Dear members and brethren in Church Leadership,
We write to you as fellow members of the Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement, united with you in our commitment to present truth and our anticipation of Christ’s soon return. It is in this spirit of shared conviction that we bring to your attention An Appeal to SDARM.
The website https://appealtosdarm.com contains a series of theological articles examining the Biblical and Spirit of Prophecy foundations for certain practices currently required as tests of fellowship in our movement. They have to do with distinctive SDARM fundamental beliefs.
For more than a decade, we have pursued this matter through the established processes of our movement. We have submitted formal appeals, engaged in correspondence with leadership, and participated in discussions with those willing to consider these questions. Throughout this time, we have endeavoured to follow proper protocol and to address these concerns through appropriate channels.
We wish to particularly acknowledge the Australasian Union Conference Ministerial Committee, whose members have given genuine effort to engage with these theological questions. Their willingness, as well as the willingness of other Bible workers, elders and ministers around the world to seriously consider the issues raised has been encouraging and appreciated.
However, after ten years of pursuing this matter officially, we must acknowledge that the institutional processes move with extraordinary slowness. This is not said to condemn, but to honestly assess where we find ourselves. Important doctrinal questions affecting the consciences of believers and hindering the gospel mission of the church cannot remain indefinitely in administrative limbo.
The decision to create a public website was not made hastily or with any desire to circumvent leadership. Rather, it reflects our conviction that doctrinal matters of this magnitude concern the entire body of believers. When official channels prove inadequate to address substantive theological questions within a reasonable timeframe, and when the issue at stake involves what we bind upon the consciences of those seeking baptism, we believe transparency and open examination become necessary.
This is not an act of rebellion, but of earnest appeal – to leadership, yes, but also to the broader membership who have a right and responsibility to examine whether our beliefs and practices rest on solid Biblical foundations.
In the sentiment expressed in the following two quotes, we bring to you this appeal:
“The fact that there is no controversy or agitation among God’s people, should not be regarded as conclusive evidence that they are holding fast to sound doctrine. There is reason to fear that they may not be clearly discriminating between truth and error. When no new questions are started by investigation of the Scriptures, when no difference of opinion arises which will set men to searching the Bible for themselves, to make sure that they have the truth, there will be many now, as in ancient times, who will hold to tradition, and worship they know not what.”
Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 707.1
“If every idea we have entertained in doctrines is truth will not the truth bear to be investigated? Will it totter and fall if criticized? If so, let if fall, the sooner the better.”
1888 186.2
As Testimonies volume 5 instructs us, “in defending the doctrines which we consider fundamental articles of faith we should never allow ourselves to employ arguments that are not wholly sound” and must “present sound arguments, that will not only silence our opponents, but will bear the closest and most searching scrutiny.”
We appeal to you to bring these matters before the broader leadership of our movement for serious theological review. The question of what we may rightfully bind upon the consciences of believers is too weighty to be dismissed without thorough examination.
“To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20).
We remain your brethren in the blessed hope,
The authors.