Date March 14, 2006
On behalf of the members(3500) of 63 Churches and Companies of
Seventh-day Adventist Church in Myanmar, we are happy to declare our unanimous
decision about our position before the Lord our God, to all the Global
Adventist Churches, the General Conference of SDA, all the non-Adventist, the
Government of Myanmar, and members of Peace Making Group.
1.
That we belong to Seventh-day
Adventist Church from the date of our baptism as, we all are regular standing
members of the said Church, and we accept the Fundamental Doctrines of SDA
Believes, Church Manual, and Working Policy of the General Conference of
Seventh-day Adventists.
2.
That we have been illegally and
illegitimately disbanded by Myanmar Union Mission of Seventh-day Adventist
(MYUM) from Adventist (Mission) fellowship. We are extremely sorry for the
disbandment because it was done when we did not have our representation in the
Session. For separation is the spirit of Satan not of the Holy Spirit. We had
disapproved the action of MYUM for the following reasons;
a. MYUM/UMM deliberately violated the Working Policy of
Southern Asia-Pacific Division of the General Conference of Seventh-day
Adventist in the Quinquennial Constituency election, for their personal
advantage in 2001 Session.
b. Though it was revealed to them in the Triennial Session of
2003, they neglected it to do the same. Pastor Muller Kyaw, the Union President
had confessed his fault but instead of arranging a dialogue for reconciliation,
he announced the disbandment of the Conference group from Mission.
c.
Though Mission workers have wrongly
accused us of being apostasy, we have never been drifted away from the SDA
Fundamental beliefs, teachings and Working Policies. In fact, they have
committed apostasy in some areas of beliefs from the Global Adventist Church.
d. Again, they have not followed the SSD Working Policy and
the Church Manual in accepting representative delegates and selecting
representatives in the UPPER MYANMAR Triennial Session of Upper Myanmar in 2006
by refusing church chosen delegates.
e.
MYUM and UMM “disband” some
Conference advocated churches(17 of them) without constituency meeting and they
“brand” us as “illegal organization” in the Government Offices in April
2004. They ordered to close down the conference advocated Churches and
their Bible Schools. As we have no other choice for protection from the assault
of Mission leaders, the Yangon Local Church registered as “Myanmar Adventist
Conference of Seventh-day Adventists” in Myanmar Biblical Christian Fellowship
(MBCF) No. 1617 of the government of Myanmar temporarily on renewable yearly
basis. We have never given up our beliefs. If they have to blame us on
this ground they are also the same because the Myanmar Union Mission (MYUM)
also has the same type of fellowship in Myanmar Christian Council of Churches
(MCC).
f.
In the case of their false accusation
of ordination, we have never ordained any worker for credential liaisons.
Retired SDA Pastors, Pr. Thang Khan Dal and Pr.Daniel Nangno have been
requested to perform Baptismal and communion services among Conference
members, and yet their health do not permit to do in all places, only certain
ordained elders are “authorized” to perform it on temporary basis because
Mission Pastors refused to conduct baptismal rites and communion services to us
since 2003.
3.
Although MYUM/UMM have disbanded us
on baseless reasons, we love and recognized them as our brothers and sisters
and we are ever willing to cooperate with them for the accomplishment of the
mission of the Church.
4.
That we have no desire, no plan to
become off shooting organization or joining any independent ministries though
we have no connection with higher organization as they have disbanded us. We
are praying for the time to join hands together in the near future under the
Conference status under the Union, Division, and the GC.
5.
Believing that God the Holy Spirit is
calling us to evangelize in Myanmar, we, the Conference group is going to
concentrate in Evangelism among the non-Christians in Myanmar, that we will
collect and disburse tithe and offerings for ministry in harmony with the SSD
Working Policy and the Church Manual of Seventh-day Adventist Church.
6. We are much aware of the statement of our Church
membership growth rate (Viz 24725 as of 2005 statistic) within 105 years of
work by 300 mission working forces and we felt the need of a change in the
leadership style, methods or procedures of working system.
7.
That we are ready to support the
World Church of Seventh-day Adventists and its Mission (Matt 28:19-20; Rev
14:6-12) with our tithe and offerings like we did before, and we need a channel
to disburse them to higher SDA organization. We hereby, request the Southern
Asia-Pacific Division (SSD) to arrange a special people to receive and control
the tithe and offerings, and to advise us how to work especially in the field
of evangelism among the non-Christians.
Until we are accepted by the higher SDA organization to carry
the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church for the accomplishment of the
Great Commission(Matt 28:19-20; Rev 14:6-12), the tools of our operation will
be the SDA Church Manual, the Ministers’ Handbook, the SDA Elders’ Handbook,
the Constitution By Laws, and Working Policies of General Conference(SSD) of
Seventh-day Adventist, and Orders of Instructions of higher Organization of
the World wide Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Mr. Kai Za Dal
Chairman,
Executive Committee
Myanmar Adventist Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
Myanmar
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