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Seventh-dayAdventistCHURCHMANUALRevised 200517th EditionPublished by the SecretariatGeneral Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Copyright 2005 by the Secretariat,General Conference of Seventh-day AdventistsUnless otherwise indicated, all Bible texts are from the King JamesVersion.Scripture quotations marked NASB are from the New American StandardBible, copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975,1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.Texts credited to NEB are from The New English Bible. The Delegatesof the Oxford University Press and the Syndics of the CambridgeUniversity Press 1961, 1970. Reprinted by permission.Texts credited to NIV are from the Holy Bible, New InternationalVersion. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, International Bible Society.Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.Bible texts credited to RSV are from the Revised Standard Version of theBible, copyright 1946, 1952, 1971, by the Division of ChristianEducation of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in theU.S.A. Used by permission.Texts credited to RV are from The Holy Bible, Revised Version, OxfordUniversity Press, 1911.Printed in U.S.A.5 4 3 2 109 08 07 06ISBN 0-8280-1947-9ISBN 0-8280-1948-7hardcoverpaperbackPrinted and distributed by theReview and Herald Publishing AssociationHagerstown, Maryland 21740

Table of ContentsIntroduction . xixHistorical Development of the Seventh-day Adventist Church . xixHistorical Development of the Church Manual . xixContent of the Church Manual. xxiProcedure for Changes in the Church Manual . xxiClarification of Meaning . xxiiUse of Terms in the Church Manual . xxiiThe Present Edition . xxiiiCHAPTER 1Authority of the Church and the Church Manual .Church Authority in the Early Church .Church Authority in the Seventh-day Adventist Church .111CHAPTER 2Church of the Living God .No Wall of Partition .Supreme Object of Christ’s Regard .Opposition of the Enemy .Church Complete in Christ .33456CHAPTER 3Fundamental Beliefs of Seventh-day Adventists .9CHAPTER 4Organization Founded on Divine Principles . 21Biblical Basis for Organization . 21Vital Importance of Organization . 22Divine Purpose in Organization . 23CHAPTER 5Form of Organization in the Seventh-day Adventist Church25Forms of Church Government . 25Four Constituent Levels in the Seventh-day AdventistOrganization . 26Church’s Institutions . 26v

viCHURCH MANUALGeneral Conference the Highest Authority .Authority of the Church and the Church Manual .CHAPTER 6Church Membership .Membership on a Spiritual Basis .Baptism a Gospel Requirement .Baptism a Prerequisite to Church Membership .Mode of Baptism .Ministers Thoroughly to Instruct Candidates Previousto Baptism .Public Examination .Baptismal Covenant .Baptismal Vow and Baptism .Baptismal Vow .Vow .Vow (Alternative) .Certificate of Baptism and Commitment .Commitment .Welcoming Candidates .Receiving Members Who Are Not Known .Baptismal Ceremony .Regular Standing .Transferring Members .Transferring Church Members .Method of Granting Letters of Transfer .Clerk to Prepare Letter .Alternative Method for Membership Transfer .Membership During Interval of Transfer .Receiving of Members Disturbed by World Conditions .Counted in Statistical Reports .If Member Is Not Accepted .No Letters to Members Under Discipline .Church Letters Granted Only to Those in Regular Standing .Not to Vote Letter Without Member’s Approval .Church Boards Cannot Grant Letters .Conference/Mission/Field Church .Organized Companies .Queries Concerning Receiving and Removing Members .Receiving Members on Profession of Faith .Removing Names .No Retired Membership List 73737383838383839394040414242

TABLE OF CONTENTSRebaptism .Individuals From Other Christian Communions .Apostasy and Rebaptism .Inappropriate Rebaptism .CHAPTER 7Church Officers and Their Duties .Their Qualifications .Moral Fitness .Religious Fitness .Church Must Be Guarded and Fed .Respect and Deference Due to Ministers and Officersof the Church .Not to Be Hurried Into Office .Those Opposed to Unity Not Suitable for Office .Unsafe to Choose Those Who Refuse to CooperateWith Others .Membership Required for Election .Term of Office .Church Elder .Office an Important One .A Religious Leader of the Church .Capable of Ministering the Word .Term of Office .Ordination of Local Elder .Training and Equipping of Local Elders .Work of Church Elder Is Local .To Foster All Lines of Church Work .Relationship to the Ordained Minister .Conduct of Church Services .Baptismal Service .Marriage Ceremony .To Cooperate With the Conference/Mission/Field .To Foster Worldwide Work .To Foster Tithing .To Distribute Responsibility .First Elder .Elder Not a Delegate Ex Officio .Limitation of Authority .Church Leaders .Deacon .Importance of the Office .Board of Deacons 51515252525353535454545454555556

viiiCHURCH MANUALDeacons Must Be Ordained .Deacons Not Authorized to Preside .Duties of Deacons .Assistance at Services and Meetings .Visitation of Members .Preparation for Baptismal Services .Assistance at the Communion Service .Care of the Sick and the Poor .Care and Maintenance of Church Property .Deaconess .Duties of Deaconesses .Assistance at Baptisms .Arrangements for the Communion Service .Care of the Sick and the Poor .Board of Deaconesses .Church Clerk .An Important Office .No Names Added or Removed Without Vote of the Church .Transferring Members .Corresponding With Members .Delegates’ Credentials for Conference/Mission/Field SessionReports to Be Furnished Promptly .Church Records .Church Treasurer .A Sacred Work .Church Treasurer the Custodian of All Church Funds .Conference/Mission/Field Funds .Sabbath School Funds .Adventist Youth Society Funds .Local Church Funds .Funds of Auxiliary Organizations .Safeguarding the Purpose of Funds .Money for Personal Literature Orders .Proper Method for Payment of Money by Members .Receipts to Church Members .Proper Method of Remitting Funds to the Conference/Mission/Field .Preservation of Financial Documents .Books Should Be Audited .Relations With Members Confidential .Interest Coordinator .A Church Officer Removed From Church Membership .Induction Service 06061616161626262636363636364646465

TABLE OF CONTENTSNotes .Involving Every Member in Ministry .Small Group Ministries .Training and Equipping of Local Elders .Marriage Ceremony .Preparation for Baptismal Services .Care and Maintenance of Church Property .An Important Office .Corresponding With Members .Reports to Be Furnished Promptly .Money for Personal Literature Orders .ix6767687171717172727272CHAPTER 8Services and Meetings of the Church . 75General Principles . 75Spiritual Worship . 75Purpose of the Services and Meetings of the Church . 75Reverence for the House of Worship . 75Children to Be Taught Reverence . 76Decorum and Quietness in the Place of Worship . 76Arrangements for Church Meetings. 77Hospitality . 77Unauthorized Speakers in Our Churches . 77Place of Music in Worship . 78Place of Music in Worship . 78Sing With the Spirit and the Understanding . 78Selecting Choir Leaders . 78Providers of Church Music . 79Sabbath Services . 79Sabbath School . 79Worship Service . 80Sacredness of the Sabbath Worship Hour . 80Form of Service . 80Announcements . 80Public Prayer . 81Communion Service . 81Ordinance of Foot-Washing . 82Unleavened Bread and Unfermented Wine . 83A Memorial of the Crucifixion . 83A Proclamation of the Second Coming . 83Announcing the Communion Service . 83Conducting the Communion Service . 84Length of Service . 84

xCHURCH MANUALPreliminaries .Foot-Washing .Bread and Wine .Celebration .Who May Participate .Every Member Should Attend .Who May Conduct Communion Service .Communion for the Sick .Prayer Meeting .Adventist Youth Society .Adventist Junior Youth Society .Pathfinder Club .Adventurer Club .Church Outreach (Missionary) Meetings .Times of Meetings .Supplying Literature on the Sabbath .Business Meetings .Church Board and Its Meetings .Definition and Function .Membership .Officers .Meetings .Work of the Board .Committees of the Board .School Board Meetings .Home and School Association .Notes .Form of Service .Form of Service .Longer Order of Worship .Shorter Order of Worship .Foot-Washing .Bread and Wine .Adventist Youth Society .Adventist Youth Society .Adventist Junior Youth Society .Times of Meetings .Business Meetings .Committees of the Board .CHAPTER 9Auxiliary Organizations of the Church and Their Officers .Personal Ministries Department 393959596969696979898989899100101101

TABLE OF CONTENTSPersonal Ministries Council .Personal Ministries Leader .Personal Ministries Secretary .Community Services/Dorcas Society .Community Services Center .Adventist Men .Ministry to People With Disabilities .Bible School Coordinator .Sabbath School Department .Sabbath School Council .Superintendent .Assistant Superintendent .Secretary .Assistant Secretary .Investment Secretary .Vacation Bible School Director .Music Director .Pianist and/or Organist .Sabbath School Division Leaders .Extension Division .Sabbath School Teachers .Sabbath School Teachers’ Meeting .Sabbath School Lessons .Sabbath School Offerings .Expense Money .Quarterly Report .Adventist Youth Society .Mission Statement .Objectives .Membership in the Adventist Youth Society .Adventist Youth Ministries Committee .Adventist Youth Society Committee .Officers of the Adventist Youth Society .Youth Leader and Associate Youth Leader .Secretary-Treasurer and Assistant .Adventist Youth Society Sponsor .Adventist Youth Features .Devotional and Educational .Witnessing .Recreation .Adventist Junior Youth Society .Adventist Junior Youth Pledge .Adventist Junior Youth Law 12112112113113113113114114114115

xiiCHURCH MANUALAY Classes .Adventist Youth Honors .Pathfinder Club .Adventurer Club .Christian Education and the Church School .Philosophy .Objectives .Education Secretary .Home and School Association .Purpose .Objectives .Membership .Officers .Leader .Secretary-Treasurer .Ex Officio .Church School Board .Membership .Officers .Relation of Union School Boards to the Local Churches .Term of Office .Meetings .Qualifications .Duties of the Officers .Functions .Communication Department .Importance of Effective Communication .Organization .Communication Secretary’s Work .Communication Committee .Relation to Other Departments of Church .In Large Adventist Centers .Qualifications .Health Ministries Department .Health Ministries Leader .Associate Health Ministries Leader .Health Ministries Council .Health Ministries Activities .Health Ministries Society .World Health Ministries Sabbath Offering .Stewardship Department .Stewardship Leader .Family Ministries 2122123123123123124124124124124124125125

TABLE OF CONTENTSFamily Ministries Committee .Family Ministries Leader(s) .Women’s Ministries Department .Objectives .Women’s Ministries Leader .Qualifications of the Women’s Ministries Leader .Women’s Ministries Committee .Children’s Ministries Department .Mission.Children’s Ministries Coordinator .Children’s Ministries Committee .Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Department .Religious Liberty Associations .Religious Liberty Association in the Local Church .Religious Liberty Leader of the Local Church .Induction Service .Publishing Ministries Department .Publishing Ministries Council .Publishing Ministries Coordinator .Notes .Personal Ministries Council .Personal Ministries Secretary .Adventist Men .Community Services Center .Bible School Coordinator .Superintende

Seventh-day Adventist CHURCH MANUAL Revised 2005 17th Edition Published by the