It’s almost 25 years since I first read Dr George Knights “The Fat Lady and the Kingdom”[1]. The book was written just before my own journey in church administration began. At that time, I found it wonderfully refreshing.
The parable was so perfect! As I remember it, the book painted a picture of the church being like unto an obese lady, trying to enter the doorway of the kingdom. According to the analogy, the woman was sweating profusely while struggling with an obscene number of carefully wrapped packages that simply couldn’t fit through the doorway.
The packages were representative of church institutions. The hospitals, schools, and universities that have largely become symbolic of Adventist mission success. If I recall correctly, the book concluded with a delightful question. Simply put; Would the time come when the church would need to offload her “packages” to enter the kingdom? Twenty-five years ago, there were no answers.
Two and a half decades have passed and so much has changed. Even in the secular world unbelievers can see all is not right. Even they can see the world is spiraling out of control.
Given this situation where is the church? It’s mute. Silence reigns supreme. It’s fearful of offending culture or the latest manifestation of political correctness. Increasingly my church is defined by “professionalised institutionalism”.
As a result, I don’t believe it’s too farfetched to suggest decisions are being made not from sound biblical exegesis or solid theological reflection, but rather by corporate boards driven by the desire to protect their institution. Indeed, in many cases I am being forced to ask, Have church institutions become the equivalent of the proverbial “elephant in the room” that are now large enough to direct denominational / theological decision making.
I recognise that some of my friends in church administration may dispute my even asking this question. I wonder however if the current Australian church response to government COVID regulation is not a prime example of this reality? Please allow me to explain.
a. Understanding Church Institutional Structure in Australia. In Australia churches generally do not run schools, aged care facilities or hospitals. Apart from one facility (that I am aware of) these are all operated by the local conference, the Australian Union or in the case of Avondale University and Sydney Adventist Hospital the South Pacific Division. Significantly each of these receive very significant funds from government grants or have major (non tithe) income sources.
b. Australian Government Response to COVID. In this land “down-under”, Australian states are increasingly requiring full vaccination for selected occupations. Top on the “selected occupations” list are employees at medical institutions, aged care, educational facilities and in several states, even ministerial employees. In each case the government has mandated positive vaccination status as a condition of employment in that industry.
Please be assured as a practicing pastor I can tell story after story detailing the untold stress these requirements are bringing on church members. Some are church employees; others work in the secular community. I can name more than a few who are being forced to choose between “the jab” and their job.
c. Church Response to COVID and Government Directives. This is the saddest part of this entire story. The church position is best presented by a series of short videos developed by the South Pacific Division. These clearly explain its position. These can be found here.
In simple terms the church in the South Pacific both accepts vaccination and is encouraging church members to be vaccinated along with government mandates.
Apart from one brief statement (that I am aware of) there has been nothing but an abundance of silence on the matter of forced vaccination. Church institutions have willingly complied without the slightest public objection. I cannot express my pastoral disappointment in this reality enough. This leaves an unanswered question.
Why Might This Be the Case?
I suggest, the answer is simple. Church administrators in Australia face what I accept is an invidious conundrum. This is the “elephant in the room”. This is the issue that is so big that it is unable to be acknowledged.
Consider the reality. Australian state governments now require that all individuals in “chosen occupations” receive a vaccination irrespective of whether such vaccination is wanted or whether it violates the conscience of the individual. This is on pain of loss of job.
This has led to an absolute conundrum for church administrators. Australian administration can respond in one of two ways. Administration can accept the mandate and go with the flow, OR the church must challenge EITHER the vaccination itself OR the compulsion requirement of that vaccination.
The result of accepting the mandate is general community support. Quiet and peaceable lives for church leaders and institutional administrators. The alternative is almost too horrendous to even consider. Challenge the government requirements and take all that comes with it!
From a human perspective the potential pain is well worth avoiding! Who would want to dispute with the Facebook warriors! Who would want to confront the ever-increasing societal pressure and the vitriol of the godless woke-filled masses? It wouldn’t stop there however! Can you imagine the dispute with institutional leaders? The stoning of Stephen would look like a mild schoolyard altercation in comparison.
Now I genuinely recognise the invidious nature of this very human conundrum. I have served as President in two conferences for almost a decade and a half. I was forced to deal with the closure of two smaller church institutions and have chaired more than my fair share of contentious issues. In 2010 I chose to return to the field.
The “Elephant in the Room” is Very Large
Please don’t underestimate the size of this “elephant”. It may be unspoken, and it may be undeclared, it may even be ignored but that does not make it any less real.
As a result of this “elephant in the room” (I suggest) church leaders have been called to choose between institutional and personal protection and supporting their staff’s “freedom of choice”. Church leadership has chosen the institutions and declared that “with great regret” it is willing to support government mandates without so much as a word of public opposition.
Now I fully realise that the “encouragement to vaccinate” is presented by the South Pacific Division [and the GCADCOM] as a health-based initiative. Unfortunately, I can name numerous people of my personal acquaintance who have ended in hospital because of this “health-based” decision. There is no other Adventist health initiative (that I am aware of) that has led to hospitalisation of anyone.
This is so disappointing that I have been left asking, Are the responses provided in the South Pacific Divisions “position on vaccination” coming from sound biblical exegesis and solid theological reflection or from the unending stomping of the cultural elephant that sits in the corner of the room? This will no doubt engender some debate. I will leave you to decide.
Where To From Here?
If ever there is a time to bring a matter to prayer it is now. I fully accept that church leadership in this country are in an invidious position. If ever there is a time to come together and pray for our leaders, it’s now. This situation is not of their making. Currently however, willing compliance has resulted in church members being thrown under the proverbial bus without a voice being raised in their support. This is wrong.
I agree with the President of the South Pacific Division that as a church we do need to respect governmental authority BUT would point out that governments of the western democratic tradition are themselves subject to constitutions, signed International Conventions, Treaties, Judgments of Courts, and yes even public pressure.
I would point out that Paul certainly had no problem with utilizing the benefits of Roman Citizenship as they might benefit his ministry or that of the fledgling church. If ever there is a time for the church to engage in the public sphere it is now.
I would further point out that according to the Scriptures, forced compliance is totally anathema to the principles of the kingdom. I freely accept that humanly there appears to be few easy responses. Significantly however I reflect on the amazing victory that King Jehoshaphat saw when he prayed “We don’t know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (2 Chron 20:12). I suggest that this is where we now find ourselves.
Finally, please allow me to commend those who developed the “Liberty of Conscience Document” https://libertyandhealth.org/liberty for their work in this sphere. This document has been signed by over 23,500 people, from 136 countries, over 1700 pastors, and almost 4000 medical professionals. I recommend the statement to the church in the South Pacific. If ever there is a time for the church to find a public voice for something other than a politically correct subject, it’s now.
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Pastor Garry Hodgkin is an ordained pastor of the Seventh-day Adventist Church currently serving in the South Australian Conference.
Throughout his 38 years of ministry service, he worked firstly as a church pastor, then for 7 years as a Conference Youth Ministry Leader in two Conferences. Later he spent thirteen-years as Conference President firstly in New Zealand and secondly in Australia. He requested a return to local church ministry in 2010.
Currently he splits his time between pastoring and producing / hosting the ‘Drivetime’ program for the Adventist operated Faith FM (Australia).
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[1] Knight G The Fat Lady and the Kingdom (Pacific Press Publishing 1995)
