Expert: Thurman C. Petty, Jr. - 10/23/2008

Question
Dear Pastor Petty,

I worked at the Voice of Prophecy more than 30 years ago when it was still in Glendale. At that time, there was weekly short wave contact between the VOP and Pitcairn. While not a Pitcairn buff, I have been interested in the place for many years.

I was quite shocked to read  in recent times of the problems at Pitcairn regarding sexual issues: adultery, rape and child molestation.

How do you account for this among a people that the SDA church has proudly embraced as part of its family for so many years? According to the accounts I read, it was not isolated but involved most of the people on the island Even family members of visiting pastors were violated.

As a pastor, were you unaware of these things? What has been the response of the church? More importantly, what does this say about the effectiveness of Adventism in bringing about Christian living and preparing a people for translation?

Answer
Dear Glenn,

Thank you for your question about Pitcairn Island. I carry a warm feeling in my heart for those people and have been in active contact with several over the past 24 years since we left. I still communicate with one of Tom Christian’s daughters, and with his wife Betty from time to time.

Our stay on Pitcairn was marred only by my mistake that involved the non-Adventist school teacher, which caused a break in our otherwise warm relationship.

We fondly remember our tour as pastor and nurse as one of the most rewarding experiences in our lives.

Before arriving at Pitcairn I awoke one night and realized what we were facing. It wasn’t a dream, but just an awareness: The people would be Laodician, and dependent upon the pastor for all of their spiritual needs, rather than going to the Bible or to the Lord for help. Martha and I discussed it at length as we traveled aboard ship for the 7 days it took to reach the island.

We decided that the best place to start would be the Sabbath school class, which was supposed to be lay-taught, but in actual fact was taught by the pastor—another sermon, as it were. Martha is a better teacher than I, so we decided that she would teach the class. She isn’t a preacher, and requires participation from the class for forward movement.

It took a year and a half before it got to the place, where the members were answering questions, and asking questions of their own. In that time we also taught 3 of the women to teach, and when we left, they were doing just that.

This broadened out into the everyday lives of the people. When they asked me a question, I’d always refer them back to the Bible. They grew independent of the pastor, while still maintaining a warm friendly relationship with me, became better acquainted with their Bibles, and began to grow in their experience with the Lord. They also began to express independence in the political life on the island as well.

The sex scandal. I was not aware of it. I did see that some men & girls seemed to hang around each other publicly, but privacy on Pitcairn is dense: the pastor is the last person to penetrate it. Martha told me later that she sensed that it was going on, but that’s as much as we knew

Pitcairn is a microcosm of any town that has only one church. Some people are really consecrated; some attend, but live as they please; some don’t come, but consider themselves members; some aren’t members at all.

The church seems the center of some things, especially social events, like Christmas, Mother’s day, 13th Sabbath programs, etc. There are many more social events that take place in the court house—the town hall.

When I heard the news, it made me sick, for many of those who were involved had been close friends. It isn’t nearly as widespread as the news blew it up to be—only about 6 or 7, about 1/3 of the men. Others may have been involved, but I’m sure that several had no part in it.

I asked my female friend/correspondent about it, and her response was “I’d hoped you’d never ask,” and confirmed that it was true.

Pitcairners are people like you and me. SDA is the only church on the island, and has a strong presence there. But better than half of those living there today are not members. The main difference is: with only about 50-60 people on the island, it’s easier to see problems than it would be in a city, or even a large town. I think if we’d really know the truth, this probably goes on in our society as much as it did on Pitcairn.

Thank you for your question. It is best if we follow Christ’s counsel of Matt. 7:1: Judge not, that ye be not judged.

I invite you to visit my website www.PettyPress.com where I’ve posted 20 books including two which tell of some of our experiences while on Pitcairn.

Always be ready for Jesus to come.
Thurman C. Petty, Jr.
Thurman@PettyPress.com