Back in 2023, we reported on a phenomenon in the Potomac Conference. Church congregations in Virginia and Maryland invited Stephen Bohr to speak there, and the Potomac Conference tried to stop Bohr from speaking. Weird. The two congregations were Roanoke, VA and Gaithersburg Spanish Church, MD.
This scenario alerted us to a serious problem in the church structure—ecclesiastical serfdom. Ham-fisted conferences demanded that church members pay for the church building, the insurance, clean the carpets, replace the roof, mow the grass, repair plumbing leaks, paint the walls, gravel the driveway, pay all utilities, and perform all building maintenance. But, when the congregation invited a Seventh-day Adventist preacher to come and preach the gospel in that same building, some conferences would try to stop that from happening—if they didn’t happen to like the speaker. “We will decide who you can listen to!” Unbelievable.
Put another way “Just pay all the bills, keep your mouth shut, and be glad we let you pay for everything. If the speaker you wish to hear doesn’t line up with our conference agenda, we will block it from happening, censure you, issue statewide bans on certain speakers, confiscate your audio visual equipment, drain your bank account, and disband your congregation.”
"We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren" (1 John 3:14).
Both churches in the Potomac Conference had Stephen Bohr come and speak to them. The meetings were well attended and successful. The Roanoke Church was reprimanded by the Potomac Executive Committee (whatever that means).
The Gaithersburg Spanish Church
We are informed that the Gaithersburg congregation had a conversation with Ruben Ramos from the Columbia Union and were told that in order to leave the Potomac Conference they would first have to apologize to the Potomac Conference. If they wanted to stay in Potomac and be recognized, they must also apologize. So whether they go or stay, they must apologize for inviting Stephen Bohr to speak at their church, among other things. They declined, and formed their own congregation without conference affiliation.
This congregation was disbanded by the Potomac Conference, according to Spanish church members. They are no longer affiliated with the Potomac Conference. The congregation continues to meet together on Sabbath in a rented building at 7412 Muncaster Mill Rd, Gaithersburg, MD. From their Facebook page:
“Our mission is to preach the Gospel and share the love of Jesus with those who don't know Him. Schedule: Wednesday 7:00 pm, Saturday Prayer Garden at 8:00 am, Sabbath School from 9:00 am until Divine Worship, Youth Society at 4:30 pm "Maranatha"
They are still meeting together, and their faith is strong, according to insiders. Their congregation is very active—they are faithful in preaching the word, and their membership is growing.
Their Facebook page is titled IA - SD Gaithersburg Renacer. I assume that IA-SD means Independent Adventist Seventh Day, not sure. On their pulpit are the words Iglesia Adventista Septimo dia Gaithersburg Renancer. It means “Gaithersburg Seventh-day Adventist Church Reborn.”
What about that money that was taken from them? They never received their $180,000 back. They also never received their audio visual equipment back. They raised more funds and replaced the confiscated equipment.
The Potomac and Michigan Conferences stand as reminders that Church organizations can shift from their original mission of spiritual service and member support into a mode of self-preservation. As budgets balloon with sprawling campuses, staff salaries, and programs, the priority often turns to maintaining the machine. Protecting revenue streams or promoting liberal agendas becomes a sacred duty, their reputations, and hierarchical authority become sacrosanct. The two aforementioned conferences each fit into one of these categories. You can figure out which is which.
Questioning leadership decisions, or resource allocation is labeled divisive, heretical, or spiritually immature. Rather than engaging openly with differing opinions as part of healthy communication, the organizations may resort to control tactics—shunning, public reprimands, or excommunication—to silence voices that could expose flaws. This stifles authentic faith, transforming a worship community into a monolith where heavy-handed unity trumps truth.
Gaithersburg Spanish SDA Timeline
In closing, the Gaithersburg Spanish Church lives on in the Iglesia Adventista Septimo dia Gaithersburg Renacer. They rent a building from the Church of the Brethren on Muncaster Road in Gaithersburg, MD. These spiritual refugees did not let the heavy-handed tactics of a liberal conference break their spirit, or their devotion to Jesus Christ and His Advent Message.
Please pray for them, and the two aforementioned conferences.
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"We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren" (1 John 3:14).