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ReorganisationofChurchStructure,1901-03:SomeObservations1

DraftpaperaspresentedattheUnity2017Conference,June15,2017

BarryOliver

Introduction

Itisthepurposeofthispaperto:

1. BrieflydescribeaspectsofthedenominationalcontextandtheorganizationaldesignoftheSeventh-dayAdventistChurchin1863;

2. ListandbrieflydiscussanumberoffactorswhichledtothereorganisationoftheChurchin1901–1903;

3. ListthechangesthatreorganizationbroughttotheorganizationalstructuresoftheChurch;

4. Locatemissionastheprimaryimpetusforreorganization5. Discusstheprincipleswhich,in1901,undergirdedtheintroductionoftheUnionasan

addedlayeroforganizationalstructure;6. Distilfromthehistoricaldatalearningswhichmaybeinstructionalforthecontemporary

Seventh-dayAdventistChurch.

PerspectiveofthePaper

Withrespecttoperspective,thispapershouldbereadkeepingininmindthat:

1. ThepaperreflectsanabidingsenseofloyaltytoandlovefortheSeventh-dayAdventistChurch.Theauthor,nowretired,hasservedasanordainedpastor,evangelist,associateprofessor,administrator,andfinallyaspresidentoftheSouthPacificDivisionandvice-presidentoftheGeneralConferenceofSeventh-dayAdventists.

2. Carehasbeentakentoensurethatallquotationsreflectthecontextfromwhichtheyaretaken.Thoroughreferencinggivesthereaderopportunitytoinvestigatetheextendedcontext.

3. Thepaperiswritteninaspiritofopenenquiryanddiscussion.4. Itisacknowledgedthathistoryisalwayscontextual,asistheapplicationofprincipleand

practiceindiversecontemporarycontexts.

Limitations

1MuchofthecontentofthispaperisdirectlydrawnfromresearchconductedbytheauthorwhenpreparingandwritingaPh.D.dissertationatAndrewsUniversityin1989,andfromthepublishedversionofthedissertation.SeeBarryDavidOliver,SDAOrganizationalStructure:Past,Present,andFuture,(BerrienSprings,MI:AndrewsUniversityPress,1989).

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ThepaperassumesaworkingknowledgeofSeventh-dayAdventistorganisationalstructure.Thereisnoattempttodescribecontemporarystructure.ThereislimiteddiscussionofthetheologicalinterplaybetweenAlonzoT.Jonesandthosealignedwithhimin1901,andArthurG.Daniellsandthosealignedwithhim.Thepolemicbetweenthesetwogroupsstronglyinfluencedtheoutcomeoftherestructuringprocess.2Further,inthispaperthereisonlypassingreferencetotheimpactoftheKelloggdebacleontheindividualsanddecisionsoftheearly20thcentury.

AspectsofthedenominationalcontextandtheorganizationaldesignoftheSeventh-dayAdventistChurchin1863

TheSeventh-dayAdventistChurchwasformallyorganisedatameetingofbelieversatBattleCreek,Michiganin1863.Atthattimethemembershipwasapproximately3500.ItwasdecidedthattherewouldbethreeadministrativelevelsofChurchstructure:thelocalchurch,theconference,andtheGeneralConferencewithheadquartersinBattleCreek.TheofficersoftheGeneralConferencewereapresident,secretary,andtreasurer.ThreepersonswereappointedasthemembersofaGeneralConferenceexecutivecommitteeandGeneralConferencesessionsweretobeheldannually.3

TherewerethosewhohadarguedthatbybeingorganizedtheChurchwouldbecomeBabylon.Butthosewhosawthenecessityforanefficientsystemoforganizationprevailed.IndeeditwasJamesWhitewho,throughoutthecontroversiessurroundingtheproposedorganizationinthelate1850sandearly1860s,wasthemostvocalproponentoftheneedfororganization.4White,aseditoroftheAdventReviewandSabbathHeraldandtheunofficialleaderoftheSabbatarianAdventists,wascontinuallywritingandspeakinginsupportoforganization.Hiswifealsosupportedtheneedforsoundorganization.Itappears,however,thatwhenitcametodenominationalstructures,theChurchunderstoodherroletobemoreexhortationaryandadvisorythandefinitive.

Forexample,inAugust1861EllenWhitehadreprovedthosewhodidnothavethecourageoftheirconvictions:

“Theagitationonthesubjectoforganizationhasrevealedagreatlackofmoralcourageonthepartofministersproclaimingpresenttruth.Somewhowereconvincedthat

2ForadiscussionofthepolemicseeBarryD.Oliver,“TheDevelopmentofOrganizationalandLeadershipParadigmsintheSeventh-dayAdventistChurch,”JournalofAdventistMissionStudies3/1Spring2007:4-28.3Foradetaileddiscussionofthefactorswhichprecipitateddenominationalorganizationin1863seeAndrewG.Mustard,JamesWhiteandSDAOrganization:HistoricalDevelopment,1844–1881(BerrienSprings,MI:AndrewsUniversityPress,1987).4SeeMustard,JamesWhiteandSDAOrganization.

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organizationwasrightfailedtostandupboldlyandadvocateit....Theyfearedblameandopposition.Theywatchedthebrethrengenerallytoseehowtheirpulsebeatbeforestandingmanfullyforwhattheybelievedtoberight....Theywereafraidoflosingtheirinfluence....Thosewhoshunresponsibilitywillmeetwithlossintheend.Thetimeforministerstostandtogetheriswhenthebattlegoeshard.”5

Theargumentswhichwereusedtopersuadethebelieverstoorganizethemselvesintoadenominationwerenotbasedstronglyonbiblicalortheologicalreasoning.6Rather,pragmatismwontheday.In1907,A.G.Daniells,reflectingontheeventsofthe1860slistedsomeoftheproblemsofdisorganization,implyingthatorganizationsolvedtheseandotherissuesfacingtheChurch.Hislistincluded:failuretokeepproperchurchmembershiprecords;paucityofchurchofficers;inabilitytodeterminetheaccreditedrepresentativesofthepeople;noregularsupportfortheministry;andnolegalprovisionforholdingproperty.7

EvenalistofreasonswhichEllenWhitecompiledin1892waslargelypragmatic,althoughshedidleaveroomformorelatitude.Herreasonsfororganizingthechurchin1863were:(1)toprovideforthesupportoftheministry,(2)forcarryingtheworkinnewfields,(3)forprotectingboththechurchesandtheministryfromunworthymembers,(4)fortheholdingofchurchproperty,(5)forthepublicationoftruththroughthepress,and(6)formanyotherobjectives.8

FactorswhichledtothereorganisationoftheChurchin1901–1903;

Despitethesimplicityanduniquenessofthestructuressetupin1863,theneedformajormodificationofthosestructuresbecameevidentastheChurchexpandedduringthelastquarterofthenineteenthcentury.Anumberofcontextualfactorsledtotheneedforchange:

1NumericalGrowthandtheBeginningsofDiversity

AlthoughSeventh-dayAdventistsstillunderstoodthemselvestobesimply“abodyofbelieversassociatingtogether,takingthenameofSeventh-dayAdventists,andattachingtheirnamestoacovenantsimplytokeepthecommandmentsofGodandthefaithofJesus,”withtheBibleas“theironlycreedanddiscipline,”by1888therewerealreadythirtyorganizedconferencescontaining889organizedchurches.Therewere227ordainedand182licensedministers.Theconstituencywassupportingsixpublishinghouses,threesenioreducationalinstitutions,andtwomedicalestablishments.Bytheturnofthecenturythechurchhad75,000members

5EllenG.White,“CommunicationfromMrsWhite,”AdventReviewandSabbathHerald,Aug.27,1861,101-2.6SeeOliver,SDAOrganizationalStructure,46-48.7A.G.Daniells,“Organization:ABriefAccountofItsHistoryintheDevelopmentoftheCauseoftheThirdAngel’sMessage,”AdventReviewandSabbathHerald,February14,1907,5.8EllenG.WhitetotheBrethrenattheGeneralConference,Letter127,December19,1892,EllenG.WhiteResearchCentre.

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spreadnotonlyacrosstheUnitedStates,butalsoinEurope,AustraliaandNewZealand,andincreasinglyinthe“missionfields.”9

Asthechurchcontinuedtogrowanddiversify,itwasevidentthatthemeagerorganizationthatwassetinplacein1863couldnotcopewiththisnumericalandgeographicalgrowth.

2InstitutionalGrowth

Further,theorganizationalstructuresof1863didnotanticipatetheincreaseoforganizationstocareforthepublishing,educational,health,andmissionaryinterestsoftheChurch.TheseentitieswerenotapartoftheconferenceadministrativestructureoftheChurch,butstoodasindependentunitsapartfromit.Althoughtheyhadaseparateinfrastructure,mostsharedpersonnelwiththeadministrativestructureofthedenomination.MostwerelocatedinBattleCreek.

Themajorauxiliaryorganizationsthatwereinexistenceatthebeginningof1888weretheGeneralTractandMissionarySociety,establishedin1874;theGeneralSabbathSchoolAssociation,establishedin1878;theHealthandTemperanceAssociation,establishedin1879;andtheGeneralConferenceAssociation,establishedin1887.TheNationalReligiousLibertyAssociationwasestablishedin1889,anautonomousForeignMissionBoardinthesameyear,andtheSeventh-dayAdventistMedicalMissionaryandBenevolentAssociationin1893.10

3LossofCoordinationandIntegration

Theseorganizationswerelegallyincorporatedasindependentbodiesthathadtheirownofficersandexecutiveboardsorcommittees.AlthoughtheywereallpartoftheSeventh-dayAdventistChurch—officersbeingappointedbyandreportingtotheGeneralConferencesession—theywerenotadministereddirectlybytheGeneralConference.Becauseoftheirindependentstatus,coordinationandintegrationwereperennialproblemsduringthe1890s.Notuntilthe1901GeneralConferencesessionanditsreorganizationoftheadministrativestructuresofthechurchweretheauxiliaryorganizationsincorporatedintotheconferencestructureasdepartmentsoftheGeneralConference.

4AdministrativeCentralization

Thegrowingglobalmissionaryconsciousnessofthechurchduringthe1870sand1880swasaccompaniedbyincreasedcentralizationofadministrativecontrol.In1885,GeorgeButler,presidentoftheGeneralConferencefrom1871-1874andagainfrom1880-1888,spokeoftheprinciplesuponwhichtheorganizationofthechurchwasestablished.Hedeclared:

9ABriefSketchoftheOrigin,ProgressandPrinciplesoftheSeventh-dayAdventists(BattleCreek,MI:ReviewandHerald,1888),9,11-12.10ForasummaryoverviewoftheSeventh-dayAdventistChurchatthebeginningof1888,seeBriefSketch,9-40.

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“Supervisionembracesallits[theGeneralConference]interestsineverypartoftheworld.Thereisnotaninstitutionamongus,notaperiodicalissued,notaConferenceorsociety,notamissionfieldconnectedwithourwork,thatithasnotarighttoadviseandcounselandinvestigate.ItisthehighestauthorityofanearthlycharacteramongSeventh-dayAdventists.”11

Butler’sconceptofadministrationgrewoutofhisconceptofleadership.AftertheGeneralConferenceof1888,EllenWhitewroteofButler:

“Asickman’smindhashadacontrollingpowerovertheGeneralConferencecommitteeandtheministershavebeentheshadowandechoofElderButleraboutaslongasitishealthyandforthegoodofthecause.Envy,evilsurmisings,jealousieshavebeenworkinglikeleavenuntilthewholelumpseemedtobeleavened....Hethinkshispositiongiveshimsuchpowerthathisvoiceisinfallible.”12

InresponsetosometensionsthatexistedbetweenJamesWhiteandotherchurchleaders,Butlerhadwrittenanessayin1873inwhichheencapsulatedhisattitudetowardleadership.Hispositionwasclearfromtheopeningsentence:“Thereneverwasanygreatmovementinthisworldwithoutaleader;andinthenatureofthingsitisimpossiblethatthereshouldbe.”13

Butlerdescribedaleaderasabenevolentmonarch.Hesupportedhisassertionbyreferencestonumerousbiblicalexamplesofauthoritarianleaders.WhilehewaswillingtoconcedethatChristwasindeedheadofthechurch,heinsistedthatsomemenwere“placedhigherinauthorityinthechurchthanothers.”14

Subsequently,the1875GeneralConferencesessionpassedaresolutionthatcalledforarevisionofButler’sessay.15The1877sessionrescindedallpartsoftheessaythatreferredtotheleadershipofthechurchasresidinginoneman.Thiswassupportedbyaresolutionwhichstatedthat:

“ThehighestauthorityunderGodamongSeventh-dayAdventistsisfoundinthewillofthebodyofthatpeople,asexpressedinthedecisionsoftheGeneralConferencewhenactingwithinitsproperjurisdiction;andthatsuchdecisionsshouldbesubmittedtobyallwithoutexception,unlesstheycanbeshowntoconflictwiththewordofGodand

11Seventh-dayAdventistYearBook:1888(BattleCreek,MI:ReviewandHerald,1889),50.12EllenG.WhitetoMaryWhite,Letter82,November4,1888,EllenG.WhiteEstateOffice.13GeorgeI.Butler,“Leadership,”AdventReviewandSabbathHerald,November18,1873,180.14Ibid.,180-81.15“GeneralConferenceReport,”AdventReviewandSabbathHerald,August26,1875,59.

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therightsofindividualconscience.”16

AlthoughJamesWhitemadeitclearthathedidnotagreewithButler’sposition,anddespiteEllenWhite’scontinuousappeals,Butlerdidnotmodifyhisleadershipstyleverymuchuntilwellafterhewasvotedoutofthepresidencyatthe1888GeneralConferencesession.17

Intheearly1880s,EllenWhitebegantorebukeGeneralConferenceadministratorsfortakingtoomuchoftheresponsibilityfordecision-makingonthemselvesandfailingtogiveothersopportunitytohaveinput.InalettertoW.C.andMaryWhitein1883,EllenWhitepointedoutthat“everyoneofourleadingmen”consideredthat“hewastheveryonewhomustbearalltheresponsibilities”and“failedtoeducateotherstothink”and“toact.”Infact,shecharged,theleadingmengavetheothers“nochance.”18

Implicitinhercondemnationofthosewhofollowedthatpracticewasreproofforthosewhopermittedthemtodoitwithoutseekingtocorrectthesituation.Conferenceleaders,forinstance,weretoldthattheyweretomaketheirowndecisions.ThepresidentoftheGeneralConferencecouldnotpossibly“understandthesituationaswellasyouwhoareontheground.”19

Asacorrectiveforcentralizationofcontrol,EllenWhiteadvocatedproperuseofthecommitteesystemthathadbeenestablishedwhentheGeneralConferencehadbeenorganizedin1863.Shemadeitclearthatevenintheoperationofinstitutionsoneman’smindwasnottocontrolthedecision-makingprocess.Sheemphasizedthat“Godwouldnothavemanymindstheshadowofoneman’smind,”butthat“inamultitudeofcounselorsthereissafety.”20

5FinancialCrisis

Anotherprecipitatingfactorwhichledtorestructuringwasthestateofthefinancesofthechurch.WhenG.A.IrwinassumedthepresidencyoftheGeneralConferencein1897,hehadtofaceawoefulfinancialpredicament.Withinafewweeksofhisappointment,thesituationwassodesperatethathewrotetoN.W.AlleethattheGeneralConferencewas“livingfromhandtomouth,sotospeak.”HetoldAlleethat“somedayswegetintwoorthreehundreddollars,andotherdayswehavenothing.”Ontheparticulardaythathewaswriting,helamentedthatthe16“GeneralConferenceReport,”AdventReviewandSabbathHerald,October4,1877,106.17ForadiscussionoftheconflictbetweenJamesWhiteandGeorgeButlerovertheconceptofleadership,seeMustard,JamesWhiteandSDAOrganization,175-78;andBertHaloviak,“SDAsandOrganization,1844-1907”(paperpresentedattheCentralCaliforniaCampmeeting,August1987),39-41.18EllenG.WhitetoW.C.WhiteandMaryWhite,Letter23,August23,1883,EllenG.WhiteEstateOffice.19ThesewordswerespokentothedelegatesassembledattheGeneralConferencesessionin1883.EllenG.White,“GenuineFaithandHoliness,”Manuscript3,1883,EllenG.WhiteEstateOffice.20EllenG.WhitetoJohnHarveyKellogg,Letter7,April26,1886,EllenG.WhiteEstateOffice.

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treasurywas“practicallyempty,”eventhoughtherewereatthattime“anumberofcallsformeans.”21

DespiteconcertedeffortbyGeneralConferenceleaders,thesituationdidnotimprovesubstantially.Whilethereweresomeperiodswhenthepredicamentwasnotasdesperateasitwasatothertimes,atalltimesthesituationwasoutofcontrol.Thefinancialstatementfor1899showedthatatthebeginningofthatyeartheGeneralConferencehadonly$55.33cashonhand.ThesamereportshowedthatbyOctober1ofthesameyeartherewasanoperatingdeficitof$9,529.74.22Atthebeginningof1901thedeficitwas$41,589.11.InAugustthedeficitwasstill$39,600.23

Becauseofthechronicshortageofoperatingcapital,nothingwasbeingdonetorepaydebtsthathadbeenincurredinordertoestablishvariousinstitutions.PercyMagan,whorealizedthatpartoftheproblemlayintheeasewithwhichinstitutionsborrowedmoneyandtheeasewithwhichchurchmemberslentittothem,chargedthat“allourinstitutions”hadbeenin“theborrowingbusiness.”Headvocatedthatitwastimeforthem“toquit”borrowing.Butnotonlywereinstitutionstoceaseborrowing:churchmembersweretoceasedabblingin“thelendingbusiness.”Hadthemembersnotbeen“inthelendingbusiness,”thenitwascertainthattheinstitutions“wouldneverhavebeenintheborrowingbusiness.”24

Desperatetimescalledfordesperatemeasures.

6DecreasingAbilitytoSupportMissionaryExpansion

Theinabilityofthedenominationtofinanciallysupportitsgrowthwashavinganeffectonitsmissionaryexpansion.Inthelastfiveyearsofthenineteenthcenturytherewastheslackeningofmissionaryactivitybythedenomination.Atthe1899GeneralConferencesession,AllenMoon,presidentoftheForeignMissionBoard,reportedthat

“Duringthelasttwoyearswehaveopenedupnonewworkinanypartoftheworld.Ithasbeenanimpossibility.TherehavebeendemandsforopeningtheworkinChina.Thatworkoughttohavebeenopenedayearago,yetwehavebeenutterlyunabletodo

21G.A.IrwintoN.W.Allee,May5,1897,RecordGroup11,LetterBook18,GeneralConferenceArchives,SilverSpring,Maryland.22GeneralConferenceCommitteeMinutes,Oct.10,1899,RecordGroup1,GeneralConferenceArchives,SilverSpring,Maryland.23A.G.DaniellstoMembersoftheGeneralConferenceCommittee,August2,1901,RecordGroup11,LetterBook24,GeneralConferenceArchives,SilverSpring,Maryland.SeealsoA.G.DaniellstoJ.E.Jayne,August3,1901,RecordGroup11,LetterBook24,GeneralConferenceArchives,SilverSpring,Maryland.24PercyT.Magan,“DenominationalDebts,”AdventReviewandSabbathHerald,April11,1899,235-36.

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anythingtowardopeningit.”25

Thefailuretocommenceanynewworkbetween1897and1899andthedecreaseinthenumberofmissionariesbeingsentabroadbetween1895and1900doesnotappeartohavebeentheresultofanymarkeddecreaseinthechurch’seschatologicalormissiologicalvision.Amorelikelyexplanationfortheproblemsisthatthecentralizedorganizationasitexistedwasjustnotabletocopefinanciallyandadministrativelywithitsmissionaryenterprise.26

ArthurDaniellsrealizedthatsuchasituationconfrontedthechurchashevisitedAfricaandEuropeonhiswayfromAustraliatothe1901GeneralConferencesession.InAugust1900,whileinEurope,hewrotetoW.C.Whitethat

“MyheartisfilledwithinterestthatIcannotexpressinbehalfoftheseforeignfields,andIsincerelyhopethatthenextsessionoftheGeneralConferencewillrisetothehighandimportantpositionitshouldtakeinbehalfofthesecountries....Iseemuchtoencourageus,andsomethingsthatneedcarefulmanagementinthewayofreorganization....InalltheseplacesIhavesecuredallthedetailsIcanregardingthework,thesameasIdidinAfrica,andshallarrangethesedataforfutureuseifneeded.”27

Changewasneedednotonlytoaccommodatethegrowthofthepastbutalsotofacilitategrowthinthefuture.

ThechangesthatreorganizationbroughttotheorganizationalstructuresoftheChurch;

Foralloftheseandperhapsotherreasonsinaddition,the1901GeneralConferencesessionsawamajorreorganizationoftheadministrativestructuresoftheChurch.Theimpetusforchangecontinuedatthe1903GeneralConferencesession.Thechangesthatweremadeatthosesessionswerebasedontheprinciplesoforganizationthatwereestablishedatthedenomination’sfoundingin1861-1863.By1901itwasrecognizedthatthoseprinciplesneeded

25GeneralConferenceBulletin[hereafterGCBulletin],1899,73.26Themissionaryprogramwasbeingstifledbecausedecisionswhichshouldhavebeenmadeby“thoseontheground”hadtobereferredtoBattleCreek.SeeW.A.SpicertoA.G.Daniells,October5,1893,RecordGroup9,A.G.DaniellsFolder2,GeneralConferenceArchives,SilverSpring,Maryland;A.G.DaniellstoE.H.Gates,May23,1901,RecordGroup11,LetterBook23,GeneralConferenceArchives,SilverSpring,Maryland.InhislettertoD.A.Robinson,Whitefocusedonthedilemmacausedbycentralization.Inreferencetoa“pioneertoanewmissionfield,”hesaid:“IfheconsultswiththeBoardineverythinghewillbeforcedsometimestovaryfrominstruction.Ifhedoesnotconsultthemhewillgetthecreditofmovingindependently.Whicheverwayhedoes,hewillwishhehaddonetheother.”InalettertoPercyMagan,W.C.Whitesaidthat“motherhasbeencautionednottogive?sanctiontoanyarrangementinconnectionwiththis[missionary]enterprisebywhichoneclassofmenorofinstitutionsshalllaybindingrestrictionsuponanotherclassofmenorinstitutions;thatHisservantsinonepartoftheworldshouldnotdictatetoorlayrestrictionsuponHisservantsinanotherpartofthegreatharvestfield”(W.C.WhitetoPercyT.Magan,March8,1900,LetterBook15,EllenG.WhiteEstateOffice.27A.G.DaniellstoW.C.White,August23,1900,IncomingFiles,EllenG.WhiteEstateOffice.

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tobeupdatedandappliedinthecontemporarycontext.EllenWhitewasparticularlypointedinherendorsementofchange. Onthedaybeforetheofficialopeningofthe1901GeneralConferencesessionshedeclared,"Godwantsachange...righthere...rightnow."28Thefollowingdaywhenreiteratingtheconcernswhichshehadcommunicatedonthepreviousday,sheadded,"accordingtothelightthathasbeengivenme--andjusthowitistobeaccomplishedIcannotsay--greaterstrengthmustbebroughtintothemanagingforceoftheConference."29Shecalledforchangeandflexibility.Sheleftittotheassembleddelegatestodeterminejusthowthatchangewouldbeaccomplishedandwhatorganizationalstructureswouldbeputinplace

Theprincipalchangesthatweremadein1901-1903were:

1. TheformationofunionconferencesastheconstituentbodiesoftheGeneralConference;

2. Thedecentralizationofmuchdecision-makingfromtheGeneralConferenceadministrationtounionconferenceexecutivecommittees;

3. TheconsolidationofdepartmentsoftheGeneralConferenceandthedissolutionofindependentincorporatedentitiesthathadbeenoperatingdepartmentsandsomeinstitutions;

4. ThetitleofthechiefofficeroftheGeneralConferencewastobe“ChairmanoftheBoard”ratherthan“President.Atthe1903GeneralConferencesessionthetitle“President”wasreinstated.

Thedevelopmentofmissionasthemajorimpetusforreorganization

Atthetimeoforganizationin1863,missionwasarelativelyinsignificantreasonamongmanygivenforforminganorganizedchurch.Butbythetimeofreorganizationin1901,missionwasthepreeminentreasonfororganization.Itisabundantlyclearthatwhenitcametotheneedfororganization,A.G.DaniellsandhisassociatesbeganwiththecertaintyandimminenceofthereturnofJesusChrist.TheimminenceofthesecondcomingofChristdeterminedtheurgencyofthemission.

ForthosealliedwithDaniellsecclesiologywasmoreafunctionoftheireschatologicalandmissiologicalperceptions.Thechurchexistedbecauseithadbeencommissionedtoperformaspecifictask.Thattaskwasmissionaryinnature.Themissionarynatureofthechurchwasthetheologicalperspectivethatinformedtheneedforandshapeofthestructuresofthechurch.WritingtoW.C.Whitein1903,Daniellsstatedthat“thevitalobjectforwhichSeventh-da, 28"Talk of Mrs E. G. White, before Representative Brethren, In the College Library, April 1, 1901, 2:30 P.M.," MS 43a, 1901 (emphasis supplied). This manuscript together with MS 43, an edited edition of Ellen White's speech is available in the Ellen G. White Estae Office. The author commends to the careful reader a thorough reading of these manuscripts.

29General Conference Bulletin, 1901, 25 (emphasis supplied). Bulletins which report on General Conference sessions are available at the Ellen G. White Research Centre at Avondale College.

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AdventistshavebeenraisedupistopreparetheworldfortheComingChrist;thechiefmeansfordoingthisworkisthepreachingofthepresenttruth,orthethirdangel’smessageofRev.14:6-12.”30

Becausetheneedfororganizationarosefromaperceptionofeschatologicalandmissiologicalnecessity,therewasnodoubtamongthosewhoheldthisviewthatthestructurewhichtheyerectedwasbiblicallybased.TheyunderstoodthattheNewTestamentaffirmedthatChristwasreturningandthatthetransmissionofthegospeltotheworldwastheprimarypreconditionforhisreturn.Withaconsciousnessofdivineprovidence,theyunderstoodthatSeventh-dayAdventistshadbeenspecificallychosenwithinaprecisetimereferenceinordertoheraldthe“everlastinggospel”toalltheworld.Itwasaconvictionbornofcommitmenttothenecessityofabiblicalfoundationfortheirfaithandpractice,includingtheirorganizationalpractice.Daniellsreflectedtheconvictionofthedenominationwhen,in1906,heconfidentlydeclaredthat

“Thedoctrinesweholdnotonlycreatedourdenomination,butourdenominationalaim,purpose,orpolicy,aswell.ThisdenominationalpurposeorpolicyisformedbyourviewofwhattheBibleteaches.Itispeculiartoourdenomination.Itdiffersfromthepoliciesofotherdenominationsandorganizationsaswidelyasourdoctrinalviewsdifferfromtheirs.”31(Emphasissupplied.)

Someyearslater,W.A.SpicerwasevenmoreemphaticthanDaniells.Challengingthechurchtotakeupthe“world-wideproclamationoftheeverlastinggospelandthefinishingofthework,”hecontendedthat“everyprincipleintheorganizationofourwork...isfoundintheWordofGod.”ClarenceCrislerwhowastheprivatesecretaryofEllenWhitefrom1901until1915,begantheforewordtoapamphletthathewrotetheyearbeforeherdeathbycategoricallystatingthat“theunderlyingprinciplesoftheorganizationoftheSeventh-dayAdventistdenomination...maybetracedintherecordsoftheNewTestament.”BothSpicerandCrislerwerecarefultosaythatitwas“principles”andnotformsthatweretobefoundintheNewTestament.32

Reorganizationwasundertakeninthefirstplacenotbecausetheendwascoming,butbecausetherewasa“work”todobeforetheendcouldcome.Reorganization,orforthatmatterorganization,couldnotbesubstantiatedonthebasisofthereturnofChristalone.ThosewhoinsistedthatorganizationalformbedeterminedonlybytheimminenceofthereturnofChrist30A.G.DaniellstoW.C.White,May17,1903,IncomingFiles,EllenG.WhiteEstateOffice.

31A.G.Daniells,“AStatementConcerningOurPresentSituation—No.3,”AdventReviewandSabbathHerald,February22,1906,6.

32W.A.Spicer,“DivineWarningsagainstDisorganization,”AdventReviewandSabbathHerald,September14,1916,4;C.C.Crisler,TheValueofOrganization:AnHistoricalStudy,(n.p.),3.SeealsoS.N.Haskell,“Organization—No.18,”AdventReviewandSabbathHerald,May16,1907,4;A.G.Daniells,“OrganizationasDevelopedbyOurPioneers,”AdventReviewandSabbathHerald,February21,1918,5;andJ.L.McElhany,“PrinciplesofConferenceAdministration,”Ministry,March1938,5.

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had,inthehistoryofAdventism,oftendeniedthenecessityofanyformoforganizationatall.Itwasthemissionpolicyofthechurchthatin1905wasdescribedas“themostimportantfeatureofourdenominationalpolicy,”anditwastheurgencyassociatedwiththatmissionthatwasmoretheprecipitatingfactorinreorganizationthantheimminenceoftheChrist’sreturn.33

ThePrinciplesUndergirdingtheFormationofUnionConferences

Atthe1901GeneralConferencesessionthereweretwoopposingviewpointswithrespecttothereasonsforandtheshapeofreorganization.AlonzoT.Jonesandhisassociatesderivedtheirprinciplesoforganizationmorefromtheirindividualisticunderstandingofsoteriologyandtheirecclesiologicalemphasis.ArthurG.Daniellsandhisassociatesderivedtheirprinciplesoforganizationmorefromtheirevaluationofthepragmaticsituationofthechurchwithrespecttothefulfilmentofitsmissionarytask.Havingjustreturnedfromextendedperiodsofforeignmissionaryservice,Daniells,W.A.Spicer,EllenG.White,andWilliam.C.WhitewerekeenlyawareoftheinadequacyoftheexistingadministrativestructuretocopewiththeneedsoftheChurch’sglobalmissionaryenterprise.Theirfocuswasonthereorganizationoftheadministrativestructuresofthechurchsothattheycouldbeaninstrumentratherthananinhibitorofmission.

Thedevelopmentofthemissionaryfocusofthechurchintheyearssince1863certainlydidnotdiminishtheneedforstructures.Daniellscontendedthattheprincipleswhichgovernedthechoiceoforganizationalstructuresshouldbethosewhichsupportedthemaintenanceofthestructures,notthosewhichtendedtodestroythem.Inretrospect,hepointedoutthattheprincipleswhichguidedthechurchinitsreorganizationcouldnotbepermittedtoleadthechurchtowardsdisorganizationortheabandonmentofthose"generalprinciples"whichinthe1860shadtransformedascatteredgroupof"believers"intoaviabledenomination.34

Daniellswouldlaterlisttheadvantagesofreorganizationandattemptswouldbemadetosystematizethetheologicalrationaleforreorganization.35However,despiterepeatedreferenceto"principles,"again,nosystematictreatmentthatcouldbeusedasabasisfordecisionmakingwasforthcoming.Withoutasystematicecclesiology,therewasreallynosubstantialbasisuponwhichthechurchcouldbuilditsprinciplesoforganization.

33A.G.Daniells,“ThePresident’sAddress:AReviewandanOutlook—SuggestionsforConferenceAction,”AdventReviewandSabbathHerald,May11,1905,8.

34A.G.Daniells,"AStatementofFactsConcerningOurPresentSituation--No.9,"AdventReviewandSabbathHerald,April5.1906,6.

35Atthe1903GeneralConferencesessionDaniellsmadereferencetosomeofthe"features"ofthe"work"whichweretheresultofreorganization.SeeA.G.Daniells,"SomeBeneficialFeaturesofOurOrganization,"AdventReviewandSabbathHerald,March14,1918,6.

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Thoseprincipleswhichcanbederivedfromextantrecordsandwhichappeartohavemoststronglyinfluencedreorganizationandtheformationofunionswereasfollows:

1. Decentralization

ForDaniellsandhisassociatesdecentralizationasaprincipleofreorganizationwasparamount.In1902,reflectingwiththeGeneralConferencecommitteeonwhathadbeenaccomplishedin1901,Daniellsaffirmedthat"theguidingprinciple[ofreorganization]hadbeenthedecentralizationofauthoritybythedistributionofresponsibility."Headdedthattheapplicationofthatprinciplehadled"totheorganizationofunionconferences,"andrepresentation"onalloperatingcommittees"ofthe"fourfeaturesofourwork--theevangelical,medical,educational,andpublishinginterests."36

Atthe1903GeneralConferencesessionwhenhewasexplaininghisunderstandingofthesentencefromEllenWhite's1896letterthathadbeenusedbyJones,Waggoner,andPrescottinanattempttodoawaywiththepresidencyoftheGeneralConference,Daniellsstatedthataccordingtohisunderstanding,EllenWhitewassayingthattheleadersofthechurchneededto"decentralizeresponsibilitiesanddetailsandplacetheminthehandsofalargernumberofmen."37Inthissentencehewasusingtheterm"decentralize"inthesenseoftheverb"todelegate."HeunderstoodEllenWhitetobediscussingtheneedforresponsibilitytobedelegatedtoseveralpersonsratherthanbeingconcentratedinjustoneperson--thepresidentoftheGeneralConference.

OneofDaniells’favoriteexpressions(onethathehadtakenfromEllenWhite),wasthatthose"ontheground"shouldbeartheburdenofadministrationandhavetheprerogativeofdecisionmaking.38Hesawtheimplementationoftheunionstructureasthemannerinwhich

36GeneralConferenceofSeventh-dayAdventists,MinutesofMeetingsoftheGeneralConferenceCommittee,13November1902,2:30P.M.,RecordGroup1,GeneralConferenceArchives,SilverSpring,Maryland.

37“OriginalReportsandStenographicallyReportedDiscussionsThereofHadattheThirty-FourthBiennialSessionoftheSeventh-dayAdventistGeneralConference,April19,1901,”RecordGroup0,GeneralConferenceArchives,SilverSpring,Maryland,75.

38EllenG.WhitetoA.O.Tait,August27,1896,Letter100,1896,EllenWhiteEstate;A.G.DaniellstoW.T.Knox,May21,1901,RecordGroup11,LetterBook23,GeneralConferenceArchives,SilverSpring,Maryland;A.G.DaniellstoE.H.Gates,May23,1901,RecordGroup11,LetterBook23,GeneralConferenceArchives,SilverSpring,Maryland;A.G.DaniellstoEdithR.Graham,May24,1901,RecordGroup11,LetterBook23,GeneralConferenceArchives,SilverSpring,Maryland;A.G.DaniellstoW.C.White,June19,1901,RecordGroup11,LetterBook23,GeneralConferenceArchives,SilverSpring,Maryland;A.G.DaniellstoMembersoftheGeneralConferenceCommittee,August2,1901,RecordGroup11,LetterBook24,GeneralConferenceArchives,SilverSpring,Maryland.In1895EllenWhitehadusedthephraseinatestimonytoministers.Shesaid:"BesurethatGodhasnotlaiduponthosewhoremainawayfromtheseforeignfieldsoflabor,theburdenofcriticizingtheonesonthe

13

administrativeresponsibilitywasbeingdelegatedtothose"ontheground."Theunionadministratorswere,forDaniells,those"ontheground."39

UnderDaniells’leadershipthecommitmenttotheprincipleofdecentralizationwasneverrevoked.Decentralizationcontinuedtobeconsideredasavitalprinciplewhichgovernedthereorganizationofthechurch.However,theconfrontationandpolemicsoverorganizationalissuesthatbeganinmid-1902andcontinuedforthenextsevenyears(untilJoneswasremovedfromchurchmembershipin1909),causedarenewalofemphasisontheneedforunityinthechurch.Thatdesireforunityonthepartoftheadministrationofthechurchmeantthatthestructuresofthechurchbecamemoreaninstrumentofthecentralizationofauthoritythantheydidaninstrumentofdelegationanddecentralizationofauthority.Jonesclaimedthatjustsuchatendencywasbuiltintotheverystructuresthemselves.Suchwasnotnecessarilythecase,butcircumstancesandthedispositionoftheleadersthemselvesdidindeedinfluencejustwhatemphasiswasevidentinpractice.

2. UnityandDiversity

WhenDaniellsdiscussedtheprincipleswhichweretogovernthereorganizationofthechurchatthe1901GeneralConferencesessionanddescribedthebenefitswhichwouldaccruefromtheimplementationoftheunionconferenceplan,hedidnotparticularlymentionunity.CertainlyEllenWhitehaddonesointheCollegeLibraryAddressandcertainlytheprincipleofunityhadalwaysbeenatoppriorityforSeventh-dayAdventistsandwouldcontinuetobeso,butforbothEllenWhiteandA.G.Daniellstheimmediateprioritieswereelsewhere.Inhissingle,mostsignificantexplanationoftheoperationoftheAustralasianUnionConferenceanditsapplicationtotheworldchurch,Daniellsdiscussedthesimplificationofmachineryfortransactingbusiness,theneedtoplacelaborers[administrators]inthefieldinpersonalcontactwiththepeople,theadvantageofhavinggeneralboardsinthefield,thenecessityofhavingageneralorganizationwhichdidnotconcernitselfprimarilywithaffairsintheUnitedStates,theGeneralConferenceasa"world'sGeneralConference,"andthenecessityfortheboardsof

groundwheretheworkisbeingdone.Thosewhoarenotonthegroundknownothingaboutthenecessitiesofthesituation,andiftheycannotsayanythingtohelpthosewhoareontheground,letthemnothinderbutshowtheirwisdombytheeloquenceofsilence,andattendtotheworkthatiscloseathand....LettheLordworkwiththemenwhoareontheground,andletthosewhoarenotonthegroundwalkhumblywithGodlesttheygetoutoftheirplaceandlosetheirbearings"(EllenG.White,SpecialInstructiontoMinistersandWorkers[BattleCreek,MI:ReviewandHerald,1895],33.

39A.G.DaniellstoH.W.Cottrell,June17,1901,RecordGroup11,LetterBook23,GeneralConferenceArchives,SilverSpring,Maryland.

14

institutionsandthecommitteesofunionconferencestobecomposedofpersonsfamiliarwiththeirgeographicalareasofadministration.40Buthedidnotevenmentiontheneedforunity.

AtthesecondmeetingoftheGeneralConferencesessionin1903,however,Daniellsdidincludeunityamongthelistofadvantagesandbenefitsthatwererealizedbyreorganization.Havingpointedoutthatreorganizationhadresultedinadistributionofresponsibilityandthat"workinallpartsoftheworld"wastobedealtwithbythosewhowere"ontheground,"andthatthe"details"weretobe"workedout"bythem;hesummarized:"inshort,theplanrecognizesonemessage,onebodyofpeople,andonegeneralorganization."41

By1903,eventhoughdecentralizationwasstillvital,itwasnowaformofadecentralizationwhichwascarriedoutonlyalong‘prescribedlines.’Insomerespects,particularlyintheorganizationofdepartmentsoftheGeneralConference,therewasmorecentralizationthandecentralization.Apparentlysomewereconcernedthatthingsweregoingbacktowhathadoccurredduringtheyearsleadinguptoreorganization.42

EllenWhitesensedthedangerofslippingbackwardsandplacinginordinatestressontheonenessoftheorganization.Herconcernwasthatsuchapositionwouldresultintheneedtocentralizeauthority,resultinginorganizationaluniformity.Specificallywithreferencetothepublishingconcernsofthechurch,shesaid:

“Noman'sintelligenceistobecomesuchacontrollingpowerthatonemanwillhavekinglyauthorityinBattleCreekorinanyotherplace.Innolineofworkisanyonemantohavepowertoturnthewheel.Godforbids.”43

Shewasparticularlyoutspokenregardingfailuretoimplementprinciplesthathadbeenintroducedin1901.WritingtoJudgeArthurinJanuary1903,shemaintainedthatasthedelegateswhohadbeeninattendanceatthesessionreturnedtotheirhomes,theycarried

40GCBulletin,1901,228-29.

41GCBulletin,1903,17-21.

42See“OriginalReportsandStenographicallyReportedDiscussionsThereofHadattheThirty-FourthBiennialSessionoftheSeventh-dayAdventistGeneralConference,9April1903,RecordGroup0,GeneralConferenceArchives,SilverSpring,Maryland,20-20a.

43EllenG.White,"PrinciplesfortheGuidanceofMeninPositionsofResponsibility,"Manuscript140,1902,EllenG.WhiteEstateOffice.

15

withtheminto"theirworkthewrongprinciplesthathadbeenprevailingintheworkatBattleCreek."44

Thecontextdoesnotindicateexactlywhat"principles"werebeingdiscussed.Althoughstructuralchangeswhichsheapprovedofhadbeenmadein1901,apparentlythenewstructurescouldbeabusedwiththesameresultastheformerstructures.ThusEllenWhiteonceagainfounditnecessarytoreprovetheleadersofthechurchanditsdepartmentsbecauseofthetendencytogatherpoweraboutthemselves.Whenevertheneedtopromoteunitywasprioritizedtotheextentthatitdisruptedthemaintenanceofequilibriumbetweentheprinciplesofunityanddiversity,anddiversitywasnottakenintoconsiderationasitshouldhavebeen,centralizationwastheresult.

Duringthe1890sbothunityanddiversityhadnegativeandpositiveaspectsasfarasthemissionofthechurchwasconcerned.Diversitywaspositivewhenitenhancedthepotentialofthechurchtoreachdiverse"nations,tongues,andpeoples,"andledtodecentralizationofdecision-making.Itwasnegativewhenitcausedchaosandconfusion,suchaswasthecasewiththemultiplicationofauxiliaryorganizations.UnitywaspositivewhenitboundthechurchintoonenessinChrist.Itwasnegativewhenitwasinterpretedtorequireuniformityandunnecessarycentralizationofauthority.

Unitywasnecessaryinordertoencompassthedimensionsofthemissionofthechurch.TherewasnowayfortheSeventh-dayAdventistChurchwithitsemphasisonworld-wideevangelizationtosucceedinthattaskunlesstherewasunityofpurpose,belief,andaction.Unityofactionrequiredadministrativeco-ordinationthatcouldbestfacilitatestrategicinitiativesonaglobalscale.Further,thefunctionalecclesiologicalself-imagethatwascharacteristicofthechurchpermittedacentralizedadministrationthatcouldco-ordinateandfacilitatethemissionofthechurch.Itcannotbedeniedthat,giventhechurch'stheologicalandpragmaticpriorities,somecentralizationwasnecessaryandlegitimate.Butin1901theprincipleofdiversitywasmoredeterminativethantheprincipleofunityintheestablishmentofanadditionallevelofadministration,andbydelegatingsomefunctionswhichhadpreviouslybeenperformedbytheGeneralConferencetounionconferences.Theemphasiswasontheneedtorecognizediversitybydecentralization.Pastgrowthhadmadetherecognitionofdiversitynecessary,butprojectedfuturegrowthmadeprovisionfordiversityimperative.

3. Participation/Representation

Localconferenceparticipation

44EllenG.WhitetoJudgeJesseArthur,January14,1903,Letter17,1903,EllenG.WhiteEstateOffice.

16

Daniellsmadeaconcertedefforttocarryhisemphasisondiversityanddecentralizationnotonlyintounionconferencesbutalsointothelocalconferencesetting.Soonafterthe1901GeneralConferencesession,hebegantopromotebroad-basedparticipationinthedecision-makingprocessbyencouragingthestateconferencestopermitallstatechurchmemberstoparticipateattheirrespectivestatesessionsasdelegates.Daniells'.innovationinthisrespectwasadeparturefromthesystemofpermittingonlydulyappointeddelegatestovoteatthesession.

Daniells'ideaofrepresentationwasthatanyandeverypersonwhowasinattendanceatalocalconferencesessionandamemberinthatconferenceshouldbeadelegatetothesession.Hestronglyadvocatedaparticipatoryelectionprocessforlocalconferencesatmostofthelocalconferencesessionsthatheattendedin1901,attheLakeUnionConferencesession(ofwhichhewaspresident),andattheEuropeanUnionConferencein1902.InEuropehestatedhisconceptasaprinciple.Hesaid:

“Astorepresentation,nobodycanrepresentanybodyexcepthimself.AllshouldbetheLord'srepresentatives;butnobodycanrepresentsomeotherperson,orachurch.Achurchis"fullyrepresented"inaConferencewhenallitsmembersarepresent;butnobodycandelegatehismindorhisconsciencetoanother.Ifapersonispresentatanymeeting,hedoesnotwantsomebodyelsetospeakforhim.”45

Itwasfurtherreportedthatwhilehedidnotpresume"todictatetoanyhowtheyshoulddo,hegaveitashisconvictionthatjustasinanychurchmeetingallthememberspresentareentitledtospeak,soinanyConferenceallthememberspresentareproperlydelegates."Headdedthathisplanhad"beenadoptedinquiteanumberofConferencesinAmerica."46

Daniellswasquestionedatlengthconcerninghisproposal.ApparentlyquiteafewofthedelegateshadreadLoughborough'sarticle,orwerefamiliarwiththeearlyhistoryofthedevelopmentoftheorganizationalstructureofthechurchandsawpragmaticdifficultieswiththeplan.Theywereconcernedthatsuchaplancouldgiveonedistrictanundueproportionalinfluenceandcontrol.DaniellsrebuffedsuchasuggestiononthebasisthatallwereChristians;theimplicationbeingthatnoonememberorgroupofmemberswouldexercisearbitraryorpoliticalpoweroverothers.Daniellscounteredevenfurther.Givenhiscommitmenttomission,heassuredthedelegatesthattheprincipleofnumericalrepresentationcouldnotbeasatisfactoryprinciplebecauseifitwerestrictlyfollowedfromthelocalconferencesright

45BulletinoftheEuropeanUnionConferenceHeldinLondon,May15-25,1902,[HereafterEuropeanConferenceBulletin],2.

46Ibid.

17

throughtotheGeneralConference,it"wouldleavetheheathenlandswhollyunprovidedfor,andwasthusopposedtomissionaryeffort."Eachmemberwasto"considerhimselfasrepresentativeoftheworld,andnotmerelyofhisparticularlocality."47Hewassomewhatinconsistentinhisreasoning,however.Hewasnotpromotingparticipatoryrepresentationasaprincipletobeadoptedatalllevelsofchurchadministration.Hewasonlyconcernedforitsadaptationtolocalconferencegovernance,and,tosomeextent,tounionconferences.AtGeneralConferencelevel,Daniells'ideasofrepresentation,especiallywithreferencetooverseasfields,werenotatallparticipatory,norweretheyevenparticularlyrepresentative.

Unionconferencerepresentation

Attheunionlevelofadministration,theconceptofrepresentationchangedfrombroad-basedparticipationbythepeopletounilateralrepresentationofthedepartmentsandtheinstitutionsintheunion.ThesamesituationappliedattheGeneralConference.In1901Daniellsallowedtheproposalthattheexecutivecommitteeelectitsownchairmanbecausehe,alongwithW.C.White,consideredthecommitteetobea"thoroughlyrepresentativeone."48Butthecommitteeselectedin1901comprisedrepresentativesofdepartmentsandinstitutions,withonlytheunionpresidentsasrepresentativesof"thepeople"whoweresupposedtobetheauthoritybaseinthechurch.Theunionpresidentswereoutnumberedseventeentoeightandcouldveryeasilybeoutvoted.Further,aschairmenorexecutiveboardmembersoftheinstitutionswithintheirownunions,unionpresidentsweremoreoftenfocusedoninstitutionalconcernsthanontheconcernsofthelocalchurchesandthechurchmembers.Theywere,therefore,morelikelytobesympathetictoinstitutionalproblemsandneedsthantotheneedsandconcernsofthechurchatlarge.Thecompositionofthecommitteeinevitablyledtoafocusoninstitutionalconcerns.InthisrespectSeventh-dayAdventistmissionmethodologywasinaccordwiththatofmostmissionagencieswhichdependedtoalargedegreeontheestablishmentofinstitutions

Internationalrepresentation

Thesituationwithregardtorepresentationoftheworld-wideconstituencyofthechurchwasevenmoretroublesome.AsthecompositionoftheGeneralConferenceexecutivecommitteewasbeingdiscussedin1901,G.G.Rupertaskediftherewasanyprovisionforthe"differentnationalitiesamongus"beingrepresentedonthecommittee.PrescottansweredhimbyquotingGal3:28andassuringthedelegatesthatsuchwasnotnecessarybecause"yearealloneinChristJesus.Theoutcomewasthatthesafestcoursewaschosen--

47Ibid.,2-3.

48GCBulletin,1901,206.

18

onlyNorthAmericanswereelectedtotheexecutivecommittee.Butthatisnottosaythattherewasnocommitmenttotheprincipleofrepresentation.Representationwasunderstoodasbeingcompatiblewiththehigherprincipleofdecentralization.ThechurchanditsmemberswereverymuchinthemindofDaniellsbothattheGeneralConferencesessionin1901andintheyearthatfollowed.Thoughhewasconscious"moreandmore"ofthe"influenceandpower"thattheGeneralConferencehad,hewasanxioustousethatpower"rightly"andgetinto"sympathetictouch"withthe"rankandfile"ofthechurchconstituency.Hecensuredconferenceofficersforfailingtoconsulttheirconstituencieswhendecisionsofimportanceweretobemade.In1901hehadwantedadministrationandgovernmentintheSeventh-dayAdventistChurchtobe"ofthepeople,bythepeople,andforthepeople."49

4. Decisionbyconsensus

Alongwithhisregardfortheprerogativesofthemembersofthechurchandhisdesiretoimplementaparticipatorydecisionmakingprocessatlocalconferencelevel,Daniellsadvocateddecisionmakingbyconsensusin1901and1902,ratherthanbymajorityvote.Incontrasttohisconceptofparticipationwhichwaspromotedonlyonthestateconferencelevel,headvocatedconsensusdecisionmakingateverylevelofadministration.DaniellstoldE.R.Palmer,hisassociateandconfidanteinAustralia,thatatthe1901GeneralConferencesessionnomeasure"receivedunkindtreatment."Someoftheproposalsadvancedwere"amended"andafew"droppedout,"butithadallbeendoneby"commonconsent,"notby"majorityvote."Daniellsdeclaredthathehadneverseen"anythinglikeit."50

OnemaywonderjustwhatDaniellshadinmindwhenheadvocatedtheconceptofconsensusdecisionmaking.51Whateverwasthecase,hisattitudechangedrapidly,againasa

49A.G.DaniellstoE.A.Sutherland,December20,1901,RecordGroup11,LetterBook25,GeneralConferenceArchives,SilverSpring,Maryland;A.G.DaniellstoW.C.White,June18,1901,IncomingFiles,EllenG.WhiteEstateOffice;A.G.DaniellstoN.P.Nelson,July17,1901,RecordGroup11,LetterBook24,GeneralConferenceArchives,SilverSpring,Maryland.

50A.G.DaniellstoE.R.Palmer,May3,1901,RecordGroup9,A.G.DaniellsFolder6,GeneralConferenceArchives,SilverSpring,Maryland.

51Justbeforehisdeathin1932,R.A.UnderwoodmadesometerseobservationswithregardtoJamesWhite'sconceptofconsensusdecisionmaking.Hesaid:"ElderJamesWhitewaswhatmenwouldcallashrewdleader--Heunderstoodtheeffectofbeingunited--andoneofhisdiplomaticmoveswasthisinallthequestionsthatsecuredamajorityvoteintheGeneralConferenceordistrictorotherwisewhatevercarriedbyamajorityofevenafewvotes--hegotthedelegatestoagreethatitshouldbereportedunanimous--andnooppositionwasreferredtointhereport"(R.A.UnderwoodtoL.E.Froom,December8,1930,RecordGroup58,1920s-1930sInterpretationDevelopmentofFolder,GeneralConferenceArchives,SilverSpring,Maryland).Underwood'spunctuationwasnotpreciseandhismemorywasnotacute--districtswerenotintroducedintotheadministrativestructureuntileightyearsafterthedeathofJamesWhite.However,onewondershowmuchcorrelationtherewasbetweenthe

19

consequenceoftheconfrontationwithKellogg,sothat,bytheGeneralConferenceSessionof1903,vitaldecisionswerebeingmadeonthestrengthofmajorityvote.52

Thechurchhadsomeadjustmentstomakeintheyearsimmediatelyafter1901.Someoftheplansthatweremadeandthemethodsthatwerefollowedwerenotwise.Daniellshimselfadmittedthat.However,theshiftfromemphasisonparticipatoryrepresentationandconsensusdecisionmakingtoemphasisonmorestructuredrepresentationandmajority-votedecisionmakingaftertheclashwithKelloggandtheextendedpolemicswiththoseopposedtothechurchstructurewasindicativeofashiftfromemphasisontheneedfordiversity(ordecentralization)toemphasisonpreservationofunity.

5. ConstituentAuthority

In1901DaniellsintendedthattheGeneralConferenceexecutivecommitteeshouldbeadvisory,notexecutive.Referringtotheplanoforganizingunions,hehopedthattheGeneralConferenceandtheMissionBoard(whichhadbeenintegratedintotheGeneralConferenceexecutivecommittee),wouldbe"ultimately...quitefreefromperplexingdetails."Hewasconvincedthatthenewplanoforganizationwouldenablethecommittees"totakethepositionofgeneraladvisoryboards."53TwoweekslaterhewrotetothemembersoftheGeneralConferenceCommittee:

“WearegladthatthedetailsinthevariousUnionConferencesarebeingsofullytakenoverbythosewhoareontheground....Ourhopeisthatweshallbeleftalmostentirelyfreetostudythelargequestionsofpolicyaffectingtheentirefield,andtodevoteourenergiestofosteringtheworkintheweakpartsofthefield,andalsothe

practiceofWhite(asrecalledbyUnderwood)toseekunanimityforthesakeofthereport,andthatofDaniellswhowasnotinthe"habitofcallingfortheoppositionvotetoanymeasure"(EuropeanConferenceBulletin,3).

52InthereplytoJonesin1906,itwaspointedoutthatthedecisiontoadoptthenewconstitutionatthe1903GeneralConferencesessionwasmadebymajorityvote.Infact,allthedecisionsmadeattheGeneralConferencesessionin1903wereadoptedbymajorityvote.Bythattimemajorityvotewasthemethodbeingconsistentlyfollowed,despiteDaniellsstateddesiretothecontrarylessthanoneyearearlier.SeeAStatementRefutingChargesMadebyA.T.JonesAgainsttheSpiritofProphecyandthePlanofOrganizationoftheSeventh-dayAdventistDenomination,”(WashingtonD.C.:GeneralConferenceCommittee,1906),28.Thestatementcanbefoundathttp://ellenwhite.org/content/file/statement-refuting-charges-made-t-jones-against-spirit-prophecy-and-plan-organization#document

53A.G.DaniellstoJ.J.Wessells,July151901,RecordGroup11,LetterBook24,GeneralConferenceArchives,SilverSpring,Maryland.

20

greatmissionfieldsintheregionsbeyond.Thusthegeneralmachineryisbeingreducedtoafewsimpleparts.”54

Somewereconcerned,evenso,thattoomuchpowerwasbeingcentralizedinthehandsofoneboard.TheymayhavebeenbeginningtoquestionthewisdomofformingdepartmentsintheGeneralConferencetoreplacetheauxiliaryorganizations.Apparentlyinresponse,DaniellswrotetoEdithGraham,thetreasureroftheAustralasianUnion,thattheGeneralConferenceexecutivecommitteecouldnotpossiblybeguiltyofcentralizingbecausethefactsofthematterwerethattheauthoritytoactwasbeingplacedinthehandsof"thoseontheground."Daniellscontinued:

“TheGeneralConferenceCommitteedoesnotproposetodealdirectlywiththeaffairsinanyUnionConference.WeproposetointerestourselvesinthewelfareofeveryUnionConference,ineverylineofwork....Soinsteadofcentralizingourwork,wehavebeendistributingit.”55

Daniells’answertothecentralizationofpowerintheGeneralConferencecommitteewasthatthecommitteewasnotgoingtomakeexecutivedecisions.Itwasgoingtobeafostering,advisory,boardwhoseinterestwasco-ordination,notsupervision.WithEllenWhite'sadviceinmind,nodoubt,DaniellswasconcernedthattheGeneralConferencecommitteeshouldnotexerciseexecutivecontrol,butthatitshoulddoeverythinginitspowertoco-ordinatetheadministrativefunctionsofthechurchsoastorespectthatauthorityresidentinthechurchmembership.Withthereformsthatweresuggestedandimplementedandwiththemovementawayfromcentralizationofauthority,Daniellshailedtheeventsof1901asthe"beginningofanewera,"thebeginningof"ourlastgrandmarch."56

By1903Daniellswasspeakingasthoughhestillheldthe"advisory"conceptoftheroleoftheGeneralConferenceexecutivecommittee.Buthewasnotspeakingwiththesamecertainty.AttheGeneralConferencesessionhestated:"Astheworkisnowshaping,theprovinceoftheGeneralConferenceCommitteeisofanadvisorycharactertoalargeextent--notaltogether,by

54A.G.DaniellstoMembersoftheGeneralConferenceCommittee,August2,1901,RecordGroup11,LetterBook24,GeneralConferenceArchives,SilverSpring,Maryland.

55A.G.DaniellstoEdithR.Graham,May24,1901,RecordGroup11,LetterBook23,GeneralConferenceArchives,SilverSpring,Maryland.

56A.G.DaniellstoE.H.Gates,May23,1901,RecordGroup11,LetterBook23,GeneralConferenceArchives,SilverSpring,Maryland;A.G.DaniellstoM.H.Brown,June17,1901,RecordGroup11,LetterBook23,GeneralConferenceArchives,SilverSpring,Maryland.

21

anymeans--anditisofamissionarycharacterorphase."57NolongerwastheroleoftheGeneralConferenceexecutivecommitteemerelyadvisory.Achangeofattitudehadtakenplace.Notice,however,thatnochangehadtakenplacewithregardtothepriorityofmission.AnychangesintheroleoftheGeneralConferenceexecutivecommitteewithrespecttocoordinationassetoveragainstcontrolwerebeingmadewithreferencetothemissionaryfocusofthecommitteeandthechurch.58

6. Simplicity

Inviewofthecomplicationandconfusionthathadcharacterizeddenominationaladministrationinthe1890s,reorganizationwasperceivedasasimplificationoftheorganizationalsystem.Inthe1890sEllenWhitehadadvocatedsimplicityinorganizationandinsistedthatthemachinerywasnottobe"agallingyoke."59Therefore,whenreorganizationwasbeingconsideredin1901,simplicitywasunderstoodtobeanessentialprinciple.Theprinciplesofrepresentationanddistributionofauthoritywererelatedtotheprincipleofdecentralization.Soalsowastheprincipleofsimplicity.60

DaniellsexpressedhimselfmostsuccinctlyontheneedforsimplicityattheEuropeanUnionConferencesessionin1902.Hesaid:Organizationshouldbeassimpleaspossible.Thenearer

57GCBulletin,1903,100.

58FrancisWernickhassomewhatastutelymadereferencetoDaniells'1901-1902conceptoftheroleoftheGeneralConferenceasanimpartial,advisory,fosteringboard.Wernickobserved,however,thatsincethattime,theGeneralConferencehasenlargeditsrolefromacoordinating,counsellingbodyto"moreofasupervisoryrole."Wernickadvisedthat"weneedtorethinktheroleoftheGeneralConference."Headded:"Wedoneedacentralofficetopreserveunity,togivecoordination,andtogivecounsel....Supervisionversuscoordinationneedsfurtherstudyanddefinition"(FrancisW.Wernick,"PhilosophyoftheRoleoftheGeneralConference"[paperpreparedforthecommitteeontheroleandfunctionofdenominationalorganizations,1984],RecordGroup500,MonographsSeries,GeneralConferenceArchives,SilverSpring,Maryland).NoteWernick'sagenda.Thepreservationofunityheadsthelistofconcerns.Ithasbeenthatwayeversincethemid-1902crisis.

59GCBulletin,1893,22-24;EllenG.White,"OverbearingControlReproved,"Manuscript43,1895,EllenG.WhiteEstateOffice.

60Inearly1902Daniellssaid:"Ibelievethatwehavethrownawayagreatamountofmoneyandenergyintryingtokeepuselessmachineryrunning.Ifindthatthelesscomplexwemakeourwork,andthemorewecenteroureffortsonthesimplestraightlinesofmissionaryevangelization,theheartieristheresponseofthepeople,andthegreateristhemanifestationoflifeintheenterprise"(A.G.DaniellstoC.H.Jones,April21,1902,IncomingFiles,EllenG.WhiteEstateOffice).

22

wegettotheend,thesimplerwillbetheorganization.Ihavenoideathatwehavegottothelimitofsimplicity.61

In1903simplicitywasstilldescribedasadesirableprincipleofreorganization.Inhis"Chairman'sAddress"DaniellsusedtheintegrationoftheauxiliaryorganizationsintoGeneralConferencedepartmentsasanexampleoftheapplicationoftheprincipleofsimplification.62However,itwasadmittedthatinsomeregards,themachinerywasstilltoocomplicated.Simplicitywasprovingtobeanelusivequalityinorganizationanditwastoremainso.EspeciallywasthattocontinuetobethecaseinthosepartsoftheworldwheretheadministrativemachinerythatmayhavebeennecessaryinNorthAmericaorEuropewasjust"toocomplicated."63

7. Adaptability

Theprincipleofadaptabilitywas,in1901,almosttooobvioustoneedextendedtreatment.Theveryfactthatthechurchwaswillingtoenterintoaprocessofradicalreorganizationissufficienttoindicatethatprioritywasgiventoadaptabilityinorganizationalstructures.Furtheradaptationsin1903indicatethatthecommitmenttoadaptabilityremained.In1902,inadditiontohisremarksattheEuropeanUnionconferenceregardingsimplicity,Daniellsinsisted

“Weseemanythingsdifferentlyfromwhatwedidtenyearsago,andIexpectthatweshallseestillmore.Asnewlightcomes,weoughttoadvancewithit,andnotholdrigidlytooldformsandoldmethods.Becauseathingisdoneacertainwayinoneplaceisnotreasonwhyitshouldbedoneinthesamewayinanotherplace,oreveninthesameplaceatthesametime.”64

61EuropeanConferenceBulletin,2.

62GCBulletin,1903,18.

63Atthe1903GeneralConferencesessionDaniellsquotedEllenWhitewithreferencetothesimplificationofmachinery.Henotedthatshehaddeclaredthatin"`somepartsoftheworkitistrue,themachineryhasbeenmadetoocomplicated'"(“OriginalReportsandStenographicallyReportedDiscussionsThereofHadattheThirty-FourthBiennialSessionoftheSeventh-dayAdventistGeneralConference,9April1903,”RecordGroup0,GeneralConferenceArchives,SilverSpring,Maryland,75b).Evenin1909EllenWhitefounditnecessarytostressthat"simpleorganizationandchurchorder"weresetforthintheNewTestamentandthattheLordhadordainedsuchfor"theunityandperfectionofthechurch"(EllenG.WhitetotheLeadingMinistersinCalifornia,December6,1909,Letter178,1909,EllenG.WhitestateOffice).

64EuropeanConferenceBulletin,2.

23

FurtherattentioncouldbegiventoEllenWhite'sattitudetoadaptabilityandthepossibilityofsubsequentstructuralchange.65ApartfromEllenWhite,W.A.SpicerwasprobablythemostvocaladvocateoftheimportanceofallowingadaptabilityintheformthatorganizationtookintheSeventh-dayAdventistChurch.ItwasSpicer,anexperiencedmissionary,whowasresponsibleasmuchasanyoneforthesuccessofthemissionaryenterpriseofthechurchintheearlyyearsofthetwentiethcentury.Withhiswideexposuretodifferentculturesandsituations,herepeatedlysaid:

“Thedetailsoforganizationmayvaryaccordingtoconditionsandwork,buteverasGodhascalledhischurchtogethertherehasappearedinitthespiritualgiftoforderandgovernment,thespiritthatrulesinheaven.”66(Emphasissupplied.)

LearningswhichmaybeinstructionalforthecontemporarySeventh-dayAdventistChurch.

Bywayofconclusion,themajorlearningsderivedfromthispaperwhichmaybeinstructionalforthecontemporarySeventh-dayAdventistChurchare:

1. Whenamajordiscussionisneededandadecisiontobemadeitisnecessaryforpeopleofinfluencetospeakupandparticipateinthediscussionratherthankeepingsilent.

2. Itispossibleforleaderstotaketoomuchresponsibilityfordecisionmakingontheirownshouldersandnotlistentoothersorgivethemopportunitytoparticipateintheprocess.

3. Thecommitteesystemwhenutilizedproperlycanbeacorrectiveforcentralization.

65Forexample,soonaftertheGeneralConferencesessionof1901,EllenWhitewrotetoA.G.Daniells,regardingtheworkamongthe“coloredpeople”intheSouth.SheadmonishedDaniellstobeflexibleinhisadministrationbecauseoftheuniqueneedsoftheSouth.Thechurchwasnottobecome“narrow”andconfinedby“regularlines.”Differentmethodsoforganizationandapproachwerenecessaryinculturallydiversesituations.Foradministrationtobetiedtoaninflexiblepredeterminedpolicywhichcouldnotadapttodiverseculturalandsociologicalneedswas,forEllenWhite,anabuseofadministrativeprerogative.SeeEllenG.WhitetoA.G.Daniells,Letter65,June30,1901,EllenG.WhiteEstateOffice.Theverysameday,EllenWhitewrotetohersonEdson,whowasworkinginthesouthernpartoftheUnitedStates.Edsonwasinclinedtobetooadventurousinhisinnovations.WhereasDaniells,theadministrator,hadtobecounseledtoallowchangeandinnovationinadifferentsocio-culturalmilieu,Edsonhadtobecautionednottobetoohasty.EllenWhitewrote:“Youneednowtobeabletothinkandjudgewithcleardiscrimination.Greatcaremustbeexercisedinmakingchangeswhichdifferfromtheold-establishedroutine.Changesaretobemade,buttheyarenottobemadeinsuchanabruptmannerthatyouwillnotcarrythepeoplewithyou.YouwhoareworkingintheSouthmustlaborasifinaforeigncountry.Youmustworkaspioneers,seekingtosaveexpenseineverywaypossible.Andaboveall,youmuststudytoshowyourselvesapproveduntoGod”(EllenG.WhitetoJ.EdsonWhite,Letter62June30,1901,EllenG.WhiteEstateOffice).

66W.A.Spicer,"TheDivinePrincipleofOrganization,"AdventReviewandSabbathHerald,March25,1909,5.

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EllenWhitedeclaredthat“Godwouldnothavemanymindstheshadowofoneman’smind,”butthat“inamultitudeofcounselorsthereissafety.”67GroupthinkisnottobeinevidenceinthedecisionsoftheChurch.

4. Theholdingofpositionofresponsibilitybyanyindividual,doesnotinitselfguaranteethebestopinionsorthebestdecisionsbythatindividual.

5. Positiondoesnotgrantirrevocablepower.

6. Financialcrisiscanbeapowerfulcatalystforchange.

7. AcommitmenttoaglobalmissionwhicharisesfrombeliefintheimminenceofChrist’sreturnisthemajorcatalystforefficientandeffectiveorganization.Organizationmustservemission,notviceversa.

8. Thedeterminingprinciplesoforganizationarederivedmorefromanevaluationofthepragmaticsituationofthechurchwithrespecttothefulfilmentofitsmissionarytaskthanfromsystematictheologicalconsiderations.ApragmatismwhichtakesintoaccountbiblicalteachingandcontextualimperativehasbeenthemodusoperandioftheChurch.

9. Decentralizationwasthemostpervasiveprincipleofreorganization.Asacorrectivetocentralization,asmuchaspossibleandpractical,decisionsaretobemadebythose“ontheground.”

10. ConfrontationandpolemicsintheChurchresultinemphasisbyleadersontheneedforunity.Inthiscontextthestructuresofthechurchbecomemoreaninstrumentofthecentralizationofauthoritythananinstrumentofdelegationanddecentralizationofauthority.Circumstancesandthedispositionoftheleadersthemselveshaveconsiderablebearingonwhichisevidentinpractice.

11. Noonepersonistobecomesuchacontrollingpowerthathe/shehastoomuchinfluenceonthedirectionthattheChurchtakesonanyissue.

12. BothunityanddiversitycanhavenegativeandpositiveimpactsonthemissionoftheChurch.Diversityispositivewhenitsacceptanceenhancesthepotentialofthechurchtoreachdiverse"nations,tongues,andpeoples,"anddecentralizeddecision-makingispracticed.Itisnegativewhenitistakentoofar,appropriateorganizationalboundaries

67EllenG.WhitetoJohnHarveyKellogg,Letter7,April26,1886,EllenG.WhiteEstateOffice.

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arenotrespected,anditresultsinsyncretism.UnityispositivewhenitbindstheChurchintoonenessinChrist.Itisnegativewhenitisinterpretedtorequireuniformityandunnecessarycentralizationofauthority.

13. Giventhechurch'stheologicalandpragmaticpriorities,somecentralizationisnecessaryandlegitimate.Butin1901theprincipleofdiversitywasmoredeterminativethantheprincipleofunityintheestablishmentofunions,andbydelegatingsomefunctionswhichhadpreviouslybeenperformedbytheGeneralConferencetounionconferences.Theemphasiswasontheneedtorecognizediversitybydecentralization.

14. Inthereformsof1901DaniellsaffirmedthatitwasnottheintentionoftheGeneralConferencecommitteetodealdirectlywiththeaffairsofanyUnionConference.Daniells’answertothecentralizationofpowerintheGeneralConferencecommitteewasthatthecommitteewasnotgoingtomakeexecutivedecisions.Itwasgoingtobeafostering,advisory,boardwhoseinterestwasco-ordination,notsupervision.By1903Daniellswasspeakingasthoughhestillheldthe"advisory"conceptoftheroleoftheGeneralConferenceexecutivecommittee.Butinpractice,nolongerwasitsrolemerelyadvisory.Achangeofattitudehadtakenplace.

15. AdaptabilityandflexibilityarevitalforthefulfilmentofthemissionoftheSeventh-dayAdventistChurch.Noteverythingistobedonethesamewayeverywhere.Whenthereisnodirect“ThussaiththeLord,”theChurchmustbeflexibleifitistobetruetoisreasonforexistence.