This volume relates the experiences of an Adventist layman, a retired dentist, in his dealings with representatives of a local and union conference administrative apparatus of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the mid-Atlantic states region of the United States. The principal subject matter is the management (or mismanagement) of several trusts set up to receive property valued in the millions of dollars donated to the church.

This is not an arid academic treatise considering abstract scholastic principles written by a disinterested observer. Using his own experiences, the author expresses forcefully the frustrations of an Adventist layman deeply committed to his church but profoundly disappointed by the way church bureaucrats conduct much of its business. He is also deeply troubled by the disrespect exhibited by many clergy leaders toward laymen interested in understanding how the church actually works.

The purpose of the author is not to discourage contributions to the work of the Adventist church. On the contrary, he wants “more—not fewer—church members to feel comfortable entrusting their God-given assets to our beloved church.” However, he is convicted there exists a pervasive and systemic clergy administrative culture in which “secrecy, non-answers, and stonewalling” are a way of institutional life.

The book is not the protestations of a progressive or liberal Adventist. Dr. Koppel appears in its pages as a traditional, even conservative church member. His recitation of lapses in ethical behavior do not involve what he considers theological aberrations. He views the problems primarily as manifestations of a dysfunctional administrative ethos among clergy bureaucratic elites in the North American Adventist church.

In his view, the core elements of these problems proceed from the lack of accountability and transparency that characterize far too many Adventist administrators. The secrecy, conflicts of interest, and inappropriate business practices Dr. Koppel personally encountered have been well documented by other authors as well.

Dr. Koppel quotes correspondence from long-time denominational employees who, with sadness, concur that their experiences with “the brethren” confirm his understandings of the issues. For example, a “senior General Conference officer” attributes some of the institutional dysfunction to those who increasingly come “to view organization as the Church, i.e. the spiritual body of Christ. We work for the organization before we work for God. It is becoming secular with religious words and phrases.”

The book concludes with a list of recommendations for improving the way the church conducts its business. Part of these recommendations deal specifically with how the church should administer trusts that members establish to convey property and other financial resources to the church. Other recommendations deal with what he sees as the core administrative problem—a lack of transparency in business dealings. A related issue is the lack of means for dispute resolution concerning church-related financial and administrative matters. Dr. Koppel believes this should be addressed by instituting mediation processes employing qualified and disinterested professionals. Finally, Dr. Koppel recommends employing secret-ballot voting at all levels in the church to permit laity and clergy to register their opinions on important issues without fearing retribution. These recommendations would begin to address the lack of financial and political accountability that characterizes much of the administration of the contemporary Adventist church.

From the perspective of this reviewer, the problems that Dr. Koppel details reflect a widespread and serious problem. All too many church administrators apparently will not or cannot make the necessary public admissions and adjustments. Perhaps they fear further “losses” to independent ministries. They don’t want to “rock the boat” on their watch. They are content to patch small leaks, hoping that the sinking of the ship will occur after they retire or move on to other positions higher up the administrative ladder.