PUBLIC AFFAIRS & RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

Religious liberty concerns have been on the Seventh‐day Adventist Church’s agenda ever since it was organized. Leaders fought battles against restrictive laws in the late 19th century in the United States.  Liberty Magazine, published by the Seventh‐day Adventist Church, has a history dating back to the 1880s.  Currently the Church is vocal about religious liberty issues at the United Nations, the European Union and other international and national bodies. Our church also supports the work of international religious liberty associations and Adventist experts serve as advisors to legislators dealing with laws covering church state relations.

Statement From the General Conference of Seventh Day Adventists

The Seventh-day Adventist Church via its General Conference has issued official statements on
Religious Freedom and Human Rights. The Church has also issued statements on a variety of
topics that occasionally do have relevance for public policy positions. 

A Statement on 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 harmony with the instruments of the United Nations. The Seventh-day Adventist Church has a presence in 209 countries. With some exceptions, however, Adventists constitute a religious minority, and have at times been subject to restrictions and discrimination. Consequently, they have felt it necessary to stand up for human rights. As loyal citizens, Adventists believe they have the right to freedom of religion, subject to the equal rights of others. This implies the freedom to meet for instruction and worship, to worship on the seventh day of the week (Saturday), and to disseminate religious views by public preaching, or through the media. This freedom further includes the right to change one’s religion, as well as to respectfully invite others to do so. Every person has a right to demand consideration whenever conscience does not allow the performance of certain public duties, such as requiring the bearing of arms. Whenever churches are given access to public media, Adventists should in all fairness be included. We will continue to cooperate and network with others to defend the religious liberty of all people, including those with whom we may disagree.
 
_______________ This statement was approved and voted by the General Conference of Seventhday Adventists Administrative Committee (ADCOM) and was released by the Office of the president, Robert S. Folkenberg, at the General Conference Session in Utrecht, the Netherlands, June 29-July 8, 1995. 
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Statement on 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 based on a divine mandate to witness.  God has called Christians to evangelism—the proclamation of the good news of salvation in Christ (Matthew 28:19, 20). This is central to Christian life and witness. Thus Christianity is missionary by its very nature.  In affirming global mission and evangelization, Adventists are motivated by willing obedience to Christ’s commission and by a sincere desire that every human being be saved and inherit eternal life. They are also motivated by a sense of urgency in expectation of the imminence of Christ’s return. In endeavoring to fulfill the gospel commission, Seventhday Adventists are thus witnessing, preaching, and serving today in more than 200 countries.  In the context of the dissemination of religion, the issue of “proselytism” has arisen because the term “proselytism” is defined in a number of ways and increasingly is being given a pejorative connotation, associated with unethical means of persuasion, including force. Seventhday Adventists unequivocally condemn the use of such methods. They believe that faith and religion are best disseminated when convictions are manifested and taught with humility and respect, and the witness of one’s life is in harmony with the message announced, evoking a free and joyous acceptance by those being evangelized.  Evangelistic and missionary activity needs to respect the dignity of all human beings. Individuals need to be truthful and transparent when dealing with other religious groups. Terminology should be used which avoids offending other religious communities. Statements which are false or ridicule other religions should not be made.  Conversion is an experience of the Spirit, and should therefore in no way be connected to offering and receiving material inducements. While the right to engage in humanitarian activities must be fully recognized, such action must never be linked to evangelism in a way that exploits vulnerable people by offering financial and material incentives to entice them to change religion.
92 – Statements, Guidelines & Other Documents
 Seventh-day Adventists are committed to serving their fellow men by preaching the everlasting gospel to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people (Revelation 14:6).
_______________ This statement was voted by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Administrative Committee (ADCOM), for release at the time of the General Conference Session in Toronto, Canada, June 29-July 9, 2000.
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Religious Minorities and Religious Freedom: A Statement of Commitment and Concern
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 affirmation of the freedom of everyone to hold and disseminate religious views and to change one’s religion—an affirmation sustained in the United Nations instruments and documents comprising an “International Bill of Rights”—many countries deny this right to their citizens. International instruments condemn discrimination against minorities, but tragically, some nations have published lists of religious groups described as potentially dangerous sects. Anti-sect commissions have been set up, investigative personnel have been trained, and restrictive laws passed. Hundreds of thousands of innocent believers are now under official suspicion and are treated as second-class citizens. All this violates religious freedom, which is the most basic and essential of the fundamental rights of humankind. Seventh-day Adventists believe in obeying the laws of the land as long as they do not conflict with the laws of God. However, we oppose any law, policy, or activity which discriminates against religious minorities.  The Seventh-day Adventist Church stands for religious freedom for everyone, as well as for the separation of church and state. Scripture teaches that the God who gave life also gave freedom of choice. God only accepts homage that is freely given. Seventh-day Adventists further believe that the law must be applied evenly and without capricious favor. We submit that no religious group should be judged because some adherents may appear to be extremists. Religious freedom is limited when aggressive or violent behavior violates the human rights of others. In support of Article 18 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international instruments, and in harmony with its beliefs and its history, the Seventh-day Adventist Church is fully committed to promote, defend, and protect religious freedom for everyone, everywhere. To that end, we will continue to cooperate with the United Nations Human Rights Commission and other international agencies and religious organizations to encourage every nation to implement the fundamental right of religious freedom. In addition, we will continue to promote dialogue and better understanding between governmental authorities and people who belong to religious minorities.
_______________ This statement was voted during the Annual Council Session of the General Conference Executive Committee on Wednesday, September 29, 1999 in Silver Spring, Maryland.