Cross-Source Concept Matrix
Legend: A = affirms/develops; Q = qualified/secondary; — = not materially developed.
| Concept | Rodriguez | Standish | Vine | Pattern |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| God owns everything; tithe belongs to Him | A | A | A | All three |
| Tithe principally supports gospel ministry | A | A | A | All three |
| Organized church structures have a legitimate role | A | A | A | All three |
| Legitimate ministry can exist outside denominational employment | Q | A | A | All three, different emphasis |
| Ellen White sometimes appropriated tithe outside regular channels | A | A | A | All three |
| Conference treasury as normal channel | A | Q | Q | All three discuss; disagree |
| Exceptions should remain exceptional | A | — | — | Rodriguez distinctive |
| Individual conscience limits ecclesiastical authority | Q | A | A | Standish + Vine |
| Individual may appropriate tithe to faithful workers | Q/Rejects as general rule | A | A | Standish + Vine |
| No exclusive single tithe channel | Rejects | A | A | Standish + Vine |
| Discipline for alternate tithe routing violates conscience | — | A | Q | Standish distinctive |
| Giver must assess faithfulness/fiscal responsibility | Q | A | A | Standish + Vine |
| Creation → ownership → stewardship theology | A | Q | Q | Rodriguez distinctive depth |
| Redemption/Calvary as motivation for tithing | A | Q | Q | Rodriguez distinctive |
| Holiness of tithe tied to God-appointed purpose | A | Q | Q | Rodriguez distinctive formulation |
| Detailed permitted/prohibited tithe uses | A | Q | — | Rodriguez distinctive |
| Earlier SDA leaders tolerated multiple tithe channels | — | A | A | Standish + Vine |
| Representative government compatible with alternate channels | — | A | Q | Standish distinctive |
| Legal structure is a tool, not the church itself | — | Q | A | Vine distinctive |
| Institutional entropy | — | — | A | Vine unique |
| Pastor loyalty vs conference employment | — | Q | A | Vine distinctive |
| COVID mandates as conscience test | — | — | A | Vine unique |
| Slavery/COVID bodily-agency analogy | — | — | A | Vine unique |
| Coordinated tithe redirection as institutional leverage | — | — | A | Vine unique |
| Specific reforms before resuming monetary conference tithe | — | — | A | Vine unique |
| Final crisis may sweep away denominational structure | — | — | A | Vine unique |
Interpretation
- Rodriguez contributes the most systematic theology of tithe.
- Standish contributes the most developed conscience/self-supporting-ministry argument.
- Vine contributes the broadest contemporary institutional diagnosis and extends tithe redirection into a reform strategy.