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Seventh-day Adventist Church

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**History and Development**:
– Originating from the Millerite movement in the 19th century.
– Evolution of key doctrines such as investigative judgment and sanctuary in heaven concept.
– Adoption of Sabbatarianism, including Sabbath-keeping and Sabbath observance.
– Growth and establishment of Seventh-day Adventist Church in Battle Creek, Michigan in 1863.
– Incorporation of core beliefs and doctrines, with influences from Arianism-holding churches.

**Beliefs and Practices**:
– Alignment with evangelical Protestant denominations in most areas.
– Emphasis on worshiping on Saturday, belief in Ellen G. White’s gift of prophecy, and the sanctuary doctrine.
– Adherence to literal six-day creation, baptism by immersion, and salvation through Jesus.
– Anticipation of investigative judgment in heaven and the Second Coming of Jesus.
– Cultural practices like Sabbath preparation, vespers, Sabbath worship, and health guidelines.

**Global Presence and Impact**:
– Fast-growing worldwide church with over 22 million baptized members.
– Twelfth-largest Protestant religious body globally.
– Missionary presence in 215+ countries and territories.
– Operation of 7,500+ schools, hospitals, and publishing houses.
– Significant influence and outreach on a global scale.

**Ethics, Marriage, and Sexuality**:
– Stance on issues like abortion, sexual abstinence, and extra-marital cohabitation.
– Opposition to homosexual activities and relationships.
– Official statements on ethical matters such as euthanasia and birth control.
– Definition of marriage as a lifelong commitment between a man and a woman.
– Welcoming approach towards openly homosexual individuals with love and kindness.

**Organization and Governance**:
– Four-tiered structure with local, local conference, union conference, and General Conference levels.
– Representation resembling a presbyterian system of governance.
– Ordination of clergy, with ministers appointed by local Conferences.
– Inclusion of lay offices like elders and deacons in church functioning.
– Debates and decisions regarding the ordination of women at various levels within the Adventist Church.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA) is an Adventist Protestant Christian denomination which is distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the seventh day of the week in the Christian (Gregorian) and the Hebrew calendar, as the Sabbath, its emphasis on the imminent Second Coming (advent) of Jesus Christ, and its annihilationist soteriology. The denomination grew out of the Millerite movement in the United States during the mid-19th century and it was formally established in 1863. Among its co-founders was Ellen G. White, whose extensive writings are still held in high regard by the church.

Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist logo
ClassificationProtestant
OrientationAdventist
TheologySeventh-day Adventist theology
PolityPresbyterian/Episcopal
PresidentTed N. C. Wilson
RegionWorldwide
Founder
OriginMay 21, 1863; 160 years ago (1863-05-21)
Battle Creek, Michigan, U.S.
Branched fromMillerites
Separations
Congregations
  • 97,811 churches
  • 73,886 companies
Members22,234,406
Pastors20,924
Aid organizationAdventist Development and Relief Agency
Hospitals229
Nursing homes129
Primary schools6,623
Secondary schools2,640
Tertiary institutions118
Other name(s)Adventist church, SDA (informal)
Official websiteadventist.org

Much of the theology of the Seventh-day Adventist Church corresponds to common evangelical Christian teachings, such as the Trinity and the infallibility of Scripture. Distinctive post-tribulation teachings include the unconscious state of the dead and the doctrine of an investigative judgment. The church places an emphasis on diet and health, including adhering to Kosher food laws, advocating vegetarianism, and its holistic view of human nature—i.e. that the body, soul, and spirit form one inseparable entity. 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 is defined as a lifelong union between a man and a woman. The second coming of Christ and resurrection of the dead are among official beliefs.

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 "one of the fastest-growing and most widespread churches worldwide", with a worldwide baptized membership of over 22 million people. As of May 2007, 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. The church operates over 7,500 schools including over 100 post-secondary institutions, numerous 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, the proceeds of which contribute to the church's charitable and religious activities.

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