If that's true, and I believe it is... We have a lot more prayin' and surrenderin' to do 'round here!

Duh, but I do live in a predominately WASP society, my ears are open and I can read...so yes, it is a truthful statement! Like it or not!!

Even if the conferences were merged the individual churches would still look like they do now. People that like one style of worship will be at one church, others that like another style of worship will be at another.

Even if it's not power, there would still be doubts. There was a dispute in the early christian days, because the Greek widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. That didn't have to do with power so much as with the majority overlooking the needs of the minority. That could still be a problem.

But that had/has nothing to do with the structure of the organization.

Gerry, Agape love does not insist on taking "second place". Agape love both in giving and returning, seeks the win-win for everyone - regardless of skin color. It does not look at "place" as a zero-sum game where someone must lose for another to win.

God is the epitome of agape love as found in 1 Cor 13, yet nowhere do I see any of the Godhead ceding "second place" to any human being. We are to submit to Him, not the other way around. Yet, at the same time, I do see Him joining humanity to Himself, and in doing so, creates a win-win for Himself and for mankind. In the process, I don't see the angels taking "a step down" in the process - they keep their places.

Yet we here on earth turn all that on its head.

Truthfully said, agape love will motivate people to seek the place of the least honor. God's true leaders should not want the chief positions for the sake of honor, influence, and power. To do so is to place one's self square on Satan's ground. Yet, what is the most-oft stated reason for division? That there is not enough of "one kind" in represented in leadership. If a group's "needs" is based solely on number of people represented in the top positions, then I would humbly suggest there is the exact opposite of Godly love at work, and the Gospel automatically suffers because of it.

Is that how the early church solved the issues between the Greek-speaking and Hebrew-speaking Jews? No, they did not divide over language or culture, but rather determined needs were met, that the Gospel should not suffer.

We make the ancient mistake in thinking our leadership election is to be patterned after the democracy of the world, complete with the politics and gerrymanderings of worldly origin. When we make the arm of flesh our dependence, we reap the due consequences.

The lesson of the rebellion of Korah is goes unheeded by Laodicea. Leadership in God's kingdom comes by His election, not from a popularity contest. The appearance of "democracy" should be that only - appearance...just as the ancient practice of casting of lots was only the appearance of arbitrary chance.

Ted....,

Racial discrimination was rife at SDA institutions and the Four Freedoms document did not hesitate to point out specific cases:
· “The Washington Sanitarium refuses to admit colored people.”
· “Colored girls are denied admittance to the Washington sanitarium School of Nurses and some other schools open to the whites.”
· It was the policy of Emmanuel Missionary College to seat Black students at the rear during chapel services.
· “There are no Negroes so far as we know on staffs of Adventist institutions.”
· “There is not even one General Conference office filled by a colored person.”
· “There is no colored editor, circulation manager, and business manager of the only Adventist periodical devoted exclusively to the interest of the 13,000,000 colored people in the United States.”
The document draws frequent contrast between SDA practice in these areas and the practices of secular or other religious organizations. These include:
“Since white and colored eat without friction daily in the cafeterias of the Library of Congress, Union Station, National Art Gallery, Interior Department, and other government buildings, it is illegal to segregate the Secretary of the Colored department for his meals.” (All quotes from Shall the Four Freedoms Function Among SDAs?

Are there still problems today?