Things Fall Apart The Parallel Society Breaking the Glass Ceiling

84 Pages·2012·78.75 MB·English

OCT 2 5 2005
SPECTRUM
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Things Fall
Apart
Holy Discontent
at Willow Creek
The Parallel
Society
Breaking the
Glass Ceiling
Living Through
the Greatest
Religious Change
in History
Before I Left for
College
Berrien Springs Michigan
www.spectrummagazine.org
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SPECTRUM
Volume 33, Issue 3 • Summer 2005
«
:
(Contents
i
Noteworthy
4 Holy Discontent at Willow Creek
A "Sistah's" Guide to Opera
The Bible
7 Picturing Christ: Incarnation and Iconography
By Cynthia Westerbeck
Should we make Jesus in our image?
Issues in the Adventist World Church
17 Things Fall Apart
By Bonnie Dwyer and Alexander Carpenter
The people of the hake Region Conference discover the power
of the constituents in the wake of leadership changes.
26 Seventh-day Adventist Church Gets New Fundamental Belief—
The First in a Quarter Century
By Lawrence T. Geraty
How a committee of two thousand moved the Church forward.
30 Dropouts: Missional Challenge for a Maturing Church
By Monte Sahlin
Why are so many of us leaving the family?
36 The Parallel Society
By Tim Puko
At what cost does the Church eschew the urban lifestyle?
41 Culture and Adventism: Europe and the United States
as a Case Study
By Reinder Bruinsma
History and culture are not to be denied in the life of the Church.
The Back Story on the General Conference
49 Present Tense Behind the General Conference Platform
By Chris Blake
Is the Hope Channel focusing on us?
54 Who Said What: Speeches Heard at the
General Conference Session
Compiled by Alexander Carpenter
How does the Church score when it comes to interacting with society?
58 Breaking the Glass Ceiling
Lisa Beardsley Interviews Ella Simmons
Catching up with the woman who took the General Conference Session by surprise.
Issues in Global Christianity
63 Who Sets the Agenda for the World Church?
A Conversation with Lamin Sanneh
How faith may help dissolve barriers between and among us.
67 Living Through the Greatest Religious Change in History
By Philip Jenkins
The most important issue now may be the contrast between where the money
and the people are.
The Best of the Adventist Literary Journals
7 I Before I Left for College By Elisabeth Jane Catalano
Call Me Ishmael (and other excuses) By Mindy Mills
Lonely By Larry Tatia?ia Baxter
Guardian By Carol June Hooker
"Discrimaniggawhitegurl" By Katie J. Roddy
Rattlesnakes Fear the Rabbits By Kyle Lemmon
the opiate By Ishmael Facundo
Book Reviews
77 Five on Nature
By James L. Hayward
What's on the nightstand of a biologist?
Letters
79 Abimael Acosta, Dennis W. McOmber, Jim Benko,
Steve Pawluk, Dave Reynolds
Editorials
3 The Coded Talk of Friendship
By Bonnie Dwyer
79 A Symphony of Girlfriends
By Charles Scriven
Poetry
Cover The Pilgrim By Lindsey Bauer
2 SPECTRUM • Volume 33, Issue 3 • Summer 2005
FROM
The Coded Talk of Friendship THE
EDITOR
... and your comment, so astute and perfectly weird,
made me feel enclosed again in the coded talk
of friendship, that tall pagoda
where companions can sit on pillows
and observe the great China of life filing by
and say whatever comes to mind.
(Billy Collins, "Influence," in The Art of Drowning, 12)
W
ell, here you have it in your hand, dear friend, the great China
of this Adventist life filing by with the summer s cargo of
experiences. Were we to find ourselves ensconced in that tall
pagoda of friendship, sitting on pillows, having a cup of tea, these are prob-
ably some of the comments that I would make about this past summer.
After describing the heat of Saint Louis, and emphasis on the youth, his love for the Church.
the fun we had taking nighttime photos in front Before I ended up sounding like a public rela-
of the city's famous arch that gave us halos from tions machine, I'd have to switch the subject to the
the reflection of the flash, I would want to say "Blues" that I heard my last night there, or the
something profound about this year's General restaurants, or the jewel box conservatory that I
Conference. And I would try to wax eloquent about visited across town.
the Church being the people, and then just give up Then we'd talk about your family, your funniest
and talk about the Jamaican women. experience of late. "And so what else is new?" you
They seemed to be there by the hundreds. would ask.
Some travel agent must have put together a really Then I'd tell you about the Lake Region
great vacation package. They did not have a booth Conference story that has taken over my life for the
to staff, they were not delegates, or presenters, or past month.
up for election. They brought their friends and "Don't you get discouraged when you hear
enthusiasm and seemed to tour through the exhibit about all these problems?" you'd ask.
hall at least once a day. And then I'd have to add to Yes, and no. There are problems, but the people
them the women of Nigeria, who clearly won the give me hope. To talk with them about them is to
fashion award for best costumes. I bought one of hear how much they love the Church, no matter
their dresses, I loved them so much. how flawed. They want to fix it, make it better.
And, the elections, you would say, trying to get Their commitment is inspiring.
me back on track. Yes, it's been a summer of extremes—the highs
Jan Paulsen gives me hope for the Adventist of General Conference immediately contrasted by
Church; he's a good man. the lows of financial malfeasance. The ribbon of
Why do you say that? hope that runs through all of it is the love and
Because of his nomination of a woman to be a enthusiasm of the people for their church.
vice president of the Church, and his defense of Call me weird, but that's the way I see it.
that nomination. Finally, the majority of the mem-
bers have one of their own in the inner circle. Bonnie Dwyer
And?
Editor
His openness, his interest in conversation, his
NOTEWORTHY
Hebrews being beaten. That incident
Holy Discontent at
HID D EH drove Moses to kill the Egyptian and
Willow Creek then into the desert where he at last
agreed to work with God.
By Bonnie Dwyer
Next Hybels uses an example
It begins with drums, an extended from the world of cartoons—Popeye.
Is spiritualism invading Adventist churches today?
vibrant drum solo. Acts 2:42-4-7 In the midst of the crisis central to
appears on the video screens each episode Popeye always exploded:
throughout the auditorium, but it is "I can't take it no more, that's all I
not read aloud. Instead an ethereal can stand," and the audience chimes
voice soars above the drums, scenic in with Hybels for the last line, "I'm
landscape images roll across video Popeye the sailor man."
screens, then slides of churches, and So, Hybels asks the audience,
finally people. Dancers fill the stage. 'What is it that you can't stand?
"Shout into the darkness," the singers What is your holy discontent? What
say, "calling out that there is hope." is your Popeye moment?"
As the music ascends in a final For the Adventist pastors in
measure, a lectern is lifted to the attendance from the Pacific Union
stage. Jim Mellado, president of the Southwest Airlines; Ken Blanchard, Conference, part of their discontent
Willow Creek Association, walks out author of the One Minute Manager, could conceivably concern the recent-
to welcome the seven thousand peo- and Dr. Jack Groppel, a nutritionist ly published book by their union con-
ple clapping in the auditorium, as and tennis trainer, among others. ference president, Thomas Mostert,
well as the ones who are watching Hybels receives a standing ova- called Hidden Heresies.
via satellite in one hundred cities. tion as he takes the stage to give the In it, Mostert strings together
The tenth annual Willow Creek opening presentation. He begins by quotes from the writings of Ellen
Leadership Summit is underway. affirming pastors, telling them he White to call into question the teach-
Mellado makes a point of saying knows the dark nights of the soul ings of Bill Hybels, Rick Warren,
that Willow Creek is dedicated to that come with pastoral work, as well Robert Schuller, and Joel Osteen.
serving the local church, but by now as the grand visions. "Church work is Mostert suggests that because they
people in business and industry are a forever game; you're never just a do not emphasize God's law, hidden
benefiting from the leadership sum- pastor," he says. "You're at the helm within their teachings is heresy that
mit, too. And the lineup of speakers of the most important ship on earth." represents modern spiritualism.
reflects the cross-over. Then he asks the key question of The pastors from the Northern
In addition to two of the best- the day, of the seminar: what precedes California Conference recently heard
known preachers in America today— the vision that is so often talked about a presentation by Mostert at their
Bill Hybels and Rick Warren— in leadership books? What gives birth camp meeting in which he suggested
the conference participants will hear to it? Hybels first turns to the story of that a couple groups of pastors will
Colleen Barrett, president of Moses in Egypt watching one of the have problems with his book's mes-
sage. On the one hand, said Mostert, happening, use whatever good meth- Keneally, and Dave Barry at the
are the pastors who don't believe in ods of theirs we can, and wait until eleventh annual Sun Valley
the Spirit of Prophecy. the end-time events mature fully to Writers' Conference. The audience
With that, he launched into an worry about any dangers? is mostly white, privileged (Dave
explanation of what pastors should do "We could. But remember, Satan Barry: "Attention—there is a non-
if they have disagreements with Ellen never uses a strategy that is too obvious. luxury car in the parking lot.
White. He told them to go to the He is not only planning to use Sunday It wall be towed soon; in the mean-
ministerial director in their confer- churches as part of his final great decep- time, please avert your eyes.")
ence and work through this problem, tion; he will also seek to sidetrack and The stage is Hemingway chic:
but that it was not something that neutralize the work of God's remnant large leather sofas, heavy tables,
should drive them from the ministry. church," Mostert says (28, 29). mission-style lamps, huge oak
By the time Mostert had finished The Adventist pastors at the bookcases, horse blankets, a grand
addressing that issue the meeting had Leadership Summit do not seem to let piano. The talk has been good,
ended. The pastors disbursed and Mostert's comments sidetrack them. great even: poetry read by Billy
made comments about how disagree- As they discuss the presentations they Collins; comments on speaking
ment with Mostert about Willow heard, they comment on how the "American" from Robert MacNeil;
Creek indicated that you must not nutritionist Dr. Groppel sounds like an Michael Chabon's inspiring tale of
believe in the Spirit of Prophecy, Adventist in his advocacy of rest when writing his first novel.
because he never got around to the he repeats the words about Sabbath The theme of the conference is
other part of his original point. from Genesis 2. They find Warren's 'Writing in Unpredictable Times."
Many pastors would disagree advice practical, not heretical. W S. Merwin has looked into the
with Mostert on his assertion that Warren continues the story of distance and recited recent poems
there are heresies hidden in the Moses that Hybels started and about a black dog, about picking
Willow Creek materials. Forty-five describes how God used what was in blueberries after dark—that is, about
Seventh-day Adventist churches and Moses' hand to accomplish his work. death. Firoozeh Dumas has told
organizations belong to the Willow Moses' rod became the rod of God. funny stories about her experience
Creek Association. The Adventist 'What is in your hand?" Warren asks. growing up Iranian in California in
members include the Southern "What is in your heart, what is in the 1970s. (The repairman arrives
Union, the Washington Conference, your hand?" That is what Sunset with an "I Play Cowboys and
the Center for Creative Ministries, Oaks Seventh-day Adventist Church Iranians" bumper sticker; her mother
and churches from Maine, Florida, pastor Walt Groff says he is taking promptly informs him that they are
Kentucky, Tennessee, North away from the leadership confer- from "Toorkey.") David Macauley
Carolina, Ohio, Michigan, Colorado, ence—that and batteries recharged has talked in great detail about doing
California, Nebraska, Virginia, for ministry in the local church. the drawings for his new book,
Maryland, Arizona, and Washington. Mosque—his response to the events
"It is no doubt impossible to fully of September 2001. ("I worked hard
Bonnie Dwyer is editor of Spectrum magazine.
know which religious leaders God is to get this right. I didn't want to
using and which may be unknowingly have to change our dog's name from
following a plan created by His enemy," Faux Pas to Fatwah....")
A "Sistah's" Guide to Opera
Mostert writes. "The fruitage of There have been ideas, feelings,
most Christian leaders and churches laughter, tears. Nothing seems to be
today seems positive. Large numbers By Nancy Lecourt missing. Still, when Angela Brown
of lives are changed from a secular An Idaho afternoon in August: begins to sing on Sunday afternoon,
focus to a commitment to Jesus. . . . thunderhead shadows creep the audience is stunned. Her grace
"If God is leading Sunday across sage hills. A large white tent and spirit are as welcome as the moist
churches to save people for the king- breathes lightly in the dry air. A Continued on page 61...
dom, are they not doing a work that thousand readers are gathered to
is beyond the reach of Adventists? hear the likes of Amy Tan, Thomas
Shouldn't we thank God for what is Cahill, Mitch Albom, Thomas
THE BIBLE
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Discussed: the Second Commandment, Roman symbols, war of images, Christ Pantocrator,
iconoclasts, First Council of Nicea, Roman and Eastern Orthodox Catholics, Jesus of the People
Picturing Christ:
Incarnation and Iconography
By Cynthia Westerbeck
A
s Seventh-day Adventists, we are familiar with
the general Protestant fear that religious art
is idolatrous or, perhaps worse, Catholic.
The rejection of iconography was historically used by
Protestants as a clear visual way to distinguish them-
selves from Catholics during the Protestant Reformation.
We are also familiar with the utilitarian objections
to art that shaped the aesthetic sensibilities of our nine-
teenth-century founders.
John Ruskin succinctly captured this tion that such works of art violate the
attitude toward art when he declared, Second Commandment, which declares:
"the entire validity of art depends upon
its being either full of truth, or full of You shall not make for yourself
use."1 As inheritors of this utilitarian any carved image ^graven image,
principle, church decorating committees idol]], or any likeness of anything
frequently struggle to justify the pur- that is in heaven above, or that is
chase of any work of art—whether in the earth beneath, or that is in
painting, sculpture, banner, or stained the water under the earth; you
glass—to congregations that insist the shall not bow down to them nor
money could be put to better use. serve them. For I, the Lord your
Rarely, however, do Adventist deco- God, am a jealous God... .(Exod.
rating committees confront the objec- 20:4-5 NKJV)
We are unambiguous in our reading of the other translated into Christ as the vine. A fish became the
commandments—keep the Sabbath, honor your par- ichthus, an acronym for the name of Christ as well as
ents, don't kill, don't commit adultery, don't steal, the symbol of Christ as "fisher of men." Even the
don't lie—but we ignore the Second Commandment, pagan god Eros could come to represent the love of
or at least interpret it very loosely. Even Ellen White God through Jesus Christ, or the figure of Hermes car-
dismissed the prohibition against pictures in her dis- rying a lamb could become Christ the Good Shepherd.3
cussion of this command: These symbols, so easily mistaken as Roman images,
were used as a private code among believers during
The second commandment prohibits image wor- times of persecution. The one symbol notably absent
ship; but God himself employed pictures and was that of the cross, which was not a particularly
symbols to represent to His prophets lessons popular image during a time of Roman rule.
which He would have them give to the people By the time Christianity was recognized as an offi-
and which could thus be better understood than if cial church in 313 with the Edict of Milan, Christians
given in any other way. He appealed to the under- had a fully developed set of symbols that reminded
standing through the sense of sight.2 them of Christ's life and teachings. As Thomas
Mathews says, "the lanky Good Shepherd of Early
The theological debate over this troubling com- Christian art wrestled with the muscular Hercules and
mand has tended to focus on whether creating an won."4 Mathews goes on to argue that the fourth cen-
image of Christ is the same as worshiping it. But the tury "ushered in a war of images" as the Christian
commandment clearly says, don't make any carved Church suddenly found itself in charge of an entire
images. Period. That is why both the Jewish and empire and needing a new style of art to match its new
Muslim faiths prohibit representational art. status. As Mathews states,
So how did the early Christian Church come to
value images of Christ and Mary, especially given that Because the impoverished art of the catacombs
it grew out of a Jewish tradition that interpreted liter- and cemeteries was inadequate to express the
ally the prohibition against images in the Second grand claims the Christians were making for
Commandment? The progression from symbols their god, they now appropriated the grandest
scrawled on the walls of catacombs to elaborate icons imagery they could lay hands on, namely that
decorating the walls and ceilings of cathedrals became which had been developed in the service of impe-
a battle not over money, but over the very nature of rial propaganda. Finding themselves with an
Christ. If we understand the early debate over the role emperor of their own faith, Christians boldly
of art, perhaps the discussions about art in our own appropriated for their own religious purposes the
churches can take on a new theological dimension that entire vocabulary of imperial art, transforming
transcends our utilitarian roots. motifs and compositions that had been used for
imperial propaganda into propaganda for Christ.5
From Catacomb Encryption
The image of the emperor carried huge power for
to "Emperor Mystic"
the Romans; it could even stand in for the emperor
The history of how first-century Christians came to himself in a court of law.6 Christian emperors simply
disregard the Second Commandment remains vague, assumed this tradition, but added to their secular
but it does seem certain that the early Christians were power the significance of their semi-divine status. And
influenced both by a Jewish culture that rejected repre- since it was important to emphasize Christ's role as
sentational art and a Roman culture that celebrated the true power behind the throne, it wasn't long before
artistic realism. Jewish artists employed in Roman icons of Christ in majesty replaced earlier images of
workshops would have been familiar with Roman sym- the secular Roman rulers in the hearts and minds of
bols. When these Jews converted to Christianity they the people. Images of Mary enthroned also lifted Mary
continued to paint what they knew, but they gave the above her humble origins, clothed her in rich robes,
Roman symbols new Christian meanings. placed her on a throne, and made her a mother figure
A grapevine, once the symbol of Bacchus, easily worthy of raising an emperor.