Just when you think that the duplicity, posturing, and pretense at the 61st General Conference Session couldn’t have gotten any worse, it does. A private interfaith lunch took place during the 61st General Conference Session that was not announced, broadcast, live streamed, or made public until after the session had ended and everyone had left. Was this just a coincidence or was it done for good reasons?
This luncheon was held on June 9, 2022, according to Adventist News Network. However, the information about this event was not released until June 16, 2022, long after the General Conference Session had concluded. Notice what was reported in the article titled “Refusing to Be Silent in the Face of Evil.” Coincidentally, the church was silent about this ecumenical lunch while the sessions were being held:
“On Thursday afternoon, at the 61st GC Session in St. Louis, Missouri, PARL hosted a luncheon to strengthen relationships between PARL directors and engage with public officials and key religious leaders.” [1]
The purpose of this luncheon was to “strengthen relationships” and “engage” with “key religious leaders.” Who were these “key religious leaders”? These men were agents of Rome who are fervently advocating for the unification of the churches. These were the ambassadors from Babylon that were being hosted during a special lunch during the General Conference Session. Adventist News Network continued reporting:
“Special guests who were present and acknowledged at the luncheon, representing some of the meaningful connections PARL has made with influential representatives across the globe were the Secretary of the Global Christian Forum Dr. Casely Essamuah, Salvation Army Representative Colonel Kenneth Johnson, Baptist World Alliance Representative Rev. Everton Jackson.” [1]
Dr. Casely Essamuach (left), is a special guest both at the Adventist General Conference Session and at the Vatican.
Here is Dr. Casely Essamuach, the Secretary of the Global Christian Forum and special guest at the 61st General Conference Session in St. Louis. He is an agent of Rome that is committed to working towards “global Christian unity.” His main emphasis is “focused on fostering Christian unity and encouraging churches to move beyond their doctrinal differences.” [2] Dr. Casely Essamuach, who also serves as a special guest at the Vatican, is the same actor who took part in the ecumenical lunch that the 61st General Conference Session hosted.
General (top leader) of the Salvation Army, Brian Peddle (left) appointed Colonel Kenneth Johnson, special guest at the Adventist General Conference Session, as the National Chief Secretary of the Salvation Army.
Kenneth Johnson was the next person named who attended the ecumenical lunch. Colonel Kenneth Johnson is the National Chief Secretary of The Salvation Army. [3] He was appointed to the Salvation Army’s national headquarters by General Brian Peddle, the top leader in the Salvation Army. [4] The Salvation Army is committed to “worship, work, and witness together” with other faiths and has engaged both Seventh-day Adventists and Roman Catholics in ecumenical dialogue. [5]
Everton Jackson, red circle, is pictured here just 6 months ago with leaders from the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.
Everton Jackson also attended the special ecumenical lunch with Ted Wilson and Ganoune Diop in St. Louis. He is the Director of Integral Mission for the Baptist World Alliance. [6] They have had several special ecumenical encounters with Rome in order to foster greater unity. [7] In fact, Everton Jackson met with representatives of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, a Vatican-led organization, just six months ago in order to “find ways to work together across their divisions to offer a common witness to their Lord Jesus Christ.” [8] Everton Jackson is the “Ganoune Diop” for the Baptist World Alliance. He is working to end divisions among the churches and is seeking closer unity with Rome.
These were the agents of Rome who were invited as “special guests” to the 61st General Conference Sessions in an effort to “strengthen relations” and “engage” with them. Ted Wilson was at this exclusive luncheon. The General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists brought religious leaders from other churches who are pushing the Christian world towards Rome, and Ted Wilson had lunch with these individuals.
This happened on Thursday. Then on Saturday, Ted Wilson gave a sermon on the perils of ecumenism. What? Is he for real? Are you kidding me? Ted Wilson ought to have saved his sermon and delivered that message while having lunch with the Babylonian ambassadors on Thursday. He didn’t, though. Instead, he emphasized to the global delegates and members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in his sermon on Saturday the importance of rejecting ecumenism.
Inviting and joining the ecumenical family on Thursday, as well as providing them with a special lunch, and then preaching against ecumenism on Saturday was completely insincere and dishonest. His words on Saturday were a charade. It was a con, and the conservative members of the church fell for the bait, hook, line, and sinker, because it was all for show and to appease them.
We have reached the point in Adventism where we are feeding the ever-growing ecumenical family lunch during a General Conference World Session. While the ambassadors from Babylon abound in our events, while the Vatican flag is being flown by the session’s organizers, make no mistake about it: our precious faith is being theologically adjusted to accommodate these agents of Rome accordingly.
Adventist News Network said the following about Ted Wilson’s remarks during this ecumenical lunch:
“Ted N.C. Wilson stated, ‘What a privilege for Seventh-Day Adventists and other Christians to be epistles of Christ, representatives of the highest Authority of the universe.’ He later elaborated that faithful service and representation of Christ involves the constant battle for religious freedom, justice, and liberty of conscience.” [9]
This is what he said to those who were present at the ecumenical lunch. Ted Wilson said it was a privilege to meet with “other Christians” and “representatives of the highest Authority of the universe.” That’s not what Ted Wilson said in his Sabbath sermon two days later. He warned against the dangers of ecumenism. How do you praise the leaders of ecumenism on Thursday and then warn God’s people about the ecumenical movement with a straight face on Sabbath morning? Interestingly enough, Ted Wilson was given an award at this lunch by Ganoune Diop.
Open your eyes. Ganoune Diop and Ted Wilson are simply using religious liberty as a gimmick to cover up their ecumenically-based theology and activities. This allows them to reinforce their false notions of religious unity under the guise of defending religious liberty and speaking out against evil. They called this ecumenical lunch “Refusing to Be Silent in the Face of Evil.”
Seventh-day Adventist church leaders are in fact silent in the face of evil. There is such a thing as truth, and there is such a thing as theological error. Error and false doctrine do exist. Yet, not one word is said about this during these ecumenical encounters. Truth has been minimized, ignored, and rejected, while error has been allowed to increase unchecked.
How can we publicly speak out against ecumenism while also supporting, praising, and giving a platform to the movement’s leaders behind closed doors during a General Conference Session? It is not possible to bring in these ecumenical agents who are pushing the entire Christian world towards Rome to our most significant gathering of Seventh-day Adventists. Their work conflicts with the mission of the Remnant people. Why wasn’t this discussed with the world delegates? Why weren’t they allowed to vote on this? Why were they kept in the dark?
It is truly shocking to work behind closed doors to forge a stronger bond of fellowship with the ecumenical movement and then caution the global Seventh-day Adventist family about the perils of ecumenism. All this transpired within the span of three days at the 61st General Conference Session. I get the impression that some General Conference leaders view the Seventh-day Adventist church’s global delegates as little babies in a nursery who are only used when needed and quickly discarded when not.
If this wasn’t enough, Adventist News Network goes on to describe the new emphasis of Ganoune Diop’s work at the Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Department (PARL):
“PARL is also an active advocate for public policy issues. Several issues include health, education, environmental conservation, women and children’s rights, the rights of prisoners, aid, and development.” [9]
The work of religious liberty has just been redefined. Social justice has just replaced our long-standing work of calling for religious liberty so that we can preach the Third Angel’s Message. There is a reason why within Adventism we now have the social justice gospel, the rainbow gospel, the green climate change gospel, the feminist gospel, and the ecumenical gospel. All this replaces the everlasting gospel of Revelation 14:6-12. And today, the church serves the “new” attitudes and the “new” policies first and the historical faith second, if at all!
“O My people! Those who lead you cause you to err, And destroy the way of your paths.” Isaiah 3:12.
Sources
[1] https://adventist.news/news/refusing-to-be-silent-in-the-face-of-evil
[2] https://www.bu.edu/cgcm/2020/07/01/casely-essamuah-03-describes-his-work-for-global-christian-unity/
[3] https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenneth-johnson-362bb71b9
[5] https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/our-faith/ecumenical
[6] https://baptistworld.org/team/
[7] https://goodfaithmedia.org/baptist-catholic-delegations-meet-to-promote-christian-unity/
[9] https://adventist.news/news/refusing-to-be-silent-in-the-face-of-evil
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A backsliding church closed their eyes to the signs of the times. God did not forsake them, or suffer His faithfulness to fail; but they departed from Him, and separated themselves from His love. As they refused to comply with the conditions, His promises were not fulfilled to them. – GC 315.4
Unless the church, which is now being leavened with her own backsliding, shall repent and be converted, she will eat of the fruit of her own doing, until she shall abhor herself. When she resists the evil and chooses the good, when she seeks God with all humility and reaches her high calling in Christ, standing on the platform of eternal truth and by faith laying hold upon the attainments prepared for her, she will be healed. She will appear in her God-given simplicity and purity, separate from earthly entanglements, showing that the truth has made her free indeed. Then her members will indeed be the chosen of God, His representatives.—Testimonies for the Church 8:247-251 (April 21, 1903). – LDE 60.2
I am filled with sadness when I think of our condition as a people. The Lord has not closed heaven to us, but our own course of continual backsliding has separated us from God. Pride, covetousness, and love of the world have lived in the heart without fear of banishment or condemnation. Grievous and presumptuous sins have dwelt among us. And yet the general opinion is that the church is flourishing, and that peace and spiritual prosperity are in all her borders. – RH November 18, 1909
The Lord hath a controversy with his people, and, although in his great mercy he bear long with them, yet if they persist in living in transgression of his law, they will not stand in the day of his rebuke. He has seen the backsliding and iniquity of his professed people. He has noted the unbelief, the hypocrisy, the pride, the selfishness, the disobedience to his law, and he will punish for these things. God cannot be in harmony with the people who will not obey his commandments who are wickedly departing from his precepts and by their example of disobedience at leading their children and their neighbor in the way of transgression. The professed church of Christ is strengthening the hand of sinners in their evil work by making void through their traditions, the commandment of Jehovah. – ST March 12, 1894
The church that holds to the word of God is irreconcilably separated from Rome. Protestants were once thus apart from this great church of apostasy, but they have approached more nearly to her, and are still in the path of reconciliation to the Church of Rome. Rome never changes. Her principles have not altered in the least. She has not lessened the breach between herself and Protestants; they have done all the advancing. But what does this argue for the Protestantism of this day? It is the rejection of Bible truth which makes men approach to infidelity. It is a backsliding church that lessens the distance between itself and the Papacy. – ST February 19, 1894
Our leadership is not leading, but misleading if this is true about a luncheon being served to our opponents who represent Rome by our 61 General Conference session. We were told that we would be standing alone in the time of the end and we are told that we are to gather warmth from the coldness of others. To me that means recognizing what is going wrong and stand even stronger for our faith till Jesus comes!
I agree. And I really appreciate the fact that you are quoting the testimony of Jesus. He is the Word, the way, the truth, and the light.
Absolutely shocking and saddening. I’m at a loss of words. 😢
As shocking as it is, it does not surprise me! EGW warned us that it looks like the church is about to fall, but, it does not!!! True, we are in for a bumpy ride. Who ever said that we would go through to the end as an organized church body? no one! Not even EGW. The shaking must take place. Ted Wilson and Ganoune Diop are being tested as we speak. We are all being tested as we speak. We are not to put our trust and our salvation into the hands of no man, only Jesus Christ.
These things are going to take place. I would hope and pray that during this meeting that Ted Wilson and/or Ganoune Diop may have given these people a copy of The Great Controversary! We do not know what was said and done during this luncheon. What better time to witness to those who are in Babylon. Let’s wait and hear what Ted Wilson and Ganoune Diop have to say about this meeting. Then, and only then, can we make a correct judgement of what is going on.
I totally agree. We need to get the rest of the story!
I agree.
That is absolutely correct,appreciate your response! We still have to pray for our SDA Christian leaders!
“Jesus is the Way the Truth and Life”! Praise to His Name! Our probation has not closed yet!
Agree. I believe the judgment for the living, which begins at the HOUSE OF GOD, could be going on now. We will not know when our names come up.
It behooves us to get the message of warning out to the SDA church now. The testimony of Jesus states very plainly that Eze. 9 will be literally fulfilled.
The church must be purified in order to receive the latter rain and give the loud cry to the world to come out of Babylon.
What makes you think you will ever hear wilson or diop telling the truth about what was said at that meeting?
I agree, however, why was it necessary to conceal this meeting from those at the GC. And why hasn’t Ted Wilson shared this meeting with us rather than us hearing it from a third party.
Totally agree with you. Sometimes some sectors of the church judge too quickly without having a complete picture. I read some horrible comments in another article. The article said those phrases:
1) “Let’s not pretend Ted Wilson is unaware of the information contained in the book “Let Mutual Love Continue.”
My answer: Maybe Ted has not read the book. Is a busy person and maybe is more worried about preaching the gospel and distributing the great controversy than reading this book. Moreover, maybe Casely Essamuach give him for the first time as a gift. I use the word maybe because I cannot affirm with infallibility anything. But the tone of the article is like you are infallible and know everything. Let me tell you an experience: when I was in a youth congress in Poland many years ago, at the opening ceremony were invited the major of the city and other personalities, like two catholic priests. Then they received an Adventist book as a gift. So this events that you call ecumenical without base, can be an opportunity to spread our message.
2) “the leadership’s unwillingness to be open and transparent about their ecumenical activities”. I think they are being totally transparent in the sense that they don’t have had this lunch in secret. If taking lunch with a person from a different faith is an ecumenical activity I dare that even the writer of this article is ecumenical because at some point in his life he has shared a meal with friends or relatives from other faiths.
Finally, i will share a quote from the comments that say: He knew he had an ecumenical lunch ahead but at the same time portrayed himself to be on the side of the church. I can’t trust him anymore.”
I repeat that is not an ecumenical lunch because they are not signing any agreement that violates our faith. This person is telling in other words that Ted Wilson is showing two faces. I tell this person that if Ted Wilson was really ecumenical, he wouldn’t advise us in his preachings about the emergent church or ecumenism and not distribute the great controversy as he has done and the general conference is planning to do in the following years. Please think before writing some kind of comments. You are not infallible.
You are correct, none of us is infallible. But we do have the sure word of infallible testimony of Jesus that reveals that there is apostasy in our
leadership.
Amen! I agree. There are so many people out there that you think that are Saven Day Adventist, who reporting these things, and they are not. A lot of Shepherd Rods are out there who is trying to pull the church apart. Be careful what you listen to and read. Remember! There are sheep in wolf clothing. Be careful! Stay in prayer and look to Jesus, not man.
The Roman Catholic church brag that the “central pillar” of their faith is the trinity. When the SDA church accepted the trinity doctrine a backsliding SDA church started snow balling downward. And the snowball continues to roll down hill faster and faster.
The central pillar of the Catholic Church is Mariology. The worship of Mary.
As a SDA I believe in the Godhead.
“Go baptize them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28
Amen!
Amen & Amen.
Your wrong.
“ The mystery of the trinity is the central doctrine of the Catholic faith. Upon it are based all the other teachings of the church.
Handbook for Today’s Catholic “, page 16
Exactly my sister it’s true
I agree. But we don’t believe in the catholic trinity, and it was wrong to introduce confusion in our SDA beliefs. The differences are very subtle. The
early SDA’s were not trinitarian, but of course they believed the Biblical view of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Amen Alan. Trinity is a false doctrine.
True. They also changed the 3 angels logo and replaced it with 3 wavy lines (THE ECUMENICAL LOGO). Undoubtedly the leadership is in apostasy. “The
leaders of my people do cause them to err” The apostasy goes back to 1888, when the leadership rejected the message of righteousness by faith. But we
still pray for them.
There was no sin in Hezekiah hosting the ambassadors from Babylon. Mrs. White states:
The visit of these messengers from the ruler of a far-away land gave Hezekiah an opportunity to extol the living God. How easy it would have been for him to tell them of God, the upholder of all created things, through whose favor his own life had been spared when all other hope had fled! What momentous transformations might have taken place had these seekers after truth from the plains of Chaldea been led to acknowledge the supreme sovereignty of the living God!
Here was the sin: But pride and vanity took possession of Hezekiah’s heart, and in self-exaltation he laid open to covetous eyes the treasures with which God had enriched His people. The king “showed them the house of his precious things, the silver, and the gold, and the spices, and the precious ointment, and all the house of his armor, and all that was found in his treasures: there was nothing in his house, nor in all his dominion, that Hezekiah showed them not.” Isaiah 39:2. Not to glorify God did he do this, but to exalt himself in the eyes of the foreign princes. He did not stop to consider that these men were representatives of a powerful nation that had not the fear nor the love of God in their hearts, and that it was imprudent to make them his confidants concerning the temporal riches of the nation.
God sent the ambassadors as a test: The visit of the ambassadors to Hezekiah was a test of his gratitude and devotion. The record says, “Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to inquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that He might know all that was in his heart.” 2 Chronicles 32:31. Had Hezekiah improved the opportunity given him to bear witness to the power, the goodness, the compassion, of the God of Israel, the report of the ambassadors would have been as light piercing darkness. But he magnified himself above the Lord of hosts. He “rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up.”
We don’t know in what manner the luncheon was conducted so let us not be quick to judge.
Well said.
Do you really believe that these leaders do not know what true SDA believe about the anti-Christ power?
Sir, You Couldn’t Be more Wrong. The Bible and Spirit of Prophecy Forbid Such Ecumenical Associations. It is What makes the the Worldwide Organized SDA Church a Harlot. [ Read Isaiah Chapters 1-4 ] Also all those Who are Involved in Such Confederacies against God will be Broken in Pieces. [ Isaiah 8 and 8:9-12 ] Ted Wilson Awaits the Wrath of a Holy and Just God, as will all Ministers and Members who Give the SDA Church its Support by Membership and Tithes.
Thanks for posting this…
Ted Wilson and Mr. Diop probably “did not stop to consider that these men were representatives of a powerful nation that had not the fear nor the love of God in their hearts, and that it was imprudent to make them his confidants concerning the temporal riches of the nation.”. In other words, or anything that pertains to our church: temporal or spiritual.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1geFm5ESs-GkzmMSia3MzbNDiFCwz-aiv/view?usp=sharing
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marce says
<The article, in spanish