A recent article in Adventist Today asked whether we should consider Ellen White to be equal to the Bible. pr as a fraud. I posted the following in response:
In my opinion, we owe much to the guidance that she gave to us as a developing denomination. I do not believe that we would be the denomination that we are today if we had not had her advice. However, when it comes to spiritual advice and doctrine, I believe that we should look beyond her to the Bible. Over the years that she ministered in this denomination, her doctrinal understandings changed in many areas as she developed her beliefs. She grew, over the years in understanding the Biblical beliefs, as we must. We should not limit our growth to some point in her Christian growth. She would not want that.
I will expand a bit beyond what I posted in AT. I consider our denomination to be indebted to her in the following areas:
* Publishing: I consider her to be a primary source behind this area of our denominational life.
* Missions: I do not think that we would have the emphasis on world missions if it had not been for her.
* Health care: She is clerly the one who encouraged that area of our ministry.
* Education: We would not have the extensive school system if it had not been for her.