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It is the same question as: "Is prostitution compatible with Christianity?" The SDA church position on homosexuality: http://www.andrews.edu/sem/statements/seminary-statement-on-homosexuality-edited-10-8-15-jm-final.pdf

FYI, if you use your mouse to select the typed-over text, and copy it to something else, like Notepad, you can read it easily.

Thank you for the discussion Rachel. I am a self-confessed prophecy hobbyist. What I think I know about prophecy has never helped me one iota in my Christian walk, and it may never. For me it's just fun to cross "e-swords" with someone as knowledgeable as you, on a topic as unimportant as this. And I did learn a lot, so thanks for that.

Uriah Smith Mark Bovee Collection

I believe that EGW had the NT gift of prophecy. I also believe that she did NOT have the gift of prophetic interpretation; and that she (maybe at the encouragement of some of the other pioneers) added some color to her visions by interpreting them in light of the culture of the times and of her peers. For example, she interpreted the main issue of her visions of the last days as "The Sabbath"; when it may have actually been more general than that - like "who do you worship - the God of heaven or the god of this world?" I know that some of you will respond that the Sabbath is a central issue of who we worship; and that's fine - it is also my personal belief for myself. But I don't see Sabbath vs. Sunday or the papacy as the antichrist as EGW sees it. IMO she was mistaken or misguided in how she interpreted her vision. So I guess what I'm saying is that EGW was indeed inspred by God and exercised the gift of prophecy. Was she infallible in her interpretation? No. Are her writings even close to being equal to scripture? Absolutely not. But hey - that's just my jaded opinion. Are some of her writings right on? YES! But I must go with the Bible first. Where her writings are not in accordance with my understanding of scripture, I discard them. It's kinda like eating chicken - I eat the meat and discard the bones.

An interesting, important and valid question. The short answer is that one can be a Seventh-day Adventist and not believe that EGW as a prophet of God. However, there are those who will immediately disagree with my statement. The problem arises due to misunderstandings of the so-called 28 Fundamental Beliefs and the so-called Baptismal Vow. My position, as I have practiced it, is that the Baptismal Vows define the minimal requirement for entry into the SDA Church. In regard to this matter, the historic Vow, as it continues to exist today, says: "Do you believe [I believe] the biblical teaching of spiritual gifts and believe that the gift of prophecy is one of the identifying marks of the remnant church?" This statement requires that one believe that there is a valid "gift of prophecy" that will exist in the church of God at some unstated point in end time. It does NOT require a belief in any specific person. E.G. It does not require a belief in EGW as a manifestation of that gift. This set of Baptismal Vows consists of some 13 statement of belief. In recent times an alternative see of Baptismal Vows has been produced that has been reduced to three (3) simple statements. This set of three does not contain any explicit statement on this issue, as is contained in the 13. My personal position is that this alternative set does not require a belief in EGW as a prophet. However, others challenge me on this and believe that it does contain an implied statement of a required belief in EGW as a prophet. My response to that is that if this is so, it is only the alternative set that requires it and the so-called thirteen does not. In any case, the problem arises due to the so-called 28 Fundamental beliefs. This is a statement which is longer than that of the Baptismal Vow and it says, in part: "One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is prophecy. This gift . . . was manifested in the ministry of Ellen G. White. . . . the Bible is the standard by which all teaching and experience must be tested." If this fundamental belief is a standard by which membership in the SDA Church should be measured, then a specific belief in her is required. But, tyhta is not how I understand the so-called 28. [NOTE: In its original formulation it was 27 fundamental beliefs. An additional one was added later to make 28.] The editors of the 27, which was published in 1988, said: "We have not written this book to serve as a creed, a statement of beliefs set in theological concrete." IOW, it was not published, in my thinking in an attempt to define the standard by which one should be determined to be a member of the SDA denomination. Rather, it was published to put into print the most commonly held beliefs of SDA members. Certainly, most SDA members believe that EGW was a prophet, even if they disagree on exactly what that means. So, in brief, the above is my personal understanding: The belief in EGW As a prophet is not required to be a member of the SDA denomination. Further, there is no clearly defined belief as to what it means to say that she is a prophet.