One of the odious evils of our day is racism, the belief or practice that views or treats certain racial groups as inferior and therefore justifiably the object of domination, discrimination, and segregation.

While the sin of racism is an age-old phenomenon based on ignorance, fear, estrangement, and false pride, some of its ugliest manifestations have taken place in our time. Racism and irrational prejudices operate in a vicious circle. Racism is among the worst of ingrained prejudices that characterize sinful human beings. Its consequences are generally more devastating because racism easily becomes permanently institutionalized and legalized and in its extreme manifestations can lead to systematic persecution and even genocide.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church deplores all forms of racism, including the political policy of apartheid with its enforced segregation and legalized discrimination.

Seventh-day Adventists want to be faithful to the reconciling ministry assigned to the Christian church. As a worldwide community of faith, the Seventh-day Adventist Church wishes to witness to and exhibit in her own ranks the unity and love that transcend racial differences and overcome past alienation between races.

Scripture plainly teaches that every person was created in the image of God, who "made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth" (Acts 17:26). Racial discrimination is an offense against our fellow human beings, who were created in God's image. In Christ "there is neither Jew nor Greek" (Gal. 3:28). Therefore, racism is really a heresy and in essence a form of idolatry, for it limits the fatherhood of God by denying the brotherhood of all mankind and by exalting the superiority of one's own race.

The standard for Seventh-day Adventist Christians is acknowledged in the church's Bible-based Fundamental Belief No. 13, "Unity in the Body of Christ." Here it is pointed out: "In Christ we are a new creation; distinctions of race, culture, learning, and nationality, and differences between high and low, rich and poor, male and female, must not be divisive among us. We are all equal in Christ, who by one Spirit has bonded us into one fellowship with Him and with one another; we are to serve and be served without partiality or reservation."

Any other approach destroys the heart of the Christian gospel.

 

This public statement was released by the General Conference president, Neal C. Wilson, after consultation with the 16 world vice presidents of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, on June 27, 1985, at the General Conference session in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Re: "Is there something more that this conference does that isn't being accomplished by the conferences that are already established?"

YES.

I suggest that you read the history of the so-called Regional Conferences. Then study current discussions on this very subject. Once you has assimilated that, give thought as to why certain of the Regional Conferences have essentially pulled out of the Genral Conference retirement program, and run their own retirement program.

The questions and issues arround the question that you raise are very complex, and there is no simple answer.

The so-called Regional Conferences exist in the following Unions in North America:

Atlantic Union Conference

Columbia Union Conference

Lake Union Conference

Mid-America Union Conference

Southern Union Conference

Southwestern Union Conference

The following Unions, in North America, do not have a Regional Conference:

North-Pacific Union Conference

Pacific Union Conference

SDA Church in Canada

Re: "Why then, is there a Central States Conference that serves states . . . that already have working conferences?"

Let us set the record straight: The Central States Conference was organized before the Rocky Mountain Conference came into existance. Your question might be better stated as: Why was the Rocky Mountain Conference organized in a place that already had a working Central States Conference.

The Central States Conference was organized in 1952.

The Rocky Mountain Conference was organized in 1981.

NOTE: I am aware that there was a Conference organizaiton that covered Colorado that was organized in 1882. But, the decision was made to take that organization out of existance (For legal reasons it still exists.), and to replace it with a new Conference with expanded geographic coverage.

To speak further to your question with dates, the Central States Conference is older than the following Confernces in the Mid-America Union which were re-organized as of the following dates:

Dakota Conference, 1981

Iowa-Missouri Conference, 1980

Kansas-Nebraska Conference, 1980

Rocky Mountain Conference, 1981, already mentioned.

In actual fact, the Central States Conference is the second oldest (in its present form) Conference in the Mid-America Union. The oldest is the Minnesota Conference, organized in its present form in 1862.

The above dates raise a major question: During a time of major reoganization of the Conferences in the Mid-America Union, why was not the Central States Conference also reoganized, and given a specific geographic area that was not included in any other Conference area?

That answer comes to understanding the issues.

Mr. Matthews,

Thank you for this deeper understanding. I would like to access the same source in which you've referenced in these posts. I would like to be able to do more research on my own.

Maybe you can help with one more question though. You've mentioned the term "Conference" in two different forms. Is the Central States Conference a Union, or a local Conference?

Chrys

The so-called Regional Conferences, as is the Central States Conference, is a local Conference. It is not a Union Conference.

I suggest that those of you who are interested in this subject go to "Town Hall," and the thread "Racism in the SDA Church." Please read the post that I made in which I quote from an article by Charles W. Drake, III, in the February issue of OUTLOOK. Whether one agrees, or disagrees with it, I think it makes an important statement, that will help us to understand another viewpoint. As I did not quote the entire article, it may be helpful for you to go that publication, if you can obtain it.

Jan Paulsen was asked about this on the Hope TV program "Let's Talk" a couple of weeks ago. For those that have a place to put a dish, it really is an asset to one's spiritual life.

the "so-called" regional conferences came into existence in the 1940s because when black leaders asked for leadership roles within the already established conferences, the brethren responded by suggesting that regional conferences be formed.....