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[Artiste]

According to the GC Working Policy, this is how the tithe is to be paid:

V 05 20 Tithe to Local Church — The tithe is to be turned in to the local church in which membership is held. An exception to this policy may be made in regard to the tithe of denominational employees, as determined by the division committee.

I see tithe is supposed to be paid through the local church...however in practice, it does not have to be done that way at all.

I haven't had the experience of tithe not being accepted when paid through other entities.

[Bob Pickle]

V 05 10 Scriptural Obligation—Although tithing is not considered a test of fellowship, it is recognized as a scriptural obligation that every believer owes to God and as an essential in claiming by faith the fullness of blessing in Christian life and experience.

In order for a person who is not returning their tithe to the local church where there membership is held to be disciplined for "rebellion" against the policy you quoted, Daryl, the above policy would have to be changed in order to make tithing a test of fellowship. If it isn't a test of fellowship, then someone can't be disciplined over it. Correct?

Note also how V 05 25 states that students are supposed to turn in their tithe to the local church where they are going to school. While the same policy recommends that the students transfer their membership to that church, it seems that students are being encouraged to return their tithe to that church whether or not they transfer their membership.

Really, it seems that making V 05 20 (returning tithe to the local church) a hard and fast rule under any and every circumstance would prohibit what Ellen White did: Sending her tithe and the tithe of others to needy, neglected fields. She certainly didn't recommend sending tithe to other fields like that, but she did do it sometimes.

[Artiste]

That's right, tithing isn't a test of fellowship, is it?

But most Adventists tithe...or a lot do...

[Daryl Fawcett]

Tithing may not be a test of fellowship, however, it is supposed to be a sort of a test of leadership, although I don't think that happens in very many churches.

[Bob Pickle]

Yes, it is supposed to be a test of leadership, and it is supposed to be a test of employment.

[SDAminister]

Yes, it is supposed to be a test of leadership, and it is supposed to be a test of employment.

...and a test of holding any church office.

[Artiste]

Well my impression is, that's not followed, at least in this part of the country!

[Daryl Fawcett]

Seems like the Dutch (Holland) SDA Union has also voted to ordain women as pastors.

This is the second union in Europe.

This is even after the Annual Council Statement.

[Artiste]

Seems like the Dutch (Holland) SDA Union has also voted to ordain women as pastors.

This is the second union in Europe.

This is even after the Annual Council Statement.

I hadn't hear that.  Did any of the blogs or Adventist online sites mention it?

[Daryl Fawcett]

It was Johann who informed us about it over at Maritime.

Will now need to see if it can be verified from other sources.

[Artiste]

I googled the topic and found nothing whatsoever on the subject.

Johann, with all due respect, has not been proven to be the most reliable source of information (and not only because he has been such a strong and constant advocate of WO).

But if it's true, some news about it should be out shortly.

[Daryl Fawcett]

Johann just posted the following over at Mariitme:

It appears like the Dutch are still discussing how to implement the ordination - today. It seems like they want it implemented not later than 6 months after the next GC session in 2015.

That is more in line with the North German Union.

There is still the issue with the other two Unions that are still obviously in rebellion.

[Artiste]

So the Dutch are discussing women's ordination...

That's not the same as voting it in.  The North German Union actually voted it in.

Which was it, Daryl?  Discussing or voting?

[Daryl Fawcett]

From my understanding, they voted to do it, but are now discussing about when to implement it.

From their Union web site, it seems their Union Sessions will be continued next Sunday.

http://www.adventist.nl/?q=node/2754/mpath/88/rpath/88

Google translates it into English.

I still haven't anything specific to this anywhere yet, therefore, this is all based on the information supplied by Johann.

[Daryl Fawcett]

Johann informed us over at Maritime that he received this information by email from friends.

He also said that there is bound to be something official when the meetings are finished.