Atlantic Caribbean Union

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Thursday/January/2016 05:25 PM Filed in: Leonard A. Johnson

I Believe In My Church

Almost daily the Seventh-day Adventist Church is accused of wrongdoing or objectionable

practice. Admittedly, the church, which comprises of you and me, is not immune to
missteps. In fact, it does err. However, I have learned from experience to apply the
principle of “not rushing to judgment,” but instead “checking the credibility of the source of
the accusation” and “researching the charge.” A case in point relates to a recent email
widely circulated last week by Andrew Henriquez, via his Prophecy Again ministry,
captioned: “First Open Transgender SDA Elder under Pastor Stoltz, Hollywood Church! Is
this the First of Many?” Through the presentation on You Tube, it appears that Henriquez is
indicting the Seventh-day Adventist Church generally with wrongdoing. There seems to be
no attempt to isolate an issue associated with a local church. In fact, if one were to view
some of Henriquez’ video clips on You Tube, he would see this trend of broad brushing.
Accordingly, I thought to research this latest accusation. In doing so, I have applied the
principles mentioned above.

Don’t Be Quick to Judge

For starts, yes, there is a Seventh-day Adventist Church by the name Hollywood SDA
Church and the pastor is Branden Stoltz. In my attempt to verify the information, I tried
reaching the union president for California where the church is located, but I was
unsuccessful. A pastoral colleague, Barrington Brennen, unknown to me, was researching
the same issue and tried to reach Pastor Stoltz by both telephone and email without
success as well. Upon further inquiry, I checked with another pastor who resides in the
United States and was acquainted with the church. He informed me that while he knew the
church he did not have any information about the matter in question. However, he was
aware that the church has a specific ministry, which reaches out to gays and lesbians with
the gospel of Jesus Christ. Still not satisfied, I pursued a 21-page document purported by
Henriquez to be the basis for the Hollywood’s decision to choose transgender/gay/lesbians
as leaders, for he claims that the document reveals that the Seventh-day Adventist church
accepts the LGBT lifestyle.

Do the Research
Therefore, I researched and located the 21-page document and examined it. Titled "An
Understanding of the Biblical View on Homosexual Practice and Pastoral Care," itis
a Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Position Paper voted on October 9, 2015.
Consider the following excerpt, "Scripture condemns heterosexual immorality no less than
homosexual practice and warns against any harboring of lustful thoughts and desires for
such practices. While homosexuality is a distortion of the Edenic ideal, ‘there is no
condemnation’ for homosexually oriented persons as long as they ‘are in Christ Jesus’
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(Rom 8:1) and do not harbor or act upon their orientation and propensities. The same
principle applies to those who struggle with heterosexual immorality (see Matt 5:27–28;
Rom 6:1–23; 8:1–4; Col 3:1–10; James 1:14–15). Even as some individuals may
experience a miraculous deliverance from sinful heterosexual and homosexual urges,
others may have to wrestle with such tendencies all their lives (see Gal 5:16–25). One is
not culpable for these involuntary tendencies, but for acting upon them either in imagination
or actual practice."
However, on page 16, the following section has been misquoted to sanction placing
homosexuals in leadership of the church, but observe the statement for your-self. It says,
“All persons, including practicing homosexuals, should be made to feel welcome to attend
our churches while non-practicing gay persons should be welcomed into membership and
church office. All should receive spiritual care from the Church (Gal 6:1).” The keyword is
“non-practicing” but unfortunately Henriquez and others apparently ignore this and seek to
profit their ministries by sensationalizing parts of the article, albeit irresponsibly, to their
advantage, but we must be persons who search and enquire always believing in God’s
church. The focus here is reaching to all; after all, did not Christ say, “I came to seek and
save that which was lost?” How can the church of Christ do any less for those in any sin be
it adultery, stealing, dishonesty and the like? Reaching out to such persons affected is not
the same as condoning.

Check the Source – Examine the One Bringing the Charge

Quite frankly, I do not know Henriquez and could not find a biography of him on line. One
pastor told me that he is considered to be an off-shoot-like Adventist member. I could not
confirm this, but I do view some of his teachings as extreme, irresponsible and sensational,
which beg the question of his intention or objective. Nevertheless, I implore you to have
confidence in the church, its leaders and take the approach of not rushing to judgment, but
research carefully the charge and the one bringing the accusation, as the truth stands on its
own feet.

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