Watching the debates at Atoday from the hinterlands of middle America, far from any large Adventist institution is fascinating. Having been taught and having taught in Adventist schools myself, I'm continually surprised by the types of arguments raised.

Mention the Minneapolis General Conference of 1888, and most Adventists immediately think of righteousness by faith. We tend to forget that another issue occupied a great deal of the time and attention of that gathering.

The secular world speaks of ‘flyover' country, the vast middle of the US between the two coasts. But the Adventist world centers more on institutions which I will call AC's  (Adventist Centers). Adventist life in an AC is quite different from life in NAC (Not an Adventist Center) country.