Seventh-day Adventist interfaith relations
Encyclopedia
This article describes the relations between the Seventh-day Adventist Church
and other Christian denominations and movements, and other religions. Adventist resist the movement to full ecumenical integration with other churches, believing that such a transition would result in a renouncing of its foundational beliefs and endanger its distinctive message. According to one church document,
movement, which gave birth to Seventh-day Adventism, experienced rejection and hostility from the majority of North American Christian churches of the time. Early Adventists experienced similar hostility because of their unique views about the Sabbath
. They consequently came to see themselves as an obedient remnant
which was encountering the wrath of the dragon, as prophesied in . Subsequent developments in Adventist eschatology saw the Sunday-keeping churches identified with Babylon the Great . A central aspect of the Adventist mission was to call people out of Babylon, and into the remnant church, as signified by the second of the three angels' messages
.
The Review and Herald (now Adventist Review) October 12, 1876 contains an "amazing" article on cordiality between the Adventist pioneers and the Seventh Day Baptist
s. James White pointed out that the two bodies agreed on the two great tests of the Christian life, i.e. the divine law and redemption from its transgression through the Son. The main difference between them, White observed, was the question of immortality. Even though differences existed between the two groups, White recommended, "that there be no controversy between the two bodies." He continued, "we further recommend that Seventh-day Adventists in their agressive work avoid laboring to build up Seventh-day Adventist churches where Seventh-day Baptist churches are already established..." He said it is much better to seek union with Seventh Day Baptists on the points they agree than to sacrifice that union by urging on them peculiar Adventist sentiments.
While the Adventist church matured and institutionalized in the twentieth century, opposition from other churches also declined. By the 1950s, Adventists and American conservative Christians
were ready to dialogue. A series of discussions between Adventist and conservative leaders led to greater understanding and acceptance on both sides. Even after these milestone events, however, Adventists continued to resist full ecumenical cooperation with other churches, believing that such cooperation would endanger its distinctive message.
Bert Beach was the main Adventist involved with interreligious dialogue.
On January 22, 2007 church leaders voted to rename the Council on Inter-church/Inter-faith Relations to the Council on Inter-church/Inter-religion Affairs. This involved more than a change of name, representing a desire for increased dialog with other religions.
, which is universal and non-sectarian. The Seventh-day Adventist Church State Council serves to protect religious groups from legislation that may affect their religious practices.
The church publishes the magazine Liberty.
(ASRS) was formed to foster community among Adventist theologians who attend the Society of Biblical Literature
(SBL) and the American Academy of Religion
. In 2006 ASRS voted to continue their meetings in the future in conjunction with SBL. During the 1980s the Adventist Theological Society
was formed by Jack Blanco to provide a forum for more conservative theologians to meet and is held in conjunction with the Evangelical Theological Society
.
, although it supports some of the goals of ecumenism. The General Conference
has released an official statement concerning the Adventist position with respect to the ecumenical movement, which contains the following paragraph:
While not being a member church of the World Council of Churches
, the Adventist church has participated in its assemblies in an observer capacity.
Three Adventist leaders (John Graz, John Kakembo and Bill Johnsson
) attended the Global Christian Forum of 250 Christian leaders from more than 70 nations, held in Limuru
(near Nairobi
), Kenya
in 2007.
) do not mention the papacy or Roman Catholicism. An official statement "How Seventh-day Adventists View Roman Catholicism" was released in 1997. Adventists are concerned about the institution of the papacy and the Roman Catholic Church, yet recognize many sincere individual Catholics.
Woodrow Whidden
wrote, "we must forthrightly affirm that many positive things have taken place in Roman Catholicism". According to him, the papacy "is a mixed bag morally and ethically... All human organizations (including our own 'enfeebled and defective' denomination) are sadly sinful." He concludes, "the Roman Catholic religious system" or "papal Rome is still the great power envisioned in Daniel 7 and 8; 2 Thessalonians 2; and Revelation 13." See the companion article By Grace Alone? by Clifford Goldstein
.
More moderate scholars... Progressive Adventists typically reject these traditional identifications. See Spectrum 27, issue 3 (Summer 1999): 30-52.
There was a number of meetings between Seventh day Adventist and Catholic theologians including now Cardinal Walter Kasper and Msgr John Radano. A short report by Ángel Manuel Rodríguez
was released.
Adventist Samuele Bacchiocchi
was the first non-Catholic to have graduated from the Pontifical Gregorian University
.
See also Reinder Bruinsma, Seventh-day Adventist Attitudes Toward Roman Catholicism 1844 – 1965 (Berrien Springs, Michigan: Andrews University Press, 1994) ISBN 1883925045, and another article.
. Conversations started in 1994 and ended in 1998. The main issues discussed and described by the final report published in 2000 included Justification by Faith
, Scripture and Authority in the Church and Eschatology
.http://www.lutheranworld.org/What_We_Do/OEA/Bilateral_Relations/OEA-Lutheran-Seventh_day_Adventist.html
Final report concluded that "Lutherans in their national and regional church contexts" should recognize the Seventh-day-Adventist Church no longer "as a sect but as a free church and a Christian world communion".http://www.wfn.org/1998/05/msg00167.html
"We are happy to conclude that our conversation has been productive in a number of directions. We have affirmed the common doctrinal ground on which we stand, and we have specified some of the ways in which our teachings have developed over time. We have sought to dispel mutual misunderstandings concerning doctrine. We have eschewed the sectarian spirit, and have not questioned one another's status as Christians."http://www.warc.ch/dt/erl1/22.html#txt5
There were also informal meetings between Setri Nyomi, general secretary of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches
and Adventist leaders, Nyomi told them that he has experienced the positive witness of the Adventist Churchhttp://news.adventist.org/data/2001/0983273666/index.html.en.
(WEA) was in 2006. "Although we come from different religious traditions, there was much that we shared in common and was useful to both parties" said Angel Rodriguez. "The meetings were designed to gain a clearer understanding of the theological positions of each body; clarify matters of misunderstanding; discuss frankly areas of agreement and disagreement on a Biblical basis; and explore possible areas of cooperation. The group also enjoyed a visit to several sites in Prague related to Protestant reformer Jan Hus."
Representatives from the WEA and the Adventist church met at Andrews University
from August 5–10, 2007. While the Adventist participants agreed with the WEA Statement of Faith and the discussions were described as warm and cordial, there was disagreement over certain distinctive Adventist beliefs (see: Seventh-day Adventist theology). The "Joint Statement..." was released in September.
Clark Pinnock
believes Adventists are evangelical.
, now representing over 900,000 French Protestants and consisting of 17 churches.
"Now we can enjoy the same rights as traditional Protestant churches and we are considered theologically equal with other religious movements in our country," said Jean-Paul Barquon, secretary of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in France.
at the Presbyterian Church's national headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky
August 22 to 24 (2007) to affirm common beliefs and dispel stereotypes.
“The Adventist church has a responsibility to clear up misconceptions other Christian denominations might have of us, and meetings such as this one give us an opportunity to do so,” said Ángel Manuel Rodríguez
, director of the Biblical Research Institute
http://news.adventist.org/data/2007/1189109441/index.html.en.
"It was most important to see the very similar approaches to the Gospel message that we have; very compatible lifestyles and Christ-centeredness in The Salvation Army and the Seventh-day Adventist Church," Dr. Beach told ANN. "Adventists have always had considerable respect for the work of Salvationists, and I hope that in the future we would increase our knowledge of each other and our cooperation in meeting many of humanity's crying spiritual and material needs."http://news.adventist.org/data/2004/1073998565/index.html.en
(president of the Seventh-day Adventist world church), Patriarch Pavle and Stanislav Hočevar
, Roman Catholic archbishop of Belgrade.
"Mutual respect must continue between the Adventist Church and the Orthodox Church in Serbia in order to protect religious liberty, Paulsen said. The conversation between the two leaders was informal, amicable and cordial, and covered brief exchanges on world affairs and also the Adventist position on health.
Paulsen also visited Stanislav Hocevar, Roman Catholic archbishop of Belgrade. The prelate's numerous questions about the faith and theology of the Seventh-day Adventist Church gave Paulsen an in-depth opportunity to explain the church's understanding of Bible teachings."http://news.adventist.org/data/2003/1047408831/index.html.en
, the Adventist Church has participated in its assemblies in an observer capacity.
World Council of Churches see Seventh-day Adventist Church as "a denomination of conservative evangelical Christians"http://www.oikoumene.org/en/member-churches/church-families/seventh-day-adventist-church.html.
is an international, evangelical Christian
association that runs workshops, conferences, and one large annual conference. According to one article, "Seventh-day Adventist pastors and church members have been attending these conferences for years".
, and holds much in common with Evangelicalism in particular. However, in common with many restorationist groups, Adventists have traditionally taught that the majority of Protestant churches have failed to "complete" the Reformation by overturning the errors of Roman Catholicism (see also Great Apostasy
) and "restoring" the beliefs and practices of the primitive church
—including Sabbath-keeping, adult baptism and conditional immortality
. The Adventist church is thus classified as a Restorationist sect by some religion scholars. On the same basis it may be associated with the Anabaptists and other movements of the Radical Reformation
.
Prominent Adventist evangelist George Vandeman
affirmed other churches in What I Like About... The Lutherans, The Baptists, The Methodists, The Charismatics, The Catholics, Our Jewish Friends, The Adventists.
Adventists typically do not associate themselves with Fundamentalist Christianity
:
However one stream
of Adventist thought is often considered fundamentalist.
Baptist scholar Clark Pinnock
gave very favourable reviews of Alden Thompson
's Inspiration, and Richard Rice's theology textbook Reign of God. Pinnock was earlier impressed by Richard Rice's book The Openness of God, and later was the editor for another work of the same name, contributed by authors Rice, John E. Sanders and others. Ray Roennfeldt wrote his PhD on Pinnock's view of biblical inspiration. Pinnock also wrote the foreword to Immortality or Resurrection? by Samuele Bacchiocchi
.
Baptist Wayne Grudem
wrote wrote the foreword to Samuele Bacchiocchi's book Women in the Church.
At an Adventist conference, Methodist scholar Donald Dayton described himself as a "sympathetic outsider". He affirmed Adventists for being ahead of their time on certain beliefs, although not necessarily entirely correct.
Anglican minister Geoffrey Paxton
had significant interaction with Adventists, particularly with Robert Brinsmead
. He lost his job as principal of the Queensland Bible Institute (now Crossway College
) because of his association with Adventists.
Defrocked Adventist minister Desmond Ford
has presented sermons to a wide variety of Christian denominations.
Evangelical Tony Campolo
has written about his positive experiences speaking on numerous Adventist university campuses in the forward to Adventism for a New Generation by Steve Daily. He presented at the first International Conference on Adventists in the Community, in 2004.
Evangelical author Philip Yancey
gave a presentation at Avondale College Church on October 20, 2001, which was broadcast throughout the South Pacific Division
. He returned to speak again at Avondale College
in 2007.
Historian Martin E. Marty
describes Adventism as trans-modern, as opposed to counter-modern fundamentalists.
.
The General Conference
body Global Mission
started in 1990 after a decision at the General Conference Session
. The [Office of] Adventist Mission was formed in 2005, as a merger of Global Mission and the Office of Mission Awareness.
Global Mission has centers specializing in the study of Buddhism
, Hinduism
, Judaism
, secularism
/postmodernism
and Islam
.
interview with Global Center for Adventist-Muslim Relations director Jerald Whitehouse. See also.
Samir Selmanovic
, the pastor of Church of the Advent Hope in New York City
, was honored by the group Muslims Against Terrorism for his assistance following the September 11, 2001 attacks
, including holding a Christian-Muslim discussion at the peak of tensions.
(WHO) is being explored. According to one report, "While WHO has previously partnered with other faith-based organisations, this would be the first time it could extend official relations to a church denomination."
magazine is sent to over twice as many non-Adventists as Adventists.
Shabbat Shalom describes itself as "The Journal of Jewish-Christian Reconciliation".
Other links:
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...
and other Christian denominations and movements, and other religions. Adventist resist the movement to full ecumenical integration with other churches, believing that such a transition would result in a renouncing of its foundational beliefs and endanger its distinctive message. According to one church document,
- "The ecumenical movement as an agency of cooperation has acceptable aspects; as an agency for organic unity of churches, it is much more suspect."
History
Adventists have often been skeptical of other faiths. The MilleriteMillerites
The Millerites were the followers of the teachings of William Miller who, in 1833, first shared publicly his belief in the coming Second Advent of Jesus Christ in roughly the year 1843.-Origins:...
movement, which gave birth to Seventh-day Adventism, experienced rejection and hostility from the majority of North American Christian churches of the time. Early Adventists experienced similar hostility because of their unique views about the Sabbath
Sabbath in Seventh-day Adventism
Sabbath is an important part of the belief and practice of seventh-day Christians. These believers observe Sabbath on the seventh Hebrew day of the week, from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset, in similar manner as in Judaism, rather than Lord's day on Sunday like a most forms of Christianity...
. They consequently came to see themselves as an obedient remnant
Remnant (Adventist)
In Seventh-day Adventist theology, there will be an end time remnant of believers who are faithful to God.The remnant church is a visible, historical, organized body characterized by obedience to the commandments of God and the possession of a unique end-time gospel proclamation...
which was encountering the wrath of the dragon, as prophesied in . Subsequent developments in Adventist eschatology saw the Sunday-keeping churches identified with Babylon the Great . A central aspect of the Adventist mission was to call people out of Babylon, and into the remnant church, as signified by the second of the three angels' messages
Three Angels' Messages
In Seventh-day Adventist beliefs, the "three angels' messages" is an interpretation of the messages given by three angels in Revelation . The church teaches that these messages are given to prepare the world for the second coming of Jesus Christ, and sees them as a central part of its own...
.
The Review and Herald (now Adventist Review) October 12, 1876 contains an "amazing" article on cordiality between the Adventist pioneers and the Seventh Day Baptist
Seventh Day Baptist
Seventh Day Baptists are Christian Baptists who observe Sabbath on the seventh-day of the week in accord with their understanding of the Biblical Sabbath for the Judeo-Christian tradition...
s. James White pointed out that the two bodies agreed on the two great tests of the Christian life, i.e. the divine law and redemption from its transgression through the Son. The main difference between them, White observed, was the question of immortality. Even though differences existed between the two groups, White recommended, "that there be no controversy between the two bodies." He continued, "we further recommend that Seventh-day Adventists in their agressive work avoid laboring to build up Seventh-day Adventist churches where Seventh-day Baptist churches are already established..." He said it is much better to seek union with Seventh Day Baptists on the points they agree than to sacrifice that union by urging on them peculiar Adventist sentiments.
While the Adventist church matured and institutionalized in the twentieth century, opposition from other churches also declined. By the 1950s, Adventists and American conservative Christians
Conservative Christianity
Conservative Christianity is a term applied to a number of groups or movements seen as giving priority to traditional Christian beliefs and practices...
were ready to dialogue. A series of discussions between Adventist and conservative leaders led to greater understanding and acceptance on both sides. Even after these milestone events, however, Adventists continued to resist full ecumenical cooperation with other churches, believing that such cooperation would endanger its distinctive message.
Bert Beach was the main Adventist involved with interreligious dialogue.
On January 22, 2007 church leaders voted to rename the Council on Inter-church/Inter-faith Relations to the Council on Inter-church/Inter-religion Affairs. This involved more than a change of name, representing a desire for increased dialog with other religions.
Religious liberty
"Seventh-day Adventists believe that freedom of religion is a basic human right." The Adventist church has been active for over 100 years advocating for freedom of religion for all people, regardless of faith. In 1893 its leaders founded the International Religious Liberty AssociationInternational Religious Liberty Association
The International Religious Liberty Association is a non-sectarian and non-political organization promoting religious freedom. It was originally organised by the Seventh-day Adventist Church leaders in 1893 to campaign for religious freedom for all when the danger of restrictions from blue laws...
, which is universal and non-sectarian. The Seventh-day Adventist Church State Council serves to protect religious groups from legislation that may affect their religious practices.
The church publishes the magazine Liberty.
Theological conferences
The church has two professional organizations for Adventist theologians who are affiliated with the denomination. The Adventist Society for Religious StudiesAdventist Society for Religious Studies
The Adventist Society for Religious Studies is a Seventh-day Adventist scholarly community whose purpose is "to provide intellectual and social fellowship among its members and encourage scholarly pursuits in all religious studies disciplines, particularly with reference to the Seventh-day...
(ASRS) was formed to foster community among Adventist theologians who attend the Society of Biblical Literature
Society of Biblical Literature
The Society of Biblical Literature, founded 1880, is a constituent society of the American Council of Learned Societies , with the stated mission to "Foster Biblical Scholarship"...
(SBL) and the American Academy of Religion
American Academy of Religion
The American Academy of Religion is the world's largest association of scholars in the field of religious studies and related topics. It is a nonprofit member association,...
. In 2006 ASRS voted to continue their meetings in the future in conjunction with SBL. During the 1980s the Adventist Theological Society
Adventist Theological Society
The Adventist Theological Society is an international nonprofit organization of Seventh-day Adventist scholars and lay-people. The society holds its annual meeting in connection with the Evangelical Theological Society. It describes its theology as "balanced and conservative Adventist theology"...
was formed by Jack Blanco to provide a forum for more conservative theologians to meet and is held in conjunction with the Evangelical Theological Society
Evangelical Theological Society
The Evangelical Theological Society is a professional society of Biblical scholars, educators, pastors, and students with the stated purpose of serving Jesus and his church by advancing evangelical scholarship. It was established in 1949 in Cincinnati. The number of members in 2005 was over 4,200...
.
Adventists and ecumenism
The Adventist church generally opposes the ecumenical movementEcumenism
Ecumenism or oecumenism mainly refers to initiatives aimed at greater Christian unity or cooperation. It is used predominantly by and with reference to Christian denominations and Christian Churches separated by doctrine, history, and practice...
, although it supports some of the goals of ecumenism. 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...
has released an official statement concerning the Adventist position with respect to the ecumenical movement, which contains the following paragraph:
- "Should Adventists cooperate ecumenically? Adventists should cooperate insofar as the authentic gospel is proclaimed and crying human needs are being met. The Seventh-day Adventist Church wants no entangling memberships and refuses any compromising relationships that might tend to water down her distinct witness. However, Adventists wish to be "conscientious cooperators." The ecumenical movement as an agency of cooperation has acceptable aspects; as an agency for organic unity of churches, it is much more suspect."
- "The New Testament presents a qualified church unity in truth, characterized by holiness, joy, faithfulness, and obedience (see John 17:6, 13, 17, 19, 23, 26). "Ecumenthusiasts" (to coin a word) seem to take for granted the eventual organic unity and communion of the great majority of the churches. They emphasize the "scandal of division," as if this were really the unpardonable sin. Heresy and apostasy are largely ignored. However, the New Testament shows the threat of anti-Christian penetration within "the temple of God" (2 Thess. 2:3, 4). The eschatological picture of God's church prior to the Second Coming is not one of a megachurch gathering all humankind together, but of a "remnant" of Christendom, those keeping the commandments of God and having the faith of Jesus (see Rev. 12:17)." :
- "Adventists see the Bible as the infallible revelation of God's will, the authoritative revealer of doctrinal truth, and the trustworthy record of the mighty acts of God in salvation history (see Fundamental Beliefs of Seventh-day Adventists: 1. The Holy Scriptures). Adventists see the Bible as a unity. For many WCC leaders the Bible is not normative and authoritative in itself. The emphasis is on Biblical diversity, including at times demythologization of the Gospels. For a large number of ecumenists, as is the case for liberal Christianity in general, inspiration lies not in the Biblical text but in the experience of the reader. Propositional revelation is out; experience is in." :
While not being a member church of the World Council of Churches
World Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
, the Adventist church has participated in its assemblies in an observer capacity.
Three Adventist leaders (John Graz, John Kakembo and Bill Johnsson
William G. Johnsson
William G. "Bill" Johnsson is a Seventh-day Adventist editor and church leader.- Biography :Born in Australia, he earned a degree in chemical technology before attending Avondale College, where he met his wife Nolene Johnsson. Johnsson earned his Th.D. in theology from Vanderbilt University...
) attended the Global Christian Forum of 250 Christian leaders from more than 70 nations, held in Limuru
Limuru
Limuru is a town in central Kenya. It is also the name of a parliamentary constituency and an administrative division. Current 2004 population is about 4800....
(near Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
), Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
in 2007.
Relations with Roman Catholicism
The official beliefs of the church (28 Fundamentals28 Fundamentals
The 28 Fundamentals are a core set of theological beliefs held by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Traditionally, Adventists have been opposed to the formulation of creeds. It is claimed that the 28 Fundamentals are descriptors not prescriptors; that is, that they describe the official position of...
) do not mention the papacy or Roman Catholicism. An official statement "How Seventh-day Adventists View Roman Catholicism" was released in 1997. Adventists are concerned about the institution of the papacy and the Roman Catholic Church, yet recognize many sincere individual Catholics.
Woodrow Whidden
Woodrow Whidden
Woodrow Wilson Whidden II is a Seventh-day Adventist aurthor, theologian, and professor of systematic and historical theology at the Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies based in the Philippines.-Biography:...
wrote, "we must forthrightly affirm that many positive things have taken place in Roman Catholicism". According to him, the papacy "is a mixed bag morally and ethically... All human organizations (including our own 'enfeebled and defective' denomination) are sadly sinful." He concludes, "the Roman Catholic religious system" or "papal Rome is still the great power envisioned in Daniel 7 and 8; 2 Thessalonians 2; and Revelation 13." See the companion article By Grace Alone? by Clifford Goldstein
Clifford Goldstein
Clifford R. Goldstein is an American author and editor. He is a leading figure in the Seventh-day Adventist denomination and espouses traditional Adventist beliefs.- Biography :...
.
More moderate scholars... Progressive Adventists typically reject these traditional identifications. See Spectrum 27, issue 3 (Summer 1999): 30-52.
There was a number of meetings between Seventh day Adventist and Catholic theologians including now Cardinal Walter Kasper and Msgr John Radano. A short report by Ángel Manuel Rodríguez
Ángel Manuel Rodríguez
Ángel Manuel Rodríguez is a Seventh-day Adventist theologian and director of the Biblical Research Institute . His special research interests include Old Testament, Sanctuary and Atonement, and Old Testament Theology...
was released.
Adventist Samuele Bacchiocchi
Samuele Bacchiocchi
Samuele R. Bacchiocchi was a Seventh-day Adventist author and theologian, best known for his work on the Sabbath in Christianity, particularly in the historical work From Sabbath to Sunday, based on his doctoral thesis from the Pontifical Gregorian University...
was the first non-Catholic to have graduated from the Pontifical Gregorian University
Pontifical Gregorian University
The Pontifical Gregorian University is a pontifical university located in Rome, Italy.Heir of the Roman College founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola over 460 years ago, the Gregorian University was the first university founded by the Jesuits...
.
See also Reinder Bruinsma, Seventh-day Adventist Attitudes Toward Roman Catholicism 1844 – 1965 (Berrien Springs, Michigan: Andrews University Press, 1994) ISBN 1883925045, and another article.
Relations with Lutheran World Federation
There was constructive theological dialogue between the Seventh-day Adventist Church and The Lutheran World FederationLutheran World Federation
The Lutheran World Federation is a global communion of national and regional Lutheran churches headquartered in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland. The federation was founded in the Swedish city of Lund in the aftermath of the Second World War in 1947 to coordinate the activities of the...
. Conversations started in 1994 and ended in 1998. The main issues discussed and described by the final report published in 2000 included Justification by Faith
Justification (theology)
Rising out of the Protestant Reformation, Justification is the chief article of faith describing God's act of declaring or making a sinner righteous through Christ's atoning sacrifice....
, Scripture and Authority in the Church and Eschatology
Eschatology
Eschatology is a part of theology, philosophy, and futurology concerned with what are believed to be the final events in history, or the ultimate destiny of humanity, commonly referred to as the end of the world or the World to Come...
.http://www.lutheranworld.org/What_We_Do/OEA/Bilateral_Relations/OEA-Lutheran-Seventh_day_Adventist.html
Final report concluded that "Lutherans in their national and regional church contexts" should recognize the Seventh-day-Adventist Church no longer "as a sect but as a free church and a Christian world communion".http://www.wfn.org/1998/05/msg00167.html
Relations with World Alliance of Reformed Churches
There is active theological dialogue between the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the World Alliance of Reformed Churches. In 2001 report on dialogue has been published as well, among other statements it declared that:"We are happy to conclude that our conversation has been productive in a number of directions. We have affirmed the common doctrinal ground on which we stand, and we have specified some of the ways in which our teachings have developed over time. We have sought to dispel mutual misunderstandings concerning doctrine. We have eschewed the sectarian spirit, and have not questioned one another's status as Christians."http://www.warc.ch/dt/erl1/22.html#txt5
There were also informal meetings between Setri Nyomi, general secretary of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches
World Alliance of Reformed Churches
The World Alliance of Reformed Churches is a fellowship of more than 200 churches with roots in the 16th-century Reformation, and particularly in the theology of John Calvin...
and Adventist leaders, Nyomi told them that he has experienced the positive witness of the Adventist Churchhttp://news.adventist.org/data/2001/0983273666/index.html.en.
Relations with World Evangelical Alliance
The first meeting with the World Evangelical AllianceWorld Evangelical Alliance
- Introduction :' is a global ministry working with local churches around the world to join in common concern to live and proclaim the "Good News of Jesus" in their communities...
(WEA) was in 2006. "Although we come from different religious traditions, there was much that we shared in common and was useful to both parties" said Angel Rodriguez. "The meetings were designed to gain a clearer understanding of the theological positions of each body; clarify matters of misunderstanding; discuss frankly areas of agreement and disagreement on a Biblical basis; and explore possible areas of cooperation. The group also enjoyed a visit to several sites in Prague related to Protestant reformer Jan Hus."
Representatives from the WEA and the Adventist church met at Andrews University
Andrews University
Andrews University is a Seventh-day Adventist university in Berrien Springs, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1874 as Battle Creek College in Battle Creek, Michigan, it was the first higher education facility started by Seventh-day Adventists, and is the flagship university of the Seventh-day...
from August 5–10, 2007. While the Adventist participants agreed with the WEA Statement of Faith and the discussions were described as warm and cordial, there was disagreement over certain distinctive Adventist beliefs (see: Seventh-day Adventist theology). The "Joint Statement..." was released in September.
Clark Pinnock
Clark Pinnock
Clark H. Pinnock was a Christian theologian, apologist and author. He was Professor Emeritus of Systematic Theology at McMaster Divinity College.-Education and career:...
believes Adventists are evangelical.
Relations with French Protestant Federation (FPF)
Seventh-day Adventist church is a member of French Protestant FederationProtestant Federation of France
The Protestant Federation of France is a religious organisation created on 25 October 1905, which united the principal Protestant Christian groupings in France.-Federation:...
, now representing over 900,000 French Protestants and consisting of 17 churches.
"Now we can enjoy the same rights as traditional Protestant churches and we are considered theologically equal with other religious movements in our country," said Jean-Paul Barquon, secretary of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in France.
Relations with Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
There was a meeting between delegates from Seventh day Adventist Church and Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
The Presbyterian Church , or PC, is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. Part of the Reformed tradition, it is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S...
at the Presbyterian Church's national headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
August 22 to 24 (2007) to affirm common beliefs and dispel stereotypes.
“The Adventist church has a responsibility to clear up misconceptions other Christian denominations might have of us, and meetings such as this one give us an opportunity to do so,” said Ángel Manuel Rodríguez
Ángel Manuel Rodríguez
Ángel Manuel Rodríguez is a Seventh-day Adventist theologian and director of the Biblical Research Institute . His special research interests include Old Testament, Sanctuary and Atonement, and Old Testament Theology...
, director of 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...
http://news.adventist.org/data/2007/1189109441/index.html.en.
Relations with Salvation Army
There is active dialogue and friendly relation between Salvation Army and Seventh day Adventist Church. Theologians from both denominations met several timeshttp://news.adventist.org/data/2005/1111000066/index.html.en."It was most important to see the very similar approaches to the Gospel message that we have; very compatible lifestyles and Christ-centeredness in The Salvation Army and the Seventh-day Adventist Church," Dr. Beach told ANN. "Adventists have always had considerable respect for the work of Salvationists, and I hope that in the future we would increase our knowledge of each other and our cooperation in meeting many of humanity's crying spiritual and material needs."http://news.adventist.org/data/2004/1073998565/index.html.en
Relations with Serbian Orthodox Church
In 2003 there was meeting in Belgrade between Jan PaulsenJan Paulsen
Dr. Jan Paulsen was elected President of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists on March 1, 1999, at the age of 64...
(president of the Seventh-day Adventist world church), Patriarch Pavle and Stanislav Hočevar
Stanislav Hocevar
Stanislav Hočevar has been the Roman Catholic archbishop of the Archdiocese of Beograd in Serbia since 2001....
, Roman Catholic archbishop of Belgrade.
"Mutual respect must continue between the Adventist Church and the Orthodox Church in Serbia in order to protect religious liberty, Paulsen said. The conversation between the two leaders was informal, amicable and cordial, and covered brief exchanges on world affairs and also the Adventist position on health.
Paulsen also visited Stanislav Hocevar, Roman Catholic archbishop of Belgrade. The prelate's numerous questions about the faith and theology of the Seventh-day Adventist Church gave Paulsen an in-depth opportunity to explain the church's understanding of Bible teachings."http://news.adventist.org/data/2003/1047408831/index.html.en
Relations with World Council of Churches
While not being a member church of the World Council of ChurchesWorld Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
, the Adventist Church has participated in its assemblies in an observer capacity.
World Council of Churches see Seventh-day Adventist Church as "a denomination of conservative evangelical Christians"http://www.oikoumene.org/en/member-churches/church-families/seventh-day-adventist-church.html.
Willow Creek
Willow Creek AssociationWillow Creek Association
The Willow Creek Association , a 5013 not-for-profit ministry, is an international, evangelical Christian association of more than 9,000 member churches from 90 denominations and 45 countries.-Mission:...
is an international, evangelical Christian
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
association that runs workshops, conferences, and one large annual conference. According to one article, "Seventh-day Adventist pastors and church members have been attending these conferences for years".
Relation to other groups and individuals
Adventist theology is distinctly ProtestantProtestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
, and holds much in common with Evangelicalism in particular. However, in common with many restorationist groups, Adventists have traditionally taught that the majority of Protestant churches have failed to "complete" the Reformation by overturning the errors of Roman Catholicism (see also Great Apostasy
Great Apostasy
The Great Apostasy is a term used by some religious groups to describe a general fallen state of traditional Christianity, especially the Papacy, because it allowed the traditional Roman mysteries and deities of solar monism such as Mithras and Sol Invictus and idol worship back into the church,...
) and "restoring" the beliefs and practices of the primitive church
Early Christianity
Early Christianity is generally considered as Christianity before 325. The New Testament's Book of Acts and Epistle to the Galatians records that the first Christian community was centered in Jerusalem and its leaders included James, Peter and John....
—including Sabbath-keeping, adult baptism and conditional immortality
Conditional immortality
In Christian theology, conditionalism or conditional immortality is a concept of special salvation in which the gift of immortality is attached to belief in Jesus Christ. This doctrine is based in part upon another theological argument, that if the human soul is naturally mortal, immortality is...
. The Adventist church is thus classified as a Restorationist sect by some religion scholars. On the same basis it may be associated with the Anabaptists and other movements of the Radical Reformation
Radical Reformation
The Radical Reformation was a 16th century response to what was believed to be both the corruption in the Roman Catholic Church and the expanding Magisterial Protestant movement led by Martin Luther and many others. Beginning in Germany and Switzerland, the Radical Reformation birthed many radical...
.
Prominent Adventist evangelist George Vandeman
George Vandeman
George Edward Vandeman , was a Seventh-day Adventist evangelist who founded the It Is Written television ministry.#- Biography :...
affirmed other churches in What I Like About... The Lutherans, The Baptists, The Methodists, The Charismatics, The Catholics, Our Jewish Friends, The Adventists.
Adventists typically do not associate themselves with Fundamentalist Christianity
Fundamentalist Christianity
Christian fundamentalism, also known as Fundamentalist Christianity, or Fundamentalism, arose out of British and American Protestantism in the late 19th century and early 20th century among evangelical Christians...
:
- "Theologically, Seventh-day Adventists have a number of beliefs in common with Fundamentalists, but for various reasons have never been identified with the movement... On their part, Adventists reject as unbiblical a number of teachings held by many (though not all) Fundamentalists..."
However one stream
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...
of Adventist thought is often considered fundamentalist.
Baptist scholar Clark Pinnock
Clark Pinnock
Clark H. Pinnock was a Christian theologian, apologist and author. He was Professor Emeritus of Systematic Theology at McMaster Divinity College.-Education and career:...
gave very favourable reviews of Alden Thompson
Alden Thompson
Alden Lloyd Thompson is a Seventh-day Adventist Christian theologian, author and popular speaker and seminar presenter. He is the professor of biblical studies at Walla Walla University in Washington, United States...
's Inspiration, and Richard Rice's theology textbook Reign of God. Pinnock was earlier impressed by Richard Rice's book The Openness of God, and later was the editor for another work of the same name, contributed by authors Rice, John E. Sanders and others. Ray Roennfeldt wrote his PhD on Pinnock's view of biblical inspiration. Pinnock also wrote the foreword to Immortality or Resurrection? by Samuele Bacchiocchi
Samuele Bacchiocchi
Samuele R. Bacchiocchi was a Seventh-day Adventist author and theologian, best known for his work on the Sabbath in Christianity, particularly in the historical work From Sabbath to Sunday, based on his doctoral thesis from the Pontifical Gregorian University...
.
Baptist Wayne Grudem
Wayne Grudem
Wayne A. Grudem is a Protestant theologian and author. He was born in 1948 in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin and married Margaret White on June 6, 1969 in Eau Claire, Wisconsin...
wrote wrote the foreword to Samuele Bacchiocchi's book Women in the Church.
At an Adventist conference, Methodist scholar Donald Dayton described himself as a "sympathetic outsider". He affirmed Adventists for being ahead of their time on certain beliefs, although not necessarily entirely correct.
Anglican minister Geoffrey Paxton
Geoffrey Paxton
Geoffrey J. Paxton has been an ordained minister in the Anglican Church of Australia. He is a graduate of Australian College of Theology and the University of Queensland. He tutored in the history of Christian thought at the University of Queensland, and in Greek and New Testament studies in the...
had significant interaction with Adventists, particularly with Robert Brinsmead
Robert Brinsmead
Robert Daniel "Bob" Brinsmead is a formerly controversial figure within the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the 1960s and 1970s, known for his diverse theological journey....
. He lost his job as principal of the Queensland Bible Institute (now Crossway College
Crossway College
Crossway College is a Bible college in Toowong and Rothwell in Queensland. The Head of College is currently Johan Ferreira. Crossway College offers degrees through the Australian College of Theology.-External links:*...
) because of his association with Adventists.
Defrocked Adventist minister Desmond Ford
Desmond Ford
Desmond "Des" Ford is an evangelical Christian and an Australian theologian. He is the father of pornography gossip columnist Luke Ford....
has presented sermons to a wide variety of Christian denominations.
Evangelical Tony Campolo
Tony Campolo
Dr. Anthony "Tony" Campolo is an American pastor, author, sociologist, and public speaker known for challenging evangelical Christians by illustrating how their faith can offer solutions in a world of complexity. With his liberal political and social attitudes, he has been a major proponent for...
has written about his positive experiences speaking on numerous Adventist university campuses in the forward to Adventism for a New Generation by Steve Daily. He presented at the first International Conference on Adventists in the Community, in 2004.
Evangelical author Philip Yancey
Philip Yancey
Philip Yancey is an American Christian author. Fourteen million of his books have been sold worldwide, making him one of the best-selling evangelical Christian authors. Two of his books have won the ECPA's Christian Book of the Year Award: The Jesus I Never Knew in 1996, What's So Amazing About...
gave a presentation at Avondale College Church on October 20, 2001, which was broadcast throughout the South Pacific Division
South Pacific Division of Seventh-day Adventists
The Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific, , is formally organised as the South Pacific Division of Seventh-day Adventists , also abbreviated as the South Pacific Division or simply "the Division". It is one of 13 world divisions of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in...
. He returned to speak again 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 2007.
Historian Martin E. Marty
Martin E. Marty
Martin Emil Marty is an American Lutheran religious scholar who has written extensively on 19th century and 20th century American religion. He received a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1956, and served as a Lutheran pastor from 1952 to 1962 in the suburbs of Chicago...
describes Adventism as trans-modern, as opposed to counter-modern fundamentalists.
Other religions
This section describes the interaction between the Adventist church and other religions beside ChristianityChristianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
.
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...
body Global Mission
Global Mission
Global Mission is the frontline mission arm of Adventist Mission, an office of the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s world headquarters. The organization sends volunteer missionaries, typically for one or two years, to reach people in areas of the world where there are no Seventh-day Adventist members...
started in 1990 after a decision at the General Conference Session
General Conference Session
The General Conference Session is the official world meeting of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. The first session was held on May 20, 1863 with 20 delegates in attendance, and it is now held quinquennially ....
. The [Office of] Adventist Mission was formed in 2005, as a merger of Global Mission and the Office of Mission Awareness.
Global Mission has centers specializing in the study of Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
, Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
, Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
, secularism
Secularism
Secularism is the principle of separation between government institutions and the persons mandated to represent the State from religious institutions and religious dignitaries...
/postmodernism
Postmodernism
Postmodernism is a philosophical movement evolved in reaction to modernism, the tendency in contemporary culture to accept only objective truth and to be inherently suspicious towards a global cultural narrative or meta-narrative. Postmodernist thought is an intentional departure from the...
and Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
.
Islam
See "New Directions in Adventist—Muslim Relations", a SpectrumSpectrum (magazine)
Spectrum is the official publication of Adventist Forums, published four times a year. It was established "to encourage Seventh-day Adventist participation in the discussion of contemporary issues from a Christian viewpoint, to look without prejudice at all sides of a subject, to evaluate the...
interview with Global Center for Adventist-Muslim Relations director Jerald Whitehouse. See also.
Samir Selmanovic
Samir Selmanovic
Samir Selmanovic is a Christian minister who is known particularly for his work in interfaith dialogue. He is the founder of "Faith House Manhattan", an interfaith community of Christians, Muslims, Jews and humanists/atheists...
, the pastor of Church of the Advent Hope in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, was honored by the group Muslims Against Terrorism for his assistance following the September 11, 2001 attacks
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
, including holding a Christian-Muslim discussion at the peak of tensions.
Non-religious organizations
As of 2009, a partnership between the Adventist church and the World Health OrganizationWorld Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
(WHO) is being explored. According to one report, "While WHO has previously partnered with other faith-based organisations, this would be the first time it could extend official relations to a church denomination."
Publications
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...
magazine is sent to over twice as many non-Adventists as Adventists.
Shabbat Shalom describes itself as "The Journal of Jewish-Christian Reconciliation".
See also
- EcumenismEcumenismEcumenism or oecumenism mainly refers to initiatives aimed at greater Christian unity or cooperation. It is used predominantly by and with reference to Christian denominations and Christian Churches separated by doctrine, history, and practice...
- Seventh-day Adventist theology
- Seventh-day Adventist ChurchSeventh-day Adventist ChurchThe 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...
- 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...
- Questions on DoctrineQuestions on DoctrineSeventh-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...
- 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...
External links
Voted statements and similar documents:- Stefan Höschele, Interchurch and Interfaith Relations: Seventh-day Adventist Documents. Adventistica 10 (Frankfurt a. M.: Lang, 2010).
- Relationships with Other Christian Churches and Religious Organizations, a document in the General Conference Working Policy
- Conversations With Other Christians from 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...
- "Seventh-day Adventists and the Ecumenical Movement" (first appeared in Pattern for Progress, The Role and Function of Church Organization by Walter Raymond Beach and Bert Beverly Beach)
- Declaration of the Seventh-day Adventist Church on Church-State Relations
- Safeguarding Mission in Changing Social Environments, voted by the General Conference Annual Council session of 2007
- A Seventh-day Adventist Statement on Religious Liberty, Evangelism, and Proselytism
- Religious Minorities and Religious Freedom: A Statement of Commitment and Concern
- A Statement on Religious Freedom
Other links:
- "What Evangelicals Say About Seventh-day Adventists" by Larry Christoffel. Adventist TodayAdventist TodayAdventist Today is a bimonthly Christian magazine representing a progressive Seventh-day Adventist perspective. First published in 1993, it is currently edited by J. David Newman, the former editor of Ministry...
4:5 (September–October 1996) - Bert Beach. Evangelicals: http://www.adventistarchives.org/docs/MIN/MIN1992-04/index.djvu?djvuopts&page=15
- "The Seventh-day Adventists and the Ecumenical Movement" by Cosmas Rubencamp. Spectrum 2:4 (Autumn 1970)
- "An Adventist Response to 'the Seventh-day Adventists and the Ecumenical Movement'" by Raoul Dederen. Spectrum 2:4 (Autumn 1970)
- Article on PatheosPatheos- History :Patheos was founded in 2008 by Leo and Cathie Brunnick, both web technology professionals and residents of Denver, Colorado. Leo, a non-practicing Catholic, and Cathie, a Lutheran-turned-Evangelical, started the project the week they were married as they tried to blend their...
about Samir Selmanovic's book It's Really All About God, which discusses his experiences in interfaith dialogue - Read the Spirit: 581: Meet a religious peacemaker who wants to celebrate our uniqueness. Conversation with Samir Selmanovic. Tuesday, December 15, 2009 at 7:11PM Accessed 03-21-2011
- Research Project on Adventist interchurch relations
- Baptists, Adventists meet to underscore common Christian values [APD
March 13, 2009.] Accessed March 24, 2011