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Life Incidents, in Connection with the Great Advent Movement, as Illustrated by the Three Angels of Revelation XIV (Volume 1) cover

Life Incidents, in Connection with the Great Advent Movement, as Illustrated by the Three Angels of Revelation XIV (Volume 1)

Chapter 51: ORGANIZATION.
By James White
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About This Book

A first-person memoir traces early family life and spiritual development, then recounts deep involvement in the Advent movement, including encounters with leading interpreters of prophecy, study of Daniel and the 2300-day prophecy, and the emergence of the three-angel messages. It describes revival activity, camp meetings, lectures, publishing efforts, organizational formation, and disputes and opposition, and outlines adoption of Sabbath observance and other doctrinal positions. Interwoven are reflections on prophetic interpretation, accounts of public labor and conferences, and an appeal to strengthen faith and perseverance among adherents.

ORGANIZATION.

The subject of church order had been from time to time set forth in the Review since 1850, and the necessity of some simple form of organization had been quite fully discussed. The positions taken upon the subject of Babylon, the burden of the second message, had led many of our people to stand in great fear of organization, however simple. Babylon signifies confusion. God did not design to bring his people out of the confusion of Babylon into the greater confusion of no order nor discipline. This would only be making a bad matter worse. His object in bringing them out from the churches was to discipline and unite them for the last great battle of truth under the third message. It was not ambition to build up a denomination that suggested organization, but the sheer necessities of the case. For a time, the subject of organization waded heavily. But the importance of united action, and some simple form of organization by which we could legally hold our places of worship, and property necessary to efficiently conduct the publishing department, being earnestly plead by those who saw and felt the wants of the cause, our people generally soon overcame their fears, and united fully in the work. It has proved a success.

In our church organization, the General Conference, composed of delegates from the different State Conferences, is our highest authority. This Conference chooses annually, besides the usual officers, a committee of three who have the oversight of the work throughout the entire field.

Next to this are our several State Conferences, composed of the ministers and delegates from all the churches, in their respective States. These Conferences also have a committee of three to take the oversight of the work in their several States during the Conference year.

Next to these stand individual churches, associated together under the following simple covenant: “We, the undersigned, hereby associate ourselves together as a church, taking the name Seventh-day Adventists, covenanting to keep the commandments of God, and faith of Jesus.” The officers of the church are local elders, deacons, and clerk.