It was camp meeting time in Florida.  Earlier in the spring, the Adventist Review had issued a fiat that there was to be no discussion on certain issues raised by an Australian teacher by the name of Desmond Ford until he had had opportunity to share his views with the brethren.   Of course such an injunction ensured a lively discussion would follow. 

Interestingly, the featured speaker for the evening meetings that year was Smuts Van Rooyen.  Channeling Ford’s theology almost verbatim in his sermons, he was well received by all present.

If woman was indeed created fully human with all the functions, abilities and inherent capacities of man including the desires, dreams and aspirations of same, and if God arbitrarily (for her own good) placed her in subjection, limiting her choices and spheres (either as punishment or more benignly for her protection) then women’s reaction to his restriction could only be submission, (using subjection as an excuse for not exercising accountable dominion) denial, (labeling her natural God-given aspirations and inner callings as evil or temptations of the devil) or rebellion (risking death ra

 As a young mother, I would often sing my baby to sleep with the song about Jesus blessing the children.

In Matthew 5, Jesus talks of the importance of little things, things as small as the dot over an i.   Lynne Truss in her 2004 best seller makes the same point in the title of her book,” Eats, Shoots and Leaves”.  Is this a statement about a murderous dinner guest?  Or, sans comma, could it describe the diet of a panda?   

It was my mentor, Dr. Jack Provansha, who introduced me to Hans Kung, a Catholic theologian from the University of Tubingen. (1)  Having read Kung, (and not being struck dead by lightening) I went on to read other serious Catholic theologians such as John Wijngaards, Karl Rahner,  Edward Schillebeeck, Anthony Tambasco and more devotional  writers such as Father John Powell.   I discovered the novels and the ‘who-done-it’s’ by the Catholic sociologist, Andrew Greeley and found these to be a great source for understanding the cultural context of Catholicism.

Throughout his ministry Jesus deliberately and intentionally broke and challenged societal stereotypes and cultural taboos.   He spoke to women publically; he encouraged women to speak out publically.  He taught women equally with men; he gave them the Spirit of understanding and freedom to study.  The apostle chosen by him to take the news of the resurrection to the disciples was a woman.  “Go and tell,” he said to Mary. 

Have you ever wondered what went on in the place we refer to as “the upper room”?   That location, that name, has always held a sort of mystique about it.  The replacement of Judas by casting lots is about all chapter one of Acts records as to what was happening behind those closed doors.

This week the Kellogg West Conference Center located in Pomona, California, will host the 32nd annual Kinship Kampmeeting.    The web site, Seventh-day Adventist Kinship, gives details about the gathering including a daily schedule, topics and presenters.   It also posts this disclaimer.   

The Adventist church’s position on the nature of Christ has been ambiguous to say the least.   An official position would be hard to pin down as the church since its inception has had no formal creed.  In my naivety I had previously assumed that this was because as a people we believed truth to be progressive, that we were to be open to walking in increasing light.   Recent historical studies belie that notion.  

 “If we truly want a less violent society, not hitting our children is a good place to start,” was Paul Holinger’s response to the editor of the New York Times following a recent article on the status of “paddling” in the nation’s school systems. Dr. Holinger went on to say, “I see the carnage of physical punishment every day in the office.  Physical punishment is a major public health problem in this country.”