| Author | Message | ||
| Max |
Astounding SDA Admission! SDA MINISTERS DROPPING OUT IN DROVES Over a third of SDA ministers who entered the ministry in 1987 ìeither resigned or were dismissedî by July of 1997. Even more alarming: More SDA ministerial students are failing to enter the SDA minnistry or are dropping out of it than are remaining. Of 83 SDA ministerial students who attended SDA colleges in 1987, most (48) either never entered the pulpit at all or were gone from it by 1997. Only 35 remained. These statistics are published by two SDA researchers -- Jack E. Bynum, Ph.D., professor of sociology at Southern Oregon University, and Douglas R. Clark, Ph.D., professor of biblical studies at Walla Walla College in the SDA stronghold of College Place, Washington. Their research appears in the October 200 issue of MNISTRY, the SDA ìInternational Journal for Pastorsî under the title, ìIndicators of Ministerial Resilience: The Dropout Dilemma,î pages 12-15. Furthermore, some of these 35 surviving ministers or ìpersisters,î write Bynum and Clark, ìmay also drop out in the future. Seventy percent of Ministerial Persisters reported that they have considered dropping out of the [SDA] ministry.î More next post. Max of the Cross | ||
| Max |
DISILLUSIONED SDA MINISTERS SPEAK OUT In their research report Drs. Bynum and Clark quoted some exclusive testimonies by SDA ministers who either left willingly or were forced out: Pastor #1: ìI wrote a lengthy statement about what led me [to] getting out of the paid ministry and sent it to my Conference President and to the General Conference. Two years have passed and still no response.î Pastor #2: ìAfter years of work for the denomination, when I left, they wouldnít give me a letter of reference to even collect garbage! They were through with me!î Drs. Bynum and Clark also refer to another scientific study of SDA ministers leaving the pulpit done in Australia and New Zealand. And they quote from that research as follows: QUOTES FROM THE AUSTRALIA-NEW ZEALAND ìMINISTER DROPOUTî STUDY ìIt was not so much the fact of leaving the ministry, but the experience of rejection, marginalization, and exclusion from the Adventist community that stands out in ex-pastor narratives. The majority of ex-pastors found this social censure difficult to cope with when they were already faced with the prospect of finding alternative work and a home, making new friends, and establishing a new social identity.î ìAccording to ex-pastors, the Adventist community stigmatizes leavers as outsiders, strangers, fringe dwellers. Youíre always a second-class citizen or backslider.... Ex-pastors ... describe ... their alienation: ëI felt that I had been pushed straight down the sewerí; ëI was dying to talk with someone about my leaving.í One compares his experience of isolation to being in a ëlittle boat that was turned away from shore ... into the sea and you didnít know where you were going.î More next post. Max of the Cross. | ||
| Max |
RESEARCHERS BYNUM AND CLARK REVEAL THEIR UNSCIENTIFIC PREJUDICES For all the facade of scientific purity and impartiality, Bynum and Clarkís ìThe Dropout Dilemmaî reeks of prejudice. Witness: 1. Bynum and Clark refer to ìthe dropout dilemmaî as ìa kind of on-going ëweeding-out processî (p. 14). 2. They call these former Adventist ministers ìthe growing number of discarded and disillusioned ministerial dropouts and rejectsî (p. 14). 3. They say, ìLet us not be surprised or unforgiving when we discover that those who preach to us have ëfeet of clayíî (p. 14). 4. They point out, ìLike everyone else, those who serve the Church as clergy are human: They, too, face discouragements, experience temptations, make mistakes, and can become alienated. This reality does not discount the seriousness of their errors or suggest that incompetence or character flaws should be free from negative sanctions and consequencesî (p. 14-15). 5. They class these ìdropout SDA ministersî with ìformer Adventists; incarcerated felons, alcoholics, drug addicts, homosexuals, the physically handicapped, military personnel, ministers of other denominations, Adventist students attending secular universities, retired persons, the unmarried and lonely, the poor, and every age, social class, and racial/ethnic minorityî (p. 15). 6. They state that ìa vigorous and empathetic outreach program on behalf of these former ministers could conserve, retrain, reintegrate, and rehabilitate many more of themî (p. 15). Max of the Cross | ||
| Richardjr |
Max, I not sure where you are headed with this, but I would like to add my humble input. If my memory is correct, I resigned from the SDA ministry sometime around August 1, 1999. It was the age old question; which came first, the chicken or the egg? I felt that I needed to quit because I could not get a handle on my alcoholism. Was I an alcoholic who happenend to be a SDA pastor? Or was I an SDA pastor that became an alcoholic because of my work environment? Only God knows. I am glad that I don't have to figure that one out. I do know this much; I can't blame my alcoholism on the fact that I was anSDA pastor. They treated me with grace, dignity, and respect. In fact when I told my conference administration that I had a drinking problem they gave me a three months leave of absence, and paid for my admission to a first class treatment center. But dumb me, about six months later I began drinking again. At that time I felt that it was best for the church and for me that they find a new pastor. | ||
| Max |
Thank you Richard, I really only meant to report the news. I realize that people leave the SDA ministry for all kinds of reasons. In the article in Ministry Bynum and Clark went into some "predictive" reasons, such as race (a higher percetage of blacks leave than whites), GPA (higher GPAs stay longer), college attended (some have high retention rates, some low), etc., but I didn't report on that because I didn't think FAFF readers would be very interested. But glaringly omitted from the research report was the number who leave for docrinal reasons! That's the real scandal! That plus the fact that these "scientists" consider SDA ministerial "dropouts" to need rehab. Imagine the Pharisees bringing Paul back into their fold and rehabilitating him! Yes, I can believe the SDA hierarchy treated you with dignity and respect. But you had a problem with your alcoholism. By way of contrast, those who have NOT been treated with dignity and respect had, in many many instances, a problem with THEIR legalism. Praise God for you, Richard! | ||
| Allenette |
hmmm. I bought and read the book "Leaving the Adventist Ministry" by the Australian author last year or so...very good BTW. Does this article read as defensive for SDA? (I dont get the mag but a former SDA pastor who has posted in the guest book prob has it and would send it to me) since I seem to get a kick out of reading negative SDA stuff ggg. Richardjr: dont feel too bad; trying to cope with the cognitive dissonance of reconciling the good ole Adventist message with real life and etc would and has, driven many people to drink!!!! Best of luck! From an SDA PK who's seen a lot from "that side of the pulpit". Allenette | ||
| Max |
Hi Allenette, Yes, the article is very much a defense of SDA faith and practice, especially when it comes to dealing with church "problems." For example, the article is totally silent about SDA ministers who leave because of doctrinal differences, the same ones we talk about on this web site. These are the ones who are NOT treated with dignity and respect. THIS is the scandal. The scandal is not the way they treat, say, adulterers who typically get passed around from congregation to unwitting congregation like a peanut in a shell game. But if a minister should preach that salvation was complete at the cross and not "some time between 1844 and the Second Coming," then, well, they kick the brace from under the trap door el quicko. | ||
| Max |
One more thing about this MINISTRY research report: The number of SDA ministers dropping off the church payroll in the 10-year period from 1987 to 1997 was so high that it led authors Bynum and Clark to exclaim: "A casualty rate of this size in a military unit would usually be unacceptable." You can take that as a clue that God is at work in this denomination "to will and to do his good pleasure." It should also answer the questions of some who post here about why SDA's can't "see" the error of their denomination's ways: Many ARE seeing the errors, ARE preaching the truth, and ARE being forced out of the ranks as a result. Some may even be landing on FAF crash pads! Be of good cheer, Max of the Cross | ||
| Cindy |
Hi all, I'm testing this area; had trouble posting here before... Anyway, does anyone know what important day this is? October 22!! Grace always, Cindy | ||
| Max |
October 22, 1844? | ||
| Cindy |
Max, Yes! In 1994, pastors were given a special 150th year "Great Disappointment" sermon to preach that was prepared by the General Conference (perhaps the Biblical Research team!) Got to go.... Grace always, Cindy | ||
| Bmorgan |
Hi Cindy, October 22, 1844. The Great Disappointment Day for the early Adventists,-the root of SDAism. Our family committed to church membership at a non-demonominational fellowship- Hill Country Bible Church. We arranged it so that we would be introduced to the congregation TODAY. Oh yes, it is a way of breaking the curse of Adventism and beginning anew our walk with Christ, in a congregation where His Spirit is Alive and powerful. We love the mission statement: a family of believers committed to reaching people with the life changing reality of Jesus Christ. In Christ Alone BMorgan | ||
| Colleentinker |
Bmorgan--Praise God for this big step for your family! I'm so glad you worked it out to be done today! Still praying for you, Colleen | ||
| Cindy |
BMorgan, Hi! Interesting how you picked the "Great Disappointment" date to join a new community of believers! (Glad you weren't waiting on some hillside or holed up in some bunker with a different type of believers!) Jesus really can change our disappointments and sorrows into an underlying and abiding joy... in spite of our circumstances... Resting in the reality of His Presence, and waiting on His timing, is what I want to do each day. That is where the hard part is for me; my thoughts can race in worry and dread for the future. I have to stop myself and acknowledge my Savior's care and guidance! Grace always, Cindy | ||
| Billthompson |
Bmorgan, I join the others here in praising the Lord over this important step you have taken. May the Lord richly bless you and your family! A Sinner Saved By Grace Alone, Bill Thompson |
