Thank you for your thoughts. My problem here is …

Comment on Northern California Conference Votes to Act Independent of the General Conference by Sean Pitman.

Thank you for your thoughts.

My problem here is that I don’t agree with the method that my conference has chosen to address this issue. The local conference should work with the General Conference – not independent of the General Conference in an effort to try to “force” the hand of the GC. The proper channels for change need to be used – not independent action on a non-fundamental non-vital issue from an arm or a leg of the body. This is not how an orderly government of any kind can be run and it is in conflict with Divine instruction regarding proper order and government.

Your example of the actions of Martin Luther are not really applicable here because Martin Luther did not desire to leave his church. He tried to change it from within for a long time – through proper channels of action from within. It wasn’t until the church of his day took a definitive stand against him on a clearly moral issue that he was forced to leave it behind. I’m sorry, but I cannot separate from the main body of the church in line with my local conference over what is to me a non-fundamental non-moral issue. To me, such a separation from a Divinely appointed church government over such a lower-level issue is what would be unethical.

That is why I can no longer support my own conference as long as it takes such an independent position on a non-fundamental issue in direct opposition to the clearly stated directives of the GC.

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