So "The Church" decides by a majority vote! Is there a record kept of those dissenting votes?

A relatively small group of people, most of whom draw salaries from the church, by a majority vote decide what I am to believe. Is that right?

Obviously! To you perhaps but it is obvious to me that most of the members of the church are in no way represented ay the G C in session. You should check out who the delegates are and how they became delegates.....mel

What I am saying is that everyone needs to study these things and decide personally whether they believe the doctrines of the SDA church. If I don't believe them and have disagreements with the church, honesty requires that I won't keep accepting money from the church while teaching against the doctrines of the church.

The church needs to constantly re-examine its beliefs and positions in the light of the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy. Individual members also need to examine their convictions in the light of the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy. It's important to know what you believe and why you believe it. That doesn't mean that no matter what my conclusions are, I stay in the Adventist church. If I conclude that the Sabbath is actually the first day of the week, obviously I wouldn't want to stay in the church.

It isn't necessary to agree with every belief of the church, but it does mean that members are going to be in general agreement with the doctrines of the church, particularly with the foundational truths, and won't be agitating for fundamental doctrinal changes while working as a representative of the church.

In the case of Ford, whom you mention, he came to the conclusion that a foundational pillar of our faith is in error. That is his right. But it is not a right to teach that position from a pulpit while being paid by the tithes of members of the church.

Votes on the doctrines of the church by the world church in General Conference don't have to be unanimous in order to be effective.

[quote=John317]
Well since we are going to receive eternal life as a individual not as a member of this or that church, doctrine, or theology, everyone should certainly personally decide what and whether they believe what has been given to us through Adventism. But if not the pillars of Adventism, where would you go, the churches of the Reformation are drifting aimlessly or back to the Catholic Church and its paganism, and I dont think Islam or the other world religions have anything to offer...the truth recides in its fullest within the Adventist movement, no other religious group, movement or church comes even close as far as I can see...

Dr.Bacchiocchi (May he rest in peace), though conservative and an SDA apologist for the most part, was not afraid to follow the bible to whatever conclusion it came to, regardless of whether it followed the SDA party line. This is what has brought him under fire so much of the time by many conservative SDAs. Even though he is very apologetic and conservative in issues of dress, adornment, music and other standards, he has presented radical views that differ from the church's stance:

1) His view of EGW is blasted by conservatives everywhere (He believes as Graeme Bradford, Arthur Patrick, George Knight and a few others)

2) He moved away from the literal interpretation of the 1260 years, opting more for a symbolic interpretation

3) He presented a view that the 'little horn' was not the papacy all the time in Daniel but represents an 'anti-Christ' power that manifests itself in different ways at different times in history.

4) He moved away from a literal counting of the number '666' opting for a more symbolic interpretation

Though I disagreed with much of Bacchiocchi's conservative stances on issues of standards and music, I respect him greatly for being a true 'sola scriptura' believer no matter where it took him.