Dr Michael Campbell is an Adventist historian, prolific author and direct of Archives, Statistics and Research for the North American Division, based in Columbia, Maryland. He spoke about his recent books and ongoing research.
Why does the investigation of fundamentalism in your 1919 and 1922 books matter to the church today?
Fundamentalism is about a rigid and militant defence of the faith—and that isn’t necessarily a bad thing, unless you allow your opposition to push you too far in the opposite direction and in a way that undermines following Jesus Christ. We live in an age of extremes, and we need to make sure that we have a healthy and balanced approach to the sacred that embraces what the Bible and Ellen White claim for themselves, not more or less. In my 1919 book, I examined a pivotal moment when church leaders discussed the nature of Ellen White’s writings after her death. And in 1922 I examined the aftermath, especially how that began to change Adventism in terms of race and gender among other things.
Is there another book coming in this series?
Yes! Watch for 1925 next year as I explore the Scopes Trial and the rise of Last Generation Theology. The saga of Adventist fundamentalism in the 1920s isn’t quite over yet, and I believe this will be my most interesting book in the series for many people.
What is the role of pastors in Adventist history?
Pastors have provided training and spiritual leadership. We believe in the priesthood of all believers, so a pastor doesn’t by his or her self-exert power through their position, but rather, the best pastors in Adventist history remain those who are servant leaders. The best pastors are those who teach others to become disciples of Christ and learn to become spiritually mature. The danger has been that at times church members can become too dependent on pastors, or the other extreme, that pastors aren’t needed at all—perhaps where Adventism has been drifting more recently. There is a healthy medium as pastors train others to become engaged in their communities and to actively pursue evangelism, and at least historically speaking, the denomination has thrived as a result of those who devote their lives full-time to ministry. I tell some fun stories about Adventist pastors and the history of pastoral ministry in the denomination in We Stand on Their Shoulders.
Do you have a favourite character that you have discovered in Adventist history?
My favourite person in Adventist history is William Spicer, church president from 1922 to 1930, and who I mention in my 1922 book because of his humble approach to leadership that led him to become church president at that infamous General Conference session. He was the one who wrote to his wife, Georgie: “There are no posts of honour, only those of service.” Unfortunately, we have only a very cursory and out-of-print biography, Leader with the Common Touch, so we really need an in-depth biographical treatment.
What do you hope that your many speaking, writing and podcasting projects add to the understanding of our church?
The stories that we tell, and how tell them, matter a great deal for the Seventh-day Adventist Church and its identity. When we choose to deliberately ignore or distort our past, it not only brings up an issue of credibility, but it raises questions about why certain narratives are prioritised over others. For a global church with so many stories we have a sacred responsibility to be truth tellers, and to do so in a winsome way that builds up the church. And that means at times we have to honestly and respectfully confront not only our successes, but those moments when we have fallen short. My heart’s desire is that we find ways to tell those stories in compelling ways that live up to the very best in Adventist scholarship, but also in fun and relatable ways, too, that tell compelling stories.
Books by Dr Michael Campbell are available from Adventist bookshops in Australia and New Zealand, or online at adventistbookcentre.com.au/catalogsearch/result/?cat=0&q=Michael+campbell.
Nathan Brown
