This article explores the significant reorganization of the Dividian 7th Day Adventist Association in the 1960s, focusing on the 1961 session in Los Angeles that saved the movement. It details the establishment of the executive council and standing committee, the challenges faced including leadership disputes and apostasy, and the pivotal role of the Leviticus of the Dividian 7th Day Adventist as the guiding organizational blueprint.
The Dividian 7th Day Adventist Association underwent a significant reorganization in the 1960s, a period marked by challenges and renewal. This article delves into the events surrounding the 1961 international session held in Los Angeles, California, which is widely regarded as the reorganization and salvation of the Dividian movement. The session marked a new beginning, following a period of apostasy and disarray after the death of Brother VT Hive in 1955.
Following the death of Brother VT Hive, the association faced turmoil and fragmentation. The executive council that existed at the time had apostasized, with many members leaving the message or scattering to different churches. The movement seemed on the brink of collapse, but the Lord promised to gather the "little ones" and restore the faithful.
Central to the reorganization was the "Leviticus of the Dividian 7th Day Adventist," a booklet that served as the organizational blueprint for the association. Written under divine inspiration, it outlined the structure and governance of the association, patterned after the council described in Acts 6:2-6.
The Leviticus specified that the executive council should consist of seven members, a number derived from biblical precedent. This council was vested with full executive and administrative power between sessions of the association, with the exception of the office of president, which could not be filled by the council.
To prevent abuses of power like those experienced under Sister Florence Howiff's leadership, the association established a standing committee as a court of appeal. This committee held supreme judicial authority between sessions and could overrule the executive council if it acted contrary to truth or righteousness.
The 1961 session was called to reorganize the association and was preceded by notices published in two consecutive issues of the Symbolic Code, the official organ of the association. A temporary council of seven members was elected to organize the session, which would dissolve upon the election of a regular executive council.
At the session, officers were elected to serve for the next four years. Mr. HG Warden was chosen as vice president, and MJ Bingham was appointed editor of publications. Despite many wanting MJ Bingham to become vice president, he declined, focusing instead on his editorial role.
A significant issue at the session was the location of the association's headquarters. After careful study, it was unanimously agreed that the old Mount Carmel period was past and apostate. The association established temporary headquarters in Arlington, California, with plans to find a permanent location.
Following the session, the association faced internal conflicts. The executive council, referred to as the quorum, refused to hand over session recordings and other materials to MJ Bingham, citing unfounded accusations. This led to legal appeals and the eventual removal and disfellowshipping of the rebellious executive council members by the standing committee.
MJ Bingham played a pivotal role in the reorganization. He was instrumental in writing the Leviticus, organizing the session, and serving as editor of publications. Despite opposition, he remained committed to the association's divine mission.
The standing committee, acting as the supreme judicial authority, overruled the executive council's illegal actions, reinstated rightful officers, and secured legal protection for the association's property and funds.
Brother Don Adair, a participant in the 1961 session, testified to the solemnity and significance of the gathering. He emphasized the association's commitment to reestablishing God's headquarters and continuing the work to seal the 144,000.
George Douglas Sater, a former executive council member during the Florence Howiff era, described MJ Bingham as a fearless and scholarly leader who was central to the movement.
The Leviticus was not merely a book but the organizational and spiritual guide for the association. Disregarding its instructions led to apostasy and division. The 1961 session reaffirmed the necessity of following the Leviticus to achieve true reformation within the movement.
The reorganization of the Dividian 7th Day Adventist Association in the 1960s, particularly the 1961 session, was a pivotal moment that saved the movement from collapse. Through adherence to the Leviticus, establishment of a balanced governance structure, and the faithful leadership of individuals like MJ Bingham, the association was restored on firm and solid footing. The challenges faced and overcome during this period serve as a testament to the resilience and divine guidance of the movement.
The next part of this series will explore how the Lord appointed and restored the presidency, bringing clarity and holiness to the leadership of the association.
Father in heaven, we thank you for your guidance and the restoration of your people. May wisdom, knowledge, and understanding continue to be granted to all who seek to follow your divine plan. Through Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
