Hartland Institute, officially Hartland Institute of Health and Education, is an independent educational organization operated by members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church

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...

. It is located in Rapidan, Virginia

Rapidan, Virginia

Rapidan is a small unincorporated community in Culpeper County, Virginia, United States. Bisected by the Rapidan River, it is home to the Rapidan historic district and dates to the 18th century, when it was a mill town known as Waugh's Ford. It was renamed Rapid Ann Station in 1854 and Rapidan in...

 in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. The institution started in 1983.

It consists of artland College], a Christian missionary college. It also runs a natural health center, a K-9 school, and a publishing house. Its lifestyle center offers natural healing techniques and hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy, formerly called hydropathy, involves the use of water for pain-relief and treating illness. The term hydrotherapy itself is synonymous with the term water cure as it was originally marketed by practitioners and promoters in the 19th century...

. Its educational training program is centered around the Bible and the counsels of Ellen White

Ellen G. White

Ellen Gould White was a prolific author and an American Christian pioneer. She, along with other Sabbatarian Adventist leaders, such as Joseph Bates and her husband James White, would form what is now known as the Seventh-day Adventist Church.Ellen White reported to her fellow believers her...

 to the Adventist church. It is also the home of the traveling singing group The Three Angels' Chorale, its touring choir. They have trimonthly convocations which include sermons and songs.

Its first president was Colin Standish [1983-2011]. Key figures in the history of Hartland Institute include Dr. Colin Standish and Hal Mayer. Since March 2011 Norbert Restrepo, Jr. [born 1970] assumed the role of the new President of Hartland Institute. He was elected in May 2010 by the Hartland Institute Board's unanimous vote. When selected, he was the Director of Las Delicias Institute located in Armenia, Colombia

Colombia

Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...

, South America, for 14 years [1996-2010].

History

Hartland opened in 1983, with Hartland Publications established in 1984. It has been accused of become increasingly critical of the Adventist church, claiming it has departed from past beliefs and practices. According to Gary Land, "by the end of the 20th century the institute was largely estranged from the denominational leadership."

Robert S. Folkenberg

Robert S. Folkenberg

Robert Stanley Folkenberg, , served as General Conference president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church from 1990 through to his resignation in 1999...

, General Conference president during the 1990s, accused Hartland of being critical of the church.

External links

• Hartland Institute website
• The Three Angels' Chorale website
• "Report on Hope International and Associated Groups", a statement of concern by the General Conference
  General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
  The 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, Ministry
  Ministry (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 Institute
  Biblical Research Institute
  The 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