This material regarding the writings of Ellen G. White is part of a Field Guide profile
on Seventh-
Some outside the SDA denomination may be under the false impression that the official
leadership of the Church has, in recent years, been down-
Indeed, there are some within the organization who wish that they could extricate the denomination from its enmeshment with White's teachings, and who have made some attempts to influence the denomination toward that direction. But such reformers have not been successful in their efforts.
Below are pieces of information from recent official denominational discussions that
clarify the role of White's writings in the SDA Church's teachings. Note that the
term "Spirit of Prophecy" is the short-
The following is the current official statement, appearing on the denomination’s official website in 2011, on the role of the writings of EGW. Section 18, “The Gift of Prophecy,” in the official Statement of Beliefs declares (emphasis added):
One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is prophecy. This gift is an identifying mark of the remnant church and was manifested in the ministry of Ellen. G. White . As the Lord's messenger, her writings are a continuing and authoritative source of truth which provide for the church comfort, guidance, instruction, and correction.
The SDA denomination holds an international General Conference every five years.
Matters of denominational concern are reviewed and voted on. If anyone thinks that
such conferences in recent decades have down-
1995
Below is an official statement on the role of EGW's writings from the 1995 SDA General Conference in Utrecht, Netherlands (emphasis added) …
A Statement of Confidence in the Spirit of Prophecy
We, the delegates assembled in Utrecht for the fifty-
In Revelation 12, John the Revelator identifies the church in the last days as the
"remnant . . . which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus
Christ" (verse 17). We believe that in this brief prophetic picture the Revelator
is describing the Seventh-
In the life and ministry of Ellen G White (1827-
Ellen G White's chief burden was to direct attention to the Holy Scriptures. She wrote: "Little heed is given to the Bible, and the Lord has given a lesser light to lead men and women to the greater light" (Review and Herald, January 20, 1903). She believed that although her writings are a "lesser light," they are light, and that the source of this light is God.
As Seventh-
1) That as a church we seek the power of the Holy Spirit to apply to our lives more fully the inspired counsel contained in the writings of Ellen G White, and
2) That we make increased efforts to publish and circulate these writings throughout the world.
This statement was approved and voted by the General Conference session in Utrecht, the Netherlands, June 30, 1995.
2000
From http://www.truthorfables.com/Why_Remain_SDA.htm
(Robert K Sanders)
Some SDAs conclude they are free of EGW because they do not accept her or her teachings as being from God and their pastor does not quote her from the pulpit. Think about this, would you have the same reasoning if you were a member of the Latter Day Saints Church, or the Jehovah's Witnesses, or Christian Scientists, etc.?
Your local church may be not outwardly promoting EGW but the fact remains that the SDA Denomination does promote EGW as Central in their beliefs as recorded in the 2000 General Conference Session in Toronto. I will give two excepts from it:
SDANEWS: Official Text: Resolution on the Gift of Prophecy Through the Ministry of Ellen G. White
From: Clarence Thomas IV (clt4@compuserve.com)
Date: Wed Jul 05 2000 -
3. We urge that efforts be intensified to inform all church members, especially the
youth and those new to our faith, concerning the role and value of this gift in the
experience of Seventh-
VIOLETO F. BOCALA: I am very happy, Mr. Chairman, that we have this recommendation
on hand. I think we need to give more emphasis to the Spirit of Prophecy. Our people
sometimes forget that the church is guided by the writings of the Spirit of Prophecy,
without which I think we will likely fragment. In the Southern Asia-
Here is the problem with the conclusion that EGW is not mentioned in their church. Most SDA members only know the Bible as it was taught to them in Bible Studies, Bible Seminars and the Sabbath School Quarterly by the church. The members do not realize that they are spoon fed Ellen White's private interpretation of the Bible each week. When the pastor preaches from the pulpit, they interject EGW's teachings without giving her credit and the members sit in the pew soaking it up as if it was biblical. [End of Sanders Quote.]
2010
General Conference 2010, Atlanta, GA.
RESOLUTION ON THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY AS MANIFESTED
IN THE MINISTRY AND WRITINGS OF ELLEN G WHITE
We, the delegates to the 2010 General Conference Session in Atlanta, Georgia,
acknowledge with gratitude the continuing contribution to the Seventh-
The gift of prophecy, like the other spiritual gifts, is to bring about unity, equip God’s
people for the work of ministry, build up the body of Christ, protect it from being
deceived by false doctrine, and foster individual and collective spiritual growth
(Ephesians 4:11-
Consequently, we express our gratitude to God for His gracious gift in the prophetic
ministry of Ellen G White. We call upon Seventh-
On June 25, 2010, Ted Wilson, Vice President and son of former General Conference
president, was elected to succeed Jan Paulson as the President of the Seventh-
According to Adventist News Network, Wilson was appointed by the 246 member nominating committee and confirmed by the rest of the delegates at the General Conference session in Atlanta.
Wilson identified the denomination as “God’s remnant church” in a statement after his appointment. In addition, he noted that he would gain help from the Bible, other counselors, and the writings of Ellen G. White.
…Wilson has served the denomination as a pastor, director, assistant director, departmental director, executive secretary, president of the Review and Herald Publishing, and most recently General Vice President.
Wilson is the son of Neal C. Wilson who was president of the denomination from 1979 through 1990.
Unless otherwise noted, all original material on this Field Guide website
is © 2001-
Careful effort has been made to give credit as clearly as possible to any specific material quoted or ideas extensively adapted from any one resource. Corrections and clarifications regarding citations for any source material are welcome, and will be promptly added to any sections which are found to be inadequately documented as to source.
What is the current view of the Seventh-
The Role of Ellen G White?