On 3 March at Wallsend Seventh-day Adventist Church in Australia, Brenton Stacey (Public Relations Officer at Avondale University College) gave the sermon. Mr. Stacey said that the Roman Centurion and his servant whom Jesus healed in John 8 were in a sexual relationship.
This troubled a young Seventh-day Adventist member, Claire Parker (pseudonym), who wrote an open letter to Glenn Townend President of the South Pacific Division. Townend responded to the open letter two days ago, suggesting that it be published on Fulcrum7. Here it is:
Gerry’s Response (in italics)
“Jesus affirmed the dignity of all human beings and reached out compassionately to persons and families suffering the consequences of sin.“ Jesus also revealed that there is a line of connection between choices that people made in the past and consequences that they are currently experiencing (John 5:14; John 8:11). He invites us to find repentance and freedom in Him (John 8:36; 2 Peter 3:9).
“I personally wish that the Seventh-day Adventist Church was known for its compassion for those who are from the LGBTQI+ community, thus really showing the love of God to them.” True love speaks the truth in love.
It helps people resolve sinful choices and patterns that will bring destruction upon them. The love of God leads us to renounce sin (Rev. 3:19; 12:11; 2 John 2:6).
As to compassion, we sympathize with every single human heart wishing to know the one true and living God. The only way that can happen is through Jesus Christ, and His gospel is about repenting of sin, not celebrating it.
A church (or leader) that buys into the logic of Glenn Townend and Avondale, is a church that's obligated to openly accept unrepentant homosexuals or anyone else because it's moved away from the clear authority of Scripture.
Again, the true church always celebrates the truth, not diversity, and truth requires repenting of homosexual sin, not celebrating it or justifying it.
“I am satisfied that he [Kevin Petrie] has worked through the issues raised appropriately.” What steps were taken to see that this unbiblical drift is not repeated in the future? Is the Lord satisfied? (1 Timothy 5:20).
“I have also read the sermon you mentioned and received feedback from several people who were there. The mention….of pederasty was a passing comment…” The fact that it was mentioned at all in the sermon should be a significant matter of concern. It should not be brushed aside, but rather met by an open statement of disavowal from the College and its board. And from you, as a steward of Seventh-day Adventist work in Australia.
This would affirm the South Pacific Division’s stewardship of the truth to a watching world Church. Incidentally, the sermon was not recorded, and sermon notes can be doctored after the fact. What wasn’t doctored is this email string between a Wallsend congregant and Brenton Stacey:
The paragraph regarding “Burn the Haystack.” Weak.
The paragraph regarding the SPD President’s heritage. God is not interested in our pedigree, but rather our faithfulness to His Word, even in the midst of a crooked and perverse culture (Philippians 2:15; 3:7-8; 2 Timothy 4:8).
Closing paragraph “nobody’s perfect.” Weak.
Closing paragraph. Townend says he will help champion “spiritual renewal” at Avondale. What steps are you taking to bring revival and reformation to the campus? Set your hand to that lofty goal, and we will be among the first to commend you. More importantly, the Lord will commend you (1 Corinthians 15:28; Romans 2:6; Matthew 25:21; Deuteronomy 5:33).
****