Open Letter to Erton Köhler, President, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

DEBORAH BUFFONE | Life Assurance Ministries, Former Adventist Fellowship Brazil

Dear Erton Köhler,

Why I Address You

You may be curious as to why I have chosen to address you, Pastor Erton Köhler, rather than other esteemed pastors such as Jair Gois, or Cesar Reis. I have had the privilege of serving as secretary for both you and them at different points in my journey, and I am deeply grateful for the significant impact you all had on my life. The Lord has used my work with you to teach me and to shape me into who I am today.

However, as you now hold the highest position of leadership within the Seventh-day Adventist system, I felt it was most appropriate to write to you. In your role, you not only represent these leaders who have in the past influenced me personally, but you also embody the collective voice of millions of Adventists around the world. Many of these individuals I once considered brothers and sisters, and to this day, I am fortunate to still call many of them my friends.

A few weeks ago, someone sent me a video of you preaching in a church in Brazil, and some of your words caught my attention: “Some were close to us and trusted, but now they have abandoned the faith and turned their back to God, to the Bible and the ’church’….they are like falling stars from Heaven…”

Yes, I have left Seventh-day Adventism, but I have never abandoned my faith in Christ, and it is exactly because He has saved me and sealed me with His Holy Spirit, as it says in Ephesians 1:13, that I have left:  

…in whom also you, hearing the Word of Truth, the gospel of our salvation, in whom also believing, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 

Questions and Reflections

With the utmost respect, I would like to present several questions for your consideration. My intention in seeking your response is not for my own benefit, as I have already found answers to every question I have ever had since I was quite young. Rather, my hope is that your thoughtful answers may benefit the millions who follow your teachings, often without engaging in deeper reflection or critical thinking.

I recall a pivotal moment from my youth, when, at just 14 years old, I stood before my local church congregation, passionately preaching and expressing my aspiration to become an expert in the letters of the Apostle Paul. Even then, as a devoted member of Adventism, I began to feel a sense of discomfort toward the teachings of Paul—an attitude that did not arise solely from my own reasoning. Much like a sponge, I absorbed the perspectives and beliefs imparted by teachers and authors around me, many of whom seemed intent on steering me away from discovering the true gospel as it is presented throughout the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, including Paul’s letters.

Now, as you and the pastors under your guidance continue to share the teachings of Ellen White with the world, I reflect on these experiences and present my questions with a desire for greater understanding and dialogue.

But Before the Questions, A Disclaimer:

I am not Carrie Johnson, who claimed to be D.M. Canright’s secretary and was used by Willie White to defame Canright. My credentials can be easily verified.

I am not Fannie Bolton, Ellen White’s secretary, who was emotionally abused by Ellen White for many years. I am not that weak and co-dependent.

Now I ask you my questions.

Question One: What is the Gospel of your salvation?

Can you articulate the simple gospel of 1 Corinthians 15:3,4: 

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…

Can you teach what Paul states in Romans  3:24-25: 

…being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God set forth to be a propitiation, through faith, in his blood, to show his righteousness because of the passing over of the sins done aforetime, in the forbearance of God;  

Jesus died for me because he was the propitiation who took the penalty of my sins upon Himself. He stood—He hung on the cross—in between me and the wrath of God. Jesus took God’s wrath for sin for whomsoever would believe in Him!  

If Jesus accomplished everything necessary for salvation on the Cross and emphasized His completed atonement as He cried out “Tetelestai”, what specifically didn’t He complete? Could any part of the atonement have been left undone?

Question Two: Who is Jesus?

Do you know the difference between a created angel, a cherubim, an archangel, and the Creator of the Universe? Jesus was with God and is God since before time, the Bible tells me:

…for in him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and unto him;—Colossians 1:17

In Him all creation is sustained. Angels are created, and to say that Jesus is Michael is the same as saying that Jesus and Lucifer once shared the same essence.

Question Three: Why Is the difference in the respective meanings of the Greek words NOMOS and ENTOLE as used in John’s five books not taught in your seminaries and churches? 

Why have you and Adventist leaders never taught that every time John uses the word “entole”, he never means “law”? He always means “sayings, instructions, commands, teachings”. Every time John refers to “Law” and the Ten Commandments, he uses the word “nomos”. 

Question Four: If Jesus did not enter the Most Holy Place in the presence of God until October 22, 1844, why did Stephen see Jesus there as he was being stoned to death?

“… But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, and said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God.”—Acts 7:55, 56

Clearly Stephen saw Jesus at the right hand of God in heaven, in the presence of the Father.

Question Five: What Is being investigated in the Investigative Judgement?

Although this doctrine its explained differently now from the way Ellen White first explained it, it has never actually changed. It still provides the setting for Adventism’s teaching that the atonement was not completed at the cross but that atonement continues in heaven to this day. If believers are already justified in Christ, what is the purpose of the investigative judgment?

There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death.—Romans 8:1,2

Question Six: What role does Sabbath-keeping have in our salvation in light of the teachings of the books of Galatians and Romans?

Galatians tells us not to put ourselves back under the law. He says that if we put ourselves under the law, we fall from grace (Gal. 5:4).

He also said that if anyone teaches another gospel than the one he taught, that person should be accursed (Gal. 1:6–9). 

Sabbath-keeping was never part of Paul’s gospel.

Question Seven: Where does Ellen White get her authority?

From the first century until 1844, no one had any of the revelations that Ellen White had. Why Ellen White? And if she is not a prophet with biblical  authority, why are all the 28 Fundamental Beliefs based upon her teachings? How does Seventh-day Adventism justify the prophetic role of Ellen White? 

The 1919 Bible Conference was a conference held by the Seventh-day Adventist Church from July 1 to August 9, 1919. It was headed up by A. G. Daniells—then the president of the General Conference. It was the first major discussion held by the movement surrounding the inspiration of Ellen G. White’s writings after her death in 1915, leading to quite a bit of controversy.

The minutes from the conference—which were discovered in 1975—proved that Adventist leaders have known for over ninety years that Ellen G. White was not who she and the movement’s leaders purported her to be regarding her prophetic gifting. 

Why wasn’t this information shared with the global church?

Furthermore, why wasn’t the Veltman Report proving her plagiarism of 80% of The Desire ofAges translated into Portuguese? Why was this information not shared with the pastors and members?

It is past time, Pastor Erton Köhler, for the Seventh-day Adventists to come clean on all of this and to own the wrong teachings of Ellen White.

I pray you bring light, hope, and understanding to those you guide, not in the teachings of Ellen White, but from the truth found in the Word of God.

Call to Repentance and Responsibility

All who have been given the opportunity to teach the Bible, especially to millions within the Seventh-day Adventist Church, are urged to reflect deeply on their actions. 

Accountability Before the Lord

When the Lord returns, He will ask, “What have you done with the opportunity that I gave you to teach the Bible alone?” This question underscores the gravity of faithfully representing God’s Word, highlighting that those entrusted with teaching must answer for how they have used their platform. The focus must be directed toward teaching the Bible only, rather than relying on other sources or traditions, as the ultimate measure of stewardship and spiritual integrity. James said,

“Do not, many [of you], become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment.”—James 3:1

I call you and your colleagues to repentance before God. Lay aside your prophet and your position and embrace the Lord Jesus and His word alone. 

Sincerely in Christ,
Deborah Buffone

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Deborah Buffone read this open letter to General Conference president Erton Köhler on February 13, 2026, at the evening session of the annual Former Adventist Fellowship conference held at Redeemer Fellowship in Loma Linda, California. Deborah works with Life Assurance Ministries to reach her friends and former colleagues in Brazil with the gospel of the Lord Jesus. Tetelestai! It Is Finished!