Fake Pastors

[GHansen]

Not sure if this is really an issue or if anyone cares; however, there are various individuals scrambling for credibility. They call themselves pastors/ evangelists , yet have no ministerial credential, nor have they been ordained to the gospel ministry. According to a conversation with a GC administrator, a valid credential is required to hold pastoral status in the denomination. These credentials can be granted to retirees . In all cases, they must be renewed annually. It's entirely possible for someone to have been ordained and for various reasons, not have a credential renewed. No real problem here, as long as the individual is honest about his status. Also possible that a non ordained person held a credential in the past but was not ordained, has no current credential but maintains his pastoral title to enhance his credibility. .

I've noticed this situation among those promoting LGT. It's a good thing to know if people teaching various doctrines are doing so with the blessing of the denomination or are simply cowboys. In the past, I suggested that a registry of credentialed pastors in North America be posted online. Perhaps, if enough people show an interest in this, it can happen 

[Gregory Matthews]

I feel a need to clarify some of the statements that  were   made in the post above:

*  Credentials are not required to be renewed annually.  They are typically issued for a period of time that depends upon the organization that issued the credential.  General Conference credentials are typically issued for a five (5) year period of time.   At the present time, in time in the NAD, local Conference credentials are typically issued for either a two (2) year period of time or for a three (3) year period of time.  

*  On a personal note,  I  currently have a valid credential.  In my 50 some   years of ministry in the SDA denomination, I have never had a credential that was only good for one year.  My credentials have always been good for some 2 - 5 years.

 *  The SDA Church issues several classes of credentials.  Several of these types of credentials are NOT for SDA clergy. 

*  To be ordained/commissioned as SDA clergy is considered to be for life, unless that is formally revoked.

*  A credential grants permission for that person to act in that capacity in the SDA denomination.

*  The SDA Yearbook contains a listing of credentialed denominational employees.  (NOTE:  As retired people are not employed, I do not believe that they are listed, although they may be credentialed.)  Any person can purchase this book.

*  Thee SDA Yearbook is on line, and if you have Internet access, you can check the credentials of most people granted credentials.

 

 

[Gregory Matthews]

*  You may access the 2019 YEARBOOK at:  https://www.adventistyearbook.org/

*  Previous editions of the YEARBOOK are also on line.

*   You may purchase a 2019 YEARBOOK several ways.   It may be ordered online for $23.00 plus shipping and tax.

*  You may purchase it by calling 208-465-2547.

*  The local ABC may order it for you.

 

NOTE:  The print edition of the YEARBOOK does contain some information that is not in the online edition.

[Kevin H]

On 5/24/2019 at 8:07 AM, Gregory Matthews said:

.

 *  The SDA Church issues several classes of credentials.  Several of these types of credentials are NOT for SDA clergy. 

 

 

 

Could I ask a favor of you Gregory, I am interested in learning about the different classes of credentials and what types are not for SDA clergy.

[GHansen]

On ‎5‎/‎24‎/‎2019 at 8:07 PM, Gregory Matthews said:

I feel a need to clarify some of the statements that  were   made in the post above:

 

Appreciate that correction. Exact situation I contacted the GC about was a former credentialed pastor, never ordained, who returned to school and was not rehired, yet insists he is a pastor. As I recall, I was told that a valid credential is the standard to hold the title "pastor" from a denominational perspective. Of course, I also recalled it was an annual renewal, so could be mistaken. 1, 2, or 5 years,  people who refer to themselves as SDA clergymen should be recognized as such by the denomination

"Revoking" an ordination sounds a bit like priest craft but that's another issue. Good to know the Yearbook is online, making a separate registry unnecessary. Thanks for that information 

[Gregory Matthews]

*  Credentials for clergy may be issued for ordained, commissioned and licensed clergy (ministers).

*  Retired SDA Clergy, such as me, may be issued Emeritus Credentials.  I am not aware of the details for other retired people.

*  Credentials are issued for SDA school teachers, who are not clergy.

*  Historically other people who were employed by the SDA denomination were issued "missionary credentials"  As I write today, I am not certain if  this is the exact wording today and I am not certain if a "missionary license" was also issued. I think a  missionary license may also have been issued. In any case, these were not clergy.

*  Ordination (commissioning) is considered to be for life.  The credentials are issued for a specific period, generally from two to five   years.  The credential is permission to operate in a clergy function.  IOW, Ordination (commissioning) is only required once in a life time.  The ordination (commissioning) is only revoked for a major sin.  These will typically be for a sexual sin.  I suppose   it could also be for apostacy.  

*  Under the laws of the United States, all who are not engaged in fraud, are allowed to call themselves clergy.  But, each denomination has the legal right to determine who is allowed to be clergy representing their denomination.  No denomination should be forced to  recognized as clergy any one.  

*  As a case in point:  In the U.S., under Federal law, persons serving as Federal (military, VA, prison, etc.) may only be hired as chaplains with the permission of their denomination.  In addition, they will be fired if their denomination withdraws its permission.  So, in the decades that I spent as a military and as a VA chaplain, ACM could have terminated my employment as such, and I would not have had any legal recourse if they had done so.

 

[Gregory Matthews]

A technical clairfication of my statement that credentials are not issued for a one-year period.

Every SDA organizastion that issues credentials has a standard year in which each credentall expires.  Those periods of time generally range for 2 - 5 years.  

However, a person who is first issued a credentail in the 4th year of an organization that has a 5 year period of time will be issued a credential for the first time for a one year period.  The credentials that follow wil be for five years.

So also a person first issued a credential in the 2nd year of an organization that has a 3-year period of time will be first issued a credential for one year.  

IOW all SDA organizations that issue credentials have a specific end date on which all credentials expire.  They do not normally expire even if a person retires prior to that end date.