On Desmond Ford and Glacier View (2022-2023)
Ford, Desmond, Gillian Ford, and others, eds. On the Way to Glacier View. 7 vols. Published by Gillian Ford, 2022-2023. 484, 498, 512, 512, 514, 532, 532 pp.
Vols. 1-2
“In August 1980, Dr. Desmond Ford was brought before a week-long tribunal of Seventh-day Adventist administrators, pastors, editors, and theologians at Glacier View Ranch, Colorado, to answer for his critique of the church’s unique doctrine of the investigative judgment. Called ‘The Sanctuary Review Committee’, the meetings were triggered by his October 27, 1979, presentation entitled, ‘The Investigative Judgment Historical Milestone or Theological Necessity’, which was addressed to the Pacific Union College chapter of the Association of Adventist Forums, Soon afterwards, Ford was barred from teaching his classes, his contract with PUC was broken, and he was given a leave of absence to accept a summons to General Conference headquarters in Washington D.C.
Ford believed that teaching that Jesus moved into the most Holy Place of the antitypical heavenly sanctuary in 1844 to begin His judgment of the dead and living saints—the SDA doctrine of the investigative judgement—was at odds with the gospel of righteousness by faith. Over the next six months he wrote his 991-page manuscript, ‘Daniel 8:14, the Day of Atonement, and the Investigative Judgment’, which offered both critique and positive solutions to the denomination's interpretative problems.
Several leaders were witnessed before the Glacier View meetings saying that Ford would be fired. During the Glacier View week, held from August 10–15, 1980, there was initial optimism on the part of scholars about the outcome. Elder Neal Wilson stated at the beginning that Ford was not on trial as a person, but his ideas were, but it soon became clear during the week at Glacier View that Ford’s only option was to change his mind and say he was wrong. This he was not prepared to do.
The consensus of the group went towards Ford’s views in about twelve areas, seven of them key. However, the leaders used instead a Ten-point Statement put together by six-people to judge Ford. This merely compared Des’s ideas to what the church had always traditionally taught. In the Friday afternoon disciplinary committee with PREXAD the church’s highest authority, this latter statement was used along with a four-point letter demanding among other things that Ford change his mind, say he was wrong, and teach the traditional view. This Ford could not conscientiously do.
Ford and his wife were also accused of collaborating with Robert D. Brinsmead, a known disrupter of the church. It was not true, but the leaders believed it to be so. It was clear to the Fords at the end of that meeting that it was all over, but the actual loss of Ford’s job and his credentials took place about five weeks later in Sydney, Australia. Lawyers working for the church in both America and Australia told Ford that he did not receive natural justice and that he had a case to sue. This Ford would never have done.
In this two-volume set of books, Ford’s widow Gillian has collected their writings about their experience of Des’s losing his job and having his teaching credentials taken away in 1980. This was followed two years later, in February 1983, by removing Ford’s ordination, as well as declaring him apostate. Leaders repeated sought to disfellowship them at the local church for nearly twenty years until they handed in their memberships on their return to Australia in 2001. Having been declared apostate in 1983 their application for membership in Australia would have been refused.
The first volume is written by the Fords, and the second volume adds others other voices. The books contain articles about the history of Glacier View, interviews with Ford, position papers, correspondence, and testimonials to the life and ministry of Desmond Ford. Written for the laity to understand, the primary documents offer a treasure trove for the researcher. Above all these books are a testament to a life spent preaching the gospel of justification by faith and a denomination that rejected the messenger.”
Vol. 3 has the same description as vols. 1-2.
Vol. 4
“This fourth volume continues the series On the Way to Glacier View and contains, for instance, a series of letter between Lowell Tarling and Desmond and Gillian Ford (from 1970 to 1981, as well a section on the Palmdale Conference in 1976. Much more is included with added correspondence from the period. The author and editor, Gillian Ford, was present at Glacier View Camp in Colorado, U.S.A., when her husband Desmond Ford attended his heresy trial. The meeting lasted from August 11–15, 1980. As an active witness, Gillian gives her view as an author, but also this volume (like the others) contains much independent documentary evidence, which will be of great benefit to future researchers and historians.”
Vol. 5
“This fifth volume continues the series On the Way to Glacier View and contains, for instance, glimpses of the opposition, and more letters (there are about 500 pages of correspondence in the five books), Much more is included with a section on the central problem in Adventism with the articles of justification and sanctification. The author and editor, Gillian Ford, was present at Glacier View Camp in Colorado, U.S.A., when her husband Desmond Ford attended his heresy trial. The meeting lasted from August 10–15, 1980. As an active witness, Gillian gives her view as an author, but also this volume (like the others) contains many articles by others and much independent documentary evidence, which will be of great benefit to future researchers and historians.”
Vol. 6
“ Desmond Ford and Glacier View is the sixth in the series On the Way to Glacier View. This is a history written from the viewpoint of the Fords about what happened before, during, and after The Sanctuary Review Committee, which took place at Glacier View Ranch, Colorado, U.S.A., from August 10–15, 1980. This series of meetings is commonly referred to as the Glacier View conference. Wayne Judd and Adrian Zytkoskee, professorial colleagues, had asked Ford to take an Adventist Forum meeting at Pacific Union College, entitled ‘The Investigative Judgment—Theological Milestone or Historical Necessity.’ This took place on October 27, 1979, as a debate with another professor, Dr. Eric Syme. Syme essentially agreed with Ford. The Forum challenged the Adventist doctrine of the investigative judgment, as commonly taught—a counterview that had often been propounded by Adventist scholars who knew the Biblical languages. The result was that Ford had his contract at P.U.C. broken, was pulled out of class, and called to Adventist General Conference headquarters in Washington D.C. He was given six months to write up his 991-page paper ‘Daniel 8:14 the Day of Atonement, and the Investigative Judgment’. Administrators and scholars deliberated for a week and the General Conference PREXAD committee with two Australasian representatives met with the Fords. It was clear to the Fords on that Friday, August 15th, 1980, that Des would be defrocked, lose his job, and have his credentials removed. This happened officially on September 18, 1980, at an Australasian Division Executive meeting. Warren Johns, G.C. counsel, and Ken Eastman, Australasian Division solicitor, told Ford separately that he had a case to sue, but Des would never have sued the church. This series attempts to show some of the background politics behind the decision. It also reveals Ford's actual views, not the ones he is commonly accused of. Gillian Ford, widow of Desmond, has collated much of her evidence from her copies of Ford's document collection now housed at Avondale Archives in Cooranbong, N.S.W. Many other people have also contributed articles to this series.”
Vol. 7
“ After Glacier View is the seventh in the series On the Way to Glacier View. This is a history written from the viewpoint of the Fords about what happened before, during, and after Adventist denomination’s Sanctuary Review Committee, which took place at Glacier View Ranch, Colorado, U.S.A., from August 10–15, 1980. This series of meetings is commonly referred to as the Glacier View conference. Wayne Judd and Adrian Zytkoskee, professorial colleagues, had asked Ford to address an Adventist Forum meeting at Pacific Union College, entitled ‘The Investigative Judgment—Theological Milestone or Historical Necessity.’ This took place on October 27, 1979, as a debate with another professor, Dr. Eric Syme. Syme essentially agreed with Ford. The Forum challenged the Adventist doctrine of the investigative judgment, as commonly taught—a counterview that had often been propounded by Adventist scholars who knew the Biblical languages. The result was that Ford had his contract at P.U.C. broken, was pulled out of class, and called to Adventist General Conference headquarters in Washington D.C. He was given six months to write up his 991-page paper ‘Daniel 8:14 the Day of Atonement, and the Investigative Judgment’. Administrators and scholars deliberated for a week and the General Conference PREXAD committee with two Australasian representatives met with the Fords. It was clear to the Fords on that Friday, August 15th, 1980, that Des would be defrocked, lose his job, and have his credentials removed. This happened officially on September 18, 1980, at an Australasian Division Executive meeting. Warren Johns, G.C. counsel, and Ken Eastman, Australasian Division solicitor, told Ford separately that he had a case to sue, but Des would never have sued the church. This series attempts to show some of the background politics behind the decision. It also reveals Ford's actual views, not the ones he is commonly accused of. Gillian Ford, widow of Desmond, has collated much of her evidence from her copies of Ford's document collection now housed at Avondale Archives in Cooranbong, N.S.W. Many other people have also contributed articles to this series.”
Description of vols. 1-2, 4, 5, 6, and 7 is from Amazon.com.
