seventh-clay Adventist CHURCH MANUAL Revised 1995 15th Edition 042(cid:9) 1.44, Seneral Conference of SecAth-day Adventi Review and Herald® Publishing Association Hagerstown, Maryland 21740 Copyright © 1995 by the Secretariat, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Unless otherwise indicated, all Bible texts are from the King James Version. Bible texts credited to RSV are from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyrighted © 1946, 1952, 1971, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by permission. Bible texts credited to RV are from The Holy Bible, Revised Version, Oxford University Press, 1911. Printed in U.S.A. 99 98 97 96 95(cid:9) 5 4 3 2 1 ISBN 0-8280-1076-5(cid:9) paperback ISBN 0-8280-1077-3(cid:9) hardcover TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface (cid:9) xvii Notes (cid:9) xx Changes in the Church Manual (cid:9) xx Clarification of Meaning (cid:9) xx Use of the Term Conference, etc (cid:9) xx CHAPTER 1 The Church of the Living God (cid:9) 1 No Wall of Partition (cid:9) 1 The Supreme Object of Christ's Regard (cid:9) 2 The Opposition of the Enemy (cid:9) 3 The Church Complete in Christ (cid:9) 4 CHAPTER 2 Fundamental Beliefs of Seventh-day Adventists (cid:9) 7 CHAPTER 3 Organization Founded on Divine Principles (cid:9) 19 Biblical Basis for Organization (cid:9) 19 Vital Importance of Organization (cid:9) 20 Divine Purpose in Organization (cid:9) 21 CHAPTER 4 The Form of Organization in the Seventh-day Adventist Church (cid:9) 23 Forms of Church Government (cid:9) 23 Four Constituent Levels in the Seventh-day Adventist Organization (cid:9) 24 The Church's Institutions (cid:9) 24 General Conference the Highest Authority (cid:9) 25 CHAPTER 5 Church Membership (cid:9) 27 Membership on a Spiritual Basis (cid:9) 27 Baptism a Gospel Requirement (cid:9) 27 v vi(cid:9) CHURCH MANUAL Baptism a Prerequisite to Church Membership (cid:9) 28 Mode of Baptism (cid:9) 28 Ministers Thoroughly to Instruct Candidates Previous to Baptism (cid:9) 28 Public Examination (cid:9) 29 Baptismal Covenant (cid:9) 29 Baptismal Vow and Baptism (cid:9) 30 Baptismal Vow (cid:9) 30 Commitment (cid:9) 30 Certificate of Baptism (cid:9) 31 Welcoming Candidates (cid:9) 31 Receiving Members Who Are Not Known (cid:9) 31 Baptismal Ceremony (cid:9) 32 Regular Standing (cid:9) 32 Transferring Members (cid:9) 32 Transferring Church Members (cid:9) 32 Method of Granting Letters of Transfer (cid:9) 32 Clerk to Make Out Letter (cid:9) 33 Membership During Interval of Transfer (cid:9) 33 The Receiving of Members Disturbed by World Conditions (cid:9) 34 Counted in Statistical Reports (cid:9) 34 If Member Is Not Accepted (cid:9) 34 No Letters to Members Under Discipline (cid:9) 34 Church Letters Granted Only to Those in Regular Standing(cid:9) 34 Not to Vote Without Member's Approval (cid:9) 35 Church Boards Cannot Grant Letters (cid:9) 35 Conference or Field Church (cid:9) 35 Organized Companies (cid:9) 36 Queries Concerning Receiving and Dropping Members (cid:9) 37 Receiving Members on Profession of Faith (cid:9) 37 Dropping Names (cid:9) 38 No Retired Membership List (cid:9) 38 Rebaptism (cid:9) 39 Of Converts From Other Religious Communions (cid:9) 39 Of Church Members and Former Seventh-day Adventists(cid:9) 39 CHAPTER 6 Church Officers and Their Duties (cid:9) 41 Their Qualifications (cid:9) 41 Moral Fitness (cid:9) 41 Religious Fitness (cid:9) 41 TABLE OF CONTENTS(cid:9) vii The Church Must Be Guarded and Fed (cid:9) 42 Respect and Deference Due to Ministers and Officers of the Church (cid:9) 43 Not to Be Hurried Into Office (cid:9) 43 Those Opposed to Unity Not Suitable for Office (cid:9) 44 Unsafe to Choose Those Who Refuse to Cooperate With Others (cid:9) 44 Term of Office (cid:9) 45 The Church Elder (cid:9) 45 The Office an Important One (cid:9) 45 A Religious Leader of the Church (cid:9) 45 Capable of Ministering the Word (cid:9) 45 Term of Office (cid:9) 46 Ordination of Local Elder (cid:9) 46 Training and Equipping of Local Elders (cid:9) 46 Work of Church Elder Is Local (cid:9) 47 To Foster All Lines of Church Work (cid:9) 47 Relationship to the Ordained Minister (cid:9) 47 Conduct of Church Services (cid:9) 48 The Baptismal Service (cid:9) 48 The Marriage Ceremony (cid:9) 48 To Cooperate With the Conference (cid:9) 49 To Foster Worldwide Work (cid:9) 49 To Foster Tithing (cid:9) 49 To Distribute Responsibility (cid:9) 50 First Elder (cid:9) 50 Elder Not a Delegate Ex Officio (cid:9) 50 Limitation of Authority (cid:9) 50 Church Leaders (cid:9) 50 The Deacon (cid:9) 51 Importance of the Office (cid:9) 51 Board of Deacons (cid:9) 52 Deacons Must Be Ordained (cid:9) 52 The Duties of Deacons (cid:9) 52 To Assist in Church Ordinances (cid:9) 53 The Care of the Sick and the Poor (cid:9) 54 The Deaconess (cid:9) 54 The Duties of Deaconesses (cid:9) 54 Board of Deaconesses (cid:9) 55 The Church Clerk (cid:9) 55 An Important Office (cid:9) 55 viii(cid:9) CHURCH MANUAL No Names Added or Dropped Without Vote of the Church(cid:9) 55 Transferring Members (cid:9) 56 Corresponding With Members (cid:9) 56 Delegates' Credentials for Conference Session (cid:9) 56 Reports to Be Furnished Promptly (cid:9) 56 Church Records (cid:9) 57 The Church Treasurer (cid:9) 57 A Sacred Work (cid:9) 57 Church Treasurer the Custodian of All Church Funds (cid:9) 57 Conference Funds (cid:9) 57 Sabbath School Funds (cid:9) 58 Adventist Youth Society Funds (cid:9) 58 Local Church Funds (cid:9) 58 Funds of Auxiliary Organizations (cid:9) 58 Safeguarding the Purpose of Funds (cid:9) 59 Money for Personal Literature Orders (cid:9) 59 Proper Method for Payment of Money by Members (cid:9) 59 Receipts to Church Members (cid:9) 60 Proper Method of Remitting Funds to the Conference (cid:9) 60 Preserving Vouchers (cid:9) 60 Books Should Be Audited (cid:9) 60 Relations With Members Confidential (cid:9) 61 Interest Coordinator (cid:9) 61 A Disfellowshipped Church Officer (cid:9) 62 Induction Service (cid:9) 62 CHAPTER 7 The Services and Meetings of the Church (cid:9) 63 Spiritual Worship (cid:9) 63 Reverence for the House of Worship (cid:9) 63 Children to Be Taught Reverence (cid:9) 64 Decorum and Quietness in the Place of Worship (cid:9) 64 Arrangements for Church Meetings (cid:9) 64 Hospitality (cid:9) 65 Unauthorized Speakers in Our Churches (cid:9) 65 The Sabbath Worship Service (cid:9) 65 The Form of Service (cid:9) 65 Longer Order of Worship (cid:9) 66 Shorter Order of Worship (cid:9) 66 Announcements (cid:9) 66 Sacredness of the Sabbath Worship Hour (cid:9) 67 TABLE OF CONTENTS(cid:9) ix The Sabbath Morning Service (cid:9) 67 Public Prayer (cid:9) 68 The Communion Service (cid:9) 69 Announcing the Communion Service (cid:9) 69 Conducting the Communion Service (cid:9) 70 Length of Service (cid:9) 70 Preliminaries (cid:9) 70 Foot-washing (cid:9) 70 Bread and Wine (cid:9) 70 Celebration (cid:9) 71 Who May Participate (cid:9) 71 Every Member Should Attend (cid:9) 72 Unleavened Bread and Unfermented Wine (cid:9) 72 A Memorial of the Crucifixion (cid:9) 73 Ordinance of Foot-Washing (cid:9) 73 Who May Conduct Communion Service (cid:9) 74 Communion for the Sick (cid:9) 74 The Prayer Meeting (cid:9) 74 The Sabbath School (cid:9) 75 The Sabbath School Teachers' Meeting (cid:9) 75 Adventist Youth Society (cid:9) 75 Adventist Junior Youth Society and Pathfinder Club (cid:9) 77 Church Missionary Meetings (cid:9) 77 Times of Meetings (cid:9) 78 Supplying Literature on the Sabbath (cid:9) 78 The Church Board and Its Meetings (cid:9) 79 Definition and Function (cid:9) 79 Membership (cid:9) 79 Officers (cid:9) 80 Meetings (cid:9) 80 Work of the Board (cid:9) 80 Subcommittees (cid:9) 81 School Board Meetings (cid:9) 82 Home and School Association (cid:9) 82 Business Meetings (cid:9) 82 Music (cid:9) 84 Place of Music in Divine Service (cid:9) 84 Sing With the Spirit and the Understanding (cid:9) 84 Selecting Choir Leaders (cid:9) 84 Membership of Church Choirs (cid:9) 85 x (cid:9) CHURCH MANUAL CHAPTER 8 Auxiliary Organizations of the Church and Their Officers(cid:9) 87 The Department of Lay Activities (cid:9) 87 Lay Activities Council (cid:9) 87 Lay Activities Leader (cid:9) 88 Lay Activities Secretary (cid:9) 88 Dorcas Society (cid:9) 90 Adventist Men (cid:9) 90 Community Services Center (cid:9) 90 Ministry to People with Disabilities (cid:9) 91 The Sabbath School (cid:9) 91 The Sabbath School Council (cid:9) 92 The Superintendent (cid:9) 93 The Assistant Superintendent (cid:9) 94 The Secretary (cid:9) 94 Assistant Secretaries (cid:9) 94 The Music Director (cid:9) 95 The Pianist and/or Organist (cid:9) 95 Sabbath School Offerings (cid:9) 95 Expense Money (cid:9) 95 The Quarterly Report (cid:9) 96 Adventist Youth Society (cid:9) 96 Objectives (cid:9) 97 Membership in the Adventist Youth Society (cid:9) 98 Officers of the Adventist Youth Society (cid:9) 98 The Adventist Youth Society Council (cid:9) 99 Youth Leader and Associate Youth Leader (cid:9) 99 Secretary-Treasurer and Assistant (cid:9) 99 Adventist Youth Society Sponsor (cid:9) 100 Adventist Youth Features (cid:9) 100 Devotional and Educational (cid:9) 100 Witnessing (cid:9) 101 Recreation (cid:9) 101 The Adventist Junior Youth Society (cid:9) 101 Adventist Junior Youth Pledge (cid:9) 102 Adventist Junior Youth Law (cid:9) 102 Adventist Junior Youth Classes (formerly JMV Classes)(cid:9) 102 Adventist Youth Honors (formerly MV Honors) (cid:9) 103 Pathfinder Club (cid:9) 103 Education (cid:9) 104 Philosophy (cid:9) 104 TABLE OF CONTENTS(cid:9) xi Objectives (cid:9) 104 Church Education Secretary (cid:9) 104 Home and School Association (cid:9) 105 Purpose (cid:9) 105 Objectives (cid:9) 105 Membership (cid:9) 106 Officers (cid:9) 106 Leader (cid:9) 106 Secretary-Treasurer (cid:9) 106 Ex Officio (cid:9) 107 The Church School Board (cid:9) 107 Membership (cid:9) 107 Officers (cid:9) 108 Relation of Union School Boards to the Local Churches(cid:9) 108 Term of Office (cid:9) 108 Meetings (cid:9) 108 Qualifications (cid:9) 108 Duties of the Officers (cid:9) 109 Functions (cid:9) 109 Communication (cid:9) 109 Importance of Effective Communication (cid:9) 109 The Organization (cid:9) 109 The Communication Secretary's Work (cid:9) 110 The Communication Committee (cid:9) 110 Relation to Other Departments of Church (cid:9) 111 In Large Adventist Centers (cid:9) 111 Qualifications (cid:9) 111 Department of Health and Temperance (cid:9) 111 Church Health and Temperance Leader (cid:9) 112 Associate Church Health and Temperance Leader (cid:9) 112 Church Health and Temperance Council (cid:9) 112 Health and Temperance Activities (cid:9) 113 Health and Temperance Society (cid:9) 113 World Health and Temperance Sabbath Offering (cid:9) 113 Department of Stewardship and Development (cid:9) 113 Church Stewardship Secretary (cid:9) 114 Department of Family Ministries (cid:9) 114 The Family Ministries Committee (cid:9) 115 Family Ministries Leader(s) (cid:9) 116 Depattnient of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty (cid:9) 116 Religious Liberty Associations (cid:9) 117 xii(cid:9) CHURCH MANUAL Religious Liberty Association in the Local Church (cid:9) 117 Religious Liberty Leader of the Local Church (cid:9) 118 Induction Service (cid:9) 118 CHAPTER 9 Ministers and Workers in Relation to the Church (cid:9) 119 A Divinely Appointed Ministry (cid:9) 119 The Conference President (cid:9) 119 Pastors and District Leaders Not Executives (cid:9) 120 President and Committee Direct Departmental Directors (cid:9) 120 Work of Departmental Directors Not Administrative (cid:9) 120 Relation of Ordained Minister to Church Work (cid:9) 120 Churches Do Not Elect Pastor (cid:9) 121 Licensed Ministers (cid:9) 121 Bible Instructors (cid:9) 122 Adventist Book Center Managers (cid:9) 122 The Pastor Should Assist the Evangelist (cid:9) 123 President and Committee Direct Conference Workers (cid:9) 123 Credentials and Licenses (cid:9) 124 Expired Credentials (cid:9) 124 Removing a Minister From Office (cid:9) 124 Retired Workers (cid:9) 125 Ministers Without Credentials Serving in Our Churches (cid:9) 125 CHAPTER 10 The Church Election (cid:9) 127 Nominating Committee (cid:9) 127 When the Nominating Committee Is Appointed (cid:9) 127 How the Nominating Committee Is Appointed (cid:9) 127 Who Should Be Members of the Nominating Committee(cid:9) 128 Work of the Nominating Committee (cid:9) 128 Nominating Committee to Consult Prospective Officers(cid:9) 130 Member May Appear Before the Nominating Committee(cid:9) 130 Nominating Committee Discussions Are Confidential (cid:9) 131 Reporting to the Church (cid:9) 131 Objecting to the Report of the Nominating Committee (cid:9) 131 Vacancies (cid:9) 132 Election of Delegates to Local Conference Session (cid:9) 132 Choosing Delegates (cid:9) 132 Duty of Delegates (cid:9) 133 Responsibility of Conference Officers (cid:9) 133