Home > Church Manual > Writings of EGW in the Church Manual >
.
Testimonies, Vol. 8, page 236
.
This text appears in the church manual (17th edition) in the section . . .  


   Section:  
Four Constituent Levels in the SDA Organization  -  page 26
                    The part in bold blue is what appears in the Church Manual

            Written on Nov. 17, 1903 by Ellen White, at St. Helena, California

. . . There has been no controversy between Dr. Kellogg and myself as to the question of leadership. No one has ever heard me claim the position of leader of the denomination.  {8T 236.1}

 I have a work of great responsibility to do - - to impart by pen and voice the instruction given me, not alone to Seventh-day Adventists, but to the world. I have published many books, large and small, and some of these have been translated into several languages. This is my work--to open the Scriptures to others as God has opened them to me.  {8T 236.2}
 God has not set any kingly power in the Seventh-day Adventist Church to control the whole body or to control any branch of the work. He has not provided that the burden of leadership shall rest upon a few men. Responsibilities are distributed among a large number of competent men.  {8T 236.3}
Every member of the church has a voice in choosing officers of the church. The church chooses the officers of the state conferences. Delegates chosen by the state conferences choose the officers of the union conferences, and delegates chosen by the union conferences choose the officers of the General Conference. By this arrangement every conference, every institution, every church, and every individual, either directly or through representatives, has a voice in the election of the men who bear the chief responsibilities in the General Conference.  {8T 236.4}
 
Return to Writings of Ellen White in the Church Manual page