| extended and in observance of Christ's words, "If ye love me, keep my commandments. " The Old and New Testaments of the Bible, excluding the Apocrypha, are considered authoritative. The writings of Mrs. Ellen G. White are regarded as inspired by God, though the Bible is regarded as supreme and by it her writings are evaluated. PRACTICES AND BEHAVIORAL STANDARDS: Determined by the individual member in the light of Bible instruction and, to a lesser extent, the writings of Mrs. E. G. White. Observance of the Seventh day Sabbath (from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday) is a requirement for membership. Normally during Sabbath hours only those duties which pertain to the saving or preserving of human life or alleviation of suffering are engaged. Seventh day Adventists regard the nation or state as the outgrowth of God's instruction that people or communities should band together to prevent evil men from harassing individuals in the community with resultant chaos. The individual is to "submit" to the government and give it his/her support and allegiance in all items that would not result in beliefs or actions that would cause disobedience to God. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE: Local churches are constituent members of conferences, which are constituent members of union conferences, which are constituent of the General Conference of Seventh day Adventists. Military liaison is arranged through the National Service Organization of the church with representatives on all levels above the local church. MINISTERIAL LEADERSHIP: Ordained ministers may perform all ecclesiastical duties. ~Ordination is dependent upon the recommendation of a conference committee (see "Organizational Structure") and approved by the union conference, usually following four years of field work in the churches after graduation from a three year seminary program. During the four years of service in the field, seminary graduates are termed "licensed ministers" and may perform ecclesiastical duties only in the local church to which they are assigned. Ministers (both licensed and ordained) are given their credentials and are under the direction of the conference organizations. Spiritual leadership is the work of pastors on the local church level, conference, union conference, and General Conference officers and departmental directors. Although both men and women are active in religious work, ordination is limited to males. WORSHIP: Any member may conduct worship services. Group worship is not required. The minimum equipment for worship is a Bible and a hymnbook. Any moderately quiet area with suitable privacy would be adequate for worship. In the most general sense, "worship" is regarded as including adherence to the Ten Commandments. DIETARY STANDARDS: An ovo lacto (egg milk) vegetarian diet is suggested as ideal for health, but "clean" meats (from animals which have a split hoof and chew the cud, as per Leviticus 11) may be added to the diet by individual decision (e.g., beef, lamb). No alcoholic beverages or smoking are accepted. FUNERAL AND BURIAL PRACTICES: Individual preferences are honored. There are no restrictions with respect to autopsy, and a minister is not required at the time of death. OTHER: Noncombatancy is strongly taught, but individual belief is honored. In view of their belief in salvation through the grace of God and belief in the Bible as God's Word of truth, Seventh day Adventists are normally included in the group of Evangelical Protestant churches. Their efforts for relief in the form of food, clothing, and shelter for the victims of disasters, either separately or in cooperation with other churches and groups, are well known. Their medical institutions throughout the world are also well known. The Adventist Church recruits members by encouraging Bible study and encouraging those who thoroughly understand the teachings and practices of the Seventh day Adventist Church to receive baptism by immersion and membership in the church. GENERAL SOURCE BOOKS: Ministerial Association, General Conference of S.D.A., Seventh day Adventists believe. Silver Spring, MD. Distributed by the Ministerial Assn., 1988. 392pp. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: Dr. George W. Reid, Director Biblical Research Institute or Dr. B. B. Beach, Director Office of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty c/o General Conference of Seventh day Adventists Church World Headquarters 12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring, MD 20904-1608 Telephone(301) 680-6000 |
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| Black Rose Spiritual Center, Inc : Belief Systems |
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| Seventh Day Adventist Church |
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| ADDRESS: 12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904 6600 CURRENT LEADER: Robert S. Folkenberg President of the General Conference of Seventh Day Adventists. MEMBERSHIP: Inclusive world membership: 6,183,585 including 743,023 members in North America HISTORICAL ROOTS: The origins of the Seventh day Adventists can be traced to the Millerite movement of the 1830s and 1840s in the United States. William Miller (1782 1849), Baptist from Vermont, developed a deep concern about the Second Coming (Second Advent) of Christ through years of Biblical study. Preaching and lecturing throughout the northeastern United States, Miller drew followers from all of the Christian Churches, all drawn by this message that, indeed, the "kingdom of God is at hand." Following his death in 1849, a small group of believers remained, including those who were to be drawn together into what became the Seventh day Adventist Church. Following 1844, a date established by Millerites as the date prophesied in Daniel for the Second Advent, those adherents of the Millerite movement who had come to accept the observance of the Seventh day Sabbath were drawn together. In 1860, the Seventh day Adventists incorporated the publishing house in Michigan, publishing among other things the inspired writings of Mrs. Ellen G. White, and began the organization of churches and groups of churches into conferences. The General Conference was organized in Battle Creek, Michigan in 1863, then moved to the Washington, D.C. area in 1903. BASIC BELIEFS: Accepting the Bible as the infallible revelation of God's will, Seventh day Adventists have no creed as such, although they hold certain fundamental beliefs to be the teaching of the Holy Scriptures. These beliefs include acceptance of the Bible as the believer's final rule of faith and practice, the Trinity, creation ex nihilo (from nothing), baptism by immersion, salvation by the atonement of Jesus Christ, and that Christ's return (expected in the near future) will be followed by a thousand year period (the millennium). Seventh day Adventists do not believe in the innate immortality of the soul; rather the dead await the resurrection in an unconscious state. All are sinners in need of salvation. Salvation is attained only through grace ("unmerited favor") extended freely by God if accepted by the individual. Observance of the Ten Commandments (including the Sabbath of the Fourth Commandment) is directed for all who accept the forgiveness of their sins and salvation from God, not for purpose of gaining salvation, but because of appreciation of salvation |
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