Seventh-day Adventists are committed to fostering a culture of peace and reconciliation in today's increasing violent world, according to an official Seventh-day Adventist Church statement endorsed by church leaders April 18.
Seventh-day Adventists are committed to fostering a culture of peace and reconciliation in today’s increasing violent world, according to an official Seventh-day Adventist Church statement endorsed by church leaders April 18.
The statement condemns all terrorism, including religiously motivated violence, saying that atrocities carried out in the name of religion attempt to turn God into “an idol of evil and violence.” It acknowledges that nations often turn to military responses when faced with terror and violence, but says “lasting answers to deep problems in divisions in society cannot be achieved by using violent means.”
Adventists are called on to work for lasting peace by promoting four biblically based “pillars of peace:” dialogue, justice, forgiveness, and reconciliation.
Quoting Adventist Church president Jan Paulsen, the statement says: “We are not just creatures of a spiritual environment. We are actively interested in everything that shapes the way we live, and we are concerned about the well-being of our planet. The Christian ministry of reconciliation must contribute to the restoration of human dignity, equality, and unity through the grace of God.”
Peace-making is a responsibility that requires more than talk and good intentions, church leaders said. They voted to implement a worldwide education campaign in each of the more than 6,000 Adventist schools, colleges, and universities. For one week each year, these schools will use special programs and curriculum developed by the church’s education department to emphasize themes such as non-violence, conflict resolution, cultural awareness, and reconciliation.
This education initiative also calls for every Adventist pastor “to proclaim the gospel of peace” from their pulpit, and to help educate church members about Christian values of nonviolence and reconciliation.
The church’s education leaders are committed to carrying out what is envisioned in the statement, said Humberto Rasi, education director for the Adventist world church. His department has already developed one curricular unit on tolerance, currently available in Spanish and English, and is developing additional units on nonviolence and peace-making.
In theological terms, violence and terrorism are part of an ongoing controversy between good and evil, the statement says, and Adventist Christians rely on the belief that God will one day end the “vicious cycle of war and terror,” and restore peace and justice.
Des Fargo, a church member from North America, congratulated the church for issuing such a statement. “I hope it doesn’t remain just a statement,” he said, “but permeates our schools and churches so we truly become peacemakers.”
Jonathan Gallagher, United Nations liaison director for the Adventist world church, said the statement would be invaluable in representing the position of the church to other organizations and denominations, and in international forums such as the United Nations.
“This statement on peace is of vital importance to every member of the world church,” said Ray Dabrowski, Adventist communication director. “We need utmost visibility for this in our churches, through publications, pulpits, and in the public media. It’s all about quality of life—not only for our own church members, but also those in our communities to whom we have been sent.”