Today, 23 Spectrum readers walked 15 miles in northwest Spain on the Camino to Santiago de Compostela. It was the beginning of a weeklong, 70+ mile Holy Week trek led by Denis Fortin, professor of historical theology at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University. On the Camino, we trace the steps of Christian pilgrims who have done this for around 1,000 years.
This week’s Sabbath school lesson discusses waiting on the Lord. In our times of rest, we can find peace in God. (Commentary on the Adult Bible Study Guide for March 23–29.)
Leaders need to listen, engage, and demonstrate fidelity to the things they teach. You cannot have a stewardship month with champions of stewardship violating its principles. At a time when the church in Africa needs resources to develop and better respond to its young population’s needs, the dysfunctional system persists because it benefits the leaders who uphold it.
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“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.”
Leaders need to listen, engage, and demonstrate fidelity to the things they teach. You cannot have a stewardship month with champions of stewardship violating its principles. At a time when the church in Africa needs resources to develop and better respond to its young population’s needs, the dysfunctional system persists because it benefits the leaders who uphold it.
Biblical translations depend on linguistic experts to uncover meaning. But no translation is sufficiently pristine and reliable enough to support legislating imprisonment or death for homosexuals.
This week’s Sabbath school lesson talks about the act of worship. From personal devotion to using your talents for God’s kingdom. (Commentary on the Adult Bible Study Guide for March 16–22.)
On March 14, amid turmoil following recent budget cuts, the Oregon Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Executive Committee held a special session to consider the future of President Dan Linrud. In a break from precedent, the closed meeting was held at the North Pacific Union Conference headquarters rather than an Oregon Conference property.
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Adventist Risk Management recently terminated six of its Brazil-based employees and opened an ongoing investigation into administrative irregularities. These three leaders and three staff oversaw financial operations and processed claims for the risk management and insurance company of the Adventist Church.
Europe has unwittingly evangelized European Adventism into making it “reasonable.” Thus Europe has also given to Adventism at least as much as Adventism has given to Europe. In missionary interaction both the hearer and preacher changed. That’s what has miraculously happened with European Adventism.
This week’s Sabbath school lesson delves into the conflict that exists in the world around us. From little misunderstandings to massive blow-outs. God calls us to become peacemakers. (Commentary on the Adult Bible Study Guide for March 9–15.)
You and I constitute the church. It has a future if we protect our heritage but stay open to change; if we celebrate the great diversity in our faith community and allow each other space. The church will remain the living body of Christ if we succeed in overcoming our provincialism and can effectively communicate.
The next Asheville Adventist Forum meeting is scheduled for March 30 at 3:00 P.M. Eastern time. Our speaker will be Ed Reifsnyder, and his presentation will be, “Whence Comes The Great Controversy Idea?”
Growing up Adventist, we’re surrounded by so many hymns we often don’t pay much attention to what we’re singing. But as an adult, Tom has found these songs to be a continuing source of strength, comfort, and joy. In the class he’ll share some of the hymns that have been his companions over the years, and he looks forward to hearing about some of your favorites.
In preparation for the 500th anniversary of the Anabaptist movement in 2025, Friedensau Adventist University invites you to the 5th International Symposium of the Institute for Adventist Studies in Friedensau from April 15 to 18, 2024. The conference language is English.
On April 30th Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park, Maryland will host a day-long conference, put on by the Center for Law and Public Policy, titled “Evangelicals and Politics: Current Issues in Historical Perspective.”
The Society of Adventist Philosophers invites you to submit a paper proposal for this year’s conference on the theme “Called to be Free: Philosophical Reflections on the Contours of Freedom” taking place on November 21st, 2024, in San Diego, CA. Students and teachers from all fields are welcome to submit a proposal until July 1st. Accepted papers will be notified by September 1st.
Adventism’s high educational standards must start with recognition of its shared heritage, creating courses that reflect the nonwhite Adventist experience. It should not be left only to Oakwood University and regional conferences to acknowledge Black Adventist history.
Adventist educators—Black and white—should be stewards of Adventism’s full history. They should take it upon themselves to learn and embrace the less-known stories. Local churches need to enlist historians to help them tell unfamiliar Adventist stories.
The territorial overlap between most regional and state conferences makes essential collaborative efforts between neighboring congregations to commemorate Adventist heritage locally. Consider the many ways Adventists have been active anti-racists in their communities. How might churches find space and time to celebrate contemporary history makers?
No longer should Adventists silo themselves. Adventist education and Adventist communities depend on the church’s ability to critically engage in the hard work of remembering and commemorating. Will the Adventist Church be left behind and simply celebrate centuries-old legacies, or will the denomination take the best parts of its legacy and allow its liberating message to flourish into the 21st century? Worse, will the church completely forget its mission and seek to join the fundamentalist evangelical project?
I hope a prophetic proclamation of the Three Angels’ Message will prompt Adventists to be better stewards of the church’s past, and encourage future changemakers and liberators to upset traditional ways of shaping and sharing Adventist history. Adventism’s best 19th-century values and legacies must bring renaissance and re-discovery of its true heritage in the 21st century.