Bronwen Larson to Jan Paulsen on the Andrews University "Questions on Doctrine" Conference

Jan Paulsen, President
General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
Silver Springs, Maryland

Dear President Paulsen,

Because I had the privilege of attending the "Questions on Doctrine" Conference at Andrews University with my husband, David Larson, who teaches at LLU, I thought I would give you my report as a “non-theologian!”

I have accompanied Dave to many conferences, workshops and meetings during the years we have been married, but have never had as positive and as poignant an experience as I did at this one. Maybe this is due to the following:

(1) I grew up in Australia, attended Avondale College when Desmond Ford was still teaching there, and experienced some of the fallout from Glacier View in the 1980s.

(2) I watched colleagues drop out of the ministry and even leave the church due to the contentious debates and the way some of these were “mishandled” by Conference leadership.

(3) I have seen the devastation in my home state of South Australia where scores of people, including pastors who are friends, left the church and are still bitter.

(4) I came to this country in 1983 and as a Chaplain I have listened to the hurt and pain of many who have been affected by the controversies.

(5) I have experienced the painful consequences of these conflicts upon people on all sides of the debate, including the family of my father-in-law, Ralph S. Larson.

(6) I learned at the QOD Conference just what had happened. I never understood until last week what really caused all the pain and heartache; I had only seen the aftermath.

(7) I watched healing take place at the QOD Conference. Things were tense on Wednesday evening and on Thursday, but by Friday people were more relaxed. Conversations were taking place between people who had been “fighting” for 50 years. The guards came down, and the body language was much more inclusive and positive.

(8) The communion service on Sabbath was both historic and miraculous. To see George Knight, Angel Rodriguez and Colin Standish standing behind the communion table brought tears to Dave’s and my faces. That is why the photo on the Spectrum web site is blurred!

(9) Despite living in Australia until 1983, I had never met the Standish brothers until last week at the QOD Conference, except for a very brief encounter with Colin on September 1 at my father-in-law’s (Ralph S. Larson’s) memorial service. I enjoyed being able to sit down with them in the cafeteria, conversing about our respective families who both have roots in South Australia. They both exhibited friendship and acceptance, and it was wonderful to see others relating to them in a positive way also.

(10) This conference, which was very well organized, gave people the long-needed opportunity to share their views, listen to others’ positions, and start to heal relationships that have been damaged for so long. People in our church have desperately needed to know, and experience, that it’s OK to believe a little differently and still be part of God’s family. The QOD Conference at Andrews University beautifully provided this opportunity. May what has begun, continue!

I will be eternally grateful that three younger leaders in our church, Julius Nam, Michael Campbell and Jerry Moon, and the current Dean of the Seminary, Denis Fortin, had the foresight, optimism and courage to make such an event possible.

With warm regards,

      Bronwen

Bronwen F. Larson
(GC Employee 1992-1997)