Official Statements

From time to time, Seventh-day Adventists find it important to articulate their understanding of certain important topics in light of their understanding of biblical values and teachings. Below is a collection of these statements on issues ranging from religious freedom to assault weapons.


One Humanity: A Human Relations Statement Addressing Racism, Casteism, Tribalism, and Ethnocentrism

VOTED, To adopt the statement, “One Humanity: A Human Relations Statement Addressing Racism, Casteism, Tribalism, and Ethnocentrism,” which reads as follows: One Humanity: A Human Relations Statement…

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Statement on the Biblical View of Unborn Life and Its Implications for Abortion

VOTED, To adopt the document, Statement on the Biblical View of Unborn Life and Its Implications for Abortion, which reads as follows: Statement on the Biblical View of Unborn Life and Its Implication…

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Mission Statement of the Seventh-day Adventist Church

Our Mission Make disciples of Jesus Christ who live as His loving witnesses and proclaim to all people the everlasting gospel of the Three Angels’ Messages in preparation for His soon return (Matt 28:…

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Statement on Transgenderism

The increasing awareness of the needs and challenges that transgender men and women experience and the rise of transgender issues to social prominence worldwide raise important questions not only for…

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Statement of Confidence in the Writings of Ellen G White

As delegates to the 2015 General Conference Session in San Antonio, Texas, we express our deep gratitude to God for the continuing presence of the various spiritual gifts among His people (1 Cor 12:4-…

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Immunization

The Seventh-day Adventist Church places strong emphasis on health and well-being. The Adventist health emphasis is based on biblical revelation, the inspired writing of E.G. White (co-founder of the C…

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Consensus Statement on a Seventh-day Adventist Theology of Ordination

In a world alienated from God, the Church is composed of those whom God has reconciled to Himself and to each other. Through the saving work of Christ they are united to Him by faith through baptism (…

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A Statement of Consensus on Care for the Dying

For people whose lives are guided by the Bible, the reality of death is acknowledged as part of the current human condition, affected by sin (Genesis 2:17; Romans 5; Hebrews 9:27). There is “a time to…

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Homosexuality

The Seventh-day Adventist Church recognizes that every human being is valuable in the sight of God, and we seek to minister to all men and women in the spirit of Jesus. We also believe that by God&#82…

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Statement of Tithe and Its Destination

From time to time events occur that lead some well-intentioned church members or congregations to consider deviating from returning tithe to their local conference/mission/union of churches through th…

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Creation: The Bible’s Worldview

The Seventh-day Adventist Church affirms its belief in the biblical account of creation in contrast to an evolutionary explanation for the origin of living organisms and the relationship of humans to…

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Freedom of Speech and Defamation of Religion

A distinguishing feature of humans is our God-given ability to communicate in the abstract through speech, symbols, and the written word.  Nowhere is this capacity more uniquely expressed than in…

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Global Poverty

Poverty is present in every society. Poverty robs human beings of their most basic rights. It keeps people hungry; it deprives them of medical care, clean water, an education, the opportunity to work,…

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Nurture and Protection of Children

Seventh-day Adventists place a high value on children.  In the light of the Bible they are seen as precious gifts from God entrusted to the care of parents, family, community of faith and society…

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Ending Violence Against Women and Girls

We, the members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, speak up and join with others to bring an end to violence against women and girls.  Global statistics indicate that in all societies women and…

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Commitment to Health and Healing

The Seventh-day Adventist Church affirms the commitment and objectives of its Health Ministry aiming to achieve the well being of its members and the communities it serves, and improving global health…

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War in Congo

Silver Spring, Maryland, United States – The Seventh-day Adventist Church expresses its grave concern about the ongoing violence in North-Eastern Congo, which continues to bring loss of life, mi…

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Response to an Affirmation of Creation

Whereas belief in a literal, six-day creation is indissolubly linked with the authority of Scripture, and; Whereas such belief interlocks with other doctrines of Scripture, including the Sabbath and t…

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Affirmation of Creation

The International Faith & Science Conferences 2002-2004 report of the Organizing Committee to the General Conference Executive Committee through the office of the General Conference President, Sep…

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War in Iraq

With the commencement of hostilities in Iraq, the Communication Department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church World Headquarters, on behalf of the President’s Office, issues the following state…

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Call for Peace

We are living in an increasingly unstable and dangerous world. Recent events have resulted in a heightened sense of vulnerability and personal or corporate fear of violence. Throughout the world, coun…

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Gambling

Gambling-defined as a paid game of chance-increasingly impacts more and more people all over the world. The concept of winning at the expense of others has become a modern curse. Society pays the esca…

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Religious Liberty, Evangelism, and Proselytism

Seventh-day Adventists believe that freedom of religion is a basic human right. As Christians, they are persuaded that the dissemination of religion is not only a right, but a joyful responsibility ba…

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Well-being and Value of Children

Seventh-day Adventists affirm the right of every child to a happy and stable home environment, and the freedom and support to grow up to be the person God intended. In 1989, the United Nations General…

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Religious Minorities and Religious Freedom

Throughout history religious minorities have often been subject to discrimination and outright persecution. Today religious intolerance and prejudice are again on the rise. Notwithstanding the affirma…

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50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

From its very inception in the middle of the nineteenth century, the Seventh-day Adventist Church has supported human rights. Inspired by biblical values, the early Adventists were involved in the str…

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Activities With Elements of Competition

Introduction The Seventh-day Adventist Church and its various organizations, in their concern about competition and rivalries, wish to clarify their position and to recommend certain guidelines for ac…

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Ethical Considerations Regarding Human Cloning

For a number of decades, the prospect that new members of the human family might be produced by cloning was considered farfetched. Recent advances in genetic and reproductive biology, however, indicat…

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Meeting the Challenges of Sexually Transmitted Diseases

The contemporary world is confronted by grave ethical, medical, and social problems resulting from increasing sexual permissiveness and associated promiscuity. Because Christians are a part of the lar…

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Theological and Academic Freedom and Accountability

Document One: A Statement on Theological and Academic Freedom The Church and Its Institutions Freedom for the Seventh-day Adventist pastor/worker, hereinafter referred to as worker, is based on the th…

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How Seventh-day Adventists View Roman Catholicism

Seventh-day Adventists regard all men and women as equal in the sight of God. We reject bigotry against any person, regardless of race, nationality, or religious creed. Further, we gladly acknowledge…

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Child Sexual Abuse

Child sexual abuse occurs when a person older or stronger than the child uses his or her power, authority, or position of trust to involve a child in sexual behavior or activity. Incest, a specific fo…

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Stewardship of the Environment

It is the belief of the Seventh-day Adventist Church that humankind was created in the image of God, and is thus to represent God as His steward and to manage the natural environment in a faithful and…

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Family Violence

Family violence involves an assault of any kind–verbal, physical, emotional, sexual, or active or passive neglect–that is committed by one person or persons against another within a family…

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Smoking and Ethics

Smoking is the single greatest preventable cause of death in the world. It is a universal ethical concept that prevention is better than cure. When it comes to smoking, most countries are faced by an…

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Spiritual Renewal Impacts Social Change

The very real presence of evil in the world and the sinfulness of human beings, compounded by rapid shifts in education, industry, technology and the economy, continue to embroil our planet in massive…

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Marriage

Issues related to marriage can be seen in their true light only as they are viewed against the background of the divine ideal for marriage. Marriage was divinely established in Eden and affirmed by Je…

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The Dangers of Climate Change

Scientists warn that the gradual warming of the atmosphere as a result of human activity will have serious environmental consequences. The climate will change, resulting in more storms, more floods, a…

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Human Relations

Seventh-day Adventists deplore and seek to combat all forms of discrimination based on race, tribe, nationality, color, or gender. We believe that every person was created in the image of God, who mad…

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Statement on Abuse and Family Violence

Seventh-day Adventists affirm the dignity and worth of each human being and decry all forms of physical, sexual and emotional abuse and family violence. We recognize the global extent of this problem…

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Chemical Use, Abuse, and Dependency

The Seventh-day Adventist Church, officially organized in 1863, early in its history addressed the use of beverage alcohol and tobacco. The Church condemned the use of both as destructive to life, fam…

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Women’s Issues

Seventh-day Adventists believe that all people, male and female, are created equal, in the image of a loving God. We believe that both men and women are called to fill a significant role in accomplish…

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Literacy

The Seventh-day Adventist Church values the unique role that women play in fulfilling the church’s mission to spread the gospel. Part of that mission involves meeting the physical, intellectual,…

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Religious Freedom

For more than a century Seventh-day Adventists have been active promoters of religious freedom. We recognize the need to champion freedom of conscience and religion as a fundamental human right, in ha…

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Environment

Seventh-day Adventists believe that humankind was created in the image of God, thus representing God as His stewards, to rule the natural environment in a faithful and fruitful way. Unfortunately, cor…

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The Holy Scriptures

The Holy Scriptures lie at the foundation of the Seventh-day Adventist understanding of purpose, message, and mission. We respect the Bible as the message of God transmitted through human writers. Alt…

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Smoking and Tobacco

For more than a century, the Seventh-day Adventist Church has warned its youth and the general public regarding the addictive and health destroying nature of tobacco smoking. Cigarette smoking is the…

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Tolerance

Seventh-day Adventists support the United Nations proclamation of 1995 as the Year of Tolerance. This proclamation comes at an opportune time when intolerance is abounding on all continents&#8211…

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Birth Control

Scientific technologies today permit greater control of human fertility and reproduction than was formerly possible. These technologies make possible sexual intercourse with the expectation of pregnan…

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Caring for the Environment

The world in which we live is a gift of love from the Creator God, from “Him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and the springs of water” (Revelation 14:7; 11:17, 18). Within this c…

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Historic Stand for Temperance Principles and Acceptance of Donations Statement Impacts Social Change

From the very inception of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, temperance has been a major focus and the Church has played a key role in struggling against the inroads of alcoholic beverages, tobacco, a…

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Homelessness and Poverty

In a world ravaged by sin, the bitter fruits of greed, war, and ignorance are multiplying. Even in so called “affluent societies” the homelessness and the poor are growing populations. Mor…

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Pornography

Diverse courts and cultures may debate the definitions and consequences of pornography (the literature of sexual deviance), but on the basis of eternal principles, Seventh-day Adventists of whatever c…

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Ban on Sales of Assault Weapons to Civilians

Automatic or semi-automatic military-style weapons are becoming increasingly available to civilians. In some areas of the world it is relatively easy to acquire such guns. They show up not only in the…

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Sexual Behavior

In His infinite love and wisdom God created mankind, both male and female, and in so doing based human society on the firm foundation of loving homes and families. It is Satan’s purpose, however…

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Peace

One of the great political and ethical issues of our day is the question of war and peace. It is both complicated and convoluted. Despair hovers around hearts and minds, for millions expect a nuclear…

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Racism

One of the odious evils of our day is racism, the belief or practice that views or treats certain racial groups as inferior and therefore justifiably the object of domination, discrimination, and segr…

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Drugs

The Seventh-day Adventist Church urges every individual and every nation to cooperate in stamping out the worldwide drug epidemic that undermines the social structure of nations and on the individual…

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Peace Message to All People of Good Will

Ours is a world of international tension, habitual exploitation, economic chaos, frequent terrorism, and repeated appeals to arms. These hostilities and uncertainties endanger the peace and civilizati…

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