Understanding Ellen White

Responsibilities of the White Estate

A summary of the responsibilities relating to Ellen White’s literary estate that her trustees still perform, based upon provisions in her will, is as follows: (1) Protect the copyrights to her writings, plus care for and improve the overall appearance of her books in the English language; (2) prepare and promote the translation and publication of her books in languages other than English; and (3) provide for the physical custody of her files and literary manuscripts, including all general file materials and indexes not provided for elsewhere in her will, as well as prepare for publication new compilations gleaned from her unpublished writings. ²⁸ UEGW 217.1

In more recent years, several additional assignments have come to the White Estate. They include (1) acquainting Seventh-day Adventists with Ellen White and her writings; (2) operating White Estate branch offices, plus oversee the operation of the Ellen G. White Seventh-day Adventist research centers located in all of the world divisions; and (3) in 1996, the General Conference Executive Committee voted to ask the White Estate to be responsible for promoting and preserving the heritage of the denomination on behalf of the General Conference. ²⁹ UEGW 217.2