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[Gailon Arthur Joy]

An entire Union has now gone on record in opposition to the World Church's General Conference in Session and revolted against a world church policy, a biblical standard and the NAD working policy.

In a shocking rebellion the Columbia Union Conference has voted to allow the ordination "REGARDLESS OF GENDER" in the first step of many that will INEVITABLY lead to the adoption of Fallen Protestant theology. As predicted so many years ago it is just "The Tip of The Iceberg" and a matter of time before we see the abrogation of the biblical stand not allowing the fellowship of practicing gays and lesbians in the FORMER biblically sound Seventh-day Adventist Church.

In my lifetime, I have seen this purported forerunner of the Remnant allow the absolute disregard of the 7th commandment and allow fallen ordained ministers to continue their ministrations under SDA conferences, despite open and notorious adultery in direct disregard of the spirit of Prophecy warnings on this issue and the NAD working policy. We have gradually adopted incrementalism into
the body politic and seen "Creeping Compromise" warned of by Joe Crews nearly 30 years ago put us behind our evangelical brethren
in biblical standards. We can no longer claim to be a Bible Based church.

Just how far this will go will rely heavily upon the "Revival and Reformation" movement we hear so much about but little practiced.

It is imperative that this Iceberg Crisis be  "met head on" and resolutely with a firm and open call for the disbanding of ANY UNION OR CONFERENCE IN REBELLION TO THE WORLD CHURCH IN GENERAL CONFERENCE SESSION lest we begin to take on the characteristics of BABYLON.

It is now time for the General Conference and the North American Division Church to step forward and take a direct and firm position,
and if they do not do so then we must have a special session of the General Conference to consider disbanding the entire North American Division to regain the purity of the FAITH. We must move expeditiously to cut out the cancer of rebellion against the biblical standards we have stood on for one hundred and sixty-eight years.

Gailon Arthur Joy
AUReporter

[Artiste]

Are there some legal means to disband a Union Conference?

[Bob Pickle]

It seems to me that the existence of the Seventh-day Adventist Church as we know it today is at stake.

For many, many years our brethren have warned us against congregationalism. Not that we aren't to a degree congregational, as books on denominations have previously noted, but our congregations aren't independent atoms. They are part of a great whole, and the strength of our organizational structure has enabled us to proclaim the three angels' messages on a global scale more easily than if we were not united.

But now a union in North America has by an official action risen up in opposition to GC Working Policy, NAD Working Policy, two GC Session votes, 9T 260-261, and, some would argue, the biblical roles of men and women that God Himself established. What safeguards did the Columbia Union put in place to keep their action from leading to the disintegration of our church structure into complete and total congregationalism?

I agree that the GC and NAD need to meet this crisis head on. Otherwise, other unions, conferences, and churches will likely follow suit. The GC and NAD, and even unions and conferences, will lose all real authority as every church and every member does whatever is right in his own eyes, irregardless of whatever any other entity says or thinks or votes.

So in light of all this, I support the commencement of disciplinary proceedings against the Columbia Union Conference.

[Artiste]

So in light of all this, I support the commencement of disciplinary proceedings against the Columbia Union Conference.

What disciplinary proceedings would be used?

[Bob Pickle]

It's in the GC Working Policy. Try downloading a copy at http://www.bibelschule.info/streaming/Working-policy-of-the-General-Conference-of-Seventh-day-Adventists---2005-2006_21970.pdf.

If I recall correctly, the section about dealing with rebellion by unions isn't in the NAD Working Policy, but I could be wrong. Looks like you can get a copy of it at http://www.rmcsda.org/article/68/our-purpose/corporate-documents/nad-working-policy.

[Artiste]

I downloaded a copy of the GC Working Policy, but I don't see rebellious unions.  I saw something about the GC President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

[Artiste]

GC Working Policy 2005-2006 Organization and Administration

B 75 30 Process For Reviewing Status—The process to review, revise, suspend, or withdraw organizational status shall be conducted in a manner that permits consultation with, and representation from, organizations affected. A constituency meeting of the entity, whose status is under consideration, will be necessary in order to discuss the reasons for possible adjustment in status and in order to secure consent of the constituency membership. Such a process will seek to reach agreement, among all organizations involved, that an adjustment in status is appropriate. An agreement might provide for a probationary period, normally not exceeding 12 months, during which the entity under consideration addresses the operational issues involved. When such an agreement is reached the constituency and executive committees involved shall record the necessary actions. In the event that such an agreement is not reached the higher levels of organization involved may proceed, in the larger interests of the Church, with an adjustment in status.
A review of organizational status may be initiated by a decision of the executive committee in any higher level of organization that was involved in granting the type of status in question. (The merger or dissolution of local churches is addressed in the Church Manual.) If an organizational status review results in a recommendation to adjust the organization’s status the following shall apply:

1. When the entity under consideration is a local conference/mission, the decision to adjust status shall be made, after appropriate consultation with the entity concerned and the union executive committee, by the division executive committee at a midyear or yearend meeting.

2. When the entity under consideration is a union conference/mission, the decision to adjust status shall be made, after appropriate
consultation with the entity concerned and the division executive committee, by the General Conference Executive Committee at a Spring Meeting or Annual Council.
The decision to revise, suspend, or withdraw status due to operational reasons shall be effective immediately unless the decision also contains a probationary period, normally not exceeding 12 months, during which the entity concerned is given opportunity to address the deficiencies. The executive committee that made the decision shall determine, at the close of the probationary period, if operational deficiencies have been satisfactorily rectified and, if not, shall implement the adjustment in status upon expiry of the probationary period.
When the decision to adjust an organization’s status becomes effective the organization shall immediately comply with the operational terms and relationships pertaining to its revised status. If the decision to adjust status involves dissolution of the organization concerned, the assets of the organization shall be distributed in harmony with applicable organizational documents (such as Articles or Bylaws).

[Bob Pickle]

When does B 75 apply, and when does B 95 apply? I'm a little confused by two policies that both seem to be able to accomplish the same thing.

[Gailon Arthur Joy]

The principal process for the disbanding of ANY field organization is fundamentally the same...when a field organization is in rebellion against the world church, the administration of the next highest organization is first required to determine if reconciliation with the world church is feasible. If they determine reconciliation is not feasible they must report the same to the executive committee of the "next highest organization" and ask the executive committee to call a special constituency to consider disbanding the rebellious field organization. 

The special constituency must then take up the matter with the officers or other delegated representatives to represent the offending entity in the special constituency session. The charges are read to the constituency and a floor debate is in order to allow ALL the parties DUE PROCESS an opportunity to state their position. Upon the call of the question, the vote on the motion must be by written ballot and the secretary of the "next high organization" reports the results to the constituency "in session". It is likely the administrator/chair would then ask the delegates to accept the results by unanimous consent in an effort to achieve "unity" despite the fact that some in that special constituency are now under discipline of the church. IT IS, IN FACT, SPIRITUALLY CATHARTIC!!!

Any dissenting member of the disciplined entity, or church loyalist, is allowed to join a conference/union/division accommodated "church" that becomes the base for a new field organization that must become a mission or company status. in essence, a new start for that field area. And remember, when a field is dissolved, the real property titles of those field entities must go to the "next high organization", leaving the rebels without essential organizational properties to continue their rebellion. The rebellious organizations also lose their SDA tax exemption and must begin again and of course can no longer use the copyrighted name "Seventh-day Adventist", among other issues, including the full development of congregationalism in the disbanded field, a prescription for disaster.

Disbanded organizations usually quite quickly disintegrate and are blown to the four winds quite quickly. It has been my experience that disbanded organizations are so dysfunctional and dis-united in purpose, theology and Faith that they rarely survive past the first six months.

It is time to disband a union or two and perhaps even a Division or two to restore a unity of Faith essential to the preparation of the final stages of earths history. It is clear that the North American Division is heavily divided and based upon field information, the Northern European Division has sufficient Lutheran/calvinistic roots that it also is at risk.

I understand Johann's position, but, the World Church has spoken clearly and concisely and private opinion MUST BE SET ASIDE to nurture the unity of Faith essential to a unity in the Spirit. In the alternative, the Lord will manifest His Power within the church and there will be a massive falling away as the crisis grows. The true REMNANT will be ALL that is left once that Power has been fully manifested and it most certainly will occur with or without our cooperation.

I implore EVERYONE to carefully consider the implications of this open rebellion and recognize it may well be the beginning of the false reformation, the sifting and a part of the Omega of Apostasy. YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THIS BIBLICAL STANDARD!!! NOR DO YOU WANT TO BE IN REBELLION TO THE SPIRIT OF THE GODHEAD!!!

Gailon Arthur Joy
AUReporter

I downloaded a copy of the GC Working Policy, but I don't see rebellious unions.  I saw something about the GC President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

[Gailon Arthur Joy]

And by the way, thank-you for the good research but in practice, whether a church here in the NAD, Hungarian Union or the Russian Union, the format has pretty much followed the format I have explained above. This is not the first time we have had to deal with these issues in my lifetime.

Gailon Arthur Joy
AUReporter

[Artiste]

B 95 Discontinuation of Organizations by Voluntary or Involuntary Dissolution

B 95 05
Discontinuation of Conferences, Missions, Fields, Unions, and Unions of Churches by Dissolution and/or Expulsion—

If a situation arises where it is determined by the higher organization that the majority of members of a conference, a mission, a field, a union, or a union of churches are in apostasy, or that the organization refuses to operate in harmony with denominational policies and constitutional requirements, and is in rebellion, the higher organization has a responsibility to act for the protection of its loyal members, and the good name of the Church.

Every effort should be made to avert the need for dissolution by counseling with the leadership and members, seeking to bring healing and reconciliation, and to preserve the organization as a witness for God and His saving truth. If conciliatory efforts fail and discontinuation appears to be the only solution, the higher organization shall have authority to act as set out under B 90 10, B 90 15, and B 90 20.

B9510
Dissolution and/or Expulsion of Local Conferences/ Missions/Fields—If, in the opinion of a union conference/mission administration, a local conference/mission/field appears to be in apostasy or rebellion, and the procedures outlined under B 90 05 have been followed, but have proved unsuccessful, the following steps shall be taken:

1. The matter shall be considered by the union executive committee at a duly called meeting of committee members, at which time all the relevant data shall be shared, and the union executive committee shall determine whether or not the conference/mission/field is in apostasy or rebellion.

2. a. In the case of a local mission/field: If the union executive committee determines that a local mission/field is in apostasy or rebellion, and should be dissolved, it shall take an action to dissolve the local mission/field, and shall recommend to the next union session, or to a specially called session, the expulsion of the local mission/field from the sisterhood of missions/fields.
   b. In the case of a local conference: If the union executive committee determines that a local conference is in apostasy or rebellion, and should be expelled from the sisterhood of conferences, the union shall seek counsel from the division

      1) The union, in consultation with the division, shall use its discretion to decide whether another local conference constituency meeting should be called, and if so, at what point in the procedure.

      2) The union shall submit a recommendation for expulsion of the local conference from the sisterhood of conferences to the next union session, or to a specially called session if there is no evidence of conciliation on the part of the conference.

3. If the union constituency votes to expel the confer- ence/mission/field from the sisterhood of conferences/missions/fields, it shall, as a companion action vote to take into the care of the union all the churches of the conference/mission/field until reorganization, or some other provision can be arranged.

4. The union executive committee, functioning in place of the conference/mission/field constituency, shall proceed to disband any local churches which prove to be disloyal, and to redistribute remaining churches by territorial adjustment and/or reorganization.

5. The union executive committee shall make provision for the preservation of the membership of any such churches by holding records of their membership at the union until appropriate arrangements can be made.

6. In the event of the dissolution of a local mission/field and/or the expulsion of a local conference/mission/field from the sisterhood of conferences/missions/fields, audits of the financial and membership records of the conference/mission/field shall be conducted. All assets remaining after all claims have been satisfied shall be dealt with as specified in the conference constitution and bylaws; mission/field operat- ing policy; articles of incorporation of the organization. Assets not so covered shall be transferred to a legal entity authorized by the division.

B 95 15
Dissolution of Union Missions and Expulsion of Union Conferences/Union Missions—If, in the opinion of a division administration, a union conference/union mission appears to be in apostasy or rebellion, and the procedures outlined in B 95 05 have been followed, but have proved unsuccessful, the following steps shall be taken:

1. The matter shall be considered by the division executive committee at a duly called meeting of the committee, at which time all relevant data shall be shared. The division executive committee shall then determine whether or not the union conference/union mission is in apostasy or rebellion.

2. a. In the case of a union mission: If the division executive committee determines that a union mission is in apostasy or rebellion and should be dissolved, it shall take an action to dissolve the union mission, and shall recommend to the General Conference the expulsion of the union mission from the world sisterhood of unions.
b. In the case of a union conference: If the division executive committee determines that a union conference is in apostasy or rebellion and should be expelled from the world sisterhood of unions, the division shall refer the matter to the General Conference with the recommendation for expulsion from the world sisterhood of unions and the reasons for it.

3. The General Conference, in consultation with the division, shall use its discretion to decide whether another union conference constituency meeting should be called and, if so, at what point in the procedure.

4. The General Conference Executive Committee shall consider the recommendation of the division executive committee at its Spring Meeting or Annual Council. If it approves the proposal for expulsion, the General Conference Executive Committee shall refer the recommendation to the next regular or specially called General Conference Session for consideration.

5. If a General Conference Session concurs with a recommendation to expel and votes to expel a union conference/union mission from the world sisterhood of unions, the division shall exercise direct responsibility for the conferences and/or missions/fields affected by the expulsion and shall, through its executive committee, take an action to attach them directly to the division until a new organization can be established or a rearrangement of territorial boundaries effected. Disloyal conferenc- es/missions/fields shall be dealt with in harmony with the principles set out under B 75 10.

6. In the event of the dissolution of a union mission and/or the expulsion of a union conference/union mission from the world sisterhood of unions, audits of the financial records of the union conference/union mission shall be conducted. All assets remaining after all claims have been satisfied shall be transferred to a legal entity authorized by the division, or dealt with as specified in the union conference constitution and bylaws/ union mission operating policy

7. If, with the passage of time and efforts toward healing and restoration, it seems desirable for the nurture of the members and for the mission of the Church to reorganize the union conference/union mission, the process set out under B 65 20 or B 65 25 shall be followed.

[Murcielago]

Is there truth to what we've heard about the unions having the authority to make their own decisions regarding ordination?

[Bob Pickle]

Is there truth to what we've heard about the unions having the authority to make their own decisions regarding ordination?

Yes and no. As it is presently set up, conferences choose who they would like to see be ordained, and unions decide whether that will happen. That's the yes part. But unions only have authority to decide to ordain individuals that fit the specifications of GC and NAD Working Policy, the Bible, and the SoP, which happen to exclude anything that isn't a qualified living male human being. See L 45 and L 50.

[Murcielago]

Is there truth to what we've heard about the unions having the authority to make their own decisions regarding ordination?

Yes and no. As it is presently set up, conferences choose who they would like to see be ordained, and unions decide whether that will happen. That's the yes part. But unions only have authority to decide to ordain individuals that fit the specifications of GC and NAD Working Policy, the Bible, and the SoP, which happen to exclude anything that isn't a qualified living male human being. See L 45 and L 50.

Gregory, could you also comment on this?

[Johann]

Is there truth to what we've heard about the unions having the authority to make their own decisions regarding ordination?

Yes and no. As it is presently set up, conferences choose who they would like to see be ordained, and unions decide whether that will happen. That's the yes part. But unions only have authority to decide to ordain individuals that fit the specifications of GC and NAD Working Policy, the Bible, and the SoP, which happen to exclude anything that isn't a qualified living male human being. See L 45 and L 50.

What part of the Bible exclude anything that is not male? I'm certain that if the officers of the PUC had discovered that they would never have had the recent session.