working in higher education, Bazan taught in Adventist elementary schools and worked in youth ministry in the Southeastern California Conference. She has a master’s in administration from La Sierra University and a PhD in leadership from Andrews University.
Bazan succeeds Vinita Sauder, who has been president of Union since 2014 and last year announced she would retire in 2024. The beginning of Bazan’s term on July 1 will also coincide with the school changing its name to Union Adventist University.
La Sierra Grad Makes Headlines for Rescuing Dog from Edge of Cliff
Sergio Florian was recently running on a trail he calls “one of the most dangerous” on the island of Oahu in Hawaii when he saw a dog at the edge of a 1,000-foot cliff. “She seemed really tame and loving, but she was really weak, like she’d been up there for a while,” Florian told the Washington Post. The 50-pound dog had been missing for three days and became stranded after becoming weak and dehydrated. Using one hand for balance and the other to carry the dog, Florian was able to get both of them back to the trailhead. Later, his posts on social media helped reunite the dog, named Stevie, with its owner.
Local outlet Island News and later the Washington Post and ABC World News covered the story. According to La Sierra University on social media, Florian is an alumnus of the school and has a doctorate of physical therapy from Loma Linda University. An avid runner, Florian set a record for running around the 135-mile perimeter of Oahu in 2021, according to a story in La Sierra’s alumni magazine.
