SDA Racism

[Gregory Matthews]

The following article in informative in regard to the history of the SDA denomination, rather than critical.

After months of delay, William Henry Branson, world president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, decided he could wait no longer. It was time for action. Five months had passed, and the Supreme Court had not yet issued the ruling widely anticipated to overturn the Plessy v. Ferguson decision of 1896.

See:

https://spectrummagazine.org/article/2017/11/30/adventism-and-americas-original-sin-part-1
 

 

[Kyran]

And the sobering reaches an even deeper level when we read the General Conference president’s frank acknowledgement that Adventists were “trailing behind the procession” of major change in race relations.

Oh noes, we're not embracing babelism fast enough!

[B/W Photodude]

21 minutes ago, The Wanderer said:

If its just to say that the head of The Buffalo Club sent out an important letter to everyone; I would hardly call that "action." Am I making sense to anyone; or do I just have a bee in my bonnet?

As with many articles on Spectrum, it just seems to be another way to criticize the church either directly, or indirectly thru the reader comments. One person reading this article took the time for another gratuitous swipe at the current President Wilson, who was not even part of the article!

Occasionally, they get near to a reasonable point to be made. Regarding racism, bet many do not even know about the Free SDA church that formed shortly after the death of EGW. Here is a bit of their history from their website:

http://www.freesda.org/history/freesdabeginnings.html

[Gregory Matthews]

The Wanderer:  As I understand it, the article as # 1 in a planned series.  So, wait for the coming additions to it.

 

[B/W Photodude]

23 minutes ago, The Wanderer said:

So again, my question is: Just what exactly do they mean by "rights" here?  Why wont they say  it?

I am not sure what part of the country you write from, but apparently, things were not well for "people of color" in the American South at the time of the beginnings of the Adventist church. The rights I am assuming to be pretty much many of the rights not enjoyed by "people of color" by anyone in regular society. This includes being able to be full participating members of the church in seating, drinking fountains, bathrooms, etc. It is not hard to find pictures of segregated facilities from that era extending all the way to within my lifetime for minorities in America. In a not so extreme example of Blacks dealing with racism in the church, you have separate conferences for Blacks. This helped Blacks have an opportunity for church leadership, albeit in the Black community only. Today, things have changed in such a way that it is hard to remember that things were not so good at one time. Even the Southern Union conference is very different with a Black president. Probably would not have happened 100 years ago:

http://www.southernunion.com/article/37/administration/president

Unfortunately, I have heard very "devout" SDA members say some very harsh words for those of color. "Birds of a feather flock together" (Never mind that a blue parakeet will mate with a yellow parakeet!). Even worse, "in heaven, all people of color will be made white!" Seriously, I have heard this. These words will come back to haunt the ones who uttered them, baring forgiveness.

So, I am not surprised that I just found this church myself. I only wonder why this breach has not been repaired and the "freeSDA"s have not rejoined the "mother" church. Is there something still lacking in Christian love that prevents healing?

 

[Gregory Matthews]

I found the citation to the so-called Free SDAs to be informative and interesting.  I had never heard of them as an organization.  However, I was aware of some of the clergy that they name as having broken away from the SDA denomination due to racial issues.

To the question of rights and discrimination:  When the first African-American man was elected to a Vice-President position in the General Conference, in modern times,  he was NOT welcome eat his lunch in the regular section of the GC Cafeteria!

Do you want me to bring up the well documented situation of a SDA hospital refusing to treat an African-American women on their Emergency Department.  As a result, she died.

How much more do you want?  There is more.

 

 

[B/W Photodude]

18 minutes ago, Gregory Matthews said:

Do you want me to bring up the well documented situation of a SDA hospital refusing to treat an African-American women on their Emergency Department.  As a result, she died.

I recall the story very well. While the behaviors of the medical staff at this hospital was extremely deplorable, it is a stretch to say that she died as a result of refusal of care. This was an event that occurred nearly 80 years ago. She was in an extreme health situation in the ER and quite likely would have died even if care had been given promptly and with complete Christian motives. However, refusing to treat her was acting in bad faith.

[Gregory Matthews]

Perhaps she would have died even is given care.  The fact is that they the SDA hospital made no effort to save her.  She died.

[debbym]

human failings are rife, in my heart, in my church, in the world.

people are human, and racism is just as real in the SDA Church as divorce, alcoholism,  lying, stealing,  adultery, idolatry and covetousness.

i think there is a brand of racism in the USA that is serious, and dangerous.  There is a lot of fear, which has lead to maximum prison sentencing, innocent presumed guilty, and police killings, and more which are incomprehensible.

whoever is other, is so readily regarded as less and second class citizens, etc. .