View source for Seventh-day Adventist Church

{{pp|small=yes}}
{{short description|Protestant Christian denomination}}
{{redirect|Adventist church|other branches of the wider Adventist movement|Adventism}}
{{third-party|date=September 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox Christian denomination
| name               = Seventh-day Adventist Church
| image              = Adventist Symbol.svg
| imagewidth         = 200px
| caption            = The Seventh-day Adventist logo
| main_classification = [[Protestant]]
| orientation        = [[Adventism|Adventist]]
| theology           = [[Seventh-day Adventist theology]]
| polity             = [[#Organization|Presbyterian/Episcopal]]
| founder            = {{plainlist|
* [[Joseph Bates (Adventist)|Joseph Bates]]<ref name=founder>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-aug-13-mn-12855-story.html|title=Currents of Change Roil Seventh-Day Adventists|last1=Gorman|first1=Tom|last2=Lightblau|first2=Eric|date=August 13, 1998|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=July 16, 2024}}</ref>
* [[James Springer White|James White]]<ref name=founder/><ref name=founder2>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/carson-opens-membership-seventh-day-adventist-church|title=Carson opens up about his membership in Seventh-day Adventist Adventist Church|date=October 31, 2015|website=[[PBS News Hour]]|access-date=July 16, 2024}}</ref>
* [[Ellen G. White]]<ref name=founder/><ref name=founder2/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2015/10/27/452314794/all-your-questions-about-seventh-day-adventism-and-ben-carson-answered|title=All Your Questions About Seventh-Day Adventism And Ben Carson Answered|last=Taylor|first=Jessica|date=October 27, 2015|website=[[National Public Radio]]|access-date=July 16, 2024}}</ref>
* [[J. N. Andrews]]}}
| leader_title       = [[List of Presidents of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists|President]]
| leader_name        = [[Erton Köhler]]<ref name="köhler">{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/seventh-day-adventist-new-president-brazil-2ec1ee0bb819a2e14bbfeddd2003f772|title=Newly elected Seventh-day Adventist Church leader reflects on challenges|last=Henao|first=Luis|date=July 8, 2025|website=[[Associated Press]]|access-date=July 15, 2025}}</ref>
| founded_date       = {{start date and age|1863|5|21}}
| founded_place      = [[Battle Creek, Michigan]], U.S.
| separated_from     = 
| branched_from      = [[Millerism|Millerites]]
| separations        = {{plainlist|
* [[Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement|SDA Reform Movement]] and [[True and Free Seventh-day Adventists|True and Free SDAs]] (separated 1925, small minorities)
* [[Shepherd's Rod|Davidian SDAs]] (separated 1929, small minority)
* [[United Sabbath-Day Adventist Church]] (separated 1929, small minority)
* [[Adventist Church of Promise]] (separated 1932, small minority)
* [[Abajiri]] (separated 1992, large minority)}}
| area               = Worldwide
| hospitals          = 229<ref name=statistics>{{cite web |title=Seventh-Day Adventists World Church Statistics 2022
| date=March 1, 2022 |url= https://documents.adventistarchives.org/Statistics/ASR/ASR2023A.pdf?_gl=1*kqfsug*_ga*MTk0ODQyNzYzNC4xNjg0Mjc5ODg5*_ga_2VBYH6KEBQ*MTY4NDI3OTg4OS4xLjAuMTY4NDI3OTg4OS4wLjAuMA../}}</ref>
| nursing_homes      = 129<ref name=statistics/>
| aid                = [[Adventist Development and Relief Agency]]
| congregations      = 100,869 (2024)<ref name=stat2024/>
| members            = 23,684,237 (2024)<ref name=stat2024>{{cite web|url=https://documents.adventistarchives.org/Statistics/ASR/ASR2025A.pdf|title=Preliminary Statistics of the Seventh-day Adventist Church for 2024|page=22|accessdate=May 2, 2025}}</ref><ref name="köhler"/>
| ministers_type     = [[Pastor]]s
| ministers          = 20,924<ref name=statistics/>
| primary_schools    = 6,623<ref name=statistics/>
| secondary_schools  = 2,640<ref name=statistics/>
| tertiary           = 118<ref name=statistics/>
| other_names        = Adventist church, SDA (informal)
| website            = {{URL|adventist.org}}
}}
{{Seventh-day Adventism}}
{{Adventism}}
The '''Seventh-day Adventist Church''' ('''SDA''')<ref name=ring>{{Cite web|url=https://oureverydaylife.com/seventh-day-adventist-wedding-ceremony-12291031.html|title=Seventh Day Adventist Wedding Ceremony|last=King|first=Tamiya|date=2017-09-28|website=Oureverydaylife|access-date=2023-08-19}}</ref> is an [[Adventism|Adventist]] [[Protestantism|Protestant]] [[Christian denomination]]<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |last1=Queen |first1=Edward L. |last2=Prothero |first2=Stephen R. |last3=Shattuck |first3=Gardiner H. |year=2009 |title=Seventh-day Adventist Church |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u-_6P2rMy2wC&pg=PA913 |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of American religious history |volume=3 |edition=3rd |publisher=[[Infobase Publishing]] |location=[[New York City|New York]] |page=913 |isbn=978-0-8160-6660-5}}</ref><ref name="Feichtinger 2016">{{cite book |author-last=Feichtinger |author-first=Christian |year=2016 |chapter=Seventh-day Adventists: An Apocalyptic Christian Movement in Search for Identity |editor-last=Hunt |editor-first=Stephen J. |editor-link=Stephen J. Hunt |title=Handbook of Global Contemporary Christianity: Movements, Institutions, and Allegiance |location=[[Leiden]] |publisher=[[Brill Publishers]] |series=Brill Handbooks on Contemporary Religion |volume=12 |doi=10.1163/9789004310780_019 |pages=382–401 |isbn=978-90-04-26539-4 |issn=1874-6691}}</ref> which is distinguished by its observance of [[Saturday]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/11/03/a-closer-look-at-seventh-day-adventists-in-america/|title=A closer look at Seventh-day Adventists in America|last=Lipka|first=Michael|date=2015-11-03|website=[[Pew Research Center]]|access-date=2022-09-07}}</ref> the [[Names of the days of the week#Numbered days of the week|seventh day of the week]] in the Christian [[Gregorian calendar|(Gregorian)]] and the [[Hebrew calendar]], as the [[Sabbath]];<ref name="Feichtinger 2016"/> its emphasis on the imminent [[Second Coming]] (advent) of [[Jesus Christ]]; and its [[annihilationist]] [[soteriology]]. The denomination grew out of the [[Millerism|Millerite movement]] in the United States during the mid-19th century, and it was formally established in 1863.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1995/07/08/news-in-brief/0d16a606-6820-42d0-97f8-ad483403d803/|title=News In Brief|date=July 8, 1995|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=July 18, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2006/04/01/denominations-have-differing-views-about-religious-holidays/61893130007/|title=Denominations have differing views about religious holidays|last=Tevington|first=Andrew|newspaper=[[The Oklahoman]]|access-date=June 24, 2024}}</ref> Among its co-founders was [[Ellen G. White]], whose extensive writings are still held in high regard by the church.<ref>Ronald L. Numbers, ''Prophetess of Health: A Study of Ellen G. White'' (3rd ed. 2008) pp. xxiii–xxiv.</ref>

Much of the theology of the Seventh-day Adventist Church corresponds to common [[Evangelicalism|evangelical Christian]] teachings, such as the [[Trinity]] and the [[Biblical infallibility|infallibility of Scripture]]. Distinctive [[Eschatology|eschatological]] teachings include the [[Christian mortalism|unconscious state of the dead]] and the doctrine of an [[investigative judgment]]. The church emphasizes diet and health, including adhering to [[Kashrut|Jewish dietary law]], advocating [[vegetarianism]], and its [[holism|holistic]] view of human nature—i.e., that the body, soul, and spirit form one inseparable entity.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Holistic Approach to Care in the Adventist Church |last=Arnoldi |first=Tina |work=Theravive |date=13 March 2020 |url= https://www.theravive.com/today/post/the-holistic-approach-to-care-in-the-adventist-church1-0003544.aspx}}</ref> The church holds the belief that "God created the universe, and in a recent six-day creation made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day." [[marriage in Christianity|Marriage]] is defined as a lifelong union between a man and a woman. The [[second coming of Christ]] and [[resurrection of the dead#Christianity|resurrection of the dead]] are among official beliefs.<ref name="beliefs">{{Cite web | title=What do Seventh Day Adventists Really Believe? {{!}} adventist.org | url=https://www.adventist.org/beliefs/ | access-date=2025-01-05 | website=www.adventist.org}}</ref>

The world church is governed by a General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, with smaller regions administered by divisions, unions, local conferences, and local missions. The Seventh-day Adventist Church is {{as of|2016|lc=yes}} "one of the fastest-growing and most widespread churches worldwide",<ref name="Feichtinger 2016"/> with a worldwide baptized membership of over 22 million people. {{Asof|2007|May}}, it was the twelfth-largest Protestant religious body in the world and the sixth-largest highly international religious body. It is ethnically and culturally diverse and maintains a [[missionary]] presence in over 215 countries and territories.<ref name="WebStats">{{cite web
| title        = Seventh-day Adventist World Church Statistics
| publisher    = Office of Archives and Statistics, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
| date         = December 2009
| url          = http://www.adventist.org
| access-date  = September 4, 2011
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20120919232321/http://www.adventist.org/world-church/facts-and-figures/index.html
| archive-date = September 19, 2012
| url-status   = dead
}}</ref><ref name="membership">{{cite web
| url          = http://www.adventistarchives.org/docs/Stats/ACRep2009.pdf
| title        = Statistical report. Annual council of the General Conference Committee, October 9–14, 2009
| date         = June 30, 2009
| access-date  = March 23, 2010
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20100415163120/http://www.adventistarchives.org/docs/Stats/ACRep2009.pdf
| archive-date = April 15, 2010
| url-status   = dead
}}</ref> The church operates over 7,500 [[Seventh-day Adventist education|schools]] including over 100 post-secondary institutions, numerous [[list of Seventh-day Adventist hospitals|hospitals]], and publishing houses worldwide, a [[humanitarian aid]] organization known as the [[Adventist Development and Relief Agency]] (ADRA) and tax-exempt businesses such as [[Sanitarium Health and Wellbeing Company|Sanitarium]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lifting the lid on Sanitarium – Business News |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/lifting-the-lid-on-sanitarium/BRYXHULLVGE2SLIVKZJMNLQRWU/ |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=June 29, 2012 |language=en-NZ}}</ref> the proceeds of which contribute to the church's charitable and religious activities.

{{TOC limit|3}}

==History==
{{Main|History of the Seventh-day Adventist Church}}
[[File:HamptonNY_WilliamMillerAscensionRock.jpg|thumb|left|Ascension Rock where some Millerites waited for the Second Coming of Jesus]]
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is the largest of several [[Adventism|Adventist]] groups which arose from the [[Millerism|Millerite]] movement of the 1840s in upstate [[New York (state)|New York]],<ref name="history">{{Cite web |last=Harounoff |first=Jonathan |date=2019-05-03 |title=Seventh-day Adventists fit into the rhythms – and faiths – of Israeli life |url=https://religionnews.com/2019/05/03/seventh-day-adventists-fit-into-the-rhythms-and-faiths-of-israeli-life/ |access-date=2022-09-10 |website=[[Religion News Service]]}}</ref> a phase of the [[Second Great Awakening]].<ref name=beginning>{{Cite web|url=https://thegospelcoalition.org/article/9-things-you-should-know-about-seventh-day-adventism/|title=9 Things Yoy Should Know About Seventh-day Adventism|last=Carter|first=Joe|date=2016-03-08|website=[[The Gospel Coalition]]|access-date=2022-09-22}}</ref> [[William Miller (preacher)|William Miller]] predicted on the basis of Daniel 8:14–16<ref>{{bibleverse|Daniel|8:14–16}}.</ref> and the "[[day-year principle]]" that [[Jesus Christ]] would return to Earth between the spring of 1843 and the spring of 1844. In the summer of 1844, Millerites came to believe that Jesus would return on October 22, 1844, understood to be the biblical Day of Atonement for that year. Miller's failed prediction became known as the "[[Great Disappointment]]".<ref name=history/><ref name=beginning/>

[[Hiram Edson]] and other Millerites came to believe that Miller's calculations were correct, but that his interpretation of Daniel 8:14 was flawed as he assumed Christ would come to cleanse the world. These Adventists came to the conviction that Daniel 8:14 foretold Christ's entrance into the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary rather than his [[Second Coming]].<ref name=beginning/> Over the next few decades this understanding of a sanctuary in heaven developed into the doctrine of the [[investigative judgment]], an [[eschatology|eschatological]] process that commenced in 1844, in which every person would be judged to verify their eligibility for [[Salvation in Christianity|salvation]] and God's justice will be confirmed before the universe. This group of Adventists continued to believe that Christ's second coming would continue to be imminent, however they resisted setting further dates for the event, citing Revelation 10:6, "that there should be time no longer."<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Cottrell |first=R. F. |date=June 26, 1855 |title=Definite Time |url=http://www.adventistarchives.org/docs/RH/RH18550626-V06-32__B.pdf#view=fit |journal=Review and Herald |location=Rochester, New York |publisher=James White |volume=VI |issue=32 |page=5 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525135752/http://docs.adventistarchives.org/docs/RH/RH18550626-V06-32__B.pdf?q=docs/RH/RH18550626-V06-32__B.pdf |archive-date=25 May 2013}}</ref>

===Development of Sabbatarianism===
As the early Adventist movement consolidated its beliefs, the question of the biblical day of rest and worship was raised. The foremost proponent of [[Sabbath in seventh-day churches|Sabbath]]-keeping among early Adventists was [[Joseph Bates (Adventist)|Joseph Bates]]. Bates was introduced to the Sabbath doctrine through a tract written by Millerite preacher [[T. M. Preble|Thomas M. Preble]], who in turn had been influenced by [[Rachel Oakes Preston]], a young [[Seventh Day Baptist]]. This message was gradually accepted and formed the topic of the first edition of the church publication ''The Present Truth'', which appeared in July 1849.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Maseko |first=Achim |title=Church Schism & Corruption: Book 6 |year=2008 |location=Durban |pages=134}}</ref>

===Organization and recognition===
For about 20 years, the Adventist movement consisted of a small, loosely knit group of people who came from many churches and whose primary means of connection and interaction was through James White's periodical ''The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald''. They embraced the doctrines of the Sabbath, the [[heavenly sanctuary]] interpretation of Daniel 8:14, [[Christian conditionalism|conditional immortality]], and the expectation of Christ's [[premillennialism|premillennial]] return. Among its most prominent figures were Joseph Bates, [[James Springer White|James White]], and [[Ellen G. White]]. Ellen White came to occupy a particularly central role; her many visions and spiritual leadership convinced her fellow Adventists that she possessed the [[spiritual gift|gift]] of [[prophecy]].{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}

On May 21, 1863, the Seventh-day Adventist Church was officially founded in [[Battle Creek, Michigan]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/seventh-day-adventists-in-alabama/|title=Seventh-day Adventists in Alabama|last=Baker|first=Benjamin|date=2019-03-06|website=[[Encyclopedia of Alabama]]|access-date=2023-08-21}}</ref> The denominational headquarters were later moved from Battle Creek to [[Takoma Park, Maryland]], where they remained until 1989.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1985/03/02/adventists-sell-takoma-park-headquarters-near-metro-stop/2fd6fe1d-4d29-4ff5-a458-14fd792e7797/|title=Adventists Sell Takoma Park Headquarters Near Metro Stop|last=Hyer|first=Marjorie|date=1985-03-02|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=2023-08-21}}</ref> The General Conference headquarters then moved to its current location in [[Silver Spring, Maryland]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Melton |first1=J. Gordon |last2=Smylie |first2=James Hutchinson |title=Adventism |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Adventism#ref151 |newspaper=Encyclopedia Britannica |publisher=Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. |access-date=January 31, 2020}}</ref><ref name=protestant>{{Cite web|url=https://museeprotestant.org/en/notice/the-seventh-day-adventist-church/|title=The Seventh Day Adventist Church|website=[[Musée protestant]]|access-date=2023-10-28}}</ref>

In the 1870s, the denomination turned to evangelism through missionary work and revivals, tripling its membership to 16,000 by 1880 and establishing a presence beyond [[North America]] during the late 19th century. The denomination's rapid growth continued, with 75,000 members in 1901. By that time, the denomination operated two colleges, a medical school, a dozen academies, 27 hospitals, and 13 publishing houses. By 1945, the church estimated that it had 210,000 members in the US and Canada, along with 360,000 members who lived in other parts of the world; the church's budget was $29 million and the number of students who were enrolled in the church's schools was 140,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adventistarchives.org/docs/ASR/ASR1945__B.pdf#view=fit|title=Statistical Report of Seventh-day Adventist Conferences, Missions, and Institutions. The Eighty-third Annual Report Year Ending December 31, 1945, pp. 2, 4|website=adventistarchives.org|access-date=March 19, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111229190357/http://www.adventistarchives.org/docs/ASR/ASR1945__B.pdf#view=fit|archive-date=December 29, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Beliefs==
{{Main|Seventh-day Adventist theology}}
[[File:Mozambique_baptism1.JPG|thumb|left|Baptism of young man in [[Mozambique]]]]

The church first published its beliefs and doctrines in Battle Creek, Michigan in 1872, as a brief statement which was titled "A Synopsis of Our Faith".<ref>{{cite web
| author     = Damsteegt, Pieter Gerard
| url        = http://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/949.1411
| title      = Foundations of the Seventh-day Adventist Message and Mission
| publisher  = Ellen G. White Estate
| access-date = August 31, 2015
}}</ref> The church experienced challenges as it formed its core beliefs and doctrines, especially as a number of the early Adventist leaders came from churches that held to some form of [[Arianism]] (Ellen G. White was not one of them).<ref>{{Cite journal |author=Moon |first=Jerry A. |year=2003 |title=The Adventist Trinity Debate Part 1: Historical Overview |url=http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/trinity/moon/moon-trinity1.htm |journal=Andrews University Seminary Studies |publisher=Andrews University Press |volume=41 |issue=1}}</ref> This, along with some of the movement's other theological views, led conservative evangelical Protestants to regard it as a [[cult]].<ref name="Samples_updated">{{Cite journal |author=Samples |first=Kenneth |year=1988 |title=From Controversy to Crisis: An Updated Assessment of Seventh-day Adventism |url=https://believersweb.org/from-controversy-to-crisis/ |journal= |publisher=Christian Research Institute}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated1963">{{cite book |author=Hoekema |first=Anthony A. |title=The Four Major Cults |publisher=William B. Eerdmans |year=1963 |isbn=978-0-85364-094-3 |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>Adventist historian George R. Knight notes several other leading evangelicals who considered Adventist doctrine to be [[heterodox]]; these included Donald Barnhouse (prior to 1950), Norman F. Douty, Herbert S. Bird, E. B. Jones, Louis B. Talbot and M. R. DeHaan. See {{Cite journal |year=2003 |title=Questions on Doctrine, Annotated Edition |journal= |publisher=Andrews University Press |pages=xiii–xxxiii}}</ref><ref>See also {{cite web |author=Julius Nam |title=The Questions on Doctrine Saga: Contours and Lessons |url=http://qod.andrews.edu/docs/02_julius_nam.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719135119/http://qod.andrews.edu/docs/02_julius_nam.pdf |archive-date=July 19, 2011 |access-date=October 13, 2010}} {{cite web |author=Samples |first=Kenneth |title=Evangelical Reflections on Seventh-day Adventism: Yesterday and Today |url=http://qod.andrews.edu/docs/08_kenneth_samples.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719135143/http://qod.andrews.edu/docs/08_kenneth_samples.pdf |archive-date=July 19, 2011 |access-date=October 13, 2010}}</ref> According to Adventist scholars, the teachings and writings of White ultimately proved influential in shifting the church from largely semi-[[Arianism|Arian]]<ref>{{Cite web |author=Moon |first=Jerry |title=Were early Adventists Arians? |url=http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/trinity/Trinity%20Review%20art%20Arian%20sidebar.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170524221544/http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/trinity/Trinity%20Review%20art%20Arian%20sidebar.htm |archive-date=May 24, 2017 |access-date=March 17, 2017}}</ref> roots towards [[Trinitarianism]].<ref>Jerry A. Moon, [http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/trinity/moon/moon-trinity1.htm The Adventist Trinity Debate Part 1: Historical Overview] and [http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/trinity/moon/moon-trinity2.htm The Adventist Trinity Debate Part 2: The Role of Ellen G. White]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309004440/http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/trinity/moon/moon-trinity2.htm|date=March 9, 2017}}. Copyright 2003 Andrews University Press. See also [http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/trinity/gane-thesis/index.htm The Arian or Anti-Trinitarian Views Presented in Seventh-day Adventist Literature and the Ellen G. White Answer]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170117042338/http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/trinity/gane-thesis/index.htm|date=2017-01-17}} by Erwin Roy Gane.</ref> Adventists, for the most part, credit her with bringing the Seventh-day Adventist church into a more comprehensive awareness of the Godhead during the 1890s. The Adventist Church adopted Trinitarian theology early in the 20th century and began to dialogue with other [[Protestant]] groups toward the middle of the century, eventually gaining wide recognition as a Protestant church. ''[[Christianity Today]]'' recognized the Seventh-day Adventist church as "the fifth-largest Christian communion worldwide" in its January 22, 2015 issue.<ref>{{cite magazine
| author     = Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra
| url        = http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2015/januaryfebruary/season-of-adventists-can-ben-carson-church-stay-separatist.html
| title      = The Season of Adventists: Can Ben Carson's Church Stay Separatist amid Booming Growth?
| magazine   = Christianity Today
| access-date = August 31, 2015
}}</ref>

Although her husband claimed that her visions did not support the Trinitarian creed,<ref name="tcreed"/> her writings reveal a growing awareness on the "mystery of the Godhead".<ref>{{Cite web |title=E. GANE M.A. Thesis. Ellen G. White A Trinitarian Monotheist |url=http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/trinity/gane-thesis/e-gane13.htm}}</ref> After continued Bible study, and after a decades-long debate, the denomination eventually concluded that Scripture explicitly teaches the belief in the existence of a triune God, and it affirmed that biblical view in the [[non-credal]] 28 Fundamental Beliefs.<ref>{{cite book|editor-last=Knight|editor-first=George|title=Seventh-day Adventists Answer Questions on Doctrine|year=2003|publisher=Andrews University Press|location=Berrien Springs, Michigan|page=5|edition=Annotated}}</ref>

However, mainstream scholars are still not convinced that Ellen White was a Nicene Trinitarian.<ref name="tcreed">{{cite book |last1=Bull |first1=Malcolm |title=Seeking a Sanctuary: Seventh-day Adventism and the American Dream |last2=Lockhart |first2=Keith |publisher=Indiana University Press |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-253-34764-0 |page=75 |chapter=The Divine Realm |quote=With Adventism's most articulate spokesmen so implacably opposed to the doctrine of the Trinity, it is unsurprising that one researcher was forced to conclude that he was "unable to discover any evidence that 'many were Trinitarians' before 1898, nor has there been found any Trinitarian declaration written, prior to that date, by an Adventist writer other than Ellen G. White." But even this is an overstatement. Although not actively anti-Trinitarian, Ellen White always carefully avoided using the term "Trinity," and her husband stated categorically that her visions did not support the Trinitarian creed. |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ACUBSUGQCMYC&pg=PA75}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|first1=Fritz|last1=Guy|editor-first1=Terrie|editor-last1=Dopp Aamodt|editor-first2=Gary|editor-last2=Land|editor-first3=Ronald L.|editor-last3=Numbers|title=Ellen Harmon White: American Prophet|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zrIZAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA144|chapter=Theology|date=April 11, 2014|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-937387-1|pages=144–145|quote=Strictly speaking, very seldom did Ellen White "do theology." That is, she did not ordinarily do what professional theologians typically do. She did not produce a book of or about theology. She did not think, speak, and write in theological language. ... She did not elaborate a particular doctrine of the Trinity, atonement, God and time, or free will. She did not explain the precise meaning and broader implications of her own language and ideas, nor did she always use her theological vocabulary consistently. She did not endeavor to explain verbal or conceptual inconsistencies—either those of Scripture or her own—or to reduce the tensions inherent in her overall theological understanding.}}</ref> In her writing, she mentions a ceremony in heaven where Jesus was recognized in front of the heavenly host, to be equal with the Father, of which Satan disapproved (as explained in her book ''Spirit of Prophecy Vol. 1'').<ref name="Bull Lockhart 2007 p. 72">{{cite book |last1=Bull |first1=Malcolm |title=Seeking a Sanctuary: Seventh-day Adventism and the American Dream |last2=Lockhart |first2=Keith |publisher=Indiana University Press |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-253-34764-0 |page=72 |chapter=The Divine Realm |quote=As White related in the ''Spirit of Prophecy,'' the devil's revolt against divine law came about precisely because Satan was unwilling to accept Jesus' position in the heavenly hierarchy. At that time Satan, who was then known as Lucifer, was "a high and exalted angel, next in honor to God's dear Son." It was an arrangement with which he had been happy, according to White, until a primordial ceremony formalized the supremacy of Jesus: "The Father then made known that it was ordained by himself that Christ, his Son, should be equal with himself." However, Satan believed that this decision had been taken without prior consultation, and he convened a meeting of the angels to air his grievances. A ruler had now been appointed over them, he said, and "he would no longer submit to this invasion of his rights and theirs." |access-date=7 March 2022 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ACUBSUGQCMYC&pg=PA72}}</ref>

The official teachings of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination are expressed in its 28 Fundamental Beliefs.<ref name=history/><ref name=council>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oikoumene.org/church-families/seventh-day-adventist-church|title=Seventh-day Adventist|website=[[World Council of Churches]]|access-date=2023-06-23}}</ref> This statement of beliefs was originally adopted by the General Conference in 1980, with an additional belief (number 11) being added in 2005.<ref>{{Citation |title=World Church: Growing in Christ, New Belief Statement, Voted |date=July 3, 2005 |url=https://news.adventist.org/en/all-news/news/go/2005-07-03/world-church-growing-in-christ-new-belief-statement-voted/ |publisher=Adventist News Network}}.</ref> Almost all of the 28 Fundamental Beliefs are the same as other [[Evangelicalism|evangelical]] Protestant denominations. The Adventist beliefs that evangelicals consider [[heterodoxy]] is worshiping [[God]] on [[Saturday]], the gift of prophecy by Ellen G. White and the sanctuary doctrine.<ref name=beginning/>

The church believes God [[Genesis creation narrative|created Earth]] in [[Young Earth creationism|six days]] and rested on the seventh day, Saturday.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://chron.com/life/houston-belief/article/Seventh-day-Adventists-reaffirm-six-day-creation-1501644.php |title=Seventh-day Adventists reaffirm six-day creation |last=Ostling |first=Richard |date=2004-11-13 |website=[[Houston Chronicle]] |access-date=2022-09-26}}</ref><ref name=creation>{{Cite web |url=https://desmoinesregister.com/story/news/elections/presidential/caucus/2015/10/26/basics-seventh-day-adventist-church/74638112/ |title=Basics on the Seventh-day Adventist Church |last=Noble |first=Jason |date=2015-10-26 |website=[[The Des Moines Register]] |access-date=2022-09-21}}</ref> The Seventh-day Adventist Church believes in baptizing new members by [[believer's baptism|immersion]].<ref name=beginning/><ref name=protestant/> It believes the Bible to be the [[Sola scriptura|most important book]].<ref name=beginning/> They believe when [[human]]s die, that they remain asleep until they are [[Resurrection|brought back to life]]. [[Eternal life (Christianity)|Eternal life]] is given to people who accept [[Jesus]] as their [[Redeemer (Christianity)|Savior]]. The church believes that one receives [[Salvation in Christianity|salvation]] through only Jesus.<ref name=creation/> It believes that the [[investigative judgment]] will take place in [[heaven]] before Jesus returns to [[earth]].<ref name=creation/> The church believes in the [[Book of Revelation|Apocalypse of John]] which will bring on the [[Second Coming]] of Jesus.<ref name=roil>{{Cite web |url=https://latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-aug-13-mn-12855-story.html |title=Currents of Change Roil Seventh-Day Adventists |last1=Gorman |first1=Tom |last2=Lichtblau |first2=Eric |date=1998-08-13 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=2022-09-23}}</ref>

==Culture and practices==
===Sabbath activities===
{{See also|Sabbath in Seventh-day Adventism}}
Part of Friday might be spent in preparation for the Sabbath; for example, preparing meals and tidying homes. Adventists may gather for Friday evening worship to welcome in the Sabbath, a practice often known as [[vespers]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sdachurch.com/worship/sabbath-vespers/|title=Sabbath Vespers – SDA Church|website=www.sdachurch.com|language=en-US}}</ref>

====Worship service====
The major weekly worship service occurs on Saturday, typically commencing with [[Sabbath School]] which is a structured time of [[small group learning|small-group]] bible study at church. Adventists make use of an officially produced "Sabbath School Lesson", which deals with a particular biblical text or doctrine every quarter.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://spectrummagazine.org/sabbath-school |title=- Spectrum Magazine |website=spectrummagazine.org}}</ref>

After a brief break, the community joins together again for a church service that follows a typical evangelical format, with a [[sermon]] as a central feature. Corporate singing, Scripture readings, prayers and an offering, including [[Tithe|tithing]] (money collection), are other standard features. The instruments and forms of [[worship music]] vary greatly throughout the worldwide church.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/guidelines/music_guidelines.html|title=A Seventh-day Adventist Philosophy of Music—Guidelines|date=October 2004|publisher=General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Annual Council|access-date= April 4, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070405181010/http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/guidelines/music_guidelines.html|archive-date=April 5, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Holy Communion====
Adventist churches usually practice open [[Eucharist|communion]] four times a year. It commences with a [[Maundy (foot washing)|foot washing]] ceremony, known as the "Ordinance of Humility", based on the Gospel account of [[John 13]]. The Ordinance of Humility is meant to emulate Christ's washing of his disciples' feet at the [[Last Supper]] and to remind participants of the need to humbly serve one another. Participants segregate by gender to separate rooms to conduct this ritual, although some congregations allow married couples to perform the ordinance on each other and families are often encouraged to participate together. After its completion, participants return to the main sanctuary for consumption of the [[Eucharist|Lord's Supper]], which consists of [[unleavened bread]] and unfermented grape juice.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/books/27/27-15.htm|title=Seventh-day Adventists Believe. . . The Lord's Supper: 27-15.htm|website=www.sdanet.org}}</ref>

===Health and diet===
[[File:CornFlakesPackage1906.jpg|thumb|left|Corn flakes package from 1906]]
[[File:San health food.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.15|[[Sanitarium Health Food Company|Sanitarium]] products for sale]]
[[File:Main Dining Room, Battle Creek Sanitarium (2).jpg|thumb|The main dining room of the [[Battle Creek Sanitarium]] founded in Michigan by Adventists and run by John Harvey Kellogg. The sanitarium only served vegetarian meals.]]

Since the Seventh-day Adventist Church began in the 1860s, it has advocated its members to eat a [[vegetarian]] diet,<ref name=vegetarian>{{Cite web|url=https://abc.net.au/news/2020-07-26/why-seventh-day-adventists-advocate-a-vegetarian-diet/12485284|title=Seventh-day Adventists advocate a vegetarian diet-but it's not because of animal ethics|last=Hegarty |first=Siobhan|date=2020-07-25|website=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]|access-date=2022-09-03}}</ref> particularly the consumption of [[kosher foods]] described in {{Bibleverse|Leviticus|11|KJV}},<ref name=unclean>{{Cite web|url=https://orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1991-08-02-9108020635-story.html|title=Many Adventists Advocate Rich-Grain, No-Meat Diet|date=1991-08-02|website=[[Orlando Sentinel]]|url-access=subscription|access-date=2022-09-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jewishjournal.com/culture/health/9032/|title=Kosher Consumers for a New Age|last=Wenig|first=Gaby|date=2004-01-22|website=[[Jewish Journal]]|access-date=2023-07-11}}</ref> meaning abstinence from [[pork]], [[rabbit]], [[shellfish]], and other animals proscribed as "[[Unclean animal|unclean]]".<ref name=unclean /> The church discourages its members from consuming [[Alcoholic drink|alcoholic beverages]], [[tobacco]], and [[Prohibition of drugs|illegal drugs]].<ref name=vegetarian /><ref name=abstain>{{Cite web|url=https://nytimes.com/1986/11/11/science/adventists-are-gold-mine-for-research-on-disease.html|title=Adventists Are Gold Mine For Research On Disease|last=Brody |first=Jane |date=1986-11-11|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=2023-07-08}}</ref><ref name=shun>{{Cite news|url=https://washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/02/14/centenarians-healthy-eating-habits/|title=Want to live a longer life? Try eating like a centenarian|last=O'Connor |first=Anahad|date=2023-02-14|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=2023-07-08}}</ref> In addition, some Adventists avoid [[Convenience food|processed foods]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economist.com/united-states/2023/02/19/christian-californians-may-have-a-solution-to-americas-obesity|title=Christian Californians may have a solution to America's obesity|date=2023-02-19|newspaper=[[The Economist]]|url-access=subscription|access-date=2023-07-08}}</ref> and [[caffeine]].<ref name=abstain /><ref name=shun />

The pioneers of the Adventist Church had much to do with the common acceptance of [[breakfast cereal]]s and [[meat alternative]]s into the Western diet. [[John Harvey Kellogg]] started the meat alternative movement by creating Protose at [[Battle Creek Sanitarium]], which was later sold through mail order by Battle Creek Food Company. The Battle Creek Food Company manufactured mostly meat alternatives for the guests at Battle Creek Sanitarium.<ref name=kellogg>{{Cite web|url=https://battlecreekenquirer.com/story/life/2019/10/04/fake-meat-battle-creek-kellogg-vegetarianism-seventh-day-adventist-protose/2301425001/|title=Fake meat is baked into Battle Creek's history|last=Buckley|first=Nick|date=2019-10-04|website=[[Battle Creek Enquirer]]|access-date=2022-09-08}}</ref><ref name=meat>{{Cite web|url=https://atlasobscura.com/articles/the-history-of-fake-meat-starts-with-the-seventh-day-adventist-church|title=The History of Fake Meat Starts With the Seventh-Day Adventist Church|last=Smith|first=Ernie|date=2015-08-17|website=Atlas Obscura|access-date=2022-09-09}}</ref> [[Will Keith Kellogg]] and John Harvey Kellogg invented [[corn flakes]] at Battle Creek Sanitarium, by putting stale wheat berry between rollers and baking it.<ref name=cereal>{{Cite web|url=https://csmonitor.com/Technology/2012/1005/The-20-most-fascinating-accidental-inventions/Corn-Flakes|title=The 20 most fascinating inventions |last1=Cyran|first1=Pamela |last2=Gaylord|first2=Chris|date=2012-10-05|website=[[The Christian Science Monitor]]|access-date=2022-09-09}}</ref> It was later served to the sanitarium guests. The Kellogg brothers also invented [[bran flakes]] and [[Rice Krispies]].<ref name=cereal /> Later in 1906, Will Keith Kellogg founded the [[Kellogg's|Battle Creek Toasted Corn Flake Company]] in Battle Creek, Michigan.<ref name=kellogg /> Special Foods founded in [[Worthington, Ohio]], in 1939, manufactured nut meat substitutes. After World War II, it changed its name to Worthington Foods. Worthington Foods introduced two canned meat alternatives in 1949: Soyloin Steaks, and Meatless Wieners.<ref name=meat /> In 1960, it bought the rights to manufacture and market Battle Creek Foods Company products after John Harvey Kellogg died. In 1975, it released its frozen, soy-based meatless foods nationwide.<ref name=kellogg /> In both Australia and New Zealand, [[Sanitarium Health and Wellbeing Company]] owned by the church manufactures brands such as [[So Good (soy beverage)|So Good]], Up & Go, and [[Weet-Bix]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://adnews.com.au/news/slingshot-wins-14m-food-giant-sanitarium|title=Slingshot wins $14m food giant Sanitarium |last=Chambers|first=Pippa|date=2017-12-06|website=AdNews |access-date=2022-08-31}}</ref>

The [[Adventist Health Studies]] indicate that the average Adventist in [[California]] lives four to ten years longer than the average Californian. The research concludes that Adventists live longer because they do not smoke or drink alcohol; have a day of rest every week; and maintain a healthy, low-fat, [[vegetarian]] diet that is rich in nuts and beans.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://search.epnet.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=anh&an=18574682 |last=Buettner |first=Dan |title=The Secrets of Long Life |journal=[[National Geographic (magazine)|National Geographic]] |date=November 16, 2005 |volume=208 |issue=5 |pages=2–27 |issn=0027-9358 |access-date=June 6, 2006 |archive-date=November 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130165751/http://search.epnet.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=anh&an=18574682 |url-status=dead }} [http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0511/feature1/index.html Excerpt] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071116202303/http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0511/feature1/index.html |date=November 16, 2007 }}. See also ''National Geographic'', "[https://web.archive.org/web/20071211162258/http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0511/sights_n_sounds/index.html Sights & Sounds of Longevity]"</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2012/03/23/march-23-2012-seventh-day-adventists-and-health/10575/|title=Seventh-day Adventists and Health|date=2012-03-23|website=PBS Religion & Ethics Newsweekly|access-date=2022-09-21}}</ref> The [[group cohesiveness|cohesiveness]] of Adventists' social networks also has been put forward as an explanation for their extended lifespan.<ref>{{cite news |first=Gina |last=Kolata |title=A Surprising Secret to a Long Life: Stay in School |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/03/health/03aging.html?em&ex=1168146000&en=81e0250ab7d4ae5d&ei=5087%0A |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=January 3, 2007}}</ref> Dan Buettner named Loma Linda, California a "[[Blue zone|Blue Zone]]" of longevity, and attributes that to the large concentration of Seventh-day Adventists and their health practices.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://latimes.com/health/la-he-blue-zone-loma-linda-20150711-story.html|title=Why Loma Linda residents live longer than the rest of us |last=Macvean |first=Mary |date=2015-07-11 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=2022-08-31}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://nbcnews.com/better/lifestyle/what-blue-zone-city-loma-linda-california-can-teach-us-ncna989661|title=What 'Blue Zone' city Loma Linda, California can teach us about living longer |last=Spector|first=Nicole|date=2019-04-03|website=NBC News Better |access-date=2022-08-31}}</ref><ref name=health>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/25/health/longevity-blue-zone-wellness/index.html|title=What sunny, religious town in California teaches us about living-longer|last=LaMotte|first=Sandee|date=2019-11-25|publisher=CNN health|access-date=2022-08-31}}</ref> The 96,000 adults who participated in the Adventist Health Studies-2 from 2001 to 2007 were 30 to 112 years old, and lived in [[Canada]] and the [[United States]]. The study revealed that 8% were [[Veganism|vegans]], 28% were [[Ovo vegetarianism|ovo]]/[[Lacto vegetarianism|lacto]]-[[Lacto-ovo vegetarianism|vegetarians]], 10% were [[Pescetarianism|pesco-vegetarians]], 6% semi-vegetarian, and 48% non-vegetarian. 98.9% of the participants were non-smokers and 93.4% [[Teetotalism|abstained from drinking alcohol]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Adventist Health Study-2 {{!}} Adventist Health Study |url=https://adventisthealthstudy.org/studies/AHS-2 |access-date=January 5, 2021 |website=adventisthealthstudy.org}}</ref> Those who were vegetarian had a much lower risk of [[obesity]], [[hypertension]], and [[hyperglycemia]]. Adventists who were vegetarian had a lower risk of [[breast cancer]], [[colorectal cancer]], [[Coronary artery disease|coronary heart disease]], [[lung cancer]], and [[prostate cancer]], compared to non-vegetarians.<ref name=study>{{Cite web |url=https://worldlifeexpectancy.com/what-adventists-mean-to-you|title=The Adventists And What They Mean To You |website=[[World Life Expectancy]] |access-date=2022-09-23}}</ref> Those who were vegan had a lower [[body mass index]], compared to vegetarians and meat eaters.<ref name=health />

Adventists' clean lifestyles were recognized by the [[United States Army|U.S. military]] in 1954 when 2,200 Adventists volunteered to serve as human test subjects in [[Operation Whitecoat]]: a [[biodefense]] medical research program whose stated purpose was to defend troops and civilians against [[Biological warfare|biological weapons]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fredericknewspost.com/news/health/treatment_and_disease/operation-whitecoat-benifits-army-research-60-years-later/article_b4506486-7fb5-585c-866d-bb25d1352242.html|title=Operation Whitecoat benefits Army research 60 years later|last=Carignan|first=Sylvia|date=2015-10-23|website=[[Frederick News-Post]]|access-date=2022-09-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blueridgenow.com/story/news/2004/01/26/adventist-helped-biological-weapons-study/28146747007/|title=Adventist helped biological weapons study|last=Giles|first=Jennie|date=2004-01-25|website=[[BlueRidgeNow]]|access-date=2022-09-23}}</ref>

===Marriage===
The Adventist definition of marriage is a lawfully binding lifelong commitment between a man and a woman. The Church Manual professes the belief that marriage originated as an institution from the biblical story of Adam and Eve and that their union should be used as the pattern for all other marriages.<ref>{{Citation
| url   = http://www.adventistreview.org/church-news/story3051-delegates-reinforce-“man-and-woman”-definition-of-marriage
| title   = Delegates Reinforce 'Man and Woman' Definition of Marriage
| access-date   = August 2, 2020
| archive-url   = https://web.archive.org/web/20200601200841/https://www.adventistreview.org/church-news/story3051-delegates-reinforce-%E2%80%9Cman-and-woman%E2%80%9D-definition-of-marriage
| archive-date  = June 1, 2020
| url-status    = dead
}}</ref>

Adventists hold that marriage is a divine institution established by God during the events of the Book of Genesis prior to the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Eden. They believe that God celebrated the union of Adam and Eve and that the concept of marriage was one of the first gifts of God to man, and that it is "one of the two institutions that, after the fall, Adam brought with him beyond the gates of Paradise."<ref>The Adventist Home, pp. 25, 26.</ref>

The Old and New Testament texts are interpreted by some Adventists to teach that [[Complementarianism|wives should submit to their husbands]] in marriage.<ref>{{Cite journal |author=Mueller |first=Ekkehardt |year=2005 |title=Submission in the New Testament (Ephesians 5) |url=http://biblicalresearch.gc.adventist.org/documents/Ephesians%205.pdf |url-status=dead |journal= |publisher=Biblical Research Institute |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927103113/http://biblicalresearch.gc.adventist.org/documents/Ephesians%205.pdf |archive-date=September 27, 2011}}</ref>

Adventists hold that [[heterosexual]] marriages are the only biblically ordained grounds for [[sexual intimacy]]. Adventists do not perform [[same-sex marriage]]s, and individuals who are openly [[homosexual]] cannot be ordained, but may hold church office and membership if they are not actively pursuing same-sex relationships. Current church policy states that openly homosexual (and "practicing") persons are to be welcomed into the church services and treated with the love and kindness afforded any human being.<ref>{{cite web
| title=Seventh-day Adventist Position Statement on Homosexuality
| publisher=Seventh-day Adventist Church
| date=October 3, 1999
| url=http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/statements/main_stat46.html
| access-date=October 18, 2006
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061003181403/http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/statements/main_stat46.html
| archive-date=October 3, 2006
| url-status=dead
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| title=Seventh-day Adventist Response to Same-Sex Unions—A Reaffirmation of Christian Marriage
| publisher=General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
| date=March 9, 2004
| url=http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/statements/main_stat53.html
| access-date=January 11, 2007
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070110193059/http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/statements/main_stat53.html
| archive-date=January 10, 2007
| url-status=dead
}}</ref>

===Ethics and sexuality===
The Seventh-day Adventist Church opposes [[abortion]], believing it can have long-term negative effects on both the individuals involved and society as a whole. In an official statement on the "Biblical View of Unborn Life", the church declared that an unborn child is considered by God to be a living individual.<ref>{{cite web
| url=https://www.adventist.org/en/information/official-statements/statements/article/go/-/statement-on-the-biblical-view-of-unborn-life-and-its-implications-for-abortion-1/
| access-date=December 2, 2019
| title=Statement on the Biblical View of Unborn Life and Its Implications for Abortion
| author=General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Executive Committee
| date=October 16, 2019
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191202202514/https://www.adventist.org/en/information/official-statements/statements/article/go/-/statement-on-the-biblical-view-of-unborn-life-and-its-implications-for-abortion-1/
| archive-date=December 2, 2019
| url-status=dead
}}</ref> However, there are circumstances where the mother's life is at risk and Seventh-day Adventist hospitals will perform emergency abortions.<ref>{{cite web
| url=https://adventistbioethics.org/sites/adventistbioethics.org/files/docs/policy-docs/4997_7.pdf
| access-date=September 9, 2021
| title=Operating Policy
| publisher=Loma Linda University Medical Center
}}</ref>

Adventists encourage [[sexual abstinence]] for both men and women before marriage. The church disapproves of extra-marital [[cohabitation]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Kiš |first=Miroslav M. |title=Seventh-day Adventist Position on COHABITATION |url=http://biblicalresearch.gc.adventist.org/documents/CohabitationandSDA.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110112160927/http://biblicalresearch.gc.adventist.org/documents/CohabitationandSDA.htm |archive-date=January 12, 2011}}</ref> Adventists oppose homosexual activities and relationships, citing the belief that scripture makes no accommodation for homosexuality.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.adventist.org/en/information/official-statements/statements/article/go/-/homosexuality/|title=Homosexuality|date=October 4, 2016|website=www.adventist.org|access-date=October 18, 2016|archive-date=December 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191202202514/https://www.adventist.org/en/information/official-statements/statements/article/go/-/homosexuality/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Adventist church has released official statements in relation to other ethical issues such as [[euthanasia]] (against active euthanasia but permissive of passive withdrawal of medical support to allow death to occur),<ref>{{cite web
| title=A Statement of Consensus on Care for the Dying
| publisher=General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
| date=October 9, 1992
| url=http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/statements/main_stat6.html
| access-date=January 11, 2007
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061206202122/http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/statements/main_stat6.html
| archive-date=December 6, 2006
| url-status=dead
}}</ref> [[birth control]] (in favor of it for married couples if used correctly, but against abortion as birth control and premarital sex in any case)<ref>{{cite web
| title=Birth Control: A Seventh-day Adventist Statement of Consensus
| publisher=General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
| date=September 29, 1999
| url=http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/statements/main_stat44.html
| access-date=January 11, 2007
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061130142324/http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/statements/main_stat44.html
| archive-date=November 30, 2006
| url-status=dead
}}</ref> and [[human cloning]] (against it if the technology could result in defective births or abortions).<ref>{{cite web
| title=Statement on Ethical Considerations Regarding Human Cloning
| publisher=General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
| date=September 27, 1998
| url=http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/statements/main_stat38.html
| access-date=January 11, 2007
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061207060652/http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/statements/main_stat38.html
| archive-date=December 7, 2006
| url-status=dead
}}</ref>

===Dress and entertainment===
{{Further|Plain dress}}
Adventists have traditionally held [[social conservative|socially conservative]] attitudes regarding dress and entertainment. These attitudes are reflected in one of the church's fundamental beliefs:

{{Blockquote|For the [[Holy Spirit|Spirit]] to recreate in us the character of our Lord we involve ourselves only in those things which will produce Christlike purity, health, and joy in our lives. This means that our amusement and entertainment should meet the highest standards of Christian taste and beauty. While recognizing cultural differences, our dress is to be simple, modest, and neat, befitting those whose true beauty does not consist of outward adornment but in the imperishable ornament of a gentle and quiet spirit.<ref name="webfundamentals">{{cite web
| title        = Fundamental Beliefs
| publisher    = Seventh-day Adventist Church
| url          = http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/fundamental/index.html
| access-date  = January 18, 2018
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20060310104717/http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/fundamental/index.html
| archive-date = March 10, 2006
| url-status   = dead
}}</ref>}}

Accordingly, Adventists are opposed to practices such as [[body piercing]] and [[tattoo]]s and refrain from the wearing of jewelry, including such items as earrings and bracelets. Some also oppose the displaying of wedding bands, although banning wedding bands is not the position of the General Conference.<ref>{{cite web
| last         = Roger
| first        = Coon
| title        = The Wedding Band, Ellen G. White, and the Seventh-day Adventist Church
| publisher    = [[Biblical Research Institute]]
| date         = December 10, 1987
| url          = http://www.adventistbiblicalresearch.org/documents/weddingband.htm
| access-date  = January 11, 2007
| archive-date = December 6, 2006
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20061206145352/http://www.adventistbiblicalresearch.org/documents/weddingband.htm
| url-status   = dead
}}</ref> In 1986, the North American Division permitted the wearing of [[wedding ring]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://reference.com/world-view/can-seventh-day-adventists-wear-wedding-rings-236ec50656499fe6|title=Can Seventh Day Adventists Wear Wedding Rings?|date=2020-04-08|website=Reference|access-date=2022-09-29|archive-date=September 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929192949/https://www.reference.com/world-view/can-seventh-day-adventists-wear-wedding-rings-236ec50656499fe6|url-status=dead}}</ref> Before that, it was a source of friction, since Adventists [[Expatriate|overseas]] have worn wedding rings for many decades.<ref name=ring/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1979/03/30/seventh-day-adventists-ring-case-carried-to-district-agency/2bc380fa-f37f-4682-96a2-8effde465a74/|title=Seventh-Day Adventist's Ring Case Carried to District Agency|last=Hyer|first=Marjorie|date=1979-03-30|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=2022-09-29}}</ref>

Conservative Adventists avoid certain recreational activities which are considered to be a negative spiritual influence, including dancing, rock music and secular theatre.<ref>{{cite news
| title      = Adventist students sanctioned for attending dance (2001)
| agency     = Associated Press
| year       = 2001
| url        = http://www.eijkhout.net/rad/dance_other/banned3.html
| access-date = January 11, 2007
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Pipim |first=Samuel |title=Applause, Hand Waiving, Drumming, & Dancing in the Church |url=http://www.drpipim.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=108&Itemid=48 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100711201745/http://www.drpipim.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=108&Itemid=48 |archive-date=July 11, 2010 |access-date=September 14, 2010 |work=drpipim.org}}</ref> However, [[Valuegenesis|major studies]] conducted from 1989 onwards found that a majority of North American church youth reject some of these standards.<ref name="SteveCase">{{cite web
| last        = Case
| first       = Steve
| title       = Shall We Dance?
| publisher   = Dialogue
| url         = http://dialogue.adventist.org/articles/06_2_case_e.htm
| access-date  = January 11, 2007
| url-status   = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20070203183504/http://dialogue.adventist.org/articles/06_2_case_e.htm
| archive-date = February 3, 2007
}}</ref>

On June 29, 2000, the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists adopted a [[resolution (law)|resolution]] on [[gambling]]. The church encourages its members not to gamble and it will not accept funding from it.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://stvincenttimes.com/seventh-day-adventist-church-position-on-gambling/|title=Seventh-Day Adventist Church Position On Gambling|date=2019-01-28|website=[[St. Vincent Times]]|access-date=2022-09-28}}</ref>

===Youth ministry===
Missionary work with children and youth begins with the Adventurer club. The Adventurer curriculum is for children aged between 4–9 and it is divided into 6 classes which are little lamb, early bird, sunbeam, builder and helping hand. Each class builds on the previous class. The curriculum is structured in way that will interest, challenge, and provide successful experiences for children. The curriculum is divided into 5 sections which are, Basic, My God, Myself, My Friends and My World which help children to meet the objectives of the curriculum. The objectives of the Adventurer Curriculum are: to develop a Christ-like character; to experience the joy and satisfaction of doing things well; to express their love for Jesus in a natural way; to learn good sportsmanship and strengthen their ability to get along with others; to discover their God-given abilities and to learn how to use them to benefit self and serve others; to discover God's world; to improve their understanding of what makes families strong; to develop parental support for the training of children. The club engages in witnessing, community work so as to share the love of Jesus.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gcyouthministries.org/ministries/adventurers/ |title=Adventurers|date=June 2, 2020 }}</ref>

[[Pathfinders (Seventh-day Adventist)|Pathfinders]] is a club for 5th to 10th grade (up to 12th in the Florida Conference) boys and girls. It is similar to and based partly on the [[Scouting]] movement. Pathfinders exposes young people to such activities as camping, community service, personal mentorship, and skills-based education, and trains them for leadership in the church. Yearly "Camporees" are held in individual Conferences, where Pathfinders from the region gather and participate in events similar to Boy Scouts' Jamborees.

After a person enters 9th grade, they are eligible to join Teen Leadership Training within Pathfinders. In the 11th grade, typically after being a member of a club, they can become a Pathfinder or Adventurer staff member and begin the "Master Guide" program (similar to Scout Master) which develops leaders for both Adventurers and Pathfinders.<ref>''Adventist Manual''</ref>

==Organization==
{{multiple image
|align = right
|perrow = 2
|total_width = 500
|image1 = General Conference Headquarters.jpg
|caption1 = General Conference Headquarters
|image2 = Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division.jpg
|caption2 = Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division Headquarters
|image3 = Trans-European Division of Seventh-day Adventists.jpg
|caption3 = Trans-European Division Headquarters
|image4 = DSA Fachada.jpg
|caption4 = South American Division Headquarters
}}

===Structure and polity===
The Seventh-day Adventist church is governed by a form of representation which resembles the [[presbyterian polity|presbyterian]] system of church organization. Four levels of organization exist within the world church.<ref name="churchmanual">{{cite book |title=Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual |publisher=The Secretariat, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists |year= 2005 |location=Hagerstown, Maryland |page= 26 |url=http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/church_manual/Seventh-day-Adventist-Church-Manual-17th-edition.pdf |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070121113713/http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/church_manual/Seventh-day-Adventist-Church-Manual-17th-edition.pdf |archive-date=January 21, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.adventist.org/world_church/facts_and_figures/structure/index.html.en |title= World Church Structure and Governance
|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070404091819/http://www.adventist.org/world_church/facts_and_figures/structure/index.html.en |archive-date = April 4, 2007
}}</ref>
# The local church is the foundation level of organizational structure and is the public face of the denomination. Every baptized Adventist is a member of a local church and has voting powers within that church.
# Directly above the local church is the "local conference". The local conference is an organization of churches within a state, province or territory (or part thereof) which appoints ministers, owns church land and organizes the distribution of tithes and payments to ministers.
# Above the local conference is the "union conference" which embodies a number of local conferences within a larger territory.
# The highest level of governance within the church structure is the General Conference which consists of 13 "Divisions", each assigned to various geographic locations. The General Conference is the church authority and has the final say in matters of conjecture and administrative issues. The General Conference is headed by the office of [[List of presidents of the Seventh-day Adventist Church|President]]. The General Conference head office is in [[Silver Spring, Maryland]], United States.

The denomination is organized in a representative form of church government, which means authority arises from the membership of local churches. Each organization is governed by a general "session" which occurs at certain intervals. This is usually when administrative decisions are made. In addition to administering their own congregations, churches send representatives to vote on matters and leaders in a shared local unit of administration. They vote also on who will represent them in a large area, with further representation selected at each successively larger administrative region. Finally, the General Conference elects the executive committee and officers who hold its authority between the decisions of the quinquennial General Conference Session.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://executivecommittee.adventist.org/ |title=The General Conference Executive Committee|access-date=6 August 2024|publisher=Seventh-day Adventist Church }}</ref> The president of the General Conference is also elected at the General Conference Session every five years.

Tithes collected from church members are not used directly by the local churches, but are passed upwards to the local conferences which then distribute the finances toward various ministry needs. Employees are compensated "on the basis of the church remuneration policy and practice in effect in the location or country in which they reside".<ref>NORTH AMERICAN DIVISION OF SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS: Remuneration Scale. January 1, 2018 Retrieved from [https://www.nadadventist.org/sites/default/files/inline-files/2018%20Remuneration%20book.pdf nadadventist.org] </ref>

The Church Manual<ref name="churchmanual"/> gives provisions for each level of government to create educational, healthcare, publishing, and other institutions that are seen within the call of the [[Great Commission]].

====Divisions and attached unions/fields====

{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Division!!Headquarters location
|-
|East-Central Africa Division||[[Nairobi]], Kenya
|-
|Euro-Asia Division||[[Moscow]], Russia
|-
|Inter-American Division ||[[Miami]], United States
|-
|Inter-European Division ||[[Bern]], Switzerland 
|-
|North American Division||[[Columbia, Maryland|Columbia]], United States
|-
|Northern Asia-Pacific Division ||[[Goyang]], South Korea
|- 
|Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division ||[[Centurion, South Africa|Centurion]], South Africa
|- 
|South American Division ||[[Brasília]], Brazil
|- 
|South Pacific Division ||[[Wahroonga]], Australia
|- 
|Southern Asia Division ||[[Hosur]], India
|-
|Southern Asia-Pacific Division ||[[Silang, Cavite|Silang]], Philippines
|-
|Trans-European Division ||[[St Albans]], United Kingdom
|-
|West-Central Africa Division ||[[Abidjan]], Ivory Coast
|}

{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Attached union/field!!Headquarters location
|-
|Middle East and North Africa Union Mission ||[[Beirut]], Lebanon
|-
|Israel Field ||[[Jerusalem]]
|-
|Chinese Union Mission||[[Hong Kong]]
|-
|Ukrainian Union Conference ||[[Kyiv]]
|}

===Church officers and clergy===
The ordained [[clergy]] of the Adventist church are known as [[minister of religion|ministers]] or [[pastors]]. Ministers are neither elected nor employed by the local churches, but instead are appointed by the local Conferences, which assign them responsibility over a single church or group of churches. Ordination is a formal recognition bestowed upon pastors and elders after usually a number of years of service. In most parts of the world, women may not be given the title "ordained", although some are employed in ministry, and may be "commissioned" or "ordained-commissioned".<ref>See also [[Seventh-day Adventist theology#Ordination of women]]. Laura L. Vance discusses gender issues in ''Seventh-day Adventism in Crisis: Gender and Sectarian Change in an Emerging Religion''. [[University of Illinois Press]], 1999. One review is by Douglas Morgan in ''[[The Christian Century]]'', September 22, 1999; [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1058/is_25_116/ai_56183352/ reprint]{{dead link|date=January 2016}}. Possibly see also ''[[Seeking a Sanctuary]]'', chapter "Gender"</ref> However, beginning in 2012, some unions adopted policies of allowing member conferences to ordain without regard to gender.

A number of [[laity|lay]] offices exist within the local church, including the [[ordination|ordained]] positions of [[elder (religious)|elder]] and [[deacon]].<ref name="churchmanual"/> Elders and deacons are appointed by the vote of a local church business meeting or elected committees. Elders serve a mainly administrative and pastoral role, but must also be capable of providing religious leadership (particularly in the absence of an ordained minister). The role of deacons is to assist in the smooth functioning of a local church and to maintain church property.

===Ordination of women===
In 1990, at their General Conference Session leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church prevented the [[ordination of women]]. They voted 1,173 against and 377 in favor. Those who supported ordaining women were from [[Europe]] and [[North America]], while those from [[Africa]], [[Asia]] and [[South America]] were strongly against.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nytimes.com/1990/07/12/us/seventh-day-adventists-vote-to-bar-ordination-of-women.html|title=Seventh-day Adventists Vote To Bar Ordination of Women|date=1990-07-12|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=2022-09-19}}</ref> Five years later, it turned down a request by the North American Division that its local conferences be allowed to ordain women.<ref name=women>{{Cite web|url=https://huffpost.com/entry/seventh-day-adventists-female-pastors-_n_1846973|title=Seventh-Day Adventists Facing Pressure On Allowing Female Pastors|date=2012-09-02|website=[[HuffPost]]|access-date=2022-09-19}}</ref>

On July 29, 2012, the Columbia Union Conference, which has its headquarters in [[Maryland]] voted 80 percent in favor of ordaining women. On August 19, 2012, the Pacific Union Conference, which has its headquarters in [[California]] voted 79 percent to 21 percent in favor of ordaining women. The world leaders of the church were disappointed with the actions of the two conferences and considered their actions not in harmony with the world church. In 2012, there were 320 women pastors in the church, while in North America there are 120 women pastors and 4,100 male pastors.<ref name=women/> In 2013, the Southeastern California Conference voted for the first time a woman as president.<ref name=president>{{Cite web|url=https://religionnews.com/2015/07/08/adventists-stay-course-vote-deny-womens-ordination/|title=Adventists stay the course, vote to deny women's ordination|last=Banks|first=Adelle|date=2015-08-07|website=[[Religion News Service]]|access-date=2022-09-19}}</ref>

In July 8, 2015, leaders who represented the Seventh-day Adventist Church voted at their General Conference Session in [[San Antonio|San Antonio, Texas]], against the ordination of women becoming pastors. They voted 1,381 against and 977 in favor. Western Adventists who are against the ban say it is keeping them from functioning in this [[culture]], while those who support the ban get their reason for opposing from the [[Bible]]. Adventists in North America, Europe and a few other areas have been ordaining women as pastors. Women are banned from leading local conferences, they also can not create or close churches.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/seventh-day-adventists-vote-against-female-ordination/2015/07/08/42920f7e-25c8-11e5-b77f-eb13a215f593_story.html|title=Seventh-day Adventists vote against female ordination|last=Boorstein|first=Michelle|date=2015-07-08|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=2022-09-19}}</ref> [[Ted N. C. Wilson]], who was re-elected for a second five-year term as president, voted no, while former president [[Jan Paulsen]] voted yes.<ref name=president/>

{{multiple image
| header            = Membership
| direction         = vertical
| width             = 300
| align             = right
| image1            = Seventh-day Adventist Church membership as percentage of World Population.svg
| caption1          = Change in Adventist membership as a fraction of world population
| image2            = Seventh-day Adventists per million inhabitants by Country.svg
| caption2          = Adventists per million inhabitants by country
{{Div col|colwidth=7em}}
{{Legend|#f7feae|0–9}}
{{Legend|#b7e6a5|10–99}}
{{Legend|#7ccba2|100–499}}
{{Legend|#46aea0|500–999}}
{{Legend|#089099|1000–4999}}
{{Legend|#00718b|5000–9999}}
{{Legend|#045275|10,000–49,999}}
{{Legend|#033a54|50,000–99,999}}
{{Legend|#022333|≥100,000}}
}}
{{Div col end}}

===Membership===
[[File:Seventh-day Adventist Church membership.svg|upright=1.4|left|thumb|Seventh-day Adventist Church membership from 1863 to 2022]]The Seventh-day Adventist Church is one of the world's fastest-growing organizations, primarily from membership increases in [[Developing country|developing nations]]. Today much of the church membership reside outside of the United States, with large numbers in [[Africa]], [[Asia]] and [[Latin America]].<ref name=roil/> Every 30.33 seconds a new member is baptized into one of the 13 divisions of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.<ref name=study/>
 
In 2006, over 25 million people worshiped weekly in Seventh-day Adventist churches around the world.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://haaretz.com/2006-02-10/ty-article/seventh-day-adventist-church-holds-first-jewish-friendship-conference-here/0000017f-e9cf-d639-af7f-e9df33d70000|title=Seventh-Day Adventist Church Holds First Jewish Friendship Conference Here|last=Berman|first=Daphna|date=2006-02-10|website=[[Haaretz]]|access-date=2022-09-26}}</ref> In 2011, it was reported that the Seventh-day Adventist Church was the fastest-growing church in the United States. Released data showed the membership growing by 2.5% in North America, a rapid clip for that part of the world, where many Christian denominations are declining.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2011-03-18-Adventists_17_ST_N.htm?sms_ss=facebook&at_xt=4d8411c34c812859%2C0|title=Adventists' back-to-basics faith is fastest growing U.S. church| first= G. Jeffrey|last=MacDonald|date=March 17, 2011|publisher=[[USA Today]]}}</ref> On the church’s 150th anniversary in April 2013, there were over 17,000,000 members.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://religionnews.com/2013/04/10/as-they-turn-150-adventists-still-pray-for-the-apocalypse/|title=As they turn 150, Adventists still pray for the apocalypse|last=Burke|first=Daniel|date=2013-04-10|website=[[Religion News Service]]|access-date=2022-09-23}}</ref> In 2013, it was reported that the church lost one in three members over a fifty year period. For every 100 people the church gains, it loses 43 members. The reason why people leave the church is because of [[Divorce|marital issues]] and [[unemployment]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://christianitytoday.com/news/2013/december/seventh-day-adventists-assess-why-1-in-3-members-leave-sda.html|title=Adventists Assess Why 1 in 3 Members Leave the Church|last=Tracy|first=Kate|date=2013-12-09|website=[[Christianity Today]]|access-date=2022-09-21}}</ref> In 2015, the church was the most racially diverse denomination in the United States. The ratio was 37 percent [[White people|white]], 32 percent black, 15 percent [[Hispanic]], 8 percent [[Asian people|Asian]] and 8 percent another or mixed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/07/27/the-most-and-least-racially-diverse-u-s-religious-groups/|title=The most and least racially diverse U.S. religious groups|last=Lipka|first=Michael|website=[[Pew Research Center]]|date=July 27, 2015 |access-date=2022-09-23}}</ref> In 2017, the church had members in almost every country and territory in the world, except for [[Brunei]], [[Comoros]], [[Djibouti]], [[Falkland Islands]], [[Iran]], [[Jersey]], [[Maldives]], [[Monaco]], [[Somalia]] and [[Tokelau]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://record.adventistchurch.com/2019/03/28/the-ten-countries-or-areas-with-no-adventists/|title=The Ten: Countries or areas with no Adventists|last=Brunt|first=Maritza|date=2019-03-28|website=Adventist Record|access-date=2022-09-26}}</ref> In 2019, the Seventh-day Adventist Church had 21,000,000 baptized members around the world.<ref name=history/>

In 2020, church officials reported the lowest membership increase in 16 years, due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. The Seventh-day Adventist Church added only 803,000 members, the last time annual membership growth dropped below 1 million was in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://washingtontimes.com/news/2021/oct/11/seventh-day-adventist-church-see-rate-growth-tumbl/|title=Adventist Church sees rate of growth tumble due to pandemic: Report|last=Kellner|first=Mark|date=2021-10-11|website=[[The Washington Times]]|access-date=2022-09-16}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://christianpost.com/news/seventh-day-adventists-have-lowest-growth-in-16-years.html|title=Seventh-day Adventist Church experience lowest rate of growth in 16 years|last=Gryboski|first=Michael|date=2021-10-13|website=[[The Christian Post]]|access-date=2022-09-16}}</ref> In 2021, the Seventh-day Adventist Church had 1.2 million members worshiping in Canada and the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://religionnews.com/2021/11/24/pastor-who-approved-of-marital-rape-removed-from-seventh-day-adventist-church/|title=Pastor who approved of marital rape removed from Seventh-day Adventist Church|last=Shimron|first=Yonat|date=2021-11-24|website=[[Religion News Service]]|access-date=2022-09-26}}</ref>

In July 2025, church membership was 23,000,000 when [[Erton Köhler]] was elected the new president of the General Conference.<ref name="köhler"/>

==Adventist mission==
Started in the late 19th century, Adventist mission work today reaches people in over 200 countries and territories.<ref name="WebStats"/> Adventist mission workers seek to preach the [[gospel]], promote health through hospitals and clinics, run development projects to improve living standards, and provide relief in times of calamity.<ref name="adventistmission">{{cite web
| title      = Adventist Mission
| url        = http://www.adventistmission.org/article.php?id=2&PHPSESSID=fb6a8cd5ae23417d9da0624c410cc990
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051030000033/http://www.adventistmission.org/article.php?id=2&PHPSESSID=c43d5e87dcc0dc515c8c9760067d1ddf
| url-status   = dead
| archive-date = October 30, 2005
| access-date = January 17, 2007
}}</ref>

Missionary outreach of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is aimed not only at non-Christians but also at Christians from other denominations. Adventists believe that Christ has called his followers in the [[Great Commission]] to reach the whole world. Adventists are cautious, however, to ensure that [[evangelism]] does not impede or intrude on the basic rights of the individual. [[Freedom of religion|Religious liberty]] is a stance that the Adventist Church supports and promotes.<ref>{{cite web
| title=A Seventh-day Adventist Statement on Religious Liberty, Evangelism, and Proselytism
| publisher=General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Administrative Committee
| year=2000
| url=http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/statements/main_stat50.html
| access-date=January 18, 2007
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061206111501/http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/statements/main_stat50.html
| archive-date=December 6, 2006
| url-status=dead
}}</ref>

===Education===
{{Main|Seventh-day Adventist education}}
[[File:Moran_Hall.jpg|thumb|left|Moran Hall at [[Oakwood University]]]]
[[File:Spicer University Student Center Building.jpg|thumb|Student Center Building at [[Spicer Adventist University]]]]
{{See also|List of Seventh-day Adventist colleges and universities|List of Seventh-day Adventist secondary schools}}

Globally, the Adventist Church operates 7,598 schools, colleges and universities, with a total enrollment of more than 1,545,000 and a total teaching staff of approximately 80,000.<ref>{{cite web
| title      = Department of Education, Seventh-day Adventist Church
| url      = http://education.gc.adventist.org/about.html
| access-date      = June 18, 2010
| archive-date      = October 17, 2017
| archive-url      = https://web.archive.org/web/20171017005947/http://education.gc.adventist.org/about.html
| url-status      = dead
}}</ref> It operates the second largest school system in the world; only larger is the [[Roman Catholic Church]] school system.<ref name=study/>

===Medical===
[[File:Loma Linda University Dennis and Carol Troesh Medical Campus.jpg|thumb|left|[[Loma Linda University Medical Center]]]]
[[File:Tokyo_eisei_hospital.JPG|thumb|Tokyo Adventist Hospital]]
{{Main|AdventHealth|Adventist Health|Adventist Health International|Adventist HealthCare|Kettering Health}}
{{See also|List of Seventh-day Adventist hospitals}}
Their largest medical school and hospitals in North America are [[Loma Linda University]], [[Loma Linda University Medical Center]] and [[AdventHealth Orlando]]. Throughout the world, the Seventh-day Adventist Church runs a wide network of hospitals, clinics, lifestyle centers, and sanitariums. These play a role in the church's health message and worldwide missions outreach.<ref name="adventist health outreach">{{cite web
| url         = http://www.adventist.org/mission_and_service/global_mission.html.en
| title       = Adventist Health Outreach
| url-status     = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20070105184028/http://www.adventist.org/mission_and_service/global_mission.html.en
| archive-date = January 5, 2007
}}</ref>

AdventHealth is the largest not-for-profit Protestant [[health care provider]] in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://orlandosentinel.com/health/os-xpm-2010-07-31-os-nonprofit-hospitals-20100731-story.html|title=Are nonprofit hospitals truly not for profit?|last=Shrieves|first=Linda|date=2010-07-30|website=[[Orlando Sentinel]]|url-access=subscription|access-date=2022-08-12}}</ref> it operates 56 hospitals in nine states.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/adventhealth-ceo-president-david-banks/744446/|title=AdventHealth taps David Banks as CEO and president|last=Vogel|first=Susanna|date=April 4, 2025|website=[[Healthcare Dive]]|access-date=October 13, 2025}}</ref>

===Humanitarian aid and the environment===
For over 50 years, the church has been active in humanitarian aid through the work of the [[Adventist Development and Relief Agency]] (ADRA). ADRA works as a [[non-sectarian]] relief agency in 125 countries and areas of the world. ADRA has been granted General Consultative Status by the [[United Nations Economic and Social Council]]. Worldwide, ADRA employs over 4,000 people to help provide relief in crises as well as development in situations of poverty.

The church embraces an official commitment to the protection and care of the environment<ref>[http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/statements/main_stat9.html A Statement on the Environment] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070404091808/http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/statements/main_stat9.html |date=April 4, 2007 }}, 1995 and [http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/statements/main_stat10.html Statement on Stewardship of the Environment] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070405153740/http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/statements/main_stat10.html |date=April 5, 2007 }}, 1996. See also fundamental beliefs No. 6, "Creation" and No. 21, "Stewardship".</ref> as well as taking action to avoid the dangers of [[climate change]]:<ref>[http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/statements/main_stat8.html The Dangers of Climate Change: A Statement to Governments of Industrialized Countries] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070410212120/http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/statements/main_stat8.html |date=April 10, 2007 }}, 1995 (Official statement)</ref> "Seventh-day Adventism advocates a simple, wholesome lifestyle, where people do not step on the treadmill of unbridled over-consumption, accumulation of goods, and production of waste. A reformation of lifestyle is called for, based on respect for nature, restraint in the use of the world's resources, reevaluation of one's needs, and reaffirmation of the dignity of created life."<ref>[http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/statements/main_stat10.html Statement on Stewardship of the Environment] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070405153740/http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/statements/main_stat10.html |date=April 5, 2007 }}, 1996</ref>

===Media===
[[File:Hope-logo.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.8|[[Hope Channel]] logo]]
Adventists have long been proponents of media-based ministries. Traditional Adventist evangelistic efforts consisted of street missions and the distribution of tracts such as ''The Present Truth'', which was published by [[James Springer White|James White]] as early as 1849. Until [[John Nevins Andrews|J. N. Andrews]] was sent to [[Switzerland]] in 1874, Adventist global efforts consisted entirely of the posting of tracts such as White's to various locations.

In the last century, these efforts have also made use of media such as [[radio]] and [[television]]. The first of these was [[H. M. S. Richards]]' radio show ''[[Voice of Prophecy]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://channelstore.roku.com/details/1eb11612a62667a4a61e3fc4b486ab2e/voice-of-prophecy|title=Voice of Prophecy|website=[[Roku]]|access-date=2022-03-01}}</ref> which was initially broadcast in [[Los Angeles]] in 1929. Since then, Adventists have been on the forefront of media evangelism; ''[[It Is Written]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://channelstore.roku.com/details/4683dd062d679849557c026635128087/it-is-written-tv|title=It Is Written TV|website=[[Roku]]|access-date=2022-03-01}}</ref> founded by [[George Vandeman]], was the first religious program to air on color television in March 1965 and the first major Christian ministry to utilize satellite uplink technology. [[Amazing Facts]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://channelstore.roku.com/details/69fcf10eed4010668c252b6b8899606c/amazing-facts-tv|title=Amazing Facts TV|website=Roku|access-date=2022-03-01}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apps.apple.com/us/app/amazing-facts-tv/id6444951757|title=Amazing Facts TV|website=[[App Store (Apple)|App Store]]|access-date=August 26, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.amazingfacts.amazingfactstv&hl=en_US|title=Amazing Facts TV|website=[[Google Play]]|access-date=August 26, 2025}}</ref> was founded in 1965 by Joe Crews in [[Baltimore]] as a radio ministry. Amazing Facts broadcasts "Bible Answers Live" each Sunday where listeners phone or email Bible questions which are answered live.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://religionnews.com/2020/04/02/amazing-facts-international-reports-massive-online-viewing-surge/|title=Amazing Facts International reports massive online viewing surge|date=2020-04-02|website=[[Religion News Service]]|access-date=2022-03-02}}</ref> Today the ''[[Hope Channel]]'', the official television network of the church which launched in October 2003, operates 8+ international channels broadcasting 24 hours a day on cable, satellite, and the Web.<ref>{{cite web
| url         = http://www.hopetv.org/article.php?id=3&PHPSESSID=3af5f8fc707345b1fad6fd481c6879c8
| title       = Hope Channel
| url-status     = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20061025155826/http://www.hopetv.org/article.php?id=3&PHPSESSID=0a7f65f1782fc60e5052f7158dc71b29
| archive-date = October 25, 2006
}}</ref>

{{Anchor|Aventist World Radio}} In 1971, Adventist World Radio was founded and rented in [[Portugal]] its first [[shortwave radio]] station. It later [[construction|constructed]] its own shortwave radio station on [[Guam]]. Adventist World Radio covers earth in over 100 languages with shortwave radio, [[podcast]]s and 1,700+ [[AM broadcasting|AM]]/[[FM broadcasting|FM]] [[radio station]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://adventistreview.org/issue-archives/page-2015/page-1513/1513-18/|title=Adventist World Radio|date=2010-06-22|website=Adventist Review|access-date=2023-08-09|archive-date=August 10, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810230442/https://adventistreview.org/issue-archives/page-2015/page-1513/1513-18/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://chartable.com/creators/adventist-world-radio|title=Adventist World Radio|website=Chartable|access-date=2022-03-01|archive-date=March 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301225548/https://chartable.com/creators/adventist-world-radio|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.audionow.com/adventist-world-radio-joins-audionow/|title=Adventist World Radio Joins AudioNow|website=[[AudioNow]]|date=July 29, 2014|access-date=2023-08-09|archive-date=August 10, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810232105/https://www.audionow.com/adventist-world-radio-joins-audionow/|url-status=dead}}</ref> 

SDA evangelists such as [[Doug Batchelor]], [[Mark Finley]] and [[Dwight Nelson]] have undertaken a number of international satellite-broadcast live evangelistic events, addressing audiences in up to 40 languages simultaneously.<ref>{{cite news
| title=Net '98 Finale: Conclusion of Largest-ever Satellite Outreach Program
| publisher=Adventist News Network
| date=November 6, 1998
| url=http://news.adventist.org/issues/data/911244065/#1
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013095709/http://news.adventist.org/issues/data/911244065/
| archive-date=October 13, 2007
| access-date=January 20, 2007
| url-status=dead
}}</ref>

In 2016, the Church released the film ''Tell the World''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://spectrummagazine.org/article/2016/10/31/how-tell-world-biggest-adventist-movie-ever-got-made |title=How Tell the World, the Biggest Adventist Movie Ever, Got Made |work=Spectrum Magazine |access-date=November 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181128164851/https://spectrummagazine.org/article/2016/10/31/how-tell-world-biggest-adventist-movie-ever-got-made |archive-date=November 28, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Publishing===
[[File:Review and Herald (1868).jpg|upright=1.2|thumb|right|Review and Herald Publishing Association in 1868]]
The Adventist Church owns and operates 58 publishing companies around the world, in about 136 languages. The major number are in the Trans-European Division (TED), and Inter-European Division (EUD).<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Publishing Houses |url=https://www.adventistpublishing.org/about-us/world-publishing-houses/ |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=Publishing |date=March 2, 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2014, [[Review and Herald Publishing Association]] [[Mergers and acquisitions|merged]] with [[Pacific Press Publishing Association]]. The Review and Herald board voted 153-to-66 in favor of the merger and the board of Pacific Press voted 42-to-1 in favor of the merger. Review and Herald Publishing Association had been in [[Hagerstown, Maryland]], since 1983. From 2013 to 2014, Review and Herald Publishing Association lost almost US$2 million. Formerly its [[revenue]] in 1985 was $45.8 million and dropped to $21.8 million in 2013. Pacific Press had also lost much revenue.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldmailmedia.com/story/news/local/2014/06/18/review-and-herald-to-close-hagerstown-pla/45017743/|title=Review and Herald to close Hagerstown plant|last=Aines|first=Don|date=2014-06-18|website=[[The Herald-Mail]]|access-date=2023-07-07}}</ref> Pacific Press Publishing Association was in [[Mountain View, California]] from 1904 to 1983. It moved to [[Nampa, Idaho]], to reduce the cost of living for new employees.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mv-voice.com/news/2011/05/26/google-buys-former-home-of-the-pacific-press|title=Google buys former home of the Pacific Press|last=DeBolt|first=Daniel|date=2011-05-26|website=[[Mountain View Voice]]|access-date=2023-07-07}}</ref>

===Ecumenical activity===
{{Main|Seventh-day Adventist interfaith relations}}
The Adventist Church generally opposes the [[ecumenism|ecumenical movement]], although it supports some of the other goals of [[ecumenism]]. The General Conference has released an official statement concerning the Adventist position with respect to the ecumenical movement, which contains the following paragraph:

: Should Adventists cooperate ecumenically? Adventists should cooperate insofar as the authentic gospel is proclaimed and crying human needs are being met. The Seventh-day Adventist Church wants no entangling memberships and refuses any compromising relationships that might tend to water down her distinct witness. However, Adventists wish to be "conscientious cooperators". The ecumenical movement as an agency of cooperation has acceptable aspects; as an agency for the organic unity of churches, it is much more suspect.<ref>{{cite web
| last=Beach
| first=Bert
| title=Seventh-day Adventists and the Ecumenical Movement
| publisher=General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
| date=June 1985
| url=http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/other_documents/other_doc3.html
| access-date=January 10, 2007
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061206202307/http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/other_documents/other_doc3.html
| archive-date=December 6, 2006
| url-status=dead
}}</ref>

While not being a member of the [[World Council of Churches]],<ref name=council/> the Adventist Church has participated in its assemblies in an observer capacity.<ref>{{cite news
| title=World Church: Adventists Observe World Council of Churches Assembly
| publisher=Adventist News Network
| date=March 7, 2006
| url=http://news.adventist.org/data/2006/02/1141762525/index.html.en
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013095659/http://news.adventist.org/data/2006/02/1141762525/index.html.en
| archive-date=October 13, 2007
| access-date=January 10, 2007
| url-status=dead
}}</ref>

==Criticism==
{{Main|Criticism of the Seventh-day Adventist Church}}
The Adventist Church has received criticism along several lines, including what some claim are [[heterodoxy|heterodox]] doctrines, [[Ellen G. White]] and her status within the church, and alleged exclusivist issues.<ref>{{cite web
| title     = Seventh-day Adventist Church profile
| publisher     = Religious Tolerance.org
| url     = http://www.religioustolerance.org/sda.htm
| access-date     = December 2, 2004
| archive-date     = May 22, 2013
| archive-url     = https://web.archive.org/web/20130522052403/http://www.religioustolerance.org/sda.htm
| url-status     = usurped
}}</ref>

===Doctrines===
Several teachings that have come under scrutiny are the [[annihilationism|annihilationist]] view of [[hell]], the [[investigative judgment]] (and a related view of the [[Atonement in Christianity|atonement]]), and the Sabbath. Critics such as evangelical [[Anthony Hoekema]] (who felt that Adventists were more in agreement with [[Arminianism]]) argued that some Adventist doctrines were [[heterodoxy|heterodox]]. In addition, Hoekema also claimed that Adventist doctrine suffers from [[Legalism (theology)|legalism]].<ref>{{Cite book|author=Anthony Hoekema|title=The Four Major Cults|year=1963|pages=115–128, 144–169|publisher=Paternoster Press |isbn=978-0-85364-094-3|author-link=Anthony Hoekema}}</ref>

While critics such as Hoekema have classified Adventism as a [[sectarian]] group on the basis of its atypical doctrines,<ref name="Samples_updated"/><ref name="autogenerated1963"/> it has been accepted as more mainstream by Protestant evangelicals since its meetings and discussions with evangelicals in the 1950s.<ref>George R. Knight "A Search For Identity The Development of Seventh-Day Adventist Beliefs", Review and Herald Publishing Association, 2000, p. 165</ref> [[Billy Graham (evangelist)|Billy Graham]] invited Adventists to be part of his crusades after ''[[Eternity (magazine)|Eternity]]'', a conservative Christian magazine edited by [[Donald Barnhouse]], asserted in 1956 that Adventists are Christians. He also later stated, "They are sound on the great New Testament doctrines including grace and redemption through the vicarious offering of Jesus Christ 'once for all{{'"}}.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Adventists and Evangelicals: another viewpoint |url=https://www.ministrymagazine.org/archive/1993/06/adventists-and-evangelicals-another-viewpoint |access-date=2023-09-04 |website=www.ministrymagazine.org |language=en}}</ref> [[Walter Ralston Martin|Walter Martin]], who is considered by many to be the father of the [[Christian countercult movement|counter-cult apologetics movement within evangelicalism]], authored ''The Truth About Seventh-day Adventists'' (1960) which marked a turning point in the way Adventism was viewed:<ref>Donald Grey Barnhouse, "Are Seventh-day Adventists Christians?" Eternity, September 1956, p. 7.</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=Dickinson |first=Loren |date=November 2, 2006 |title=The Day Adventists Became Christians |publisher=Spectrum}}</ref> "It is perfectly possible to be a Seventh-day Adventist and be a true follower of Jesus Christ despite [[heterodox]] concepts".<ref>Walter Martin, ''Kingdom of the Cults'' Off-site Link (Bethany House, Minneapolis, Minnesota), Updated edition 1997, p. 517.</ref>

Later on, Martin planned to write a new book on Seventh-day Adventism, with the assistance of Kenneth R. Samples.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://qod.andrews.edu/docs/08_kenneth_samples.doc|title=Evangelical Reflections on Seventh-day Adventism: Yesterday and Today, by Kenneth Richard Samples|website=andrews.edu|access-date=July 10, 2009|archive-date=May 12, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080512202713/http://qod.andrews.edu/docs/08_kenneth_samples.doc|url-status=dead}}</ref> Samples subsequently authored "From Controversy to Crisis: An Updated Assessment of Seventh-day Adventism", which upholds Martin's view "for that segment of Adventism which holds to the position stated in [[QOD]], and further expressed in the Evangelical Adventist movement of the last few decades." However, Samples also claimed that "Traditional Adventism" appeared "to be moving further away from a number of positions taken in QOD", and at least at [[Sanctuary Review Committee|Glacier View]] seemed to have "gained the support of many administrators and leaders".<ref>[http://www.iclnet.org/pub/resources/text/cri/cri-jrnl/web/crj0005b.html "From Controversy to Crisis: An Updated Assessment of Seventh-day Adventism] by Kenneth R. Samples, Christian Research Institute Journal Christian Research Journal, Summer 1988, Volume 11, Number 1</ref>

===Ellen G. White and her status===
[[File:Ellen G. White (1899).jpg|thumb|right|upright=1|Ellen G. White in 1899]]
{{Main|Inspiration of Ellen White}}
[[Ellen G. White]]'s status as a modern-day [[prophet]] has also been criticized. In the ''Questions on Doctrine'' era, evangelicals expressed concern about Adventism's understanding of the relationship of White's writings to the inspired canon of Scripture.<ref name="Samples_updated" /> The Adventist fundamental beliefs maintain that "the Bible is the standard by which all teaching and experience must be tested".<ref>{{cite web
| title      = Fundamental Beliefs #18
| publisher      = Seventh-day Adventist Church
| url      = https://www.adventist.org/en/beliefs/church/the-gift-of-prophecy/
| access-date      = November 1, 2006
| archive-date      = November 17, 2018
| archive-url      = https://web.archive.org/web/20181117184529/https://www.adventist.org/en/beliefs/church/the-gift-of-prophecy/
| url-status      = dead
}}</ref>

A common criticism of Ellen White, widely popularized by [[Walter T. Rea]], Ronald Numbers, and others, is the claim of [[plagiarism]] from other authors.<ref>{{cite book
| last       = Canright
| first      = D. M.
| title      = Life of Mrs. E.G. White, Seventh-day Adventist Prophet: Her False Claims Refuted
| year       = 1919
| url        = http://www.ellenwhite.org/canright/egw16.htm
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/19981205024026/http://www.ellenwhite.org/canright/egw16.htm
| url-status   = dead
| archive-date = December 5, 1998
| access-date = June 6, 2006
}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Rea |first=Walter T. |title=The White Lie |date=February 1983 |publisher=Moore Publishing |isbn=978-0-9607424-0-0 |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{cite book
| last      = Numbers
| first      = Ronald L.
| title      = Prophetess of health: a study of Ellen G. White
| publisher      = Harper & Row
| year      = 1976
| isbn      = 978-0-06-066325-4
| url-access      = registration
| url      = https://archive.org/details/prophetessofheal00numb
}}; {{cite journal
| title=An Author Replies to His Critics
| author=Ronald L. Numbers
| journal=[[Spectrum (magazine)|Spectrum]]
| volume=8
| issue=2
| date=January 1977
| pages=27–36
| url=http://www.spectrummagazine.org/spectrum/archive06-10/8-2numbers.pdf
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927001933/http://www.spectrummagazine.org/spectrum/archive06-10/8-2numbers.pdf
| archive-date=September 27, 2007
| url-status=dead
}}</ref> An independent lawyer specializing in plagiarism, Vincent L. Ramik, was engaged to undertake a study of Ellen G. White's writings during the early 1980s and concluded that they were "conclusively {{sic|unplagiaristic}}".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ellen G. White® Estate: The Ramik Report: Memorandum of Law Literary Propert Rights 1790–1915 |url=https://whiteestate.org/legacy/issues-ramik-html/ |access-date=2023-09-04 |website=whiteestate.org}}</ref> When the plagiarism charge ignited a significant debate during the late 1970s and early 1980s, the Adventist General Conference commissioned a major study by Dr. Fred Veltman. The ensuing project became known as the "Life of Christ' Research Project".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Veltman |first=Fred |title=Life of Christ Research Project |url=https://documents.adventistarchives.org/Resources/Forms/AllItems.aspx?RootFolder=%2fResources%2fLOCRP&FolderCTID=0x01200095DE8DF0FA49904B9D652113284DE0C8000B5857BEC3C5DB4F96C32A1C24765988}}</ref> Veltman examined 15 randomly selected chapters of [[The Desire of Ages]] for evidence of literary dependence and concluded, "On an average we may say that 31.4 percent of the DA text is dependent to some extent on literary sources."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Veltman |first=Fred |title=Life of Christ Research Project |year=1988 |pages=882}}</ref> The results are available at the General Conference Archives.<ref>[http://www.adventistarchives.org/documents.asp?CatID=13&ShowDateOrder=True&SortBy=1 General Conference Archives] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715071416/http://www.adventistarchives.org/documents.asp?CatID=13&SortBy=1&ShowDateOrder=True |date=July 15, 2010 }} of the Seventh-day Adventist Church</ref> Dr. Roger W. Coon,<ref>{{cite web
| url   = http://www.andrews.edu/~fortind/EGWPlagiarism-Coon-98.htm
| title = ''Ellen G. White as a Writer: Part III – The Issue of Literary Borrowing''
| work  = andrews.edu
}}</ref> David J. Conklin,<ref>{{cite web |title=INDEX FILES on Charge of Plagiarism against E. G. White |url=http://dedication.www3.50megs.com/David/index.html |work=50megs.com}}</ref> Dr. Denis Fortin,<ref>{{cite web
| url   = http://www.andrews.edu/~fortind/EGWWhite-Conybeare.htm
| title = ''Ellen G. White as a Writer: Case Studies in the Issue of Literary Borrowing''
| work  = andrews.edu
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url   = http://www.andrews.edu/~fortind/EGWPlagiarism-Encyclopedia.htm
| title = Untitled Document
| work  = andrews.edu
}}</ref> King and Morgan,<ref>{{Cite book
| title     = More Than Words: A Study of Inspiration and Ellen White's Use of Sources in The Desire of Ages
| author    = E. Marcella Anderson King and Kevin L. Morgan
| year      = 2009
| publisher = Honor Him Publishers
}}</ref> and Morgan,<ref>{{Cite book |author=Morgan |first=Kevin L. |title=White Lie Soap: For removal of lingering stains on Ellen White's integrity as an inspired writer |publisher=Honor Him Publishers |year=2013 |language=en-us}}</ref> among others, undertook the refutation of the accusations of plagiarism. At the conclusion of his report, Ramik states:

<blockquote>It is impossible to imagine that the intention of Ellen G. White, as reflected in her writings and the unquestionably prodigious efforts involved therein, was anything other than a sincerely motivated and unselfish effort to place the understandings of Biblical truths in a coherent form for all to see and comprehend. Most certainly, the nature and content of her writings had but one hope and intent, namely, the furthering of mankind's understanding of the word of God. Considering all factors necessary in reaching a just conclusion on this issue, it is submitted that the writings of Ellen G. White were conclusively unplagiaristic.<ref name="Also appears in Review article">{{Cite web |title=Ellen G. White® Estate: The Ramik Report: Memorandum of Law Literary Propert Rights 1790–1915 |url=https://whiteestate.org/legacy/issues-ramik-html/ |access-date=2023-09-04 |website=whiteestate.org}}</ref>
</blockquote>

===Exclusivism===
Critics have alleged that certain Adventist beliefs and practices are exclusivist in nature, and they point to the Adventist claim to be the "[[Remnant (Adventist)|remnant church]]", and the traditional Protestant association of [[Roman Catholicism]] with "[[Babylon (New Testament)|Babylon]]".<ref name="SDACatholic">{{cite web
| title=How Seventh-day Adventists View Roman Catholicism
| publisher=General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Administrative Committee
| date=April 15, 1997
| url=http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/statements/main_stat42.html
| access-date=January 11, 2007
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061206202225/http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/statements/main_stat42.html
| archive-date=December 6, 2006
| url-status=dead
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| title       = Seventh-Day Adventism
| publisher   = Catholic Answers
| url         = http://www.catholic.com/library/Seventh_Day_Adventism.asp
| access-date  = February 5, 2007
| url-status     = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20070203061247/http://www.catholic.com/library/Seventh_Day_Adventism.asp
| archive-date = February 3, 2007
}}</ref><ref>See also [[Questions on Doctrine]], chapters 20 and 21; and {{Cite book|author=Anthony Hoekema|title=The Four Major Cults|year=1963|pages=128–132|publisher=Paternoster Press |isbn=978-0-85364-094-3}}</ref> These attitudes are said to legitimize the [[proselytism|proselytising]] of Christians from other denominations. In response to such criticisms, Adventist theologians have stated that the doctrine of the remnant does not preclude the existence of genuine Christians in other denominations but is concerned with institutions.<ref>{{cite web
| title        = The Remnant and the Adventist Church
| author       = Ángel Manuel Rodríguez
| date         = October 2002
| publisher    = [[Biblical Research Institute]]
| url          = http://www.adventistbiblicalresearch.org/documents/remnantSDAchurch.htm
| access-date  = February 5, 2007
| archive-date = March 22, 2007
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20070322061929/http://www.adventistbiblicalresearch.org/documents/remnantSDAchurch.htm
| url-status   = dead
}}</ref>

==Offshoots and schisms==
Throughout the denomination's history, several groups have left the church and formed their own movements.

Following [[World War I]], a group known as the [[Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement]] was formed as a result of the actions of [[L. R. Conradi]] and certain [[Europe]]an church leaders during the war, who decided that it was acceptable for Adventists to take part in said war. Those who opposed this stand and refused to participate in the war were declared "disfellowshipped" by their local Church leaders at the time. When the Church leaders from the General Conference came and admonished the local European leaders after the war to try to heal the damage, and bring the members together, it met with resistance from those who had suffered under those leaders. Their attempts at reconciliation failed after the war, and the group became organized as a separate church at a conference held on July 14–20, 1925. The movement was officially incorporated in 1949.<ref name="Origin of SDA Reform Movement">{{cite web
| url=http://www.sdarm.org/origin.htm
| title=Origin of the SDA Reform Movement
| url-status=dead
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100815073949/http://www.sdarm.org/origin.htm
| archive-date=August 15, 2010
}}</ref>

In 2005, in another attempt to examine and resolve what its German leaders had done, the mainstream church apologized for its failures during [[World War II]], stating that they {{"'}}deeply regret' any participation in or support of [[Nazism|Nazi]] activities during the war by the German and Austrian leadership of the church."<ref>"[http://archives.adventistreview.org/article/92/archives/issue-2005-1540/adventist-news Church Leaders Say 'We're Sorry': German and Austrian churches apologize for Holocaust actions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019104701/http://archives.adventistreview.org/article/92/archives/issue-2005-1540/adventist-news |date=2014-10-19 }}" by Mark A. Kellner</ref>

In the [[Soviet Union]], the same issues produced the group known as the [[True and Free Seventh-day Adventists]]. This also formed as the result of a [[schism]] within the Seventh-day Adventist Church in [[Europe]] during [[World War I]] over the position its European church leaders took on having its members join the military or keep the [[Sabbath]]. The group remains active today (2010) in the former republics of the Soviet Union.<ref>Sapiets, Marite "V. A. Shelkov and the true and free Adventists of the USSR", ''Religion, State and Society'', Volume 8, Issue 3, 1980, pp. 201–217</ref>

Well-known but distant offshoots are the [[Davidian Seventh-day Adventist]] organization and the [[Branch Davidian]]s, themselves a schism within the larger Davidian movement.<ref name="Davidian Seventh-day Adventist">{{cite web
| url   = http://www.davidiansda.org/fundamental_belief.htm
| title = Fundamental beliefs of DSDA as compared with the ones of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
}}</ref> The Davidians formed in 1929, following [[Victor Houteff]], after he published his book ''[[shepherd's rod|The Shepherd's Rod]]'', which was rejected as [[Christian heresy|heretical]]. A succession dispute after Houteff died in 1955 led to the formation of two groups, the original Davidians and the Branches. Later, another ex-Adventist, [[David Koresh]], led the Branch Davidians until he died in the 1993 [[Waco siege|siege]] at the group's headquarters near [[Waco, Texas]].<ref name=roil/>

==Cultural influence==
{{Main|Seventh-day Adventism in popular culture}}
[[File:Stamp_of_Russia_2001_No_692_Adventist_Church_in_Ryazan.jpg|thumb|Postage stamp of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in [[Ryazan]]]]
''[[Hacksaw Ridge]]'' depicts the life of Adventist [[conscientious objector]] and [[Medal of Honor]] recipient [[Desmond Doss]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jewishjournal.com/culture/special_sections/oscars/215563/producer-david-permut-brings-soldiers-valor-screen-hacksaw-ridge/|title=Producer David Permut brings a soldier's valor to the screen in 'Hacksaw Ridge'|last=Pfefferman|first=Naomi|date=2017-02-24|website=[[Jewish Journal]]|access-date=2022-09-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/movies/the-true-story-of-hacksaw-ridge-and-desmond-doss-the-medal-of-honor-winner-who-never-fired-a-shot/|title=The True Story of 'Hacksaw Ridge' and Desmond Doss: the Medal of Honor Winner Who Never Fired a Shot|last=Miller|first=Mike|date=2022-08-14|website=[[People (magazine)|People]]|access-date=2022-09-12}}</ref> ''[[The Road to Wellville (film)|The Road to Wellville]]'' is based on a novel about Seventh-day Adventist physician [[John Harvey Kellogg]], director of the [[Battle Creek Sanitarium]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://battlecreekenquirer.com/story/entertainment/2019/10/24/battle-creek-road-wellville-tc-boyle-kellogg-anthony-hopkins-alan-parker-matthew-broderick/3974083002/|title=Battle Creek reluctant to revisit 'The Road to Wellville' 25 years after film's release|last=Buckley|first=Nick|date=2019-10-24|website=[[Battle Creek Enquirer]]|access-date=2022-09-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1994-10-28-1994301180-story.html|title=There's no cure for 'The Road to Wellville'|last=Hunter|first=Stephen|date=1994-10-27|website=[[The Baltimore Sun]]|access-date=2022-09-12}}</ref> ''[[Evil Angels (film)|A Cry in the Dark]]'', a film about the [[death of Azaria Chamberlain]], features the prejudice her parents faced due to misconceptions about their religion.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theguardian.com/film/2016/jan/31/evil-angels-rewatched-harrowing-meryl-streep-triumph-still-packs-a-punch|title=Evil Angels rewatched-harrowing Meryl Streep triumph still packs a punch|last=Buckmaster|first=Luke|date=2016-01-31|website=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=2022-09-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nytimes.com/1988/02/07/arts/film-meryl-streep-as-an-accused-murderer.html|title=FILM; Meryl Streep as an Accused Murderer|last=Childs|first=Kevin|date=1988-02-07|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=2022-09-12}}</ref> Many other forms of media include mentions of Seventh-day Adventism.

Many country postal services around the world have created [[postage stamp]]s honoring the Seventh-day Adventist Church, or an individual member. In 2020, [[Iraqi Post]] released a set of eight [[commemorative stamp]]s to honor the Christian churches in the country. The set included a photograph of the Baghdad Seventh-day Adventist Church.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://adventistreview.org/news/iraq-recognizes-adventist-church-with-new-national-stamp/|title=Iraq Recognizes Adventist Church with New National Stamp|last=Chung|first=Chanmin|date=2021-10-21|website=[[Adventist Review]]|access-date=2022-09-15}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Christianity|Religion}}
{{div col}}
* [[List of the largest Protestant denominations]]
* [[History of Seventh-day Adventist freedom of religion in Canada]]
* [[List of Seventh-day Adventists]]
* [[List of Seventh-day Adventist periodicals]]
* [[Prophecy in the Seventh-day Adventist Church]]
* [[Italian Union of Seventh-day Adventist Christian Churches]]
* [[Sabbath Rest Advent Church]]

;By country
* [[Australian Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists]]
* [[Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada]]
* [[New Zealand Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists]]
* [[Romanian Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists]]
* [[Seventh-day Adventist Church in Tonga]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
{{commons|Seventh-day Adventist Church}}
{{Wikisource|Category:Seventh-day Adventist Church|Seventh-day Adventist Church}}
{{refbegin}}
* Baker, Benjamin. 2005. ''Crucial Moments: The 12 Most Important Events in Black Adventism''. Hagerstown, MD: Review and Herald.
* Bull, Malcolm and Keith Lockhart, ''[[Seeking a Sanctuary|Seeking a Sanctuary: Seventh-day Adventism and the American Dream]]''. (2006, 2nd edn). Bloomington, Indiana: [[Indiana University Press]]. A sociological study.
* Chaij, Fernando. ''Fuerzas supriores que actuán en la vida humana: el hipnotismo y el espiritismo ante la ciencia y la religión [y] el problema de la sanidad y la felicidad''. Quinta ed. actualizada. Bogotá: Ediciones Interamericanas, 1976. 267 p. N.B.: Speculations about various occult phenomena, health, theology and Bible exegesis, all from a Seventh Day Adventist perspective. Without ISBN
* Edwards, Calvin W. and Gary Land. ''Seeker After Light: A F Ballenger, Adventism, and American Christianity''. (2000). 240pp [http://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=5313 online review]
* Jetelina, Bedrich. "Seventh-day Adventists, Human Rights and Social Work," ''Caritas et veritas'', Vol. 4, No. 1 (2014), pp.&nbsp;22–32 [http://www.caritasetveritas.cz/index-en.php?action=openfile&pkey=122 Caritas et veritas]
* {{cite journal
| last1   = Land
| first1  = Gary
| year    = 2001
| title   = At the Edges of Holiness: Seventh-Day Adventism Receives the Holy Ghost, 1892–1900
| journal = [[Fides et Historia]]
| volume  = 33
| issue   = 2
| pages   = 13–30
}}

* Land, Gary, ''Historical Dictionary of the Seventh-Day Adventists'' (Scarecrow Press, 2005).
* Morgan, Douglas. ''Adventism and the American Republic: The Public Involvement of a Major Apocalyptic Movement''. (2001). 269 pp.
* Morgan, Douglas. "Adventism, Apocalyptic, and the Cause of Liberty," ''Church History'', Vol. 63, No. 2 (Jun. 1994), pp.&nbsp;235–249 [https://www.jstor.org/stable/3168590 in JSTOR]
* Neufield, Don F. ed. ''Seventh-day Adventist Encyclopedia'' (10 vol 1976), official publication
* Numbers, Ronald L. ''Prophetess of health: a study of Ellen G. White'' (3rd ed. 2008)
* Pearson, Michael. ''Millennial Dreams and Moral Dilemmas: Seventh-day Adventism and Contemporary Ethics''. (1990, 1998) [https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0521091489 excerpt and text search], looks at issues of marriage, abortion, homosexuality
* Schwarz, Richard. ''Light Bearers: A History of the Seventh-day Adventist Church'' (3rd ed. 2000)
* Vance, Laura L. ''Seventh-day Adventism Crisis: Gender and Sectarian Change in an Emerging Religion''. (1999). 261 pp.
* Van Dolson, Leo. ''What about Life after Death?'' Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1978. 32 p.
* [http://www.theadventiststhefilm.com/  ''The Adventists''], Documentary film by Martin Doblmeier
{{refend}}

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