Table of Contents
I. Introduction .............................................................................................. 1 read Introduction
II. Unity and Policy ....................................................................................... 2
1. The Biblical Doctrine of Unity ................................................................ 2
2. Unity in the Writings of Ellen G White ................................................... 4
3. The Role of Policy ................................................................................. 7
a. Adventist Policy Documents .............................................................. 7
b. The Character of Working Policy ....................................................... 8
4. Policy and Unity ................................................................................... 9
III. Diversity, Unity, and Authority ............................................................. 10
1. Diversity in Inspired Writings ............................................................... 10
2. Decision-Making and Diversity in the Early Church ............................ 12
3. Diversity and Authority in the Seventh-day Adventist Church ............. 13
a. Delegated Authority ......................................................................... 14
b. Tacit Diversity .................................................................................... 17
c. Active Diversity .................................................................................. 17
4. Acting Collaboratively, not Unilaterally ................................................ 19
IV. Authority in the Spirit of Prophecy ....................................................... 20
1. The 1875 Testimonies ............................................................................ 20
2. Developments in the 1890's ................................................................... 22
3. The 1901 Statements ............................................................................. 24
4. Kellogg and “Kingly Power” .................................................................... 26
5. Later Pronouncements ........................................................................... 26
6. Analysis .................................................................................................. 28
a. 1875 (i) ................................................................................................ 28
b. 1875 (ii) ............................................................................................... 28
c. 1909 .................................................................................................... 28
d. 1911 .................................................................................................... 29
V. Unilateralism ........................................................................................ 29
1. Biblical Principles ................................................................................... 29
2. Ellen G White’s Warnings ...................................................................... 30
VI. Application ........................................................................................... 34
1. Representation and Decision-Making ................................................... 34
2. Invalid Practices .................................................................................... 35
a. Invalid Ordinations ........................................................................... 35
b. Credentials and Licenses ................................................................ 35
3. How Then Should We Live? ................................................................. 39
VII. Conclusion .......................................................................................... 41
Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
End Notes ............................................................................................. 43
See Unity in Mission document which was approved on Oct. 11, 2016
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