In his article "Enough Is Enough" Errol Lawrence states "Britain has long been accused of systematic racism," and suggests that the Seventh-day Adventist Church has not been immune.

Like most other countries, Britain has by no means been spotless with regard to race relations. However, I do believe that enormous efforts have been made by various national governments and Seventh-day Adventist church leaders to become more culturally sensitive. But it should be remembered that cultural sensitivity needs to be a two-way process.

I believe that most of the white members have welcomed fellow church members who have migrated from Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean islands to the shores of Britain during the past forty years.

The Pierson Package of 1978 certainly received my support, and it was right and proper for the Church’s leadership to become more ethnically diverse.

However, the Church in Britain has been faced with a huge dilemma over the declining white membership. When I became an Adventist in 1953 there were more white members at that time (6,500) than we have today (approx 3,000).

Pastor Edwin Foster’s appeal to Northern Europe West-Africa Division and the General Conference in 1974 for extra financial appropriations to assist white evangelism should not be interpreted as racist in any way. As the executive secretary of the British Union Conference at that time, I know that the request was made because of concern for the 97 percent white segment of the population where the Church was losing ground. It was not a question of maintaining any racial numerical balance.

It is very easy for Errol Lawrence to make judgments concerning the British scene from 6,000 miles away. Tragic though the recent case has been in so many ways, one must be sure not to exaggerate the situation. To suggest that there has been a widespread lack of tolerance, fairness, justice, and love is very much wide of the mark.

When Lawrence writes, "the leadership of the Church in Britain needs to have a better understanding of the pluralistic society (in which) it tries to do ministry," he needs to realize that the presidents of the British Union Conference, South England Conference, and North England Conference who are black are indeed endeavoring to meet the challenges of "internationalization," along with their white counterparts in the three missions.

As one whose work has involved travel to each continent around the world during the past thirteen years, my personal observation is that the so-called "tensions" in Britain are no worse than those of any other multi-ethnic country—but sadly more blame seems to be apportioned to the British whites than is justified!

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