Day to emphasize God as Creator
Nikolaus Satelmajer got an idea after learning that hundreds of churches and synagogues celebrated 'Evolution Weekend' the past three years.
Satelmajer, the editor of the Seventh-day Adventist Church's Ministry magazine, thought, "Why don't we have a day to emphasize creation?"
Last week, the denomination's world leaders signed onto the idea, voting to approve "Creation Sabbath," a day to emphasize God as the Creator. The day of emphasis is set for Saturday, October 24.
"This isn't to enter into a debate on evolution versus creation, but to emphasize God as our creator," Satelmajer told delegates meeting at the church's world headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States.
Evolution Weekend is held each year nearest to the birth of scientist Charles Darwin, author of "The Origin of Species". Hundreds of participating congregations support a creation combined with evolution, according to the Clergy Letter Project, the sponsoring organization.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church teaches a literal, seven-day creation of the world.
"The major influence of Darwin's work was to separate God from the world," said James Gibson, director of the denomination's Geoscience Research Institute in Loma Linda, California. "Our message of creation is to unite God and the world in people's minds."
Gibson says one of the core tenets of Adventist theology, the Three Angels' Message in Revelation, has the belief of creation built in.
"It seems to me that when we celebrate the Three Angles Message we are really celebrating creation too," he said referring to the first angel's message of worshiping Christ the Creator.
"Sometimes I think there's been too much time raising questions and debating and we really should be saying, 'Let's explore the meaning of God as our Creator.'"
Church leaders said more information about Creation Sabbath will be available in July.