28 July, 2015

Adventists ‘most racially diverse religious group in U.S.’

Don’t worry if you happen to walk into a Seventh-day Adventist church in the United States where English is not the first language of choice. Chances are you are worshiping in one of the increasingly typical Adventist congregations across the country. Seventh-day Adventists are the most racially and ethnically diverse religious group in the United States, according to a report released Monday by the Pew Research Center, a respected non-partisan organization in Washington.

27 July, 2015

A new networking association is formed for Christ’s “Unusual Ambassadors”

It can be an isolating experience for Seventh-day Adventist Church members who hold high public office: this was one of the key messages to emerge from a unique gathering of Adventist public officials earlier this month in San Antonio, Texas. Some 21 leaders from ten countries—ambassadors, ministers of state, members of parliament, a senator, a deputy chief justice, and high-level officials within international organizations—came together for a lunch meeting on July 8 to discuss both the challenges and opportunities facing Adventists within the public realm.

24 July, 2015

La Sierra ranked 8th for value-added education

La Sierra University, a 93-year-old institution owned by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in southern California, has been recognized by the prestigious Money magazine as one of the top U.S. schools in adding the most value to students’ education. The Riverside-based university ranked eighth on a national list of 50 universities and colleges and is the only Adventist institution that made the cut.

16 July, 2015

Pageant of progress and challenge

San Antonio’s Alamodome more resembled the United Nations than it did a sports arena as tens of thousands of Seventh-day Adventists, many in native costumes, celebrated the advance of Adventist mission over the past 152 years. The Parade of Nations, traditionally one of the highlights of the last weekend of a General Conference Session, had a new name designed to reflect the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s progress in mission outreach.

16 July, 2015

Delegates reinforce ‘Man and Woman’ definition of marriage

Delegates approved revisions to the Church Manual to reinforce the Adventist understanding of marriage to refer specifically to a “lawfully binding lifelong commitment of a man and a woman.” The Church Manual article “Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage” refers to the origination of the marriage institution in Eden and mentions the union between Adam and Eve as “the pattern for all future marriages.”

16 July, 2015

Church to restudy Biblical principles of interpretation

General Conference leadership has agreed to work with the Biblical Research Institute on a study that informs the world church about the biblical principles of interpretation as the Seventh-day Adventist Church sees them. General Conference undersecretary Myron Iseminger, making the announcement on July 10, the last day of business meetings at the General Conference Session in San Antonio, Texas, also told delegates that the Biblical Research Institute “is already studying the issue and has plans to publish their findings” in an updated edition of a book on the subject.

16 July, 2015

Departing Adventists impress San Antonio airport staff

Seventh-day Adventists impressed San Antonio’s mayor by providing $20 million in free healthcare to local residents in April, three months before the opening of the 2015 General Conference session. The 65,000 Adventists who attended the July 2-11 session delighted local businesses by spending more than $40 million.

14 July, 2015

San Antonio mayor grateful for GC Session and Steps to Christ

San Antonio Mayor Ivy R. Taylor thanked Seventh-day Adventists for bringing the free healthcare and the 2015 General Conference session to her city — and said she looked forward to reading a brand-new copy of Steps to Christ. General Conference president Ted N.C. Wilson, speaking at a closing meeting of the 10-day convention at the Alamodome stadium on Sabbath evening, expressed gratitude to Taylor for the warm reception that San Antonio offered its 65,000 Adventist attendees.

14 July, 2015

Wilson calls for Unity in Adventist Mission

Ted N.C. Wilson, speaking in his first sermon after his re-election as General Conference president, urged Adventists to press ahead in unity in proclaiming Jesus’ soon return. Wilson drew from hallmark initiatives of his first five-year term — Revival and Reformation, Mission to the Cities, comprehensive health ministry, and a daily online Bible study plan — to call on every church member to share Jesus in their communities.

12 July, 2015

GC president says ordination vote doesn’t change current policy

General Conference president Ted N.C. Wilson said Friday that a vote this week on the issue of women’s ordination meant “we maintain the current policy.” Wilson told delegates at the General Conference session in San Antonio, Texas, that Wednesday’s vote simply barred the church’s world divisions from making decisions on the ordination of women.

11 July, 2015

Special Sabbath offering to go to young people

Aspecial mission offering that will be collected during the General Conference (GC) session’s second Sabbath worship service, July 11, 2015, will challenge attendees to put their money where their mouth is. The money is slated to fund thousands of youth-driven mission projects worldwide.

9 July, 2015

Delegates vote ‘No’ on issue of women’s ordination

Delegates turned down a motion that would have allowed each division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church to decide for itself whether to ordain women to the gospel ministry in its territory. By a margin of 1,381-977, with five abstentions, delegates by secret ballot ended a five-year process characterized by vigorous and sometimes acrimonious debate.