An important Forum Guideline

[Larry Lyons]

Larry, could I have the website addresses for the other Adventist forums you refer to here?

Tammy, check your private mail.

[Doug Yowell]

Sorry Larry, I'll have to disagree with your decision to lock up the topic of Adventists and abortion. Considering the overwhelming response this topic generated compared to almost every other subject on the table (the Asserick letter wasn't even a close second) and the unique way that it seems to affect every other aspect of the last day message,I'd have to say that your move was a little premature. If you felt that things were getting a little out of hand would not a word of warning(caution) have been effective in returning to the guidelines? At least you would have given the participants the opportunity to change course before pulling the plug. Personally, I saw no personal attacks,no attack on fundamental SDA church doctrines,no attacks on the Spirit of Prophesy (I don't consider questioning what EGW meant as an attack on her credibility). Maybe you sensed something I didn't but it seems to have had the effect of throwing water on the discussion of the other subjects as well. One last note. I don't know about your family but I've known very few families that don't have their (very) heated disagreements at times. This doesn't mean that they don't love each other. It means that they have the freedom to be a part of that inner circle even in times of disagreement.I hope you might consider reopening the topic in the near future. Your brother --Doug

[Larry Lyons]

Doug, I locked it temporarily and intend to open it soon. Remember this is a public forum. Families do not have their disagreements or hang their dirty linen in the front yard for all the neighbors to hear. (hopefully)

[Raven]

Sorry Larry, I'll have to disagree with your decision to lock up the topic of Adventists and abortion. Considering the overwhelming response this topic generated compared to almost every other subject on the table (the Asserick letter wasn't even a close second) and the unique way that it seems to affect every other aspect of the last day message,I'd have to say that your move was a little premature. If you felt that things were getting a little out of hand would not a word of warning(caution) have been effective in returning to the guidelines? At least you would have given the participants the opportunity to change course before pulling the plug. Personally, I saw no personal attacks,no attack on fundamental SDA church doctrines,no attacks on the Spirit of Prophesy (I don't consider questioning what EGW meant as an attack on her credibility). Maybe you sensed something I didn't but it seems to have had the effect of throwing water on the discussion of the other subjects as well. One last note. I don't know about your family but I've known very few families that don't have their (very) heated disagreements at times. This doesn't mean that they don't love each other. It means that they have the freedom to be a part of that inner circle even in times of disagreement.I hope you might consider reopening the topic in the near future. Your brother --Doug

Doug, I'm in full agreement with Larry on locking the topic.  If you go back and read the last few posts, you'll see where I responded to statements that appeared to me to be casting doubt on SOP statements relating to the future.  It wasn't the heated discussion that prompted his move so much as the questionable statements about some of our fundamental beliefs.  His post was just copied from his original post from back in February.  Sometimes it's good to be reminded of these things before things get too carried away.