In Defense of the Faith

“A System of Popery” Again Mr. Canright says:

“Seventh-day Adventism is a system of popery-one-man power.”—Ibid., p. 81. DOF 382.3

This is one of the most amazing charges made by Mr. Canright against the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Of course anyone who has the slightest knowledge of the character of the Seventh-day Adventist organization knows that this statement is as far from the truth as the south pole is from the north. A system of popery is exactly what Seventh day Adventism is not. It is the antithesis of popery. In a system of popery the people take their orders from the head. The pope’s word is law. In Seventh-day Adventism the head takes orders from the people and from committees of control. Their word is law. The head cannot alter their decisions. DOF 382.4

For instance, in each State or provincial conference, the people choose a president, who holds office for two years. But he is not made a lord over God’s heritage. He is the chairman of a committee of control. This committee is chosen by the people. The people make their own plans for the conduct of the work within their territory, while together in conference session. They delegate to the president and this executive committee the authority to carry out these plans and make them effective. DOF 383.1

The conference president is the ranking officer of the conference committee. The committee usually consists of from seven to fifteen men, all chosen by the people. They have no authority to change anything that was done in conference assembled. If they feel that a change should be made in any important plan or policy, they must wait until the next conference session or call a special session. At the session they can lay their proposals before the people, but the people can accept or reject them at will. No one has any power of coercion. Every two years the term of office of the president and members of the executive committee expires. They may be re-elected or they may not. It depends entirely upon how they have performed their work whether they have given satisfaction. They have no life lease on these positions. They cannot continue themselves in office. DOF 383.2

The General Conference organization embraces all local, union, and division conferences. It has a president, four general vice presidents, an additional vice-president for each great continental division, a secretary, six associate secretaries, a treasurer, a sub treasurer, four assistant treasurers, and a secretary-treasurer for each continental division. If these officials constituted the entire board of control of the general affairs of the denomination, it would even then be far from a system of popery, for this group alone would constitute a board of some forty men. DOF 383.3

But as a matter of fact, these men are only servants of a large committee of control known as the General Conference Committee. This committee consists of some two hundred members, and holds council meetings in the spring and autumn of each year, to consider policies and plans for the prosecution of the denominational work throughout the world. Other meetings of easily available members of this committee are held frequently throughout the year, but these minority meetings have no authority to alter any general policy adopted by the full committee at its regular councils, when representatives from the world field are present. DOF 384.1

In a system of popery the head of the church has power to set aside decisions of councils with which he is not in agreement. Note the following statement from a Catholic authority: DOF 384.2

“He [the Pope] is not subject to them [the canons of the church], because he is competent to modify or to annul them when he holds this to be best for the church.”—The Catholic Encyclopedia, vol. 12, art. “Pope,” p. 268. DOF 384.3

But the president of the Seventh-day Adventist General Conference, who is the highest official in the church, cannot set aside any council action. The decisions of the councils govern. He cannot change a jot or tittle of them. He may recommend changes in policy at the next meeting, but he has no means of enforcing such recommendations, except by debate and personal influence, based on the confidence the council may have in his leadership. He cannot spend $100 of the denomination’s funds for any purpose whatsoever, be it ever so worthy, without authorization of the General Conference Committee. Neither can the General Conference treasurer do so. The president does not take a trip into any part of the field without committee action. He writes no official letters to his under officers in an effort to enforce his individual opinion; his correspondence must represent the will of the committee. He issues no fiats and hands down no personal decisions. He is a servant of the General Conference Committee, and he and the committee serve the people. DOF 384.4

The General Conference president, his assistant officers, and many members of the committee hold office for four years. They are elected at a quadrennial session of the General Conference, which is usually attended by about six hundred official delegates representing the church in every land, and by some six to ten thousand non official visitors. This great and thoroughly representative gathering chooses Whom so ever they will for the leadership of the church for the ensuing term. The former officials have no further claim on the offices they have held. Their term has expired. They lay down the burden. If perchance the conference should so desire, these same individuals may be re-elected to office for another four years. DOF 385.1

But this decision rests entirely with the delegates. They are the people’s representatives. This large body of representatives is acknowledged by all Seventh-day Adventist churches and organizations as the highest administrative authority among them. DOF 385.2

A one-man power? No! It is exactly the opposite. In Seventh-day Adventism the church officers serve the people instead of the people serving their officials. DOF 385.3

From the foregoing review it must already be evident to the candid reader that Mr. Canright certainly handles the truth lightly, and that his book is filled with misstatements and misrepresentations. Much more could be said, but enough has been presented to reveal fully the unreliability of Mr. Canright’s books. And if his statements are thus unreliable, then surely he is not a safe guide to those who are earnestly inquiring for truth. DOF 386.1