In the Adventist Review, June 2003, North American Division Edition, page 36, there appeared a one page article by Bonnie Dwyer titled, "Current Concerns of a 'Liberal' Adventist.". The Adventist Review editors stated that "Bonnie Dwyer is editor of Spectrum, "the journal of the Association of Adventist Forums." The Association of Adventist Forums is a liberal group totally accepted by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The local chapters of the Association hold their meetings in denominational churches.

The Adventist Review editors stated that, "Our October 24, 2002, issue carried an Opinion piece by Tom Huson of Bend, Oregon, 'Current Concerns of a Conservative Adventist.' The article brought heavy mail from readers. Here we offer a complementary opinion to the initial piece.--Editors." The current editors of the Adventist Review are William G. Johnsson and Roy Adams.

"We Have Outgrown the Narrow Worldview of Our White New England Forebears," Bonnie Dwyer stated in the article. (We will address this statement in the paragraph in which it appears.) Evidently, the Review editors liked this particular bold statement because they placed it in a large insert in the center of the one page article.

Members of the Association of Adventist Forums question many historic Seventh-day Adventist doctrines. 1. They question the literal seven-day creation week. 2. They question Daniel 8:14 and the 2300 day/year prophecy ending in 1844. 3. They reject the "foundation pillar" Adventist doctrine of a heavenly sanctuary. 4. Therefore, they totally reject the idea that since 1844 Jesus is our High Priest in the second apartment (most holy place) of the Heavenly Sanctuary. 5. They question the biblical texts used to prove the validity of the gift of prophecy in the remnant church. 6. They openly reject Ellen G. White as a prophet of God. 7. They question the validity of the Sabbath beginning and ending at sundown. 8. Some AAF members even believe in evolutionism rather than creationism. (See below, Los Angeles Times, 11-10-1984). Membership is made up primarily of Seventh-day Adventist leadership, college professors, and other so-called "Adventist intellectuals" (Again, see below, Los Angeles Times, 11-10-1984). About the Association of Adventist Forums the Seventh-day Adventist Encyclopedia states:

SPECTRUM. A quarterly, interdisciplinary journal of opinion, scholarship, and creative writing. Published by the Association of Adventist Forums, the journal states as its purpose: "To encourage Seventh-day Adventist participation in the discussion of contemporary issues from a Christian viewpoint, to look without prejudice to all sides of a subject, to evaluate the merits of diverse views and to foster Christian intellectual and cultural growth."

From its first appearance in 1969 through its first five years of publication more than 200 individuals from different areas of the Seventh-day Adventist community contributed to its pages. Most contributors have been academics teaching in SDA schools. Persistent topics have been: the relation of science to religion, especially with respect to Creation; the relation of church to state; the role and authority of Ellen White; the structure of Seventh-day Adventist financing, especially education.

Spectrum was conceived initially by Roy Branson, associate professor of Christian ethics at Andrews University. Editors: Molleurus Couperus, 1969-1975; Ray Branson and Charles Scriven, 1975-1978; Roy Branson, 1978.-- [Bonnie Dwyer, 2003.] (Seventh-day Adventist Encyclopedia, Second Revised Edition, 1995, Article "Spectrum," emphasis supplied).

In 1984 a surgical team at Loma Linda University Medical Center transplanted a baboon heart into an infant child. The operation was followed closely by the media around the world, and became quickly known as "the Baby Fae Case." The infant did not live. The funeral was held at the Loma Linda University Church. A Roman Catholic Priest presided at the service. Immediately following the service, people released helium-filled balloons into the air at the front of the church. The news media cameras followed the rise of the balloons as if they were the infant's soul or spirit rising toward heaven.

On November 10, 1984, the Los Angeles Times reported in the religion section, "Adventists See No Conflict Of Belief In Baby Fae Case." The following are a few heretical excerpts from that article:

Transplanting a baboon's heart into the body of an infant human in a medical center run by the Seventh-day Adventist Church may seem an oddity for a denomination that teaches creationism and recommends vegetarianism. But a range of church members say that there is no religious conflict or discomfort in their minds about the Oct. 26 operation on Baby Fae by Adventist surgeon Dr. Leonard Bailey at Loma Linda University Medical Center. "Rather," they say, "the cherishing of life is an overriding view in their health-conscious church."

Contrary to evolutionary theory, a literal reading of the Creation in the Bible makes animals and humans unrelated. But the creationist tradition seemed to present no religious basis for objection, and in fact, Adventist scholars who were interviewed said that evolutionary theory today is winning more adherents among church members -- particularly scientists and intellectuals.

One Loma Linda professor stated that, "The amalgam of man and beast has proved to be no problem and perhaps testifies to long-standing, increasingly sophisticated approach to health and medicine in Adventism since its founding in the mid-19th century." (ibid., Los Angeles Times, November 10, 1984, emphasis supplied).

"Human inventions, called education, have been counter-working the infinite counsels of Heaven," Ellen White replies. "This is called higher education; but it is an insult to God." (Manuscript Releases, Vol. 3, page 321, emphasis supplied).

"A creationism-vs-evolution debate has come into the open recently in the church, an indication in one sense of how medical training could proceed on a pragmatic level while religious ideology remained in the hands of pastors and church theologians." (ibid., Los Angeles Times, November 10, 1984, emphasis supplied).

"I would say a majority of Adventist scientists would have difficulty accepting at face value the church's traditional seven-day Creation occurring 6,000 years ago," said James Walters, Assistant Professor of Christian Ethics at Loma Linda University, told Times reporter John Dart. (ibid., Los Angeles Times, November 10, 1984, emphasis supplied).

"For the first time in [Adventist] history, a whole generation of scholars with doctorates from secular universities became active in [SDA] church institutions," Edward Lugenbeal wrote. "Probing, open to change, skeptical of tradition, imbued with the valued and culture of higher education, this new [theology] breed of `progressive' Adventist intellectual soon began to reevaluate Adventist traditions." (op sit., John Dart, Los Angeles Times, November 10, 1984, emphasis supplied).

"Man's learning may be considered supreme, but it is not that higher education which he can take with him into the kingdom of heaven," Ellen White again replies. "The learned men of the world, notwithstanding all their intellectual studies, know not the truth as it is in Jesus. In his epistle to the Ephesians, Paul brings to view a kind of education which these supposed intellectual stars have not." (Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, July 18, 1899, emphasis supplied).

"There will be an effort made on the part of many pretended friends of education to divorce religion from the sciences, in our schools," Ellen White warned. "They would spare no pains or expense to impart secular knowledge; but they would not mingle with it a knowledge of what God has revealed as constituting perfection of character. . .." (Christian Education, page 113, emphasis supplied).

"There are men among us in responsible positions who hold that the opinions of a few conceited philosophers, so called, are more to be trusted than the truth of the Bible, or the testimonies of the Holy Spirit.," Ellen White concluded. "Such a faith as that of Paul, Peter, or John is considered old-fashioned and insufferable at the present day. It is pronounced absurd, mystical, and unworthy of an intelligent mind." (Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, page 79, emphasis supplied).

In the first paragraph of Bonnie Dwyer's article she proudly admits that she is "a bleeding heart liberal." undoubtably, Ms Dwyer was referring to her religious liberalism, not her political liberalism. Many Adventists today are confused over the differences between political conservatism or liberalism, vs, religious conservatism or liberalism. For example, Jesus was a political "bleeding heart liberal." Politically, Jesus believed in the total separation of Church and State. "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's." (Matt. 22:21b; Mark 12:17b).

At the same time Jesus was an ultra-conservative in His religious values and teaching. He advocated fully the writings and teachings of those the Holy Spirit had led into truth during the four thousand years prior to His own ministry.

Today, many Christians have it backwards -- they are political ultra-conservatives -- advocating state involvement in religious affairs and institutions. These false Christians advocate the federal government placing the ten commandments in public schools and institutions (regardless of the fact that they ignore the fourth commandment) and support a mandatory Christian prayer in public schools. Although they speak so highly of the ten commandments, they reject the very same ten commandments and emphatically state that "we are not under the law -- we are under grace. We do not have to keep the law."

We are told in the Spirit of Prophecy that these ultra-religious / political conservatives will in the near future advocate a national Sunday Law. In their religious life they are "bleeding heart liberals." Their theology is only "peace and love and forgiveness," while they will eventually call for the death of the remnant. "And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed." (Revelation 13:15).

Adventist liberals believe that God forgives us, not only for our past sins, but also for the sins we are planning to commit in the future! Yet at the same time they are avid political ultra-conservatives, aligning themselves with the "religious right," who believe in Sunday sacradness, the Rapture of the saints, and that dead saints are in heaven, and the wicked in a forever burning hell.

2. In the second paragraph ms Dwyer states that when she read Tom Huson's article she should respond as a concerned liberal. Like Tom Huson, most Adventist conservatives are honestly concerned. Primarily because the majority of contemporary Seventh-day Adventist leadership and college professors are liberal in their theology, and because most contemporary SDA membership are also liberal in their theology, and therefore do not believe in total obedience.

In a vision Ellen White was shown the condition of the world and the Seventh-day Adventist Church in our day and warned: "At the time when the danger and depression of the church are greatest, the little company who are standing in the light will be sighing and crying for the abominations that are done in the land. But more especially will their prayers arise in behalf of the church because its members are doing after the manner of the world." (Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, page 209, emphasis supplied.]

3 In the third paragraph ms Dwyer writes, "Given the multi cultural plurality of the Adventist world in 2003, we owe to each other to listen closely to the other person and hear what they think and say, and not assume that we already know." This is good advice. However, it is most unfortunate that there is today a "plurality" of theology in the Adventist world. There seems to always be "two views" in contemporary Adventism, liberal and conservative. One should always remember that when it comes to truth there are two views -- truth and error.

4. In the forth paragraph, after commenting on the worldwide growth of the SDA church, Bonnie Dwyer stated, "We have out grown the narrow world-view of our White New England forebears." Perhaps MS Dwyer is unaware that the Gift of Prophecy was first offered to one of our "Black" New England forbearers. A young black man by the name of William Ellis Foy.

Another Millerite was William E. Foy, of Boston, described as a "mulatto," who was the first of three persons in the SDA movement to receive visions relating to the Disappointment. He related these publicly for some time before a similar experience came to Hazen Foss and later to Ellen G. Harmon. When Foss heard the first vision related by Miss Harmon he testified that he believed the visions regarding the experiences of the SDAs had been taken from him and had been given to her.

Because of the Black following that Miller had carried, it is not surprising that there were handfuls of Black Americans in White churches formed by SDAs in cities of New York state and New England. (ibid., Seventh-day Adventist Encyclopecia, Art., "Northeastern Conference.")

Other Black Millerite Adventists included, Charles Bowles & John W. Lewis, Frederick Douglass, William Grant Still. (ibid., Seventh-day Adventist Encyclopecia, Art., "Northeastern Conference"). There was a Black Millerite Adventist woman who went by the name of Sojourner Truth. Her given names was Isabella Van Wagener. (For the tradition that she became an SDA, see Truth, Sojourner, Seventh-day Adventist Encyclopecia).

This statement also implies that "our White New England forebears" did not have a world vision -- that they were not missionary minded -- that our pioneers had no intention of taking the three angel's messages to all the world. Nothing could be further from the truth. Indeed, our pioneers started the work in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the south sea islands. Ellen White, herself, spent much time in Europe during the 1880s, then Australia during the 1890s, returning to the United States in 1900. She twice, 1888 and 1911, revised The Great Controversy to reach the general public worldwide. Hundreds of thousands have been converted to the Advent truth by this one book alone! The seeds, dear reader, were planted by "our White New England forebears," and, may I add, during times when it was much more difficult. One could not zip across the continents by air, or across the nations on multi-lane freeways in fancy air-conditioned automobiles. There were no fancy motels and hotels in those days. And, most important, "our White New England forebears" did not have the great pool of monetary funds that leadership enjoys today. People who criticize and reticule our faithful Seventh-day Adventist pioneers should keep silent, instead of publishing their stupidity and ignorance of history.

Then Ms Dwyer lamented the fact that in their meetings that were represented by the world field, the leadership of the SDA church included only few women, which, indeed, should be corrected. However, she stated that these worldwide meetings of the church were called "to discuss important topics such as theology, Ellen G. White, and faith and science. . .."

Bonnie Dwyer stated that, "At the first International Conference on Ellen G. White, six of the 65 people in attendance were women." Why is contemporary SDA leadership discussing Ellen White and her role as a messenger to our people? Ellen White, herself, over one hundred years ago (1890), stated:

"There are men among us in responsible positions who hold that the opinions of a few conceited philosophers, so called, are more to be trusted than the truth of the Bible, or the testimonies of the Holy Spirit," Ellen White observed. "Such a faith as that of Paul, Peter, or John is considered old-fashioned and insufferable at the present day. It is pronounced absurd, mystical, and unworthy of an intelligent mind." (Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, page 79, emphasis supplied).

The very last deception of Satan will be to make of none effect the testimony of the Spirit of God. "Where there is no vision, the people perish" (Proverbs 29:18). Satan will work ingeniously, in different ways and through different agencies, to unsettle the confidence of God's remnant people in the true testimony. He will bring in spurious visions to mislead, and will mingle the false with the true, and so disgust people that they will regard everything that bears the name of visions as a species of fanaticism; but honest souls, by contrasting false and true, will be enabled to distinguish between them.--Letter 12, 1890; Selected Messages, Bk. 2, page 78; MR, Vol. 10, page 311, emphasis supplied.

"At the Faith and Science Conference that took place in August 2002 there were two women in a group of 80, " Dwyer stated further. While Bonnie Dwyer is concerned about the number of women included in these conferences, we are concerned about the meetings themselves. We ask, What has faith to do with science?

"Infidelity, papacy and semi-papacy are coming in close and powerful companionship with professed Christianity," Ellen White warned. "The low views of inspiration, the exalting of human ideas from men [women] called wise, are placing human talent above the Divine wisdom, and forms and science, so-called, above the power of vital godliness." (Manuscript Releases, Vol. 2, page 164, emphasis supplied)..

5. In the fifth paragraph Bonnie Dwyer stated, ". . .until ordination can be reclaimed as a local rather than a worldwide decision, we as a church will suffer." The worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church delegates at the General Conference sessions have many times voted down the "ordination of women to the ministry." The North American Division wishes to have a separate agenda on the issue of the ordination of women. The liberal North American and General Conference leadership have tried time and again, without success, to get the ordination of women voted by the worldwide Church, but the other, more conservative Conferences outside North America, Australia and England have continually voted the issue down. Thus we comprehend the "liberal" position held by Bonnie Dwyer and the editors of the Adventist Review.

In her Adventist Review article Bonnie Dwyer stated further, "That we, the people of the book, with a woman prophet, have allowed this domination of male over female in spite of biblical injunctions not to do so (Gal. 3:27, 28) is to me mysterious and wrong." While it is true, as the Scripture quoted by Ms. Dwyer states, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus," the apostle Paul is here speaking of the redeemed. He is not here speaking of the ministry. Is this interpretation correct? Yes, indeed! In the very next verse Paul states, "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Galatians 3:29). Like the false teachers of Babylon, contemporary "liberal" Seventh-day Adventists take one Scripture and build a false theory around it.

On the issue of male s and female in the ministry, the Scripture states, "And when it was day, he [Jesus] called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles." (Luke 6:13). The followings verses list the names of the twelve apostles. There were not six men and six women. There is listed not one woman. On the twelve foundations of the Holy New Jerusalem are listed the names of the twelve apostles. "And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb." (Revelation 21:14). Yet the Lord loves women as much as He loves men. Jesus chose Mary Magdalene to tell the others that He had risen from the tomb. (Matthew 16:9).

"A church with a woman prophet?" This principle, on the other hand is Biblical. While there are listed in the New Testament no women in the ministry, there are listed five women prophets -- Anna (Luke 2:36), and the four daughters of Philip, an evangelist. (Acts 21:8. 9). Note that Philip's four daughters were prophetess' not evangelists. Their father was the evangelist.

In this fifth paragraph Bonnie Dwyer had stated that the fact of no women in the ministry was a "mystery" to her and "similar to the mysterious mistake we make in 1844, predicting the day of Jesus' coming when He told us that nobody knows the day or the hour. How did William Miller miss that text?" Notice that she said "the mistake we made in 1844," then mentions William Miller by name. Miller was a Baptist. It is simple, and not a mystery. Those who were there believed and were disappointed. Those who did not believe were glad our Lord did not return. How many are still pleased the Lord has not returned is a serious question? (Read Revelation 10).

"And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, and sware by Him that liveth forever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer" [Rev. 10:5, 6]. This message announces the end of the prophetic periods. The disappointment of those who expected to see our Lord in 1844 was indeed bitter to those who had so ardently looked for His appearing. It was in the Lord's order that this disappointment should come, and that hearts should be revealed. (Manuscript Releases No. 17, pages 9, 10, emphasis supplied).

7. In the last paragraph, Bonnie Dwyer states, "Perhaps when we demonstrate our obedience to the great commandment to love one another we will automatically fulfill these other calls for commitment and equity. For with love, all things are possible -- even plurality of views within Adventism." Since the Evangelical Conferences of 1955-56 contemporary "liberal" Adventists believe strongly that there should be "plurality of views within Adventism." "There are two views on that subject," they say. Should there be two views? Should there be a "plurality of views" of truth within Adventism? No! There is one faith, one baptism.

A transforming power attended the proclamation of the first and second angels' messages, as it attends the message of the third angel. Lasting convictions were made upon human minds. The power of the Holy Spirit was manifested. There was diligent study of the Scriptures, point by point. Almost entire nights were devoted to earnest searching of the Word. We searched for the truth as for hidden treasures. The Lord revealed Himself to us. Light was shed on the prophecies, and we knew that we received divine instruction. (ibid., Manuscript Releases No. 17, page 11, emphasis supplied).

"There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling," the apostle Paul declares, "one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." (Ephesians 4:4-6).