Many don't realize all the information SDA's have online. We DO have a statement on abortion (see the links column), as well as on many other topics. The church is changing--we didn't used to want to make statements on controversial topics, but now we do so quite regularly. Recently, world church president Jan Paulsen even commented on the Muslim cartoon issue. Too busy this week to write more.
Thanks for the comments (Click on "3 Comments" at the end of "One of my favorite stories"), now I feel like there's discussion and not just monoblog.
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3 comments:
Thanks for the SDA position statement, Jeff. I am impressed with its thoughtfulness and expansive vision for what being truly "pro-life" might mean. Do you think it is the same thing to have am official statement as it is to have the GC president comment on something publically? Do we have to agree with all SDA official statements to be an SDA in good standing? Do we feel more comfortable disagreeing with statements by the GC president than with an official GC position like the abortion one? I am not disagreeing with either--I think they were both appropriate and thoughtful and spirit-led. But I am suspicious in general of too many official positions and I wonder about how much I have to go along with them in order to keep being identified as this part of the body of Christ...
:)
Lisa,
I tend to think of membership in the SDA church as being like citizenship in the United States, in a way. Don't take the metaphor too far (being born into the church doesn't automatically make you Seventh-day Adventist).
But there are always people who disagree with issues here and there but who, overall, love their church or their country and are proud to be a part of it.
I know I personally don't agree with everything "the church" says, but neither do I agree with everything our American government does. But that doesn't mean I don't fully identify myself as an Adventist or as an American.
No, it's not the same--the "official statements" are voted by a committee of some sort, while the prez' statements, while I am sure he runs them by some other leaders, are not. Before, my impression was that the SDA church was afraid to take a stand on issues (like abortion, etc.) and I guess I am glad that we are not as afraid to adopt a position as we used to be. You're right, there are a lot of statements, but I don't hear of anyone being disciplined by the church for failure to agree with these positions. Genuine faith MUST be led by the Spirit and not by a creed or list of doctrines or official statements.
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