William Ambrose Spicer (December 19, 1865 – October 17, 1952) was a

Seventh-day Adventist The Seventh-day Adventist Church is an Adventism, Adventist Protestantism, Protestant Christian denomination which is distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the Names of the days of the week#Numbered days of the week, seventh day of the ...

minister and

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of the

General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists The General Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists is the governing organization of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Its headquarters is located in Silver Spring, Maryland and oversees the church in directing its various divisions and ...

. He was born December 19, 1865 in

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in the

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in a

Seventh Day Baptist Seventh Day Baptists are Baptists who observe the Sabbath as the seventh day of the week, Saturday, as a holy day to God. They adopt a covenant Baptist theology, based on the concept of regenerated society, conscious baptism of believers by immers ...

home. Spicer worked for the church in the

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and

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, where Spicer College is named after him. He served as Secretary of the General Conference during the presidency of A. G. Daniells and Daniells served as the Secretary during Spicer's years as president. The two men led the Adventist Church for the first 30 years of the 20th century.

1887–1903

Spicer's responsibilities with the church during this time included assisting Stephen Haskell as his secretary. This led 22-year-old Spicer to England. There he gained experience as an editor of '' The Present Truth'' and in assisting with evangelistic campaigns. In 1892, he returned to the United States and served as Secretary of the recently established (1889) Foreign Missions Board. This began decades of Spicer's leadership in the SDA Church's mission development. In 1898, Spicer worked in India as editor of the Oriental Watchman.

Secretary of the General Conference, 1903–1922

As Secretary to the General Conference, Spicer assisted President Daniells in shaping the church's response to issues. Daniell's crises were met often in collaboration with Spicer: the reorganization of the church accomplished at the 1901 and 1903 General Conference sessions; the denominational dispute between Daniells and Kellogg; racial issues arising; etc. Spicer and Daniells led the church in a strong mission emphasis. New opportunities brought about the reorganization of existing institutions and the creation of new ones. Spicer viewed these opportunities to spread the Adventist "message" as a sign of fulfilled prophecy. In 1914, he reported to the SDA world church, "... And the same living God who launched the definite advent movement on its way at the exact time of the prophecy (1844), began at the same time in a special way to open the doors of access to 'every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.' We have seen the way open again and again immediately before our own feet as the heralds of the third angel's message have entered the various lands." Spicer reported on the conflict between Kellogg and the General Conference leadership. He met with Kellogg to discuss what was considered pantheistic ideas. The

Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement The Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement is a Protestant Christian denomination in the Sabbatarian Adventist movement that formed from a schism in the European Seventh-day Adventist Church during World War I over the position its European church l ...

had come about as a result of the actions of L. R. Conradi and certain

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an church leaders during the war, who decided that it was acceptable for Adventists to take part in war, which was in clear opposition to the historical position of the church that had always upheld the non-combative position. Since the American Civil War, Adventists were known as non-combatants, and had done work in hospitals or given medical care rather than taken combat roles. The

sent Spicer to investigate the changes. He was unable to resolve the schism.

President of the General Conference, 1922–1930

With the experience acquired as General Conference Secretary, Spicer was elected as president of the General Conference during the 1922 General Conference session. He continued with the church's mission commitment which led to a further expansion of the Adventist message throughout the world. He was known in the church as an enthusiastic editor and successful author an influential preacher, proficient organizer and a passionate missionary.

References

External links

* *
"William Ambrose Spicer, A Personal Tribute" by J. L. McElhany
DjVu file)
Biographical Sketch of W. A. Spicer by D. E. Rebok
(PDF file)
William A. Spicer Papers at the Center for Adventist Research at Andrews University
(PDF file) * :Books by W. A. Spicer *
''Our Day'' by Spicer on Project Gutenburg
*

' by W. A. Spicer *Spicer, W. A. (1923
Providences of the Great War.
Washington, Review and Herald. (PDF file) {{DEFAULTSORT:Spicer, William Ambrose Seventh-day Adventist administrators 1865 births 1952 deaths American Seventh-day Adventists Seventh-day Adventist religious workers American Seventh-day Adventist ministers History of the Seventh-day Adventist Church

1887–1903

Secretary of the General Conference, 1903–1922

President of the General Conference, 1922–1930

See also

References

External links