While I do not believe the Tithe should be used as a “weapon”, I do share Conrad’s angst against the unilateral decision to add “peer reviewed science” to SDA’s belief structure-this is unacceptable, and I regard it as extremely unhelpful against Gods Church. Having been personally published in a “peer reviewed journal” (of Automatica IFAC), and become a “peer reviewer” myself, I strongly would oppose any kind of “yielding of conscience” to the conclusions of “peer reviewed science”. All to often it is the “grants” and those with the “money bags” that provide strong nudges in the “approved direction” of the “approved conclusions”. Where Pharmacia is involved – those “approved conclusions” are heavily tilted to “profitable conclusions”, vs “healthy ones”.

While we may all recall the “shot down” motion by Johnathan Zirkle, requesting to add the “vaccine statement” to the GC Session agenda. Few, I think, recall that it was seconded – by Grace Mackintosh – Canadian Union Office Religious Liberty Lawyer. It was Graces regular job to assist Sabbath keepers to gain religious accommodation with employers. She regularly assisted folks with these and other related issues.

What is not part of general knowledge is that shortly after her “seconding the motion”, the “wheels of cancel culture” began to turn. Grace is no longer employed by the Adventist Church. Shame on those who participated or started these “wheels of cancel culture”. May the Lord place His house in order. It surely looks like it is about to fall…. Yet it will not. Pray for Grace, as a single mother, who is also taking care of her aged father…. And is no longer employed by our Church.

In 1992, Pastor Russell Standish was sacked from denominational employment after 27 years of service for “refusing to comply with properly constituted church authority” for accepting invitations from around the world to preach present truth in meetings and convocations not endorsed by the General Conference, and for writing books and articles exposing the apostasy within the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The then General Conference President, Robert Folkenberg, flew all the way down from Washington, D.C., to Singapore — where Pastor Russell Standish was based at that time in the Southeast Asian Union Conference — to personally oversee the dismissal. Later revelations by George Knight reveal that this was typical of his administrative style whilst in office.

“The spirit of domination is extending to the presidents of our Conferences. If a man is sanguine of his own powers and seeks to exercise dominion over his brethren, feeling that he is invested with authority to make his will the ruling power, the best and only safe course is to remove him, lest great harm be done, and he lose his own soul, and imperil the souls of others. ‘All ye are brethren.’ This disposition to lord it over God’s heritage will cause a reaction unless these men change their course. Those in authority should manifest the Spirit of Christ. They should deal as he would deal with every case that requires attention. They should go weighted with the Holy Spirit. A man’s position does not make him one jot or tittle greater in the sight of God; it is character alone that God values.” Special Testimonies, Series A, Number 9, p. 19

It is incumbent upon every member not to allow one’s self to be subordinated to this misrule but, in Christian love and courage, to break the yoke that would impose silence where rebuke needs to be said, conformity where truth needs to be proclaimed, and coercion where liberty needs to be defended.

“If the cords are drawn much tighter, if the rules are made much finer, if men continue to bind their fellow-laborers closer and closer to the commandments of men, many will be stirred by the Spirit of God to break every shackle, and assert their liberty in Christ Jesus.” Review and herald, July 23, 1895

We would do well to ponder over the words of James White — the founder of the original model of church organisation in 1863 — as to what principle biblical organisation is built upon, what was its intended and proper purpose, and what are the evils that arise from its misuse:

“Organisation was designed to secure unity of action and as a protection from imposture. It was never intended as a scourge to compel obedience, but rather, for the protection of the people of God. Christ does not drive His people. He calls them…Human creeds cannot produce unity. Church force cannot press the church into one body…

“The minister who throws himself on any Conference Committee for direction, takes himself out of the hands of Christ. And that Committee that takes into its own hands the work of directing the ambassadors for Christ, takes a fearful responsibility. ‘One is your Master (Leader), even Christ, and all ye are brethren.’ May God preserve to us our organisation and form of church discipline in its original simplicity and efficiency.” Review and Herald, January 4, 1881

Further to this, we would do well to prayerfully consider these inspired statements regarding church organisation:

“Organisation, as carried out in the life as God means it shall be, brings every soul who is engaged in the work of God his submission to the divine will. It leads them to give themselves to God, to be worked by His Holy Spirit. Anyone who supposes that it does not mean this, are no longer to stand in responsible positions, having voice to control in the great closing work for these last days.” 1897 General Conference Bulletin, p. 80

“Organisations, institutions, unless kept by the power of God, will work under Satan’s dictation to bring men under the control of men; and fraud and guile will bear the semblance of zeal for truth and for the advancement of the kingdom of God.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, p. 366

That is why the finishing of the work will not depend upon organisational machinery, denominational policy, hierarchical structures, man-made control but upon the moving of the Holy Spirit as He organises the way in which the message shall go forth to the world.

“Let me tell you that the Lord will work in this last work in a manner very much out of the common order of things, and in a way that will be contrary to any human planning. There will be those among us who will always want to control the work of God, to dictate even what movements shall be made when the work goes forward under the angel who joins the third angel in the message to be given to the world. God will use ways and means by which it will be seen that He is taking the reins into His own hands.” Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, p. 300

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“It means much to our physicians whether they are wearing the yoke of Christ or the yoke of some man. Those who are wearing a yoke that man has placed on their necks will have to be freed from this yoke before they can act the part that God desires them to act in the proclamation of the truth. Those who receive and believe in Jesus are not to wear any man’s yoke, neither are they to be non-committal in regard to where they stand. A fierce conflict is raging between two powers — the power of light and the power of darkness. This conflict has a vital interest for the people of God. The question that is asked us is, Who will stand on the Lord’s side? You can not remain neutral, and yet be Christ’s followers, His faithful servants.” Special Testimonies, Series B, Number 2, p. 44

This is truly a time to “sigh and cry” for all the abominations that be done in the church (Ezekiel 9:4; Testimonies for the Church, volume 3, p. 266, 267; Testimonies for the Church, volume 5, p. 210)

(Gentleman who had the 3 Angel’s messages on billboards, they fired him then apologised to a Catholic priest the same one who molested his relative.)

There’s a tendency to fire those who are uplifting the Spirit of Prophecy and those who are against it seem to be promoted/endorsed!

Luke 6:22-23 “Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.

Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.”

May we sigh and cry for what has been done in the Michigan conference to Conrad Vine, Ron Kelly, and the members of Village Church, and beyond.

I am so sorry for this. Stay strong. Follow the Bible !!! May God bless you and your family.

Faithful Seventh-day Adventists have also been canceled in like manner as you see in display here at the Village SDA Church. I, my wife, my wife’s parents and two close friends were disfellowshipped at two separate locations one year apart for daring to believe the Bible as it reads and as it was believed in prior to THE 1980 vote that was said to bring unity but really has just hastened in Babylonian uniformity. We also have been misrepresented and did not have the right to stand before accusers for part of the time. The conference leaders are operating under the guise of holiness and piety when out of our conferences is flowing away millions of youth and millions of dollars into the world’s coffers. We are in a terrible state of affairs and Christ, the literal Son of God, needs to regain his rightful headship of this denominated people. Yes it is time we returned back to God and God’s principles which established this church. It is time not to pray so much as to act what the Lord has already commanded us to do and that is to remove conference leaders out of compliance with God and place in its ranks sacrificing leaders accountable to God. Our leadership right now mirrors what is being done in politics and it makes Christ want to spew us out of His mouth. How dare we even call ourselves Seventh-day Adventists when we act like the world? There are an increasing number of instances where the conferences are going against their own church manual/policies in order to come after individuals and I have been through it first hand. 10 years ago I wouldn’t have believed that it could happen but it does. Uniformity is wanted so that the conferences can call it unity and parade a fake Adventist narrative and receive government funds. And to top it all off they have trademarked the word Adventist so that even true Adventist’s cannot take that name which is a standing rebuke to the world! As I read the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy I compare what we could be and what we are and the contrast is strikingly at odds.
1) we need a return to primitive Godliness and to using William Millers rules of Bible interpretation alone
2) we need to return to the fundamental principles based on unquestionable authority. This our spiritual foundation and we have invited in an evangelical/ecumenical foundation. Storm and tempest will sweep away the structure built on this faulty foundation.
3) we need to follow all the commands God has given in the Bible and the continuation of the Spirit of Prophecy. We are entirely off base and need to act quickly to correct many wrongs.
4) all along the way we need to be repenting yet boldly going forward doing God’s will.

Angels that excel in strength will be sent to our aid and reform this work rapidly. They are waiting for us to be obedient to God! Time to stop punching clocks and sitting in wasteful meetings. Time to stop misusing the sacred tithe. Time to stop with worldly policies in our schools. It’s time to obey the God and act.

Shawn Speidel
disfellowshipped volunteer school gardener, elder, junior class teacher, school board member and church board member from the Ardmore, OK Seventh-Day Adventist Church April 2022

PS We can have creeds or we can have the gifts of the spirit. We have chosen the creeds so the gifts of the spirit are languishing. WV 81-82 shows how the pioneers viewed this matter. We are patterned now after the other churches and not under direct command of the Holy Spirit.
“The Lord is soon to come. We want that complete and perfect understanding which the Lord alone can give. It is not safe to catch the spirit from another. We want the Holy Spirit, which is Jesus Christ. If we commune with God, we shall have strength and grace and efficiency.” 9LtMs, Lt 66, 1894, par. 18