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[Artiste]

Johann coined the term "Sheltonism" a while back and originally asked the above question.

How can we be sure that in the future the Seventh-day Adventist Church does not fall again into the trap of deferring to a powerful and charismatic (in the eyes of some) individual.

Over a period of years, Sheltonism stealthily developed into an entrenched culture, spreading from the 3ABN compound out into local churches and up through church leadership.

The power of the TV media enabled the culture to permeate the lives of conservative Adventist people, while the media platform provided leaders with a welcome opportunity to be widely seen and heard.

Sheltonism flourished by means of control and manipulation.

When will it be banished for good from the church, and how can we prevent it from occurring again?

[Johann]

Well stated, Artiste. So we do have a responsibility. . .

[GrandmaNettie]

Realistically, there are several ways that we could consider:

1. Follow a plan similar to what Adolph Hitler devised to pull the German people together as a nation to deal with a group he felt held far too much economic power (demonize/villify until they are looked at with such contempt that erradication is the natural result).

2. Start a brand new denomination that only allows membership to those people who see eye to eye with each other, quickly disfellowshipping any member who might depart from that majority consensus so as not to sully the the rest of the flock.

3.  Seek to know God with all our hearts, become His true disciples and then get our derriere's up off of the pews to personally spread the Gospel to those within our sphere of influence instead of passing the buck to televangelists and/or leaders and then complaining when we discover that said televangelist/leaders might be less than perfect.

Of course, I'm sure there are other possibilities, as well...

[Artiste]

So we do have a responsibility. . .

How far does our responsibility lie?

By posting here on Advent Talk, we can let others who are searching know what information is coming out as investigation continues. 

Do you think it helps overall to keep agitating on the issues?

[Fran]

YES!  It is the "squeeky wheel" that gets oiled!

[Bob Pickle]

While men slumbered, the enemy sowed tares.

[sonshineonme]

YES!  It is the "squeeky wheel" that gets oiled!

It is a hard and fast rule in society that information and education is what changes anything. I don't think this is any less an opportunity for that. IN fact, I have always believed that one of the reasons this is happening in the wide open (and we can thank DS for starting this by using his 3abn stage to get it going) is because this is MUCH to be learned.

The bible is FILLED with stories that are suppose to teach us and help us learn by examining someone else's experiences and then go forth wiser, in attempt to avoid things happening again the same or similar.

Yes, we can get up off our butts and do our part in spreading the work, but, it goes much farther then that. There must always be some accountability by those who speak for us, teach us and lead us, TO US. That is reasonable and also healthy. Those that do not want to be accountable to anyone should not be given authority then to speak for us, teach us and lead us. Does that makes sense?

So, maybe part of the answer is to learn from what's happened and that takes KNOWING whats happened, how and why, and then to watch and pray, as well as do all that can be done to keep things from repeating. Mistakes happen, that is one thing, but to hand over the golden keys to someone who is not deserving or has no one watching over is always going to leave an opening for abuse.

My opinion anyway.

[Artiste]

With information and education necessary to instigate change where change is needed, it would follow that the present lawsuit could be both educational and informative.

From hints scattered here and there by Gailon and Bob, I gather that there is a lot of information they have uncovered. 

Will the Adventist public have access to this information at some point, assuming that there actually is information that could be educational in curing Sheltonism in the church?

[Johann]

Not if Shelton has his way.

[Chrissie]

Not if Shelton has his way.

So we, as stockholders in the pews, need to keep agitating, so that DS doesn't get his way?

[Ozzie]

With information and education necessary to instigate change where change is needed, it would follow that the present lawsuit could be both educational and informative.

Will the Adventist public have access to this information at some point, assuming that there actually is information that could be educational in curing Sheltonism in the church?

It is my understanding that this is the purpose of the exercise - to educate and disseminate information, so that this kind of behaviour is no longer tolerated and that administrators, from the top downwards, realise the need for accountability and that they also accountable to God, for every incident that is covered up. Hopefully, lessons will be learned, despite the reality that there are always rouges in any organisation, who will attempt to twist and spin, so that their evil is not revealed. If nothing else, there should be greatere awareness both inside and outside the church.

[Johann]

What will we learn if all is to be kept secret? In Scripture we find openness, even of the sins of the saints. Can a person be a saint who seeks to conceal everything?

Reformers and revivalists have been castigated throughout the history of God's Church, and even by the "saints"!

[Daryl Fawcett]

King David tried to conceal his adulterous act with Bathsheba by even going to the extreme of arranging to have her husband killed in the front lines of a war and then marrying her.

If God hadn't intervened through the prophet Nathan, Davi would have been successful.

We need to pray that God in His own way will also intervene in this situation.

[sonshineonme]

What will we learn if all is to be kept secret? In Scripture we find openness, even of the sins of the saints. Can a person be a saint who seeks to conceal everything?

Reformers and revivalists have been castigated throughout the history of God's Church, and even by the "saints"!

Two years more since we discussed this, with more information and education, so will it make a difference now? Especially now?

[Wendall]

No more Sheltonism=Remove DS from all responisiblites and financial gain from 3ABN and please remove the chairman of the board.