Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual for 1995

238 Pages·2013·2.48 MB·English

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