November 16 - 30:
Change Agents with author Douglas Morgan
“The Lay Movement that Challenged the System and Turned Adventism Towards
Social Justice”
November 23: The Movement for Change: How Black, female (mostly), lay members challenged a white, male, clerical establishment - Chapters 6 to 9
Announcements and Introduction of Presenters
Opening Liturgy and Prayer
Presentation and Discussion
12:30: Closing Liturgy and after-class visiting
Class website: www.sabbathseminars.org
Centennial Complex Room 3208 Sabbath Morning 10:30-12:30
ZOOM CLASS: Click HERE
We will choose a restaurant to continue our fellowship after class
.Past presentations: click on “archive” at our class website: www.sabbathseminars.org
You may read Dewitt S. Williams’ excellent review of the book in Spectrum HERE
You may purchase “Change Agents” as a hard copy or Kindle book HERE Read the corresponding chapters for each week’s presentation
Douglas Morgan, Author of Change Agents and Presenter November 16-30
Douglas Morgan, PhD, is a graduate of Union College and the University of Chicago. He served on the faculties of Washington Adventist University and Southern Adventist University and is an assistant editor of the Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists.
The Author’s Summary
Nov 16 – The Need for Change: Adventism’s capitulation to racism (1889-1944)
Nov 23 – The Movement for Change: How Black, female (mostly), lay members challenged a white, male, clerical establishment.
Nov 30 – Assessing the Change: What was the impact of this movement? What were its strengths and limitations? Did it really “turn Adventism towards racial justice?” What is the significance of this history for the present
The “change agents” in these presentations took action against racial injustice in the Adventist church and did so from a disadvantaged position intersected by race, gender, and churchly hierarchy. They were Black lay members of a denomination in which white ordained clergy had a complete monopoly on the executive offices and committees governing every level of administration. The ordained clerical establishment was, of course, 100% male, while women predominated in giving the change agents organizational focus and energy.
Arguably, this movement contributed to historic, lasting change, but an interchange of different perspectives on whether and to what extent it did so could be fruitful.
The presentations will seek to prompt reflection on two themes in historical perspective: 1) racial injustice in Adventism, particularly in light of the church’s claims about its identity and mission; and 2) the possibility of change in the Adventist church—Can protest be effective and appropriate? Is “the church reformed and always reforming” a meaningful ideal or merely a pleasant fantasy?
Sabbath Seminars
Room 3208
Centennial Complex of Loma Linda University Sabbath Morning 10:30-12:30