With the events surrounding the Village SDA Church Religious Liberty weekend, many people in our church are feeling upset and demoralized. Perhaps we can only accomplish change by bringing awareness to the issues, which is why we are sharing this letter with you. The letter is written by Michelle Stembridge, a Village SDA Church member:
Michigan Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
5801 W Michigan Ave
Lansing, MI 48917Lake Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
8450 M 139
Berrien Springs, MI 49103Re: Conscience, Conviction, and Crisis in the Church: Why I Will Not Be Silent
December 4, 2025
To Elder Micheff, Elder Ramirez, Elder Huskins, and Elder Gallimore:
This is a response to Elder Micheff’s September 5, 2025, and November 6, 2025, letters to the Village Seventh-day Adventist Church, of which my husband and I are currently members.
As members, we wish to make our voice heard on the matter regarding the ban upon Dr. Conrad Vine and firing of Dr. Ron Kelly, and the treatment toward the Village Seventh-day Adventist Church (VSDA). The voice of our church was completely ignored regarding Dr. Kelly, and it continues to be ignored regarding Dr. Vine. The pattern of disregard for church members is troubling. This erodes faith and confidence in our church structure and its administration.
You have heard from ordained pastors, elders, and many others on this topic, so I do not fancy the notion that my words will influence you in any way. But to remain silent when something is wrong only empowers that which is wrong. Therefore, I will not be silent. My husband and I are in unity on this matter, and I speak for no others.
Regarding Dr. Vine, you invited our prayers so we could seek resolution in a way that strengthens our relationships. While I appreciate the sentiment, I am not sure a relationship can be repaired when one party (the MISDA) attempts to wield all the power and admits to no error. Our church has spoken and voted in business session; our congregational authority should be honored without need for further review. Yet, you seem to be seeking absolute submission, rather than reconciliation. And why is our interim senior pastor not honoring the vote of the congregation within business session? This is unacceptable.
If you took issue with Dr. Vine’s words, you should have spoken to him directly over a year ago to try to find “resolution” and “understanding.” Banning is a tactic employed by despot regimes, not “brothers in Christ” who seek to “move forward in our shared mission” as you claim.
You admonished our VSDA church that if we do not obey your ruling, the church will be “out of harmony with the governance framework of the worldwide SDA Church” (September 5 letter.) I believe it is you who is out of harmony with both Christian principles as well as our church governance.
I do not uphold myself as your teacher, I only wish to remind you of something pertinent to our present situation. Only a few thousand years after the law of Moses was given, there were different sects within Judaism. As you well know, the Sadducees and Pharisees did not agree with and did not like each other. They disagreed on matters of theology. They disagreed on matters of the law. It seems the only thing they could agree on was their shared hatred for Jesus and then His apostles. The pertinent part is, why did these men -- educated, respected, religious -- not recognize Jesus as their Savior? Were they so distracted by their disagreements they missed the opportunity to serve and learn at The Master’s feet? Why did these religious leaders not recognize the apostles as being the ones to share the Good News with others? They should have been partners with the Apostles, not persecuting them. Were they blinded by their love of control? It seems clear that Jesus and the Apostles threatened the power, authority, and control of the religious leaders, and instead of remembering their true purpose, the religious leaders fought to protect the structure and maintain their control, no matter the cost.
As I was reading through Acts, I was astonished at the similarities between our current situation and the one Paul faced in chapter 24. In Acts 24, the great Apostle Paul is hated by the religious leaders (you know, those highly educated, ordained men who operate the religious structure) and is brought before Governor Felix. Read Acts 24:5, “For we have found this man [Paul] a public menace and one who stirs up dissensions among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes” (NASB). That echoes the baseless accusations leveled at Pastor Kelly upon his unjust dismissal. Replace Jews with Adventists and Nazarenes with the VSDA and you have our story in a nutshell. In my estimation, Pastor Kelly is in good company with the likes of Paul, that “public menace” who was stirring up “dissention.” Maybe we need more "public menaces" and fewer administrators?
I must wonder how many people blindly followed the words and dictates of the “learned” religious leaders of their day and therefore rejected the words and teachings of Jesus and His apostles? Do not tell me not to question. Do not tell me to follow along, obey, pay my tithes, and keep my mouth shut, when it is our duty to keep a watchful eye. No one deserves blind, mindless obedience; we all are supposed to study our Bibles, pray, and hold leadership accountable.
You have entirely missed the mark on the issue of Dr. Conrad Vine. By decreeing a statewide ban (along with several other Unions and Conferences of like mind) you actually amplify his voice and his message. Dr. Vine is not warning of faithful, God-honoring Conferences or Pastors; Dr. Vine’s warnings are reserved for those who abuse their power and do not follow the Word of God. By seeking to completely silence him, you send the message that you believe his words are directed at you. You give credence to them; you give power to them. Essentially, you have proven him right.
I have no doubt you will find my letter offensive (if you even read it), but I find the year-long (YEAR-LONG) campaign against Dr. Conrad Vine, Dr. Ron Kelly, and VSDA to be highly offensive and unchristian. Conrad Vine is not preaching heresy. Ron Kelly is not a rebellious bully. This nonsensical campaign against these men is a distraction, and it must end. The larger church structure has grievously erred in its treatment of these men, as well as others within the MISDA structure such as Pastor Dennis Page and Dr. Michael Hess. Where does this end? Does it end with the VSDA coming on bended knee before the Conference? Does it end with stripped credentials for pastors with whom you disagree? Please explain to me how you see us coming to a “resolution.” Please explain to me how you would end this saga – by ending the Religious Liberty events at VSDA? By removing Dr. Vine from his church offices? You’ve already fired our Pastor. Do you seek another pound of flesh?
Over the past year, just about every wrong decision has been made regarding VSDA and its leadership and there is now irreversible damage. Lives have been permanently altered and trust has been destroyed. People are leaving the church, dismayed by the hypocrisy and troubled by the silencing of godly men. People are desperately searching for Truth, yet some seem to require that all thoughts and opinions be filtered through our conference office and executive committee.
Yet, why are some churches and some pastors left alone when espousing radical views or divisive views? No one calls for those men to be banned from speaking; no disciplinary measures taken to my knowledge. More hypocrisy. Another reason to distrust.
Something is tragically wrong with this picture, and we want answers, and we want real solutions. We do not want our church family or our church structure divided nor destroyed. Please supply, in writing, a thorough and complete explanation and justification for the course of action that has been taken against Dr. Vine, Dr. Kelly, and the events held at the Village SDA Church so we can have a thorough investigation.
I think a full review at an emergency constituency meeting is essential. I call upon other members within the State of Michigan to call for an emergency constituency meeting where these weighty matters can be fully reviewed and discussed in an open and transparent manner.
It is ironic to me that on July 4, 2025, while Americans celebrated our nation, Adventists gathered from around the world to discuss the church structure and to vote for a new GC President. The Declaration of Independence was the last document sent to the King after a long line of personal petitions were ignored and rejected. The Colonists were told to shut up, keep paying taxes, and do not question the King. They petitioned King George III time and time again, pleading for mutually beneficial agreements, for fair representation, and for the rights of the Colonists to be respected. It all fell on deaf ears. The Declaration says, “Our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury.” With heavy hearts the Colonists decided their only option was to separate from their home nation, from their fellow brethren. When our church petitioned the conference repeatedly, asking for Pastor Kelly to be restored to our pulpit, it fell on deaf ears. Now our church, in business session, has voted, and you seek to overturn our church’s authority. Why? I do hope we can find a mutually respectful resolution and fair representation without a need for more division.
Time is short and the Devil is working hard to destroy our church. We will not always agree on every aspect; but instead of uniting in shared hatred as did the Sadducees and Pharisees, maybe we can unite on shared love for Jesus?
God created billions of people – all of us absolutely unique and similar at the same time. We have so much in common and yet we are all so different. Please cease and desist from any further efforts to censor or censure men with whom you may have personal disagreements. These men are not heretics, not rebellious; but men who are endeavoring to honor God and share the Good News with a hurting world searching for Truth.
Sincerely,
Michelle Proctor Stembridge
Village Seventh-day Adventist Church Member
Berrien Springs, MI****
Lame: LINK
What: The Village Church Religious Liberty Meeting will be held at the Berrien Springs Methodist Church, due to lack of liberty from the Michigan Conference.
Location: The highly anticipated meeting will take place tomorrow (January 17) at 310 W. Mars St. in Berrien Springs Michigan.
Livestream LINK — Vine
Aternative LINK — Media
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