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HEY ALL my computer broke then i lost my internet----- but i now have both up and running dgrimm60

Several years back, a SDA congregation was dealing with a number of people who regularly attended its services but were not ready to become SDA members. The congregation wanted to both welcome them and to integrate them into the life and mission of the congregation. As such they were considering how they might do this. As they considered this, I wrote a proposal to establish a category of membership that was only with the local congregation and not with the SDA denomination. My proposal was not accepted. That was fine as my intention was to stimulate thought and discussion. To stimulate discussion here, I will post my suggestion below, with identifying material removed: Associate Membership Proposal: R: XXXXXX Proposal: The local congregation of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination shall establish two (2) categories of membership, as is listed below: 1) Membership in the Seventh-day Adventist denomination: a) Membership: shall be both in the local Congregation and in the Seventh-day Adventist denomination. 'b) Requirements for membership: The requirements for membership will be the general requirements for membership of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, as outlined in either the standard Baptismal Statement of Belief or the Alternate Baptismal Statement of belief and as these statements may be amended by the appropriate denominational body from time to time. c) Teaching tool: the so-called 28 Fundamental Beliefs and any following amended editions may be used as a tool to teach common areas of SDA belief and practice, but they will not be used as a standard for baptism. d) Record of membership: Membership will be recorded in both congregational records and in the records of the local Conference. e) Ministry leadership: The basic level of eligibility for leadership and other ministry positions will be considered to have been met by membership in the SDA Denomination. However, some positions of leadership and positions that result in ordination and/or require ordination may have other requirements that must be met and/or are generally required by the SDA denomination. 2) Associate Membership in the local SDA Congregation: a) Membership: shall be an Associate Membership that is only in the local congregation and is NOT in either the local Conference or in the Seventh-day Adventist denomination. Such membership shall not be eligible for transfer. 'b) Requirements for membership: The basic standard for Associate Membership in the local SDA congregation will be that the Associate Member will have a commitment to follow the leading of Christ as led by the Holy Spirit and in addition will understand the mission and values of the local congregation and will want to participate in that congregation in a manner that will live peaceably with its congregational members. The Associate Member category will include people who: 1) Are not in full accord with the general understanding of SDA doctrines. 2) Are not fully compliant with the general understanding of SDA life style practices. 3) Wish to associate with other Christians but who have reservations about formally joining a denomination. 4) May have other reasons for joining as an Associate member without denominational membership. c) Teaching tool: Associate members will be required to have a basic knowledge of the beliefs and life style practices of the SDA Denomination. But, they will not be required to either believe them or to practice them. d) Record of membership: The local Conference will not be given an itemized listing of these names as the Conference is not set up to in a manner that requires it to have a listing of people who may attend, but are not SDA members. e) Ministry leadership: Associate Members may be restricted in the leadership positions that they can hold: 1) Leadership that requires ordination will be restricted to denominational members and will not be available to Associate members. 2) Associate members will not be ordained in leadership positions that allow for ordination but do not require it. 3) Associate Members may hold leadership positons that would not generally be considered to be of spiritual leadership. E.G. Fund raising for a building project. 4) Associate Members may participate in programing and in other roles that may be considered to have some level of spiritual leadership as long as the above is not violated and the Associate Member is carefully considered and will not use such a positon to agitate against the common beliefs and practices of the SDA denomination. 5) The local Congregation may place such additional restrictions on the use of Associate Members as it believes is needed.

See: https://fpdl.vimeocdn.com/vimeo-prod-skyfire-std-us/01/953/7/179768817/586908230.mp4?token=582755f2_0x309d8587686dccaf2790bdd7f499aada37bfba4d * It is a 16 minute video. * It was produced by SDA associated organizations. * It is recommended by the Review. * It is the story of a young girl who was sexually abused by her teacher. * It has a message for all.

As I write this post John Bradshaw of It Is Written is interviewing Col. (Ret.) Knapp who was involved in the production of Hacksaw Ridge, the movie about Desmond Doss. Knapp, is a SDA physician who spent some 24 years in the U.S. Army. Most people will probably not understand the quality of the service that Knapp has given to this country in his service in the Army. As I read the "fruit salad" on his uniform above his left chest I note that he has been awarded the: * Silver Star * Legion of Merit * Meritious Service Medal w. OLC NOTE: One OLC means that he was awarded the MSM for the second time. The Silver Star is the 3rd highest award for valor in combat. The Legion of Merit is a high award for non-combat service which is more often given to people above his rank. If you want to know more about his awards check them out on the Internet.

I have spent some time with him over the past year. VERY NOBLE!

from wiki https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eisegesis Eisegesis (/ˌaɪsəˈdʒiːsəs/; from the Greek preposition εἰς "into" and the ending from the English word exegesis, Greek ἐξήγησις, which in turn is derived from ἐξηγεῖσθαι "to lead out")[1] is the process of interpreting a text or portion of text in such a way that the process introduces one's own presuppositions, agendas, or biases into and onto the text. This is commonly referred to as reading into the text

Wanderer: No one becomes a SDA member today without requesting to become one. In the proposed category of Associate Member, no one would become such unless they had requested to become such. The reality today is that we may have people who attend our services who want to have some sort of a formal recognition, but do not want to become a full-fledged SDA member. The Associate category is intended to meet that need.

You are also missed when you are not here!

Wow! What an exciting book! Joseph Bates, who I think was the most instrumental founder of the Seventh-Day Adventist church, was by vocation a sailor then sea captain in the early 1800s. During this time he had many harrowing, life and death experiences.

I have thought difficulty in portraying her would be to show her winsome personality, but I thought this actress did that quite nicely.

There are several "attenders" at our local church who have never asked to become baptized or otherwise become full SDA members. We seem to treat them all just like "family," regardless of their legal status. I think that's the Christian way, actually. Why make church membership so burdensome? Having one's name on the books never guaranteed anybody's salvation.

I highly doubt such protests and trashing (as in Portland) would have occurred if Hillary had won... perhaps I'm wrong, but I don't recall any Republican protests after Barack Obama was elected...

NOTE: I once was the pastor of a congregation that had several people who attended every week, but did not want to become members. The congregation wanted to use them as much as possible in the life of the congregation. One of those person was a Methodist who was also in church every Sunday. At a time when the congregation purchased property on which to build a church, she was placed in charge of raising the funds needed to purchase the property.

The entire concept of denominations (i.e., man-made mental constructs that "explain" biblical truth) needs to be re-evaluated. Salvation is about our relationship with Yahweh and His Son; not our relationship with a man-made set of doctrines.

You can watch it on the Internet. Go to: https://telltheworld.adventist.org/watch Then click on Watch the film. That will bring up the 1st video. From there you can watch each succeeding video.