Authority in Church Administrative Positions

The Kress Collection p. 37

"It is the pleasure of God that Brother A. T. Jones should serve this
Conference another year as president. It is His pleasure that A. T. Jones
should put away all appearance of a magisterial, domineering, authoritative
manner. He is not to think that by virtue of his position as president of
the conference, he has arbitrary authority. True, he is to have authority,
but it is to be just such an authority as Jesus had, an authority that is hid
in the meekness and lowliness of Christ.

9MR 175
Again and again I repeat the warning: Never place as president of a
conference [a] man who supposes that such a position gives him the power to
dictate and control the consciences of others. It is natural for man to have
a large estimate of self; old habits wrestle for the supremacy; but the man
who occupies a position of trust should not glorify himself.
The worker who daily subordinates his will to the will of Christ will be
educated away from such an idea. He will practice the virtues of Christ's
character in all meekness and lowliness of mind; and this will give to those
whom his ministration is supposed to benefit the precious freedom of the
liberty of the children of God. They will be free to act out the grace
bestowed upon them that all may understand the precious privileges which the
saints possess as members of the body of Christ.
The one who is in trust of sacred responsibilities should ever show forth
the meekness and wisdom of Christ; for it is thus that he becomes a
representative of Christ's character and methods. Never should he usurp
authority, or command or threaten, saying, "Unless you do as I say, you will
receive no pay from the conference." A man who would speak such words is out
of his place as president of a conference. He would make men slaves to his
judgment.--<SU Letter <EU 416, 1907, pp. 5,6.

LLM p. 311
The authoritative utterances of our brother, in their commands
and their forbiddings, bear not the heavenly impress. They are not
inspired by the Holy Spirit of God. Unless he becomes thoroughly
convinced that his mind is not infallible, his future life will
be characterized by a spirit of exalting whomsoever he will, and
of hindering those who are not in harmony with him. In his present
state of mind, he should not be entrusted with responsibilities
that would give him the power to dictate to any church.
I have borne the testimony that Brother Reaser should have no
control over Bro. Burden. I have borne a testimony, even in the
meeting that has just been held here, that the Lord's servants are
to seek their counsel from God. It is contrary to God's plan that
men shall exercise arbitrary authority over their brethren. God
will convince those who have felt called upon to exercise a wrong
authority over their brethren, that He has not authorized them to
take upon themselves such responsibilities. He has not appointed
a man to take the place of God in this Conference.

3T 493
God gave you a precious experience at that time which was
of value to you, and which has greatly increased your success
as a minister of Christ. Your proud, unyielding will was
subdued. You had a genuine conversion. This led to reflection
and to your position upon leadership. Your principles in
regard to leadership are right, but you do not make the right
application of them. If you should let the power in the church,
the voice and judgment of the General Conference, stand in
the place you have given my husband, there could then be no
fault found with your position. But you greatly err in giving
to one man's mind and judgment that authority and influence
which God has invested in His church in the judgment and
voice of the General Conference.
When this power which God has placed in the church is
accredited to one man, and he is invested with the authority
to be judgment for other minds, then the true Bible order
is changed. Satan's efforts upon such a man's mind will be
most subtle and sometimes overpowering, because through
this mind he thinks he can affect many others. Your position
on leadership is correct, if you give to the highest organized
authority in the church what you have given to one man. God
never designed that His work should bear the stamp of one
man's mind and one man's judgment.

18MR p. 66
When a man takes control of any other man's conscience, he is entirely
out of his place. The Lord has not delegated to any man the work of ruling
his brother. There are times when workers pass through strait places. They
are depressed. They want to do the will of God, and they long to clasp a
friendly hand. Brethren differ in ideas; for their temperaments are unlike.
One is more speculative then practical; another thinks his position gives him
authority to say what the next man should and must do, without any argument
on the point. "All ye are brethren." Let each resolve that he will not, under
any provocation, show a cheapness and littleness of spirit, that he will
speak no words in bitterness.