The Remnant Church; Its Organization, Authority, Unity, and Triumph

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Unity and Freedom in Council Meetings

When ministering brethren come together in council, let deference be shown to the expression of intelligent principles, let intellectual freedom be freely accorded to all. There should be unity and love and freedom in communicating one with another. It should be a pleasure to consult one with another, to compare ideas and to review plans. An atmosphere of goodness, confidence, and love should be diffused; for this is the assurance of the presence of the Holy Spirit. The presence of God should be felt, and the soul should be humbled in acknowledging the condescension of God in planning for every soul for whom Christ has died, and thus hearts would be softened and broken.... MR311 30.2

Link up with your brethren, if you would have them link up with you, and give you their confidence. Confidence and faith will beget confidence and faith. You should gather into your confidence not only your ministering brethren, but those with whom you are brought in contact, and show them that you have confidence, and that you believe that they are taught of God as much as you yourself are taught of God. Open your plans before them. One will be free to speak, and another will be free to speak, and they may call your attention to some things that you had not thought of before. MR311 30.3

God does not open everything to one mind, but He teaches one, and another, and still another. Men are to stand in God, and without having the fear of criticism before them, they are to speak as God shall give them utterance, and to write as God shall dictate. After they have written their thoughts, let them be free to read their articles to their brethren, and let them receive any kindly word or caution that the brethren may see fit to offer in the spirit of brotherly kindness and love.... MR311 31.1

The cautions which God has given are to be regarded. Christ has said concerning His disciples, “All ye are brethren.” Every one is to give an account of himself to God.... Do not lay down any specified rules or prescribe any details as to how God's agents shall do their work.... The Teacher said, “While you are so earnest to call to mind the details, the time that is of so great value has been consumed, ... and the minds of the workers have been called to dwell upon non-essentials which should have been left for workers in the field to plan for themselves.... Many things that are too important to be set aside have been lightly dwelt upon, and many things that are of little consequence have been largely dwelt upon, when there is no reason why men should dictate concerning the matters they have laid out in detail.”—Letter 53, 1894. MR311 31.2