NAD's Innovative Splintering of Adventism

The
Innovative Splintering
of Adventism

This presentation details the National
Conferences on Innovation, and demonstrates
how the North American Division promoted and
supported these conferences, up until a petition
to close down the conferences was circulated
and submitted. Close to 2,000 individuals signed
the petition in protest of the conferences.

“There is manifested on the part of men in
responsible positions an unwillingness to confess
where they have been in the wrong; and their
neglect is working disaster, not only to themselves,
but to the churches… you will be left to make
mistakes of a similar character, you will continue to
lack wisdom, and will call sin righteousness and
righteousness sin. The multitude of deceptions that
will prevail in these last days will encircle you, and
you will change leaders, and not know that you
have done so.”
Review & Herald, vol. 2 448-449, Dec. 16, 1890.

“Spiritual darkness has covered the earth and
gross darkness the people. Many, very many, are
questioning the verity and truth of the
Scriptures. Human reasoning and the imaginings
of the human heart are undermining the
inspiration of the Word of God, and that which
should be received as granted, is surrounded
with a cloud of mysticism. Nothing stands out in
clear and distinct lines, upon rock bottom. This
is one of the marked signs of the last days.”
1 SM pg. 15.2 (FLB pg. 13.3)

NAD Resource Center
(AdventSource, Vervant, Best Practices: for Adventist Ministry)

What are these
National
Conferences on
Innovation?
Who sponsors
them?

Let’s look at several of these
Innovative Conferences and
see who they have invited to
be keynote speakers.

1st Annual
National Conference on Innovation
2005
The first "INNOVATION" conference was held in 2004. The man
who was the chief motivator was a medical consultant by the name
of LeLand Kaiser.

2005 & 2006
National Conference
on Innovation
speakers

Kevin Kaiser recommended this book to the
attendees at the 2005 Ohio Seventh-day
Adventist Conference on Innovation. What
concerns me is that the Kaisers, who were
honored guest speakers, use this book, and
witches, practitioners of magic, astral
travelers, Shamans, etc. also use it. This is
straight occult language being brought right
into the Adventist church.

Notice who the publisher is...

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jay
USA
14 Posts
Posted - 11/11/2005 : 10:55:06
This concept has many implications to consider for
Adventist schools, but the core of this idea relates to
establishing a community Christian school.
Purpose:
The purpose of this school is not to retain or evangelize
students for the Adventist Church, but to advance the
Kingdom of God (KOG) in that community, and, as the
local vision grows, expand the KOG beyond that
community.
(Advancing the KOG has to do with the gospel not with
any denomination. It’s about connecting with people
who don’t know or have not accepted Jesus as their
Savior. “Go and preach the gospel,” Jesus said.)
Possible Characteristics:
While this could look radically different from one
community to the next, here are some ideas.
• Discussions may start with the local ministerial
association for ecumenical
participation/input/ownership.
• School will be planted in a community that needs
a Christian choice, as determined by
demographic studies.
• School may be privately or church community
owned and operated.
• Students and teachers will be Christians
motivated by the gospel commission.
• Board members will be KOG motivated Christians
and selected partners.
• Parents must be willing to participate/support in
KOG activities.
• Curriculum will meet standards through focus on
KOG ministry and activities.
National Conference on Innovation forum
• Students will spend the equivalent of at least
one-day per week in the community. (Could plan
and arrange resources for an activity for 4
weeks, and then spend an entire week engaged
in the activity.)
• The community will see the school as a resource
both on and off of the campus, which will require
collaboration with community leaders.
• After school activities will include community
connections for the KOG.
Raj Attiken
100 Posts
Posted - 11/11/2005 : 14:35:42
Looks to me like a real "winner." Don't fail to invite me
to the "grand opening." When do you start the first-
steps? May we post this on our "projects" list?
Raj
Leland R Kaiser
403 Posts
Posted - 11/12/2005 : 00:19:55
Jay:
I like this concept. How would this school relate, if at all,
to a SDA church that already operates a SDA school?
Leland Kaiser
jay
USA
14 Posts
Posted - 11/16/2005 : 10:32:23
Raj,
You are at the top of the guest list!
I’m thinking that preliminary public steps of this project
may begin the first quarter of 2006. This could include
discussions with non-public educational leaders, who
have become friends through Ohio Dept. of Education
meetings. Randy Ross, Association of Christian Schools
International (ACSI) director, would be an excellent
initial resource. In fact, ACSI may have experience in
this very area. A test conversation with a ministerial
association may help shape the project as well.
Premature? Maybe.
Yes, you may post this as a project.
Read about their
innovative ideas on
Adventist education.

I think you have a real winner here. I believe there is a
large market out there for this concept. It would also
help SDA schools look beyond their usual borders. It is a
great strategy for networking Christians to do God's
work.
Leland Kaiser
Chester Hitchcock
USA
3 Posts
Posted - 11/18/2005 : 00:26:49
Jay,
The "win-win mentality toward other churches" and
connecting with the broader community is a resounding
theme that my churches hear from me. Praise God, I
think they are not only hearing but also listening more
and more as time goes by. I used your "KOGA" as a
discussion topic Wed. nite at Medina. I asked what it
ment to them to "advance the Kingdom of God". Is it
synomous with advancing the SDA church? The answer
came back; "No, the Kingdom of God includes all
believers." My next question was; Can Adventists be
involved in advancing the Kingdom, if they are reaching
people for Christ who don't join the SDA church? Again,
the answer came back; "Yes, of course". This lead into a
discussion of what we are doing to AKOG, and what we
can do.
Medina is not a constituent of MJA but I had a similar
conversation with the Barberton Board on Tuesday. Both
churches are familiar with working with other
denominations through the Community Service Centers.
They have great respect for other denominations and
are respected by them. In short, I believe that both of
these churches are poised for and open to innovative
ministries that include other churches.
I am sure there are still those who are afraid of
"associating with the beast" etc. etc.. but it is exciting to
know that what is said in the pulpit each week CAN and
DOES change lives, even in established, more traditional
churches.
Chester
Leland R Kaiser
403 Posts
Posted - 11/18/2005 : 18:10:58
Chester:
Good for you, Chester!
Leland Kaiser
jay
USA
14 Posts
Posted - 11/28/2005 : 15:15:51
Chester,
Those responses from your churches are certainly
encouraging to hear. Your leadership is making a
difference!
I wonder if Medina is in the market for a Christian
school? I'll check the ODE listing of schools in your area.
Jay
AtlasDave
USA
2 Posts
Posted - 11/20/2006 : 00:10:34
I don't think that being a school sponsored by the SDA
church necessarily excludes a school from being a KOG
school. It is an attitude, and a different set of policies
that will set us apart. Here are a few examples of what
might be ground-level changes:
a) one fee structure, regardless of 'race, creed, national
origin', OR CHURCH AFFILIATION!
b) non-denominational handbook rules, thus allowing
children to actually bring meat from home in their
lunches.
c) and acknowledging that some girls do wear earrings,
so studs would be an allowed 'body decoration'.
It's true that we have a unique message. But from last
quarter's SS lessons, only one of our 28 fundamentals is
actually unique. The others are shared across many
churches. So, we aren't as unique as some would have
us believe.
The advantage of staying with the SDA association is
the in-place support system. A system that helps find
qualified staff. A system that provides a good set of
benefits. A system, that has a proven track record.
A school with a support system such as ours need never
fear the capricious pastor who wants to branch off and
create his own kingdom. In any group of ecumenicals
there will always be one who feels that his/her church is
not getting their fair share of attention. This is also true
for churches who don't feel connected as a result of
changing demographics. Suddenly they find themselves
with no school-age children, and support for the school

wanes.
So, better that the SDA community looks to serve the
needs of the whole community, through promoting
Christian education, rather than promoting the most
recent set of prophecy lessons. And then pay closer
attnetion to the folks coming through your doors, and
learning how you can meet their needs instead of
merely counting baptisms.
No, I don't think that you need to try and get
'community consensus' to ahve a good community
Christian school. Just adjust your sights a little to
include all of the community as your "market" and your
goal can be accomplished.
may oles
USA
14 Posts
Posted - 12/02/2006 : 08:49:45
Learning how to meet the needs of the people who
come into our community christian schools is a lesson in
discipleship straight from the Master of Relationships.
Can you be specific about how you have done this?
mva1985
26 Posts
Posted - 01/21/2007 : 13:22:45
This whole idea of having a community christian school
will result in diluting the Adventist message the Three
Angels Message. First of all a SDA school IS a
community school. Children from the community are
accepted into the school on a regular basis.
Are Adventists really interested in giving an equal voice
in the operation of an SDA school to non-SDA's? We
have standards and there is nothing wrong with
upholding them. I am trying to remember if Jesus had
standards? Someone refresh my memory. He associated
Himself with the "worst" of sinners but did not commit
the sins that they did, and did not allow Himself to be
polluted by associating with them. His mission was to
win them TO Him, not become like them.
Where I live we have three SDA church schools and I
will do everything that I can to discourage the
integration of other demoniations into the governing of
our schools.
Look at what happened to Worthington Foods when they
aligned themselves with secular businesses. They no
longer exist. Also, Harding Hospital aligned themselves
with OSU and now Harding is no longer under Adventist
control and influence.
The SDA message does advance the kingdom of God
there is no need to become like other denominations.
Are we not the Remnant? To bring a message to the
people at the end of time. The health message, the
sanctuary message, the Sabbath message. All of these
lead to Jesus and better our relationship with Him.
Raj Attiken
100 Posts
Posted - 01/21/2007 : 19:35:49
Let us be cautious not to read into Jay's proposal (or
into the Worthington Foods and Harding Hospital
stories) our own fears or assumptions. The model that
Jay proposes is not intended to replace our existing
school system. Instead it recognizes an obvious Biblical
fact that the Kingdom of God is much larger than the
Adventist Church or any other church.
Raj
mva1985
26 Posts
Posted - 01/26/2007 : 16:28:15
Raj,
I am not reading anything into the proposal that is not
already there.
Quote: "...but the core of this idea relates to
establishing a community Christian school."
So what does this quote from the original post mean. It
could mean an SDA church school or a school governed
by a group of churches.
Quote: "School may be privately or church community
owned and operated."
Seems pretty clear to me that the MODEL suggest that
it does not have to be Adventist owned and operated.
Again I pose the question is that really a good idea?
Aren't Adventist schools in and of themselves advancing
the Kingdom of God? Why would it be necessary to join
hands with another denomination in governing our
schools? This is a bad idea!!
Including more outreach into the school's curriculum is a

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Project 10: Innovative Quality School
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cindy
USA
3 Posts
Posted - 12/02/2005 : 11:38:34
INNOVATIVE QUALITY SCHOOL
I would like to have one of our existing Ohio SDA schools
become a model of innovation using the criteria listed. The
Glasser Quality School concept is currently being researched
and piloted in 5 sights across the U.S. through a grant from the
U.S. Department of Education. Our model, however, would
include a spiritual element as well.
Criteria:
(Based on William Glasser’s Quality School concept)
1. Relationships are based upon trust and respect, and all
discipline problems, not incidents, have been eliminated.
2. Total Learning Competence is stressed and an evaluation that
is below competence or what is now a “B” has been eliminated.
All schooling has been replaced by useful education.
3. All students do some quality work each year that is
significantly beyond competence. All such work receives an “A”
grade or higher, such as an “A+”.
4. Students and staff are taught to use Choice Theory (see note
below) in their lives and in their work in school. Parents are
encouraged to participate in study groups to become familiar
with choice theory ideas.
5. Students do better on state proficiency tests and college
entrance examinations. The importance of these tests is
emphasized in the school.
6. Staff, students, parents, and administrators view the school
as a joyful place.
In addition:
1. The curriculum will be child-centered and focus on child’s
areas of interest
2. There will be a focus on children discovering God’s potential
for their lives where they realize their uniqueness as individuals
and their covenant with God.
3. There will be a focus on students being a part of advancing
the Kingdom of God in the community.
Note: Choice theory vs. external control:
External control: criticizing, blaming, complaining, nagging,
threatening, punishing and rewarding people to control them.
Choice theory: caring, listening, supporting, contributing,
encouraging, trusting and befriending.
Cindy
sherree
USA
5 Posts
Posted - 12/02/2005 : 23:09:05
Sounds great, I'd be interested in that idea.
Sherree
Leland R
Kaiser
403 Posts
Posted - 12/03/2005 : 10:45:03
I wonder if Glasser's work is known by our education folks in the
Ohio conference?
Leland Kaiser
Raj Attiken
100 Posts
Posted - 12/04/2005 : 06:16:43
Leland,
Cindy is our Associate Superintendent of Education for the Ohio
Conference. Jay Colburn (who has also listed two projects) is
our Superintendent.
Raj
Leland R
Kaiser
403 Posts
Posted - 12/04/2005 : 08:05:12
Raj:
Thanks - this clarification helps.
Leland Kaiser
may oles
USA
14 Posts
Posted - 02/19/2006 : 14:16:32
Hi Cindy,
I teach in Colorado and think that Glasser is an icon of respect
and success in education!!
Did you get any takers on your idea of a Glasser model school?
What kind of help is available for their process? How about
someone from outside of the Ohio conference implementing
such a project? My sense is that having two innovators, even
connected only by cyberspace, would more than double each
one's chance for success as they try to work the bugs out of a
"new" model.
It sounds like Ohio has some real creative leadership in the
education department!
National Conference on Innovation forum

m'oles
lblackmer
USA
1 Posts
Posted - 02/27/2006 : 10:18:03
There are a number of schools, particularly in the Pacific Union
that are strongly involved with the Glasser model. Dr. Kelly
Bock, Director of Education, Pacific Union is a Glasser fellow and
is regularly in Glasser's home for training. Kelly has a number of
administrators actively taking Glasser training.
I am supportive of Glaser training, but it is not the only model. I
think the point is to find a model that works for a school and
then use it. To me it does not matter if it is the Glasser model in
Ohio, the 4MAT training in the Southern Union or the creative
approach taken at Broadview Academy to offer competency-
based or project-based education instead of the seat-time
approach in the traditional classroom, the point is to move off
dead center and find a model that works for you. We need to re-
evaluate what we are doing and be sure it is acheiving the goals
we have set for quality education.
Journey to Excellence is the NAD's attempt to develop and
promote innovation inthe classroom. Our difficulty has been in
getting buy in or adaptation of the model in all schools. I do
realize this is the only model of innovation that has a diffucult
time with this problem
To all who are proceeding toward innovation and excellence in
education, may the Lord continue to bless you and may your
tribe increase!!!!
Larry Blackmer,
NAD Associate Director of Education
may oles
USA
14 Posts
Posted - 02/28/2006 : 00:05:42
I love hearing about the various innovations in diverse schools.
Does NAD have a site where teachers can post their most
creative ideas? Is there already a way that schools share what
they are trying and how it is working? As isolated as some SDA
teachers are, we need a forum where we can communicate and
support each other for our "out-of-the-box" progress. I think
adventist education is moving past the time when schools
existed mostly to shield and protect our own sda children. It
seems that more and more we are called to make a real impact
on the communities where we live, as leaders of the most
creative education practices possible.
Any more stories, Larry, of great schools and what they are
trying? How can we hear more of the details?
May Oles
Columbine Christian School
Durango, CO
cindy
USA
3 Posts
Posted - 03/23/2006 : 10:52:10
I think it is similar to the fact that God does not speak to each
of us in the same way. For some He has used a burning bush
and others a donkey -- we need to discover and be aware of
how He speaks to us -- which comes from an intimate
relationship. So it is with our schools. For some it may be a
Glasser model, for others a KOGA, the point is that each school
needs to discover what God intends for them to be. I believe we
have not because we ask not. We are stuck in traditions that no
longer work in most communities - and you are right, May, we
should be known as creative leaders who serve our communities
and our students in exemplary ways.
Cindy
The bob
USA
21 Posts
Posted - 08/27/2006 : 00:55:10
Nice work to you and Jay tonight at our NEW school dedication.
I love OHIO and the leadership that shows TOTAL innovative
qualities constantly. HOW can it be?
Altogether Lovely
mva1985
26 Posts
Posted - 01/31/2007 : 10:38:19
From the original post:
"Note: Choice theory vs. external control:
External control: criticizing, blaming, complaining, nagging,
threatening, punishing and rewarding people to control them.
Choice theory: caring, listening, supporting, contributing,
encouraging, trusting and befriending."
Hebrews 12 on Discipline:
4 You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in
your striving against sin;
5 and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to
you as sons, "MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE
DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE
REPROVED BY HIM;
6 FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES, AND
HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES."
7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with
sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become

partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
9 Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we
respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the
Father of spirits, and live?
10 For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to
them, but He disciplines us for our good, that we may share His
holiness.
11 All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but
sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards
it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
The bob
USA
21 Posts
Posted - 02/10/2007 : 01:30:01
and "JESUS WEPT"
Altogether Lovely
may oles
USA
14 Posts
Posted - 03/17/2007 : 03:41:56
The best way for me to evaluate what works in terms of
discipline and change, is to look back over the milestones in my
life, and try to understand what led me to move forward toward
God's plan for me. Never have I experienced lasting change
from feelilng "bullied". On the other hand, have become a willing
servant from undeserved favors from the Creator of the
Universe. It is very like the bonds of attachment that infants
form with their caregivers. We form deep and lasting
attachments by having needs, crying out, and having our Parent
meet those needs. (No one scolds or spanks a baby). As my
children grow older, modeling what I expect from them is the
best way of teaching them. Yes, boundaries are set and are
important. But criticism and badgering my children leads to
resentment every time. As they grow older and more capable,
the best way for me to encourage growth in my children is to
trust them with responsibility. That is discipline. I don't have to
beat myself up (or others) to grow. For me, choice theory is an
incredible movtivator.
mva1985
26 Posts
Posted - 03/17/2007 : 13:47:54
May,
I would have to say that a balance of the two theories
is probably the correct way to raise a child. In
different circumstances using one more then the
other.
I hope you realize that the words in red were a direct
quote from scripture? I can't see how we can go
wrong by following scripture.
may oles
USA
14 Posts
Posted - 03/21/2007 : 23:24:24
I did realize the red words were from the Bible, but was not sure
what your intention was in quoting them. I see caring,
befriending, listening, etc. to be closely alligned with God's
discipline, rather than nagging, blaming, criticizing, threatening,
etc.
Have you ever had the opportunity to see the Glasser model in
action? There is another respectful model called The Responsive
Classroom (from the Northeast Foundation for Children) which
seems like it would be beautiful in action, especially with Christ
at the center of it.
Does anyone know of a SDA school working within the
Responsive Classroom model?
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Looks like the National Conference on Innovation
hopes to innovate more than just the church.

2th Annual
2006
Speakers: Alan Roxburgh. Ryan Bell, Monte Sahlin (vice president of the Columbia
Union Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church). The Leland Kaiser family
keynoted this one.

Hollywood Church observing
Lent
Go online and watch their taize service ...
Ryan Bell - professed
atheist, former pastor
of Hollywood

Chairman of the Center for Creative
Ministry serving in the Ohio
Conference. (see the iFollow
Slideshare presentation)

The Kaiser’s have founded a
school called “Two Worlds
Wisdom” which we will look at
shortly.

Dr. Leland (Lee) and his son and daughter.

Dr. Kaiser is a pioneer in many emerging areas of health care, and an acknowledged
authority on the changing American healthcare system. Dr. Kaiser is founder and president
of Kaiser Consulting, a health care consulting ﬁrm in Brighton, CO. He also is co-founder
of Kaiser Institute, a postgraduate educational program providing advanced training in
integrative medicine, intuition, and philanthropy. Dr. Kaiser is a dynamic motivational
speaker known for his ability to change the way organizations think. He is an associate
professor in the graduate program in health administration at the University of Colorado in
Denver. He has previous professional experience as a hospital administrator, trustee, R&D
director, graduate program director, and professional psychologist. He holds a master’s
degree in Clinical Psychology and Medical Care Administration and a doctoral degree in
Social Psychology and Higher Education. Dr. Kaiser is involved in the design of new
communities and state-of-the-art hospital architecture. He differentiates spirituality from
religion, and teaches (what he considers) core spiritual values useful for managing
healthcare organizations, discusses how spiritual values can be translated into organizational
norms, and suggests the role of spirituality in solving pressing organizational problems.

Leanne chairs the grants committee of theVHA foundation which
is funding innovation across healthcare--from organizations as
large as the Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins, to an array of small
and rural organizations. She has reviewed the innovation
strategies in hundreds of hospitals, and funded novel prototypes.
Leanne continues her growth through exposure to the scientiﬁc
ﬁelds, deep exploration across spiritual traditions, etc. Health
systems seek her out to think in new ways and create paths to a
preferable rather than a probable future.

Dr. Leland (Lee) Kaiser’s son

Kevin Kaiser gave his definition of what he thinks the Adventist Church is, at the 2006
Conference on Innovation, in Columbus, Ohio. On Monday, October 2, 2006, in his
presentation entitled “Spiritual Capacities of Innovative Leaders,” beginning at the minute
mark of 65:00, here is what he said:
“See, the Adventist Church isn’t the 28 fundamental beliefs, and we know that. The
Adventist Church is alive—it’s always re-creating itself. It is an alive entity. It is an
expression of God. It’s always changing. It’s always in metamorphosis. And, although
we’re always gonna have structures to support that, and ways to try to explain what it is, you
certainly can’t contain that. The Adventist Church is an epiphany. It’s something, that,
without any of the structures—without Sabbath, without the 28 fundamental beliefs, without
the Bible, without Christianity—there is a consciousness, where a group of people now for a
long period of time have come together to talk to God and to create something. And if that
energy—that pure energy of inspiration and creativity—moves through your voice, moves
through your words, then anything that you do is going to be effective with anyone with any
kind of openness.” ~ Kevin Kaiser
"The essential task of cutting through decades and centuries of tradition and ritual, and
rediscovering the beauty and simplicity of following Jesus into His mission field, has meant
that we reevaluate our priorities, assumptions, and loyalties. Applying the principles of
Jesus' ministry has meant that we displace and rearrange some cherished practices and
habits. The task of engaging ourselves in distinguishing what is essential to preserve from
our heritage from what is expendable is daunting."
~ Raj Attiken, in written introductory remarks given to the public at town hall meetings in
2010

Kevin Kaiser, son of Leland Kaiser, spoke at both the 2005 and 2006 Conferences on
Innovation, in Columbus, Ohio. In the 2006 conference, Kevin Kaiser recounted an
experience he had at the Cliffs of Moher, in Ireland. In this experience he was laying
face-down, with his head hanging over the cliff. The Cliffs of Moher are a traditional
sacred spot for Celts and Druids. Here is what Kevin Kaiser said on Monday, October 2,
2006, in his presentation entitled “Spiritual Capacities of Innovative Leaders,” starting at
the minute mark of 8 min. 16 seconds on the recorded CD of the event:
“And then something amazing happened for me that really started a lot of my thinking
and moving towards what I’m going to talk to you today. And this is a kind of connection
that you so eloquently talked about, that didn’t have to do with separation, religion, or
classification; it had to do with community. And I noticed that as I was laying on my chest
with now—now everyone was sort of, you know, they were emboldened—almost
everyone was laying on their stomachs, hanging out over the cliffs. I noticed that as I
was laying there with these fifteen to twenty people, that I felt really connected. I felt
really connected to this space. It was as if I had always been at the cliffs. It was so
familiar to me in the moment. And I noticed that the people around me, who, at face
value, seemed like complete strangers, were so familiar. It was as if I had always been
with them. And you talk about seeing the Kingdom of God in any person! I’m sure
there was probably an atheist there—maybe there was a Wiccan—I’m sure there
were a couple of Southern Baptists, and maybe a Muslim or two, and maybe a Zen
Buddhist—and there was a moment of connection where it simply didn’t matter;
that the thing that was Divine in all of us was simply moving through us into the
ground.”

Now, you would think that the Conference president, or one of the other Conference
personnel, or maybe one of the many pastors who were present—somebody would
have right then and there stood to their feet and said: “I’m sorry, but you will have to
leave. You are of a different spirit altogether.
But no. Nobody stood up and said anything of the sort. Instead, 130 or so people
stayed right in their seats, and continued to listen to Kevin Kaiser, as he led them in
an exercise regarding how to create and hold “sacred space” in their lives.
The following Pagan site mentions the Cliffs of Moher as a sacred site (scroll way
down):
http://paganpages.org/content/tag/ireland/
This next site also mentions the Cliffs of Moher as a sacred site. Here is the
opening to the author’s page: “As Christians look to the Holy Land or Muslims revere
Mecca, those of us who walk a Druidic or Celtic Pagan path regard Ireland, or Eire,
as the spiritual home of our tradition.”
Scroll down about one third the way down the page:
http://www.aquarius-atlanta.com/archivesview.php?issueid=470

Dr. Leland Kaiser’s
blog page...

Dr. Kaiser’s inner board of directors...

Taken directly from Kaiser’s
blog...

...learn to harness alchemy...
Alchemy:
A seemingly magical power or
process of transmuting.
Two Worlds Wisdom School (owned & operated by the Kaiser family)
www.twoworldswisdom.org

The Crossings
(retreat center)
Labyrinth

Two Worlds Wisdom School Presents
The 2009 Annual Wisdom Gathering: 
A JOURNEY INTO THE WORLD OF KARMA
With Rabbi Gershon Winkler, Rabbi Miriam Maron, Leanne
KeiserCarlson, Lench Archuleta, Kevin Kaiser, and others.
November 2-4, 2009 at “The Crossings” in Austin, Texas
This year we explore the mysteries of why things happen. 
We journey into the roots of repeating patterns, cause and 
effect cycles, and consequence. We look at seeds we sow
throughour own action as well as seeds generated by larger
groups, or originating before birth in our ancestral DNA. We
questionseeming twists of fate. Connect what appears
unrelated. See paths of learning. And we explore how to
accelerate, mitigate, and ultimately use karma to shape our
destiny. For more information, and to register,visit
www.twoworldswisdom.org
http://www.idrah.org/?page_id=488

faculty member of
Two Worlds...
Read

Title: Hello :) http://forums.riverofenlightenment.com/index.php?action=printpage;topic=2677.0
Post by: Tiger on July 27, 2008, 02:12:59 PM
Hello everyone,
Well I'll try to make it short and sweet for everyone. I am a 23 year old male from middle of nowhere America. I am currently attending a local
university and will graduate with my RN BSN degree (nursing). I have played approx. 3 years of college baseball, but am now done due to both
injury and elgibility reasons.
Metaphysical wise- I have been projecting etherically (real time zone) for about the last 5 years, and have had close to 100 in this time period.
They started off occurring at random, and I have now gained SOME control over it. Projection led me into energy work, in which I found energy
healings. I am now on course to becoming a certified healing touch practioner, so that way I can incorporate healing touch into my field of work.
I want to help people with not only traditional western medicine, but non traditional treatments as well. I am taking courses, and right now I am
a level 2 of 5 student. The results I, and my mother have had are pretty unreal. I am looking to get healing touch implemented into the local
hospitals. I am a practicing Rosicrucian, although I have been slack on my monographs and studies as of late (any questions, just ask or
google). I have been slowly developing my auric vision as of late...it has been occurring spontaneously over the past year, but I have also
learned to control it as well. One of my most memorable moments, of all the things I have accomplished, is seeing my aura extend in a cone-like
shape about 2 feet above my head (which I found out was my crown chakra), into an array of unreal, vibrant colors. I am also an ordained
minister through the Universal Life Church, which I use as my 'license' to touch until I get my RN, so if I choose to charge for my services as a
student of healing touch, I can do so legally. I am also a staff member of astral commune, so if my nickname sounds familiar, that is probably
why.
My mother also visits this site on occasion, and she is also a Rosicrucian, a practicing healing touch student, and is clairvoyant. Hey mom, if you
are reading this...lol.
Any questions or concerns just pm me. Nice to be here :).
Title: Re: Hello :)
Post by: Leswan on August 07, 2008, 04:27:05 AM
Hey Tiger, thanks for posting your introduction.
Have you heard of Two Worlds Wisdom School run by Leland Kaiser? Google 'gnosticnotes' to find his blog. Leland is a health care
consultant who's goal is to integrate spirituality into healthcare and the wider world of business and commerce.
I think you'd like his blog - I find it very inspiring.
If you get a chance it would be great to hear about some of your most profound / strange / exciting OBE's.
Take care
Matt
Title: Re: Hello :)
Post by: Aunt Clair on August 07, 2008, 03:54:10 AM
Hello and welcome to the River ! (http://forums.riverofenlightenment.com/Smileys/default/sal.gif)
Notice the web address above... read what this guy has to say and then
notice who he is directed to contact.
Let’s just brieﬂy look at riverofenlightenment.com
Matt says... “Leland is a health care consultant
who’s goal is to integrate spirituality into healthcare
and the wider world of business and commerce.”

Notice their quotation from “Christ”.

Dr. Leland Kaiser
wrote the forward in
this book...

If you want to understand what the spiritual journey is really like – this is the book for you. Dr.
Ellerby has given us an intimate, exciting view of walking with Spirit. It is a true inner look at the
spiritual world along with 12 powerful spiritual practices that will greatly assist your own passage.
This is a great introduction to what spirituality is all about. If you are ready to graduate from
traditional religion to spirituality - this is your roadmap. What a delightful book Jonathan has
given us! 
—Leland R. Kaiser, Ph.D. Spiritual Coach, Co-founder of Two Worlds Wisdom School
http://www.jonathanellerby.com/return-to-the-sacred
Read
Kaiser endorsing
Return To The Sacred

INTUITION WORKSHOP
with Kevin Kaiser
Introduction to Intuition
Intuition is your birthright! You are wired to
know the world in extraordinary ways that
transcend the five senses. Welcome to an
exploration of your intuitive gifts!
Receiving Intuitive Information
Information, energy, and consciousness are
everywhere—all you have to do is learn to
receive. But receiving intuitive information
takes practice—it is a specialized skill. Learn
how to activate your intuitive antennas.
In the BLINK of an Eye
Good decision-making requires a balance
of intuitive and analytic skills and the
capacity to quickly synthesize a lot of
information and a lot of experience. The
book BLINK describes one form of this as
thin-slicing. Learn how to use rapid
synthesis to make better decisions faster.
Barriers to Intuition
Evoking your intuitive gifts requires an understanding of
common barriers to intuition. These include fear, projection,
energetic imbalance, and excessive reduction. Step over barriers
and into expansion!
images by Deborah Koff-Chapin

The Kaiser’s travel far
and wide presenting
their “futurist” ideas to
hospitals and others in
the health community.
These businesses pay top
dollar to have the
Kaiser’s come and share
their “magic”. Let’s look
at just a few people on
their client list.

Here are just a few of
their many clients...

Adventist Today Magazine May/June 1994

Dr. Kaiser and his son taught Sabbath School class at Brighton SDA
Kaiser’s former home church

Ohio SDA
Conference President
Read who their partners are...

Pastor Loren Seibold of the Worthington SDA Church in Ohio writes this
article in Spectrum Magazine applauding the National Conference On
Innovation.

Remember “Faith House” (Manhattan)

Today the mysteries of heathen worship are replaced by the
secret associations and seances, the obscurities and
wonders, of Spiritualistic mediums. The disclosures of these
mediums are eagerly received by thousands who refuse to
accept light from God's Word or through his Spirit. Believers
in Spiritualism may speak with scorn of the magicians of old
but the great deceiver laughs in triumph as they yield to his
arts under a different form. {RH, January 15, 1914 par. 9}
There are many who shrink with horror from the thought
of consulting spirit mediums, but who are attracted by more
pleasing forms of spiritism... Still others are led astray by the
teachings of Christian Science, and by the mysticism of
theosophy and other Oriental religions.
{RH, January 15, 1914 par. 10}

3th Annual
2007
Speakers: Doug Pagitt, Jon Paulien, Philip Jenkins (Distinguished Professor of History and
Religious Studies at Penn State University, Author of The Next Christendom: The Coming of
Global Christianity) and Rabbi Marcia Prager, Dean of ALEPH, Alliance for Jewish Renewal,
and rabbi of Jewish Renewal Communities in Philadelphia and Princeton, N.J.
Vervent, the North American Division Ministries Resource Center, awarded its first
Innovative Church of the Year award to Pastor David Jamieson from the Aldergrove
Seventh- day Adventist Church in British Columbia.

2007 Innovation
Keynote Speakers

Marcia’s website states, “In the ancient language of Jewish
tradition and the modern language of feminist
consciousness, creation theology, and psychology, Marcia
Prager brings the words of the Hebrew invocation
dramatically alive. Her ‘Weekday Amidah in Guided
Imagery’ is a deck of 20 exquisitely illustrated cards which
use guided meditation to lead you through the
transformative blessings of this ancient prayer practice.
This experience brings us to embrace the full inclusion of
women and the divine feminine, and which facilitate the
deep healing of our relationships with each other and the
earth.”
[http://rabbimarciaprager.homestead.com/renewal.html]

Here’s Rabbi Marcia as a
keynote speaker, on
meditation, at the Tibet
Center to be held at the
Cathedral Church of St. John
the Divine.

What is Jewish Renewal and what does she teach?
In a deep way, Jewish Renewal is built on the idea that we live in a transformative
moment in time, in which a new paradigm for spiritual life is being developed.
Jewish Renewal actively seeks a relationship with God as the immanent reality
that suffuses all creation and from time to time calls to us from beyond creation as
well. This changes how we view the earth, the relationship of human beings to the
rest of creation - everything.
Jewish Renewal is the ongoing creative project of a generation of Jews who are
seeking to embrace a global vision of the role of all human beings and spiritual
paths in the transformation of life on earth. In Jewish renewal we draw significant
inspiration from the legacy of Jewish mystical and Hassidic traditions, which is
expressed in the cultivation of traditional practices such as meditation, chanting,
and davvenen' [the uniquely Jewish prayer practice that blends light body-
movement, modal chant and sacred text] and the study of traditional Kabbalistic
and Hasidic sources to enhance both individual and communal practice.

4th Annual
2008
Speakers: Leonard Sweet, Robert Wuthnow (sociologist), James Tucker (professor of
Educational Psychology at the University of Tennessee), Julius Nam (associate professor of
Religion at Loma Linda University).
The Hillsboro Spanish church in Oregon was named Innovative Church of the
year. Vervent, the North American Division’s Church Resource Center, presented the
award.

2008 National
Conference on
Innovation
speakers

Innovation Conference
NAD
Leonard Sweet  
talks about Kundalini in his book,Quantum Spirituality
"Energy-fire experiences take us into ourselves only that we might reach outside of ourselves. Metanoia is a de-centering
experience of connected-ness and community. It is not an exercise in reciting what Jesus has done for me lately. Energy-fire
ecstasy, more a buzz than a binge, takes us out of ourselves, literally. That is the meaning of the word 'ecstatic.'" —
Quantum Spirituality, P. 93
"A surprisingly central feature of all the world's religions is the language of light in communicating the divine and
symbolizing the union of the human with the divine: Muhammad's light-filled cave, Moses' burning bush, Paul's blinding
light, Fox's "inner light," Krishna's Lord of Light, Bohme's light-filled cobbler shop, Plotinus' fire experiences, Bodhisattvas
with the flow of Kundalini's fire erupting from their fontanelles, and so on." P. 235
Leonard states... “Mysticism, once cast to the
sidelines of the Christian tradition, is now situated
in postmodernist culture near the center.… In the
words of one of the greatest theologians of the
twentieth century, Jesuit philosopher of religion/
dogmatist Karl Rahner, “The Christian of
tomorrow will be a mystic, one who has
experienced something, or he will be
nothing.” [Mysticism] is metaphysics arrived at
through mindbody experiences. Mysticism begins
in experience; it ends in theology.”
(from p.160, A Time of Departing, quoting Sweet
from Quantum Spirituality, p. 76)

Rick Warren did an audio seminar with Leonard Sweet called The Tides of Change (1995). Rick
Warren's Ministry Toolbox at www.pastors.com endorses Sweet. SoulTsunami: Sink or Swim in
New Millennium Culture (his endorsement is on the front cover.) Leonard Sweet teaches that we
have an organic integration with those in the past.
In his book Quantum Spirituality: Under the topic of Sevening (On the seventh day [God] rested
and drew breath.) he gives some 10 deep breathing exercises. “1. Get in touch with your lungs
by closing your eyes. Visualize in your mind a tennis court” 8.“Hold your Bible and
breathe meditatively. The breathtaking, nay, breathgiving truth of aliveness is more
than Methuselean in its span: Part of your body right now was once actually, literally
part of the body of Abraham, Sarah, Noah, Esther, David, Abigail, Moses, Ruth,
Matthew, Mary, Like, Martha, John, Priscilla, Paul... and Jesus. 9. Keep breathing
quietly while holding your Bible. You have within you not just the powers of goodness
resident in the great spiritual leaders like Moses, Jesus, Muhammed, Lao Tzu You
also have within you the forces of evil and destruction.” Resident in each breath you
take is the body of angels like Joan of Arc and devils like Gilles de Rais, Genghis
Khan, Judas Iscariot, Herod, Hitler, Stalin and all the other destructive spirits
throughout history” (Quantum Spirituality p.300-301)
It all goes back to the source of Alice Bailey, who said, “The great theme of the new
world religion will be the recognition of, the many divine approaches and the continuity
of revelation which each of them conveyed.”
http://www.letusreason.org/current78.htm

The 4Th Annual National Conference On Innovation, sponsored by the Ohio Conference Of
Seventh Day Adventists, will take place in October in Columbus, Ohio and will feature New Age sympathizer/
emerging futurist Leonard Sweet. On the conference website, it states:
Partners in Innovation is a convergence of people and organizations committed to providing the environment, encouragement,
resources and support for the emergence of the Adventist Church of the future in North America.... We ask you to consider
becoming a partner in developing this far-reaching initiative to energize a new future for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in
North America.
Leonard Sweet, who promotes mysticism, christ-consciousness, and the "New Lights" movement that touts people like
Matthew Fox, Ken Wilber, and other mystic proponents, recently spoke at Rick Warren's Small Groups Conference. Sweet
states in his book Quantum Spirituality that the "power of small groups is in their ability to develop the discipline to get people
'in-phase' with the Christ consciousness (meaning the divinity of man) and connected with one another (meaning
interspirituality)(p. 147). 
 
The emerging church has been making inroads into Seventh Day Adventism as it has in most of "religion in the Western
world." Roger Oakland, in his book Faith Undone, discusses Samir Selmanovic, a Muslim turned-Seventh Day Adventist
pastor-turned emerging figure:
Samir Selmanovic ... has some interesting and alarming views on Christianity. He states:
The emerging church movement has come to believe that the ultimate context of the spiritual aspirations of a follower of Jesus
Christ is not Christianity but rather the kingdom of God.... to believe that God is limited to it [Christianity] would be an
attempt to manage God. If one holds that Christ is confined to Christianity, one has chosen a god that is not sovereign. Soren
Kierkegaard argued that the moment one decides to become a Christian, one is liable to idolatry.1
On Selmanovic's website, Faith House project, he presents an interfaith vision that will "...seek to bring progressive Jews,
Christians, Muslims, and spiritual seekers of no faith to become an interfaith community for the good of the world. We have
one world and one God."2
www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/newsletter090808.htm (non-Adventist website)
www.crossroad.to/Quotes/spirituality/lighthousetrails/08/9-sweet-adventist.htm

Pastor Chris Bullock
Who is Ron Gladden?

Gladden no
longer believes
in Ellen White or
the Sabbath and
puts out the
magazine
Proclamation.

Notice Pastor
Bullock says…
Graduate of
Andrews University

Center for Creative Ministry
*See our
presentation
about the
NAD’s iFollow
Discipleship
Resource for
pastor and
churches.

“The truths most plainly revealed in the Bible
have been involved in doubt and darkness by
learned men, who, with a pretense of great
wisdom, teach that the Scriptures have a
mystical, a secret, spiritual meaning not
apparent in the language employed. These men
are false teachers. It was to such a class that
Jesus declared, "Ye know not the Scriptures,
neither the power of God." [MARK
12:24.]”
GC. pg 598

5th Annual
2009
Speakers: Samir Selmanovic, Suzy Welch (author), David Neff (vice president of
Christianity Today International, editor-in-chief of Christianity Today magazine and
former Seventh-day Adventist pastor) "The Ancient-Future Church", Michael Lindsay
(sociologist), Margaret Feinberg (who was tagged by Charisma magazine as one of the
top 30 emerging voices who will lead the church into the next decade) "Church &
Culture, Style & Substance" and "Backstage Pass: A Toolbox of Ideas". As an added
bonus, Dave Weigley (president of the Columbia Union Conference) made a spur of the
moment decision to buy Suzy's new book, 10-10-10, for every person in the room.
Innovative Church of the Year. Vervent (vervent.org) a part of the Church Resource
Center at the North American Division headquarters in Silver Spring, Md., chose
Atlanta’s Berean (atlantabereansda.org) church because of its innovative approach to
evangelism.

5th Annual Conference
Dr. Michael Lindsay

We’ll look at the Stained Glass
Documentary shortly

Muslim raised Adventist Pastor Samir
Selmanovic’s most recent book
It’s Really All About God
is a very personal story
and a thrilling exploration
of a redeeming, dynamic,
and radically different way
to hold one’s religion.
Readers will deepen their
religious identities while
discovering God,
goodness, and grace
beyond their own religious
boundaries.
The emerging church has been making inroads
into Seventh Day Adventism as it has in most
of “religion in the Western world.” Samir
Selmanovic is a Muslim turned-Seventh Day
Adventist pastor-turned emerging figure.
Samir Selmanovic … has some interesting and
alarming views on Christianity. He states:
The emerging church movement has come to
believe that the ultimate context of the
spiritual aspirations of a follower of Jesus
Christ is not Christianity but rather the
kingdom of God…. to believe that God is limited
to it [Christianity] would be an attempt to
manage God. If one holds that Christ is
confined to Christianity, one has chosen a god
that is not sovereign. Soren Kierkegaard
argued that the moment one decides to
become a Christian, one is liable to idolatry.1
On Selmanovic’s website, Faith House project,
he presents an interfaith vision that will “…
seek to bring progressive Jews, Christians,
Muslims, and spiritual seekers of no faith to
become an interfaith community for the good
of the world. We have one world and one
God.”2

Selmanovic is co-leader and
Founder of
www.faithhousemanhattan.org
“Experience Your Neighbor’s Faith”
Mission
We are an experiential inter-religious community that comes together to deepen our personal and
communal journeys, share ritual life and devotional space, and foster a commitment to social justice and
healing the world.
Looks like he’s jumped on
board with this ecumenical
movement.
Empty circle for the atheist

Samir also
serves on the
Interfaith
Relations
Commission of
the United
States National
Council of
Churches.
Early
Endorsements

Faith House Manhattan was launched by AMM

Connected with the One
Project.
iFollow
Discipleship

Keynote speaker for 2014
Oshkosh Camporee and
speaker for the One Project.
Andrews University

These Living Room Gatherings
meet twice a month

Matt is a speaker for
GODencounters & the
One Project.

Shasta (Burr) Nelson
(wife of Greg Nelson)
Selmanovic

“I really hope you guys will stay
Adventists. The body of Christ
needs you to stay there and be a
force for change within your
group.”

6th Annual
2010
Speakers included Zack Plantak (chair of the Religion Department at WAU),
Barbara Bradley Hagerty (award-winning religion correspondent for National
Public Radio). She talked about the search for the science of spirituality, the
topic of her recent book.
A highlight of the event is a banquet where the NAD Church Resource Center
recognizes the Innovative Church of the Year and Kettering Adventist
HealthCare presents the Innovation of the Year award. This year both awards
were bestowed upon the Hollywood (California) church pastored by Ryan Bell.

She is the religion correspondent for NPR, and author of “Fingerprints
of God.” In this book she explores the ‘science’ of spirituality.
This book chronicles her year long quest to answer a question: is there
any real scientific evidence for God? Right up front, Hagerty reveals
that this is not an entirely objective exercise. As a Christian, she wants
to understand her own mystical encounter with the divine and why she
believes when others do not.
In this book we watch Hagerty attempt to balance her own trust in faith and science and, in
the end, come down with one foot planted firmly in both.
The author hails from a Christian Science background but as an individual who fell away
from her faith and then regained a new faith through her individual spiritual experience.
Some of the research she covers:
- Neuroscientific research into the brains of `accomplished' spiritual practitioners - specifically
Tibetan Buddhist monks and Franciscan nuns, and the permanent changes in their brain that
their spiritual practice has caused.  
 
- Studies on individuals who have had near death experiences (NDEs).
In this book she approvingly quotes spiritual feminist, Julian of Norwich; a favorite mystic of
the Emergant church movement.
She also quotes; “ [William] James wrote… spiritualism means the affirmation of an eternal
order, and the letting loose of hope". Given the choice, I throw my lot in with hope.”

Alan is an advocate and proponent of the Emerging church movement.
Author of “The Forgotten Ways: Reactivating the Missional Church” Alan Hirsch
“ The Shaping of things to come” by Alan Hirsch and Michael Frost.
“ ReJesus: a wild Messiah for the Missional Church” by Alan Hirsch and Michael Frost

A Curious perspective on church growth from Alan’s book, “The Forgotten Ways:
Reactivating the Missional Church”)
When Mao Tse-tung took control of China there were approximately 2 million Christians.
However, when the Bamboo Curtain was lifted some estimated the Christian population in
China to be near 60 million. Moreover, the number of Christians in China today are around
80 million. Once again, how did this kind of growth happen? Hirsch states some
qualifications:  
1. They didn't have church buildings as we know them.  
2. They didn't have scriptures as we know them.  
3. They didn't have an institution or professional forms of leadership.  
Hirsch states "if you wish to grow a contemporary church following good church growth
principles, there are several things you must do and constantly improve upon.  
His suggestion include:
1. Expand the building for growth.  
2. Develop an inspiring worship service with an excellent band.  
3. Make certain you have excellent parking facilities.

Hirsch writes a chapter that critiques the "pastor-teacher" mode of church leaders as
insufficient to meet the challenges of the church today. What the church needs in these
times, according to Hirsch, are those with the "apostolic" gift of Ephesians 4:11. This spiritual
gift is not limited to the original Twelve, but is reflected in those "pioneer missionaries and
working theologians [p 156]" in our midst that can help the church navigate the difficult
waters of a post-modern environment. This statement contains a footnote referencing
prominent New Age physicist Fritjof Capra for support. To approvingly cite Capra, a
proponent of Eastern mysticism, as possessing the proper understanding of the "inner
structure of life and cosmology itself" is grossly irresponsible and also very telling.
Hirsch's chapter on "organic systems" states,”they have everything in themselves (latent DNA) to
be able to adapt and thrive in any setting...the task of missional leadership here is simply to
unleash the mDNA that is dormant in the system and help guide it to its God-intended purpose [p
183]." This language of potencies and latent powers sounds more like that of New Age
philosophy, particularly Theosophy, rather than anything biblical. This sort of thinking comes out
of the New Age worldview, which is diametrically opposed to the theistic Christian framework.
Hirsch writes: "we must be willing to significantly realign resources, invest in the future, take a
journey, and experiment like mad [p 71]." This theme of rampant experimentation in every area
of church life reverberates through the pages. Throughout the book we get the impression that
Hirsch believes he has a bead on inaugurating true Christianity after 1700 years of its corruption
by Christendom. Hirsch writes, "The Christendom church is fundamentally different from the NT
church [p 276]."  
It is important to remember that Christ's Church has persisted for two thousand years, while new
models for "doing church" come and go like so many fads and trends. Never forget that Christ
builds His church by His Spirit, not mechanical formulas or algorithms.

2010 CRC Innovative Church of the Year
Opportunity
Because the world in which we live is constantly changing, the way that we serve as
disciples of Jesus needs to continually undergo innovation. The North American Division
Church Resource Center is looking for pioneering congregations that have successfully
taken a risk in adapting the eternal truth of the gospel to the constant change of people’s
needs.
Prize
The Innovative Church of the Year will receive as a prize an all expense paid trip for the
pastor and two lay leaders to the 2010 National Conference on Innovation in Columbus
Ohio on October 3-October 5, 2010. In addition the church will receive an unrestricted
cash award of $2,000.
Criteria
• The church has taken advantage of opportunities in a changing society with new
ways of doing ministry.
• The innovation has resulted in either numerical or spiritual growth in the
congregation or has made a significant contribution to the target community.
• The innovation addresses one or more of the Natural Church Development
Characteristics.
• The innovation offers the potential to be repeated in other congregations.
• The pastor and two laypeople are able and willing to attend the 2008 Conference
on innovation October 3-October 5, 2010 in Columbus, Ohio.
Registering Nomination
Filing Deadline: August 16, 2010
Mail or email to: dave@vervent.org
NAD Church Resource Center
12501 Old Columbia Pike
Silver Spring, MD 20904

Raj
Attiken’s son-in-law, Nathan
French, member of Hollywood SDA
Church, accepts award for
Innovative church of the
year.

What makes Hollywood SDA
Church so innovative?

Hollywood Church observing
Lent
Go online and watch their taize service ...
Ryan Bell - now professed
atheist & former pastor of
Hollywood SDA.

Pastor Loren Seibold
Pastor Ryan Bell
Vervent

Ryan J. Bell
Senior Pastor, Hollywood Seventh-day Adventist
Posted: April 6, 2010 04:31 PM
I'm A Social Justice Christian
http://www.newnamepictures.com
A few weeks ago Glenn Beck threw down the gauntlet regarding Christianity and social justice. When news of Beck's incendiary comments broke, my colleagues and I across the
religious spectrum couldn't believe what we were hearing. In the weeks that followed everyone was talking about how to respond. I met with a couple of filmmakers at the
church I serve and together we decided to create two or three Public Service Announcements with the aim of creating a civil conversation out of the cultural moment created by
Glenn Beck's unfortunate comments. Our goal is to help people understand what social justice is and its place at the center of Christian faith. The first of our PSAs is can be
viewed below and at www.socialjusticechristian.com. There is great debate, especially among people who might identify as more conservative evangelicals, about what social
justice really means. In my experience, growing up in a very conservative Christian environment, nearly every Christian is in favor of serving the poor and, in general, helping
people. Occasionally there might be a debate about a person's worthiness vis-à-vis his or her personal life choices. But in general, most Christians I meet, conservative or liberal,
feel that feeding the hungry and clothing the naked is the church's responsibility. Even if they aren't personally engaged in such work, they feel that someone should do it.
The difficulty comes when the conversation turns to our corporate responsibility, as a society, to care for each other. In other words, in what sense should my religious values
determine the way we order our public lives? Some will brush away any suggestion that Christians should be involved in this type of conversation by invoking "separation of
church and state." But the separation of church and state is about the state being prohibited from establishing any religion or inhibiting the free exercise of religion. It is not
meant to prevent people from bringing their religiously inspired moral values to bear upon issues of public concern as long as others are also permitted to bring their values to
the table... Finally, when the church makes acts of charity the only way to be involved in the world, it leaves systemic injustice -- and I would say, evil -- unchallenged. I have
come to the conclusion that focusing exclusively on charity actually allows injustice to flourish. Providers of charity become those who service the wreckage of an economic
system that leaves millions of people destitute. By holding to this theology of charity alone, Christians actually facilitate injustice rather than challenging it.
Imagine if instead of organizing the civil rights movement, black leaders like Martin Luther King, Jr. had simply advised Christians to love each other and stay out of the public
square. Imagine if King had said to black Christians across the country that the church has no business getting involved in "politics." Where would we be today? But instead, he
correctly identified racism as systemic, social sin. Then he organized a nationwide campaign to root out that sin and improve the lives of millions of Americans. Today Martin
Luther King, Jr. is lauded as an American hero. Sadly, he also paid the ultimate price for living out his convictions. Social justice is at the heart of the Christian faith. The
religious leaders and people of faith we spoke to in the making of this PSA couldn't fathom a form of Christianity that doesn't speak to systemic brokenness. They couldn't
imagine a Christian message of redemption and healing that only applied to people's personal lives and not to their social lives.
If you are a social justice Christian, we encourage you to post your own video response on our YouTube page expressing why you're a social justice Christian. Or drop us an
email through the link on our webpage, www.socialjusticechristian.com. In the coming weeks we will be creating more PSAs and broadening the scope to include people of

By now you
should recognize
these names.

Dybdahl’s book Hunger also promotes the spiritual discipline of Lectio Divina
“Multitudes of potential methods for meditation exist, but I want to outline two
major possibilities to give an example of what you can do. You can modify both
of them to fit your particular need and preference.
The first is a variation of an ancient Christian method called lectio divina, or
sacred/divine reading. One reason I use it is that either an individual or a group
can employ it. Often I find people are more willing to try meditation personally
if they have had a good experience in a group setting. In class I have often done
this type as a means of introducing meditation and of helping people see the
discipline's value.” ~ Hunger pg. 62
“The second method of meditation uses visualization... The same guidlines that
apply to lectio divina apply to visualization. Visualization should be connected
to Scripture or nature... This method is particualarly helpful in connection
with the biblical stories. I have found time and time again in my own
experience that study and spiritual life are enriched, as I have in imagination
entered the scriptural account and relived the event. ~ Hunger pg. 64-65

Jon Dybdahl’s contemplative propensities are strongly presented in his 2008 book, Hunger:
Satisfying the Longing of Your Soul. In Hunger, Dybdahl favorably instructs on contemplative
practices such as lectio divina, visualization (p. 64), the Jesus Prayer, and breath prayers
(p. 52). Dybdahl explains in his book that in his “not-so-secret quest for God,” he turned to Quaker
Thomas Kelly’s book A Testament of Devotion. It is Kelly, a panentheist, who said that within every
human being is a “Divine Center,” a “secret sanctuary” (from A Testament of Devotion). This
“secret sanctuary” Kelly is speaking of is what he calls “abiding Light behind all changing [life]
forms.” He says: “In that Current we must bathe. In that abiding yet energizing Center we are all
made one” (p. 38).” Dybdahl says in Hunger that Henri Nouwen “intensified” his ”craving” for “God’s
presence.” (p.12) But the presence that Nouwen is speaking of is the same as that of mystics, and it
is this mysticism that led Nouwen to reject Jesus Christ as the only path to God at the end of his life
(Sabbatical Journey). Dybdahl’s book is brimming with references to contemplative mystics: David
Benner, Morton Kelsey, Adele Alberg Calhoun, Tilden Edwards, Richard Foster, Ken Boa, and
Brother Lawrence. (also see this critique on Hunger)
www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com
Professor at Andrews Theological Seminary & main
editor of Andrews University’s new Study Bible.

Speakers: Samir Selmanovic, Anna Lappé (Food expert), Ron Stout, Diana
Fleming and Gabe Lyons (founded the Fermi Project in 2003 where conference
presenters have included Donald Miller, Rob Bell, Scott McKnight and Rick
Warren. His bestselling book (with David Kinnaman) unChristian featured
contribution from Jim Wallis.
7th Annual
2011

WHO IS GABE LYONS?
• co-founder of the Catalyst conference
• the creative force behind the Fermi Project (now called "Q"),
• author of The Next Christians: The Good News About the End of Christian America (10/2010)
• co-author of UnChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks about Christianity and Why it Matters,
• His philosophy incorporates elements of the Social gospel, Liberation theology, Dominionism as well as the Emergent
church movement
From Lyons' book The Next Christians, page 53. Gabe Lyons explains: "Christ's death and Resurrection were not only meant to
save people from something. He wanted to save Christians to something… they (Christians) are participating with God in his
restoration project for the whole world. They recognize that Christ's redemptive work is not the end or even the goal of our
stories; redemption is the beginning of our participation in God's work of restoration in our lives and in the world.
Understanding that one idea literally changes everything." [emphasis added]
This quote is precisely what Dominionism is all about. This is based on the esoteric idea of "restoration" of "God's original
intention for his creation." Dominionism has now reached out into the mainstream evangelical milieu via conferences, books,
technology, and media.  
 
And this is where Gabe Lyons and an entire army of social engineers appear on the scene. Gabe Lyons is the co-founder of
Catalyst, which was originally set up in 1999 for the purpose of "change agent" training for the younger generation, which
purpose was billed as: "We are the kingdom ambassadors, change agents, and cultural architects who have the influence to
change our communities, churches, and cultures for good. But this change happens in the very place where many leaders flinch
and fail because the perceived cost is too high. We must push through this fear for kingdom change to define the
future." [emphasis added]
Lyons is also founder of a "re-education" group of "young, innovative and influential leaders" called Q, which "was birthed out of
Gabe Lyons’ vision to see Christians, especially leaders, recover a vision for their historic responsibility to renew and restore
cultures." "A place where church and cultural leaders come together to collaborate and explore ideas about how the Gospel can be
expressed within our cultural context." This is not the Gospel of Salvation. This is the Gospel of "Kingdom Now," in which
Society itself is seen as an extension of the Church, and views the Church's primary role is to fulfill a "cultural commission" for
"social renewal."

Gabe Lyons QUOTES:
CP: What do you mean by the term “restoration”? How does the idea of restoration shape the worldview of the Next
Christian?
Lyons: This next generation understands restoration as connected to the gospel… We need to create something that the world can
interact with that will help them get restored, and not just spiritually. So this next generation is really capturing the ‘both/and’ of the
message. That it is restoration of spiritual things but also to very physical, tangible acts that the rest of the world gets to interact with.
CP: Do you foresee conflict within the Christian body between the Next Christians and their predecessors?
Lyons: They’re (Next Christians) not restricted by the debate of the last century between the liberal social understanding of the gospel
and building utopia, and how that comes into conflict with whether we need to be proclaiming the name of Christ. They’re actually
doing these two things and understand[ing] that they are so integral, and you can’t separate them.
Interview with The Christian Post > |Mon, Oct. 11 2010 11:57 PM EDT
Lyons believes that the gospel is no longer having a powerful influence in our culture.
“I believe God is calling the Church of America to grasp its calling to influence the greater culture... I can’t imagine anything more
important or significant in our lifetime, than to be a part of the church recapturing its role in shaping culture.”
The vision for Gabe Lyons’ Q Ideas is to call the church and all Christians of our time...
“...to rediscover the cultural mandate, embracing the opportunity to influence culture. In the church, we must teach about calling and
cultural influence and provide vital support to cultural leaders. We must become an integral piece of the local culture, convening and
encouraging creation of future culture that serves the common good. We must become connoisseurs of good culture, recognizing and
celebrating the good, true and beautiful to the glory of God and begin to lead the conversations that will shape future culture."
The Q Gathering hopes to encourage Christians to engage and shape the culture.
"By bringing together leaders from the channels of media, education, politics, arts and entertainment, business, the social sector and
the church to learn from one another, it instigates lively interaction and learning that seldom takes place in other environments. We
believe that inherent in Christian faithfulness is the responsibility to create a better world, one that reflects God’s original design and
intention. Q is a place leaders can explore what that might look like and how God’s intention is showing up in the lives of their peers
and the cultural projects they create.”

The Next Christians was passed out
to each attendee of The One Project
(Atlanta).

8th Annual
2012
Keynote speakers were Miroslav Volf and Henry B. Wright from Yale
University. Other speaker was David Kinnaman of the Barna Group and
co-author of unChristian.

Keynote speakers: Miroslav Volf was the main attraction at 9th Innovation
National Conference in Ohio. Volf earned doctoral and post-doctoral degrees (with
highest honors) from the University of Tübingen (at Jürgen Moltmann)
in Germany. Other speakers were Sider and Crouch.
9th Annual
2013

“The warnings of the word of God
regarding the perils surrounding the
Christian church belong to us today. As in
the days of the apostles men tried by
tradition and philosophy to destroy faith
in the Scriptures, so today, by the
pleasing sentiments of higher criticism,
evolution, spiritualism, theosophy, and
pantheism, the enemy of righteousness is
seeking to lead souls into forbidden
paths.” Acts of the Apostles

This article was published 2-08-2015.
Let’s take a closer look.

Center for Creative Ministry - board member
Adventist Youth Ministries - board member
Versacare - Trustee

For the time being, the annual National Conferences on
Innovation have been discontinued. It is unknown
whether this annual training event will reappear again in
the future under a different name. But praise be to the
Lord Jesus Christ that at least for now, there are no more
scheduled meetings. Thank you for all of you who have
prayed for godly revival and reformation to take place.
We must continue to be diligent people of prayer, for the
devil is continuing to try to weaken and bring
compromise into God’s remnant church.

If you took part in signing the petition protesting
these conferences, we would like to sincerely
thank you. However, there are still other venues
in which Emergent presenters are invited to
speak to God’s people. Let us actively address
each of these situations in a Christ-like and
forthright manner.
Please see the Slideshare presentations on iFollow
Discipleship and the presentations on The One Project.

NAD's Innovative Splintering of Adventism

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