wfn.org | Dialogue between Reformed and Adventist Churches

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April 20, 2001
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
http://www.stanet.ch/APD
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland

Theological Dialogue Between Reformed and Adventist 
Churches 

Jongny sur Vevey, Switzerland.   A series of 
conversations between representatives of the 
Seventh-day Adventist Church and the World Alliance 
of Reformeed Churches (WARC) took place
April 1 to 7 in Jongny sur Vevey, Switzerland. The 
general theme of the dialogue was "The Church in the 
Setting of the Reformation Heritage: Its Mission in 
a World of Widespread Injustice and Ecological 
Destruction".	

The meetings were intended to foster mutual 
understanding between the two Christian world 
communions and to provide a forum to exchange ideas 
on the role of Christianity in the light of current 
social challenges.

Participants included 14 academics, theologians, and 
church leaders from eight countries. Each group 
presented papers intended to clarify issues of 
theological understanding and church identity, and 
address aspects of a broad theme: "The Church in the 
Setting of the Reformation Heritage--Its Mission in 
a World of Widespread Injustice and Ecological 
Destruction." The meetings were co-chaired by Dr. 
Bert Beach, director of inter-church relations for 
the Adventist Church worldwide, and Professor 
Cynthia Rigby, associate professor of theology at 
Austin Theological Seminary, Texas, United States.

Setri Nyomi, general secretary of the World Alliance 
of Reformed Churches, attended the meetings.  During 
a visit earlier this year to the Adventist Church 
headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, Nyomi said 
he hoped the conversations would provide a forum for 
exchanging ideas and that the process would help 
each group to gain "a clearer picture of the other."

Five Adventist representatives presented papers at 
the meeting. "Seventh-day Adventists: A Profile" was 
presented by Dr. William Johnsson, editor of the 
Adventist Review.  Dr. Hans LaRondelle, an Adventist 
academic, explored Protestant theological heritage 
in Adventism, and Dr. John Graz, public affairs and 
religious liberty director for the Adventist Church, 
presented a paper entitled, "Seventh-day Adventists 
and Religious Freedom--An Aspect of Justice." 

Other presenters included Dr. Roy Adams, associate 
editor of the Adventist Review, and Dr. John 
Baldwin, a professor at Andrews Theological Seminary 
in Berrien Springs, Michigan. Reverend Ruppert 
Hambira, Synod Secretary of the United 
Congregational Church of Southern Africa, spoke 
about "Church Concerns from the Southern African 
Perspective," and Dr. Arturo Piedra, Professor of 
Church History at the Latin American Biblical 
University, Costa Rica, presented a paper dealing 
with "The Challenges of the post-Cold War for 
Christianity in Latin America."

Following the presentations and discussions, 
participants compiled a joint report to submit to 
their respective appointing church bodies. In the 
first part of this report, partners in dialogue 
described some of the distinctive elements of their 
respective traditions, articulated the common 
doctrinal ground they share and offered some mutual 
clarification designed to dispel misunderstandings 
on either side. In the second part they brought 
their perspectives to bear on contemporary problems 
such as socio-economic injustices (poverty, 
HIV/AIDS, violence), ecological destruction, and 
different forms of prejudices related particularly 
to religion and gender.

The meetings closed April 7 with worship at the 
Seventh-day Adventist Church in Lignière, Gland, 
Switzerland.	

The World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) links 
75 million Christians in 214 churches of 
Presbyterian and Congregational origin in 106 
countries. For more information about the WARC, go 
to www.warc.ch.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church represents more 
than 11 million adult baptized Adventist Christians 
worshipping in some 47.000 local churches in 204 
countries. The Adventist Web site can be found at 
www.adventist.org. [Editors: Bettina Krause/ANN and 
Christian B. Schäffler/APD]

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IMPORTANT NOTICE:
The full text of the official joint "Communiqué"
And the list of the participants of the two dialogue 
partners you find also on our web site:
http://www.stanet.ch/APD