Seventh-day Adventism is no longer a belief system that is defined by our sincerely held religious convictions. No, the term “Seventh-day Adventism” now refers to a federally protected trademark that describes what state-approved building you worship in.
On May, 9, 2022, Ted Wilson’s General Conference Corporation filed a three-count federal lawsuit against Joe Gresham, Sterling Trice, Linda Trice, Bill Mathis, Gay Mathis, and John Does. These are fellow believers who believe in the second coming of Jesus and the seventh-day Sabbath. These are brothers and sisters who sincerely believe in the Three Angels’ Messages. They are not Baptists, Pentecostals, or Roman Catholics. Who are they? They are people who believe in Seventh-day Adventism, and the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists has filed a lawsuit against them for violating the church’s trademark in the following ways:
Count 1 – Federal Trademark Counterfeiting
Count 2 – Federal Trademark Infringement
Count 3 – Federal False Designation of Origin/Unfair Competition
Here is a copy of the original lawsuit that was filed on May 9, 2022. To read the entire document click here.
On September 12, 2022, the lawsuit was amended to include Pastor Patrick M. Herbert, President and CEO of Berean Church of Free Seventh-day Adventists and the International Association of Free Seventh-day Adventists.
The International Association of Free Seventh-day Adventists and Pastor Patrick Herbert were parties to the amended lawsuit.
To see the entire document click here.
The General Conference, back in 1981, registered their church and trademarked the name Seventh-day Adventist with the United States Trademark and Patent Office. What would be achieved by doing this, and what would be its purpose? What will always occur when certain aspects of a religious faith are trademarked or registered with the federal government? Well, if Church leaders sign an agreement with the federal government, they will be able to prosecute, fine, or imprison people who openly and without authorization identify as Seventh-day Adventists or follow their beliefs.
Page 4 of the lawsuit says that the General Conference Corporation is responsible for prosecuting fellow believers.
Under Ted Wilson’s leadership, the General Conference has used and continues to use the federal courts, the powerful arm of the government, to provide law enforcement and protection for the General Conference Corporation. What they have done is anti-biblical, anti-American, and illegal according to our constitution.
According to page 6 of the lawsuit, they are attempting to stop certain people from using their federally protected trademarks.
Congress cannot grant legal preference to one person’s religious beliefs over another. Congress has never made any such laws. Congress did pass a federal trademark law called the Lanham Act, which protects words, phrases, names, pictures, symbols, or any combination of these things that distinguish the products of one company from another; these are usually registered and protected by law. The Lanham Act states that “no person shall, without consent of the registrant, use in commerce any trademark if such use is likely to cause confusion, or to cause mistake or to deceive.” [1]
Page 7 of the lawsuit says that the defendants are engaged in a “counterfeit, confusion, mistake, deception” and are not “legitimate.”
What this means to Seventh-day Adventist Christians who are not regular members of the official (state) church or to those who may have unjustly lost their membership with the official (state) church is simply this:
If you are preaching, publishing, singing, speaking, or participating in anything that is related to church activities that in any way might cause other people to think that you are an official member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church when actually you are not, then you are in violation of federal trademark laws and you will be dragged into court to face severe fines and/or imprisonment.
Page 9 of the lawsuit says that the General Conference has been irreparably damaged and injured and that “monetary damages” must reflect the “exceptional” harm done to them. They want relief, costs, and attorney’s fees.
It is unconstitutional what the leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church have done. Since commercial businesses use trademarks in their names, goods, and services to forbid other corporations and businesses from using them, maybe, just possibly, what the General Conference Corporation could not do—forbid self-supporting groups from practicing Seventh-day Adventism because of the first amendment of our Constitution—they have now found a way through a loophole.
Under the cover of a business seeking federal trademark protection, the General Conference, a religious institution, has trademarked its church, its church name, its goods, and its services with the federal government and is currently suing Seventh-day Adventist believers for violating federal trademark laws.
Page 10 of the lawsuit reveals that the General Conference Corporation is praying that they may recover a lot of money in damages. They are praying that the court will bankrupt the small company of fellow believers.
Seventh-day Adventism is a religion, not a business. We are Seventh-day Adventists because we believe in Seventh-day Adventism. It is our religious faith. It is how we identify our religious convictions. The Adventist prophet, Ellen G. White, has told us in her inspired writings that we must always identify ourselves, till the end of time, as “Seventh-day Adventists,” because this name describes our faith:
“We are Seventh-day Adventists. Are we ashamed of our name? We answer, ‘No, no! We are not. It is the name the Lord has given us.’ It points out the truth that is to be the test of the churches” (Letter 110, 1902).
“A company was presented before me under the name of Seventh-day Adventists, who were advising that the banner or sign which makes us a distinctive people should not be held out so strikingly; for they claimed it was not the best policy in securing success to our institutions. This distinctive banner is to be borne through the world to the close of probation” (Selected Messages, Book 2, p. 385).
“No name which we can take will be appropriate but that which accords with our profession and expresses our faith and marks us as a peculiar people. The name Seventh-day Adventist is a standing rebuke to the Protestant world” (Testimonies, Volume 1 p. 223).
“The name Seventh-day Adventist carries the true features of our faith in front” (Ibid., p. 224).
In the mind of our prophet, this position has never changed. We dare not repudiate the name or call ourselves by something different. Our name represents a statement of our faith.
“In the name of the Lord we are to identify ourselves as Seventh-day Adventists … The name is a true expression of our faith. I am instructed to call upon God’s people to bring their actions into harmony with their name, of which they have no need to be ashamed” (Battle Creek Letters, p. 52).
“Our institutions have taken a name which sets forth the character of our faith, and of this name we are never to be ashamed. I have been shown that this name means much, and in adopting it we have followed the light given us from heaven” (Manuscript 15, 1896).
The attorney handling this lawsuit for the General Conference Corporation is the same attorney who served as the “parliamentarian” during the General Conference Session in St. Louis earlier this year. When not conducting and supervising the secret voting process for the world session, he is suing fellow believers in federal court.
The Constitution, the Supreme Law of the Land, governs all federal laws! And the Constitution is supposed to protect the rights of people to practice their faith. What has happened? We have now, in our land of freedom, a state church. The federal court is now prosecuting at the behest of the General Conference Corporation in order to protect their exclusive rights and trademarks from being used in “commerce.” That commercial use includes conducting religious services. In other words, you cannot use the trademarks of the General Conference Corporation in your worship services without their permission. So then what kind of religious observances or church services can these fellow believers have? Roman Catholic worship services? What an abomination!
You are not supposed to do this in America! The church is not supposed to do this here! That is why people fled Europe and came to the shores of North America in search of religious liberty. If the church wants to employ the strong arm of the federal government, then let these leaders go back to Eastern Europe and create an image of the Papacy there. This is not supposed to happen because the result is inevitable.
“When troubles arise in the church we should not go for help to lawyers not of our faith. God does not desire us to open church difficulties before those who do not fear Him. He would not have us depend for help on those who do not obey His requirements. Those who trust in such counselors show that they have not faith in God. By their lack of faith the Lord is greatly dishonored, and their course works great injury to themselves. In appealing to unbelievers to settle difficulties in the church they are biting and devouring one another, to be “consumed one of another” (Galatians 5:15). These men cast aside the counsel God has given, and do the very things He has bidden them not to do. They show that they have chosen the world as their judge, and in heaven their names are registered as one with unbelievers. Christ is crucified afresh, and put to open shame. Let these men know that God does not hear their prayers. They insult His holy name, and He will leave them to the buffetings of Satan until they shall see their folly and seek the Lord by confession of their sin” (Selected Messages, Book 3 p. 299).
Pay close attention to the curses that will befall us when we sue our fellow believers in federal court. No other sin mentioned in the Spirit of Prophecy carries as many calamities in a single passage, as far as we are aware.
- They have no faith in God.
- They greatly dishonor our Lord.
- They greatly injure themselves.
- They are biting and devouring one another.
- They cast aside the counsel of God.
- They do the very things He has forbidden.
- They choose the world as their judge
- In heaven their names are registered as unbelievers.
- They crucify Christ afresh.
- They put Christ to open shame.
- God no longer hears their prayers.
- They insult God’s holy name.
- They are left to the buffetings of Satan.
Is Ted Wilson’s General Conference helping the United States prepare for the enforcement of the Mark of the Beast? This is exactly what the General Conference is doing by filing these federal lawsuits against other Sabbath-keeping Christians. This is what inspiration says:
“In order for the United States to form an image of the beast, the religious power must so control the civil government that the authority of the state will also be employed by the church to accomplish her own end” (Great Controversy, p, 443).
Let us all appeal to the leaders of the General Conference in the name of the Lord to repeal their unwarranted and unjustifiable lawsuits against fellow believers. Stop wasting God’s sacred tithe money to destroy the lives of Sabbath-keeping Christians. The church should work to get rid of the ringleaders of the Omega of Apostasy rather than picking on poor, defenseless believers. May God have mercy on us all in our struggle for religious liberty.
Sources
[1] https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/1114
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Thank you for publishing this, Andy.
Amen !
It is truly sad that we are very comfortable with betraying our Lord. The Bible says that the devil believes AND trembles. There is a world in darkness because they have no fear of the Living God! Why? because we do NOT fear the great and mighty God! The devil does, but we humans who are dust does not. Yet, we will stand before the awesome God and will regret it if we do not humble themselves and repent before it is too late. The good Lord truly is at the door. Lord Jesus, for your name sake, wake us up! Please Lord! Wake us up!
Very interesting indeed! Before I can comment on the lawsuit I need more information on the group using the name of the Church. Who are they and what specifically are they doing? What discussions have gone on between the GC and this group in an attempt to settle the dispute? Has this group separated itself from the Church and the members no longer hold membership? We have counsel against breaking up into separate, independent groups. Let’s have more information on just what is going on.
I appreciate this comment. There are at times details unknown to us and we sometumes judge according to nearly no knowledge. I’m not taking sides in this, just saying we don’t know who this group is or what they may or may not be doing in representing Seventh-day Adventism.
The GC knows very well who the Free SDAs are. Most importantly, theu are very faithful to and uphold God’s Message to His final church – to His Word and the writings of Sister White. Listening to Pastor Herbert’s sermons is like hearing our Message when I came into the church some 45 years ago – reverent, faithful preaching in humility before God and given in concern for people who are going to be lost unless they hear that Message and accept it. They have been a separate but registered SDA church since 1915, and the GC lawyers advised them some time later that their position was entirely legal as to using the SDA name for their organisation. This separation was caused by the peculiar and stubborn refusal of the GC to accept and help their coloured SDA brethren as God wanted them to – a fact Sister White rebuked them for. There is nothing wrong with their sermons or discussions – they speak the Truth as we once long ago heard it – and it’s like a blast of fresh air.
AMEN The conference on the other is in apostasy shaking hands with the Papacy!
We don’t need to know all the facts to obey God’s word, and God says don’t sue your brothers in court:
1 Corinthians 6:1-8
1 Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
6 But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers.
7 Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?
8 Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.
Amen!
I find it interesting that the GC does absolutely NOTHING in regards to the inclusion of what GOD CALLS AN ABOMINATION (lgbtxyz) on our university campuses and churches who use the name a Seventh day Adventist and Adventist Health with their uniting with the world but they are not being sued…. but hey, a little congregation is a nice soft target to put in the cross hairs.
Just remember that this is the same corporation that held a secret meeting with Catholics at the GC session this last year and has a PARL employee that gushes over meeting or being in the presence of the little horn power. And the father of the president of the GC gave a gold medallion to the same little horn power back in the 70’s. Look up the BEM Document Lima Peru.
Are they suing the Northern European division and the churches over there for their participation with Catholic religious services? Yeah…I didn’t think so…
Lord, please “deliver us from evil for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever amen!”
My name is Edsel Sapian, elder of this church where Joe Gresham is pastoring. I would like to make it clear that we did not separate ourselves from the Texas conference of SDA. Our church was closed down by the conference, and their officials refused to talk to us after several attempts to communicate with them. Previous president Leighton Holley claimed the problem was over the practice of Gresham’s using the KJV Bible only, while privately I was able to corner the next president, Carlos Craig, who claimed that the church was closed because the members sided with Gresham, rather than the conference. A small splinter group from the church claimed that the church was closed over the use of a special fund reserved by the members for the pastor, because the pastor was receiving halftime wages for fulltime work. There are so many issues that could have been the reason for closing down the church, but up to this point in time, I don’t know for sure what the real reason for closing the church is. It just seems to me that there is a strong strong spirit of undue ecclesiastical authority in this conference, and any expression of dissent against them is dealt with oppression.
And brother shall rise up against brother and children against parents… It comes as no surprise but still painful that this is happening.
May I ask if your church is conservative? Fundamental / Historic Adventist? I ask because here in Kaliforication the Northern California Conference has no problem with forcing liberal pastors onto conservative churches. If you protest then you are threatened with “viability assessments.” Which can escalate into closure and there is no conversation either. They just tell you what you WILL DO or else!!! They also encourage church treasurers to allow the conference direct access to bank accounts on the premise of ‘saving everyone the “aggravation” of writing a check and mailing it….’ NEVER ALLOW THEM ACCESS TO ANY ACCOUNTS AND DONT SEND THEM ANY EXTRA MONEY FOR THEM TO “SAVE” for you. BIG MISTAKE!!!!
And since it seems that you are a small church you are a soft target aka easily out gunned…if your church budget is great, that may be motive to seize assets through lawsuit and lawyer fees.
I am not trying to be harsh. Just speaking from experience and lessons learned from others.
HISTORY OF THE FREE SDA MOVEMENT
(The following are excerpts that are drawn from the manuscripts of a book currently being written by Pastor Patrick Herbert, dealing with the history of Free Seventh-day Adventists. Pastor Herbert is the senior pastor of Berean Church of Free SDA and is chairman of the Executive Committee of the International Association of Free Seventh-day Adventists.)
THE BEGINNING OF THE COLORED WORK
In this section we shall consider the circumstances that led up to the birth and development of the Free Seventh-day Adventist movement. To better understand how and when Free Seventh-day Adventists came into existence, we must first take some time to focus on a part of Adventist history that deals with the work that was done for and by colored members of the Adventist church in the early years of its existence. Therefore, let us now take a close look at some aspects of the history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church that will provide us relevant information on the origin of the Free Seventh-day Adventist movement.
William Miller
William Miller
When the Adventist movement began in the early 1800s blacks were included among the foundational members of the church. This fact can be seen in the historical records of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Church historians unequivocally show that in the 1830s there were black “adherents of the Adventist (Millerite) movement.” 1 In the 1840s a man by the name of William Ellis Foy, who was described as “a tall light-skinned colored man,” received more than one vision directly “relating to the near advent of Christ and to last day events.” 2 Foy received his first vision in the year 1842. However, one of the reasons he later gave for his unwillingness to share his visions with others was, as he put it, “the prejudice among the people against those of my color.” 3 Another early Adventist by the name of Hazen Foss also had the opportunity to reveal God’s end time message to the Advent people. Foss was given his first vision in the autumn of 1844, but his response and experience mirrored that of Foy’s before him. Both of these men were called of God before Ellen G. White was given her first vision in December of 1844, which started the beginning of her work in the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
What has happened is sad, however if the conference has removed this church from itself (for whatever reason), then this church under bible direction should not use a prohibited name. This church I believe could use [under a new name] a description such as:- “A Seventh Day Adventist STYLE movement in teaching and belief”. (Not SDA Conference). The use of the word ‘Style’ has in other cases navigated around the legal ban of using trademarked words.
God commands us to identify ourselves to the world as Seventh-day Adventists. So whatever man commands to the contrary, we must obey God and endure the consequences. In principle, if they can prohibit calling ourselves “Seventh-day Adventists,” they can also prohibit calling ourselves “Christians.”
Daniel did not have to continue his practice of opening his window and praying aloud toward Jerusalem to the God of heaven when it was illegal to do so. But doing so was not only excusable, but honorable.
The Three Hebrews did not have to remain standing when ordered to worship the Image of the Beast on the plain of Dura. But doing so was not only excusable, but honorable.
If the General Conference would be as honorable as the congregation they are suing, they should call themselves An Image of the Roman Hierarchy. In fact, N. C. Wilson did that in court, under oath, in 1976. And his witness is true.
“The image of the beast will be formed before probation closes; for it is to be the great test for the people of God, by which their eternal destiny will be decided….” {Mar 164.2}
What is the image of the beast? “The image to the beast represents another religious body clothed with similar power. The formation of this image is the work of that beast whose peaceful rise and mild professions render it so striking a symbol of the United States. Here is to be found an image of the papacy.” GC 278.
Please note: The image of the beast is NOT THE CIVIL, SECULAR GOVERNMENT! Like its mother, it is a RELIGIOUS BODY. It is supported by the secularist government that precedes it.
When the religious body “shall influence the state to enforce their decrees and to sustain their institutions, then Protestant America will have formed an image of the Roman hierarchy, and the infliction of civil penalties upon dissenters will inevitably result.” {GC 445.1} This was effected in 1892 with the Trinity Church Supreme Court decision and Enabling Act for the World’s Fair. Although the Sunday-closing provision of the Act was repealed the next year at the behest of the churches for the benefit of the churches, the creation of the Image was not undone. See The Captivity of the Republic, by A. T. Jones.
Over the last 46 years, we see the General Conference following in the footsteps of the churches that fell in 1844, in taking the civil sword to persecute. They shall perish by the sword they are usurping. Storm and tempest will sweep away their structure. The ten horns will hate her, eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. With the Jewish nation, they have no king but Caesar’s successor.
Thanks for your comment elder. Just one question, prior to this lawsuit by the GC against the church, did the church file a lawsuit against the conference and why?
This is all wrong! It was very wrong when his father started the original law suits this mess and has not improved over time.
They filed a suit in south Florida back in the ’80s against a church and the judge told them to work it out in private but they would not. Small churches all over have been hounded by this terrible copy right issue. Even after the gc won the cases the conditions that were imposed on the losers was terrible. Our church has no business involved in anything like this.
They have bigger things to deal with such as the conditions in our ministry and colleges and the General Conference!
I recognize the “heresy” here from joe Grisham that required silencing, it is the Adventist message to sanctify Adventists and the world, watch Brother Lawrence’s SDA pastor exposes catholic teaching in the SDA Church…Present Truth has become “outlaw” God will judge probationary time is short. Be faithful sentinels of God.
This matter goes back to the time (EG White’s day) when the GC was ignoring the needs of coloured SDA members and churches and treating them in a non-Christian manner. As this was not corrected the Free SDA church was finally established so that coloured people who believe in the SDA Message had somewhere to worship, congregate and support each other, as all SDAs are meant to do. Because of the problems the group encountered and refusal by the GC to do the right thing, they formed their own church and this was registered in 1915. The GC’s lawyers later admitted in writing that under Natural Law (which governs just about every State in the USA) the FSDA group had full right to the use of the SDA name (which of course God Himself gave to all who believe in the SDA Message, not just those in the GC!) and the FSDA have been preaching our Message since that time. No problem has ever arisen, until now.
Below is the link for the talk published by Pastor Patrick Herbert of FSDA six months ago which explains the situation as he, and any faithful SDA, views it. It has far more serious and severe consequences than the GC suing FSDAs. The site for Balm of Gilead Ministries on YouTube also provides updates on the legal proceedings now started by the GC, which is to their shame. 1 Cor. 6: 1-9 is VERY clear indeed, and the GC is simply trampling all over the Lord’s specific instruction. The GC does NOT own the Seventh Day Adventist name! The name does not ‘belong’ to any corporation or institution: It was given to ALL SDA believers, whether a member of the GC or outside of it – and I find it absolutely appalling what the GC is now stooping to, in direct disobedience to the Lord’s command. The name belongs to God only: it is His ‘intellectual property’ so to speak, and only He has a right to say where and who and by who it will be used.
Please view this very interesting address at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Um5VdPU339I
Our SDA Church is misbehaving seriously_ Satan is attacking God’s people by using Leaders just within the church.
Thanks Andy. This is tragic beyond comprehension. This action by the GCC makes it clear that the Lord, in infinite mercy and justice, has arisen. His fan is in his hand. The GCC thinks to purge the church but they are the ones being purged. Pray for the blindness of each of us to be removed, that we’re closely and tenderly united in Christ and accounted worthy to escape these things and to stand before the son of man.
https://www.freesda.org/history/freesdabeginnings.html
HISTORY OF THE FREE SDA MOVEMENT
(The following are excerpts that are drawn from the manuscripts of a book currently being written by Pastor Patrick Herbert, dealing with the history of Free Seventh-day Adventists. Pastor Herbert is the senior pastor of Berean Church of Free SDA and is chairman of the Executive Committee of the International Association of Free Seventh-day Adventists.)
THE BEGINNING OF THE COLORED WORK
In this section we shall consider the circumstances that led up to the birth and development of the Free Seventh-day Adventist movement. To better understand how and when Free Seventh-day Adventists came into existence, we must first take some time to focus on a part of Adventist history that deals with the work that was done for and by colored members of the Adventist church in the early years of its existence. Therefore, let us now take a close look at some aspects of the history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church that will provide us relevant information on the origin of the Free Seventh-day Adventist movement.
William Miller
William Miller
When the Adventist movement began in the early 1800s blacks were included among the foundational members of the church. This fact can be seen in the historical records of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Church historians unequivocally show that in the 1830s there were black “adherents of the Adventist (Millerite) movement.” 1 In the 1840s a man by the name of William Ellis Foy, who was described as “a tall light-skinned colored man,” received more than one vision directly “relating to the near advent of Christ and to last day events.” 2 Foy received his first vision in the year 1842. However, one of the reasons he later gave for his unwillingness to share his visions with others was, as he put it, “the prejudice among the people against those of my color.” 3 Another early Adventist by the name of Hazen Foss also had the opportunity to reveal God’s end time message to the Advent people. Foss was given his first vision in the autumn of 1844, but his response and experience mirrored that of Foy’s before him. Both of these men were called of God before Ellen G. White was given her first vision in December of 1844, which started the beginning of her work in the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
HISTORY OF THE FREE SDA MOVEMENT
(The following are excerpts that are drawn from the manuscripts of a book currently being written by Pastor Patrick Herbert, dealing with the history of Free Seventh-day Adventists. Pastor Herbert is the senior pastor of Berean Church of Free SDA and is chairman of the Executive Committee of the International Association of Free Seventh-day Adventists.)
THE BEGINNING OF THE COLORED WORK
In this section we shall consider the circumstances that led up to the birth and development of the Free Seventh-day Adventist movement. To better understand how and when Free Seventh-day Adventists came into existence, we must first take some time to focus on a part of Adventist history that deals with the work that was done for and by colored members of the Adventist church in the early years of its existence. Therefore, let us now take a close look at some aspects of the history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church that will provide us relevant information on the origin of the Free Seventh-day Adventist movement.
William Miller
William Miller
When the Adventist movement began in the early 1800s blacks were included among the foundational members of the church. This fact can be seen in the historical records of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Church historians unequivocally show that in the 1830s there were black “adherents of the Adventist (Millerite) movement.” 1 In the 1840s a man by the name of William Ellis Foy, who was described as “a tall light-skinned colored man,” rece