Extracted Verses and Quotes

Scripture References

Isaiah 58:1 (mentioned as camp meeting theme)

“Cry aloud and spare not, and lift up your voice like a trumpet, and tell my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.”

Jude 3 (referenced regarding contending for the faith)

“Contend for the faith that has been passed on to us.”

Romans 12 (referenced regarding spiritual gifts and leadership)

Galatians 6:7 (quoted by Central States Conference)

“Do not be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man shall sow that shall he reap.”

James 4:4

“Friendship with this world is enmity with God.”

Revelation 3:14 (referenced as “the true and faithful witness”)

2 Kings 4:42 (example of first fruits brought to Elisha)

Ellen G. White / Spirit of Prophecy Quotes

Prophets and Kings, page 141

“So men who should be standing as faithful guardians of God’s law have argued till policy has taken the place of faithfulness and sin is allowed to go unreproved. When will the voice of faithful rebuke be heard once more in the church?”

Manuscript Release #4

“No man’s intelligence is to become a controlling power, such a controlling power that one man will have kingly authority in Battle Creek or any other place. In no line of work is any one man to have power to turn the wheel. God forbids. We are not to have kingly authority in the Adventist work.”

Great Controversy, page 596

“Christ foresaw that the undue assumption of authority indulged by the scribes and Pharisees would not cease with the dispersion of the Jews. He had a prophetic view of the work of exalting human authority to rule the conscience which has been so terribly accursed to the church in all the ages. And His fearful denunciations of the scribes and Pharisees and His warnings to the people not to follow these blind leaders… were placed on record as an admonition to future generations.”

Great Controversy (referenced on papal errors)

“The doctrine that God has committed to the church the right to control the conscience and to define and punish heresy is one of the most deeply rooted of papal errors.”

Review and Herald, 1893

“Of those who boast of their light and yet failed to walk in it, Christ says: ‘But I say to you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.’ And thou, Seventh-day Adventists, who have had great light, which are exalted unto heaven in point of privilege, shall be brought down to hell. For if the mighty works which have been done in thee had been done in Sodom, it would have remained unto this day.”

Spalding-Magan Collection, page 441

“All the means is not to be handled by one agency or organization.”

Evangelism 492 / Welfare Ministry 277 (on tithe)

“The tithe is to be especially devoted to the support of those who are bearing God’s message to the world.”

The Watson Letter (on appropriating tithe)

“I have myself appropriated tithes to the most needy cases brought to my notice. I have been instructed to do this and as the money is not withheld from the Lord’s treasury, it is not a matter that should be commented upon.”

Special Instructions on Stewardship

“The Lord has made us individually his stewards. And God does not lay upon you the burden of asking the conference or any council of men, whether you shall use your means, as you see fit to advance the work of God.”

Historical/Other Quotes

Dietrich Bonhoeffer letter (1939)

“I have come to the conclusion that I have made a mistake in coming to America at this time. I must live through this difficult period in our national history along with the people of Germany. I will have no right to participate in the reconstruction of Christian life in Germany after the war if I do not share the trials of this time with my people.”

Ted Wilson (former GC President, speaking at Annual Council)

“If you as a leader cannot accept the Word of God as it reads, I urge you to resign your position.”

Randy Robinson (NAD Treasurer, Adventist Journey, December 2023)

“The Adventist Church defines the storehouse within its own structure as the local conference. That definition is not a theological requirement… nor is the subsequent flow of tithe throughout the organization. It is a polity decision we have simply agreed upon collectively.”

Statements Referenced

GC Reaffirmation Statement (October 2021) – Stated that deeply held prayerful convictions did not provide a legitimate basis to object to mandates

GC Statement on Concerns Regarding COVID-19, Church Government, and Liberty of Conscience (January 2022) – Cited ADCOM Section 4.1 as the basis for their authority