Standish brothers
Encyclopedia
Colin D. Standish and Russell Roland Standish (both born 27 October 1933; Russell died 2 May 2008) are identical twin brothers and "historic
" Seventh-day Adventists
. They are often referred to collectively as the Standish brothers. They have co-written many books together, which have been published by their Hartland Institute
.
, New South Wales
in Australia
. From 1943 to 1949 they attended the Newcastle Seventh-day Adventist High School (now Macquarie College
). They were baptized by pastor R. A. R. Thrift.
They studied at Avondale College
in 1950 and '51, mainly studying primary teaching, and graduating from the "Theological Normal Course". As seventeen year-olds in 1951, they attended an evangelistic meeting held by George Burnside in Newcastle, and were impressed.
Colin is an author and administrator, as well as the founder and president of the independent Adventist institute Hartland College. He received a PhD
in psychology
from the University of Sydney
in Australia
. He has worked in both academic and administrative jobs at Avondale College, becoming President of West Indies College (now Northern Caribbean University
), and President of Columbia Union College
. as well as Weimar Institute. He was ordained
to the ministry on 17 April, 1971.
Russell was a medical doctor
and author in Australia. He completed medical training at the University of Sydney
in Australia, and worked as a Hospital Clinical Superintendent and physician in Southeast Asia
and Australia. as well as heading the Health Program at Enton Hall in the UK. Russell obtained specialist qualifications with the College of Physicians of both England and Glasgow. He was ordained on 6 December 1980, After his dismissal from denominational employment, he founded Remnant Ministries and ran Highwood, another secessionist Adventist college.
Russell spent the bulk of his career as a missionary physician in Southeast Asia
, and also as a hospital administrator. He worked as the president of Bangkok Adventist Mission Hospital
in Thailand
, where he rescued the hospital from imminent closure, and as president of Penang Adventist Hospital
in Malaysia. He later became Health Director of the South-east Asian Union of SDAs. Russell was dismissed from church service by the Australasian Division of Seventh-day Adventists in 1992 for continuing to write and speak against the mainstream doctrines of Dr. Desmond Ford.
Russell and Colin were presenters at the Questions on Doctrine 50th anniversary conference in 2007, where they also distributed free copies of their papers, each presented in book form.
Russell died in a motor vehicle accident in Mildura
, Victoria
, Australia on 2 May, 2008. A memorial service was also organized in Bangkok, Thailand, where his years of service were remembered by many of the grateful Thai people he had worked with and treated as a physician.
As of August 2009, Colin continues serving at Hartland Institute of Health and Education, as an author and as an invited speaker at many venues around the world.
", the conservative wing of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Their focus has been supporting Adventist theological beliefs against perceived inroads from competing views derived from other theological streams. As such they criticize what they see as 'new theology' within the church, particularly evident since the 1957 publication 'Questions on Doctrine
' which showed Adventists as being closer to the evangelical mainstream. They predicted that the theology promoted by Ford and Brinsmead in Australia and Heppenstall in the USA in the 1970s would lead to apostasy from other traditional Adventist doctrines, especially that of the sanctuary, unique to Seventh-day Adventism. The Standish brothers also were strong supporters of Biblical Creation, the Adventist Health message and the prophetic gift of Ellen White.
Speaking of "Seventh-day Adventists", they believe there is "almost universal entry of apostasy
and false standards within our midst".
Written by Colin only:
Written by Russell only:
See: Standish & Standish books on their website.
Historic Adventism
Historic Adventism is an informal designation for conservative individuals and organizations affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church who seek to preserve certain traditional beliefs and practices of the church. As a general rule, Historic Adventists feel that the church leadership has...
" Seventh-day Adventists
Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
. They are often referred to collectively as the Standish brothers. They have co-written many books together, which have been published by their Hartland Institute
Hartland Institute
Hartland Institute, officially Hartland Institute of Health and Education, is an independent educational organization operated by members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It is located in Rapidan, Virginia in the United States...
.
Biography
The identical twin brothers were born on 27 October, 1933 to Darcy Rowland Standish (1912–1997) and Hilda Marie Joyce Standish née Bailey (1912–74). Their hometown is NewcastleNewcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. From 1943 to 1949 they attended the Newcastle Seventh-day Adventist High School (now Macquarie College
Macquarie College
Macquarie College is a private primary and secondary school located in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. It is part of the Seventh-day Adventist Church's worldwide educational system.- History :...
). They were baptized by pastor R. A. R. Thrift.
They studied at Avondale College
Avondale College
Avondale College of Higher Education is an Australian tertiary education provider affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Avondale College has two campuses, Lake Macquarie being the primary campus situated in Cooranbong, New South Wales...
in 1950 and '51, mainly studying primary teaching, and graduating from the "Theological Normal Course". As seventeen year-olds in 1951, they attended an evangelistic meeting held by George Burnside in Newcastle, and were impressed.
Colin is an author and administrator, as well as the founder and president of the independent Adventist institute Hartland College. He received a PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
from the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. He has worked in both academic and administrative jobs at Avondale College, becoming President of West Indies College (now Northern Caribbean University
Northern Caribbean University
The Northern Caribbean University is a tertiary level academic facility in Mandeville, Manchester, west-central Jamaica run by the Seventh-day Adventist Church...
), and President of Columbia Union College
Columbia Union College
Washington Adventist University is a Seventh-day Adventist liberal arts university operating in Takoma Park, Maryland, United States. Since 2008, when its new president Weymouth Spence announced a restructuring, the school has seen its enrollment increase by 50%.- Academics :WAU is accredited by...
. as well as Weimar Institute. He was ordained
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
to the ministry on 17 April, 1971.
Russell was a medical doctor
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
and author in Australia. He completed medical training at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
in Australia, and worked as a Hospital Clinical Superintendent and physician in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
and Australia. as well as heading the Health Program at Enton Hall in the UK. Russell obtained specialist qualifications with the College of Physicians of both England and Glasgow. He was ordained on 6 December 1980, After his dismissal from denominational employment, he founded Remnant Ministries and ran Highwood, another secessionist Adventist college.
Russell spent the bulk of his career as a missionary physician in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
, and also as a hospital administrator. He worked as the president of Bangkok Adventist Mission Hospital
Bangkok Adventist Mission Hospital
Bangkok Adventist Hospital is a general hospital with registered capacity of 200 beds and 24 bassinets, situated in Bangkok, Thailand. The hospital is widely known among Thai people as "Mission Hospital"...
in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, where he rescued the hospital from imminent closure, and as president of Penang Adventist Hospital
Penang Adventist Hospital
The Penang Adventist Hospital is a Christian not-for-profit medical institution in Penang, Malaysia. It is part of an international network of more than 500 hospitals and healthcare facilities operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church...
in Malaysia. He later became Health Director of the South-east Asian Union of SDAs. Russell was dismissed from church service by the Australasian Division of Seventh-day Adventists in 1992 for continuing to write and speak against the mainstream doctrines of Dr. Desmond Ford.
Russell and Colin were presenters at the Questions on Doctrine 50th anniversary conference in 2007, where they also distributed free copies of their papers, each presented in book form.
Russell died in a motor vehicle accident in Mildura
Mildura, Victoria
Mildura is a regional city in northwestern Victoria, Australia and seat of the Rural City of Mildura local government area. It is located in the Sunraysia region, and is on the banks of the Murray River. The current population is estimated at just over 30,000.Mildura is a major agricultural centre...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia on 2 May, 2008. A memorial service was also organized in Bangkok, Thailand, where his years of service were remembered by many of the grateful Thai people he had worked with and treated as a physician.
As of August 2009, Colin continues serving at Hartland Institute of Health and Education, as an author and as an invited speaker at many venues around the world.
Beliefs
The Standish brothers have long been vocal supporters and prolific authors of "historic AdventismHistoric Adventism
Historic Adventism is an informal designation for conservative individuals and organizations affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church who seek to preserve certain traditional beliefs and practices of the church. As a general rule, Historic Adventists feel that the church leadership has...
", the conservative wing of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Their focus has been supporting Adventist theological beliefs against perceived inroads from competing views derived from other theological streams. As such they criticize what they see as 'new theology' within the church, particularly evident since the 1957 publication 'Questions on Doctrine
Questions on Doctrine
Seventh-day Adventists Answer Questions on Doctrine is a book published by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in 1957 to help explain Adventism to conservative Protestants and Evangelicals...
' which showed Adventists as being closer to the evangelical mainstream. They predicted that the theology promoted by Ford and Brinsmead in Australia and Heppenstall in the USA in the 1970s would lead to apostasy from other traditional Adventist doctrines, especially that of the sanctuary, unique to Seventh-day Adventism. The Standish brothers also were strong supporters of Biblical Creation, the Adventist Health message and the prophetic gift of Ellen White.
Speaking of "Seventh-day Adventists", they believe there is "almost universal entry of apostasy
Apostasy
Apostasy , 'a defection or revolt', from ἀπό, apo, 'away, apart', στάσις, stasis, 'stand, 'standing') is the formal disaffiliation from or abandonment or renunciation of a religion by a person. One who commits apostasy is known as an apostate. These terms have a pejorative implication in everyday...
and false standards within our midst".
Publications
The Standish brothers have co-written dozens of books on Christian theology and lifestyle, including:- Adventism Imperiled: Education in Crisis (1998) with Dennis C. Blum
- Deceptions of the New Theology (1999)
- Education for Excellence – The Christian Advantage
- Evangelical (1997)
- Liberty in the Balance
- Swarming Independence (1996)
- The Big Bang Exploded (1998)
- The Greatest of All the Prophets (2004)
- The Mystery of Death (2003)
- The Pope's Letter and Sunday Law (1998)
- The Perils of Timesetting (1992)
- The Rapture and the Antichrist
- The Road to Rome (1992)
- The Sacrificial Priest: The Sanctuary Message (2002)
- The Second Coming – Fervent Hope or Faded Dream
- The Twenty-eight Fundamentals
- Why Members Leave the Seventh-day Adventist Church (2007)
- Winds of Doctrine
- Youth do you Dare
Written by Colin only:
- Missionary to Jamaica
- Vision and Gods Providences: the Story of Hartland Institute
Written by Russell only:
- Adventism Vindicated: The Doctrine of Righteousness by Faith (1998)
- Georgia Sits on Grandpa's Knee (1999)
- The Sepulchres are Whited (1992)
See: Standish & Standish books on their website.
See also
- Historic AdventismHistoric AdventismHistoric Adventism is an informal designation for conservative individuals and organizations affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church who seek to preserve certain traditional beliefs and practices of the church. As a general rule, Historic Adventists feel that the church leadership has...
- Hartland InstituteHartland InstituteHartland Institute, officially Hartland Institute of Health and Education, is an independent educational organization operated by members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It is located in Rapidan, Virginia in the United States...
- Independent ministries of the Seventh-day Adventist ChurchIndependent ministries of the Seventh-day Adventist ChurchThe Seventh-day Adventist Church has a number of supporting, parachurch, independent, self-supporting and other such organisations that work adjunct to the official church....
- History of the Seventh-day Adventist ChurchHistory of the Seventh-day Adventist ChurchThe Seventh-day Adventist Church had its roots in the Millerite movement of the 1830s and 1840s, during the period of the Second Great Awakening, and was officially founded in 1863. Prominent figures in the early church included Hiram Edson, James Springer White and his wife Ellen G. White, Joseph...
External links
- "Report on Hope International and Associated Groups", a statement of concern by the General ConferenceGeneral Conference of Seventh-day AdventistsThe General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists is the governing organization of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It is located in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States, where it moved in 1989...
about Hartland Institute and other groups. Published in the Adventist Review in August 31, 2000, MinistryMinistry (magazine)Ministry: International Journal for Pastors is an international monthly magazine for Christian ministers, with a circulation of approximately 100,000. It is published by the Ministerial Association , an official body of the worldwide Adventist church. It is aimed at pastors and ministers of the...
in August 2000, and by the Biblical Research InstituteBiblical Research InstituteThe Biblical Research Institute is a service department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church with the three stated functions of research, apologetics , and service to the church. It serves as a theological consultant to the General Conference...
on their website - Articles by Colin Standish and by Russell Standish as cataloged in the Seventh-day Adventist Periodical Index (SDAPI)