Thoughts on this?

[Stan]

In Canada, the proposed budget would/could take away the charitable status of a charity church foundation etc, if there is/are board members who have criminal records?

Thoughts?

Should we jump ahead and make sure this does not happen even if that budget is not passed?

Should we fight this kind of thing?

[Dr. Rich]

That could never happen in the USA because it would interfere with the right to contrat with others. I doubt if it will ever happen in Canada either as they have the same rights in contracting with others.

In the USA one can have their own church ministry without having it be subject to the control of the government. It is called the "Otherwise" in the IRS code.

Many so called 'criminials' are called that because they refuse to agree with stupid man made laws such as you suggest. The real criminals are those who attempt to control others by the use of stupid laws. Anything that voids one's freedom is a stupid law.

[Tom Wetmore]

While I think prudence says we should not be so naive as to think those who have served their time are reformed and will do no wrong again, I think that as a church we should be about the business of redemption. The idea seems too dogmatic and assumes nobody can turn their life around. With that perspective taken to its logical conclusion, we should not allow anyone who has a criminal record to be involved in anything legitimate. It condemns them forever to only a life of crime.

[onlyhumanme]

Im not quite sure but i think years ago the SDA church conformed some of their belief structure to be under the tax status of "church" as defined probably by the largest church influence.

I found an article from last years general conference to be interesting aswell, i wonder if things have a way of convicting themselves lol anyhow just some thoughts..(I have only the first discription up alothough it sounds nice.. it does seem odd?)

The General Conference Session, delegates and theology

By Ángel Manuel Rodríguez on April 6, 2010 8:36 AM As the General Conference Session approaches, it may be important to think for a moment about its contribution to our understanding of the nature of the church and its theological role.

Let me share with you some thoughts about the ecclesiological function of the General Conference Session.

1. Expressing the Catholicity of the church. The word "catholic" comes from the Greek katholikos, and it means "general," "universal." By "catholicity" I mean the universal nature and multifaceted expression of the church as the body of Christ.

During a General Conference Session, the "catholic" nature of the church, understood by Adventists as the end-time remnant gathered from "every nation, tribe, language and people" (Rev 14:6), becomes visible in the gathering and activities of the delegates. The inclusive nature of this ecclesiological remnant manifests itself in the cultural and ethnic diversity of the delegates.

What the church is in its global dimension is now embodied in the gathering of its representatives at the Session. They come together not to represent the interest of the local expression of the church, but to stand by what is best for the global church as the body of the Christ.

Therefore the catholicity of the church should transcend the geographical and potentially narrow concerns of the delegates without necessarily ignoring them.

2. Expressing the apostolicity of the church.

3. Expressing the authority of the church.

4. Expressing the oneness of the Church.

[Christopher]

Agreed

the logical conclusion also means nobody who is a Christian or claims to be is eligible for any post because we all broke God's Law. What makes a human Law more important than Gods, Which is Loving Forgiveness and redemption Personified in all we are supposed to do?