Three reaffirmation statements on subjects in which the church places high priority were released by the Seventh-day Adventist Church during the world church's business meetings.
Three reaffirmation statements on subjects in which the church places high priority were released by the Seventh-day Adventist Church during the world church’s business meetings: “On Being Transformed in Christ - an Affirmation of Christian Values and Quality of Life;” “Religious Extremism - A Danger to Religious Liberty;” “and Respect for all People - Making Churches and Community Safe.”
In introductory remarks to a press conference regarding the statements on July 5, Ray Dabrowski, director of communication for the world church, said the Adventist Church is saying “No’” to methods of religious extremism. “This is not the way society should relate to one another.”
On the statement of respect for all people, “We as Seventh-day Adventists have zero tolerance” on human trafficking, exploitation of women and children, sexual abuse and family violence, he said.
And, in response to being transformed in Christ, Dabrowski said, “Quality of life is at the center of Adventism.”
“Seventh-day Adventists believe the Christian lifestyle is not simply a cognitive, intellectual experience distanced from, separate from, love,” said Mark Finley, a general vice president of the world church, regarding the theme of the meetings and statement on being ‘transformed in Christ’. “Adventists believe that the community will be a better place because we are here—that’s our goal.”
He added that Adventists “recognize the condition of the world, but we look optimistically to the future.”
Responding to a question on whether drug and alcohol problems persist among Adventist youth, Finley said there is a broader question. “Are Adventist youth immune” to such things? “Certainly Adventist young people are not immune.” There is a strategy for educating and helping young people—through the church’s education systems, world youth departments, temperance societies and Pathfinder clubs, he offered.
“The release of the statement is new,” Finley responded to a question on why the statement is being released. “The values are not new. We felt we needed a clear statement, a restatement of the previous position ...”
Jonathan Gallagher, associate director of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty for the world church, spoke on the statement on religious extremism. Two dangerous directions mentioned in the statement, he said, are an anti-religious kind of secularism and the growth of religious fundamentalism, or religious extremism.
“Religion extremism infects all kinds of belief systems,” he said. There can be a ‘We are right, you are wrong’ attitude, “and ‘because we are right, we have the right to persecute you, to intimidate you, to harass you, to even kill you.’”
He added, “When religion is hijacked, we see a great deal of impact on society.” There are extremists in many religions, he said. “There are even extremist Adventists, but I hope none have endorsed violence.”
While Adventists promote freedom of belief, he said, that’s not saying that the church agrees with the beliefs of others organizations. “We’re not endorsing their beliefs, but endorsing their right to believe.”
“We call on everyone, both inside and outside our faith community, to work wisely and effectively to reduce religious intolerance and extremism,” the statement reads.
The statement on respect for all people says, “Seventh-day Adventists, as Christians, seek to live by the highest moral and ethical principles of conduct in their relationships with fellow human beings.”
“It means we must stand with others,” against issues of human trafficking, exploitation of women and children, sexual abuse and family violence, said Karen Flowers, associate director of the world church’s Family Ministries.
“The church,” she said, “does not intend to work only within its own parameters, but rather to network with the wider community.”