Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual for 2000

272 Pages·2013·3.03 MB·English

S eventh-day
Adventist
CHURCH
MANUAL
Revised 2000
16th Edition
Review and Herald® Publishing Association
Hagerstown, Maryland 21740
Copyright © 2000 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 NIV are from the Holy Bible, New International
Version. 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 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.
04 03 02 01 00(cid:9) 5 4 3 2 1
ISBN 0-8280-1597-X(cid:9) hardcover
ISBN 0-8280-1598-8(cid:9) paperback
Table Of Contents
Introduction (cid:9) xix
Historical Development of the Seventh-day Adventist Church(cid:9) xix
Historical Development of the Church Manual (cid:9) xix
Content of the Church Manual (cid:9) xxi
Procedure for Changes in the Church Manual (cid:9) xxi
Clarification of Meaning (cid:9) xxii
Use of the Term Conference, etc. (cid:9) xxii
The Present Edition (cid:9) xvii
CHAPTER 1
Authority of the Church and the Church Manual (cid:9) 1
Church Authority in the Early Church (cid:9) 1
Church Authority in the Seventh-day Adventist Church (cid:9) 1
CHAPTER 2
The Church of the Living God (cid:9) 3
No Wall of Partition (cid:9) 3
The Supreme Object of Christ's Regard (cid:9) 4
The Opposition of the Enemy (cid:9) 5
The Church Complete in Christ (cid:9) 6
CHAPTER 3
Fundamental Beliefs of Seventh-day Adventists (cid:9) 9
CHAPTER 4
Organization Founded on Divine Principles (cid:9) 21
Biblical Basis for Organization (cid:9) 21
Vital Importance of Organization (cid:9) 22
Divine Purpose in Organization (cid:9) 23
CHAPTER 5
The Form of Organization in the Seventh-day Adventist
Church (cid:9) 25
Forms of Church Government (cid:9) 25
vi(cid:9) CHURCH MANUAL
Four Constituent Levels in the Seventh-day Adventist
Organization (cid:9) 26
The Church's Institutions (cid:9) 26
General Conference the Highest Authority (cid:9) 27
Authority of the Church and the Church Manual (cid:9) 28
CHAPTER 6
Church Membership (cid:9) 29
Membership on a Spiritual Basis (cid:9) 29
Baptism a Gospel Requirement (cid:9) 29
Baptism a Prerequisite to Church Membership (cid:9) 30
Mode of Baptism (cid:9) 30
Ministers Thoroughly to Instruct Candidates Previous
to Baptism (cid:9) 30
Public Examination (cid:9) 31
Baptismal Covenant (cid:9) 31
Baptismal Vow and Baptism (cid:9) 32
Baptismal Vow (cid:9) 32
Certificate of Baptism and Commitment (cid:9) 33
Welcoming Candidates. (cid:9) 34
Receiving Members Who Are Not Known (cid:9) 35
Baptismal Ceremony (cid:9) 35
Regular Standing (cid:9) 35
Transferring Members (cid:9) 35
Transferring Church Members (cid:9) 35
Method of Granting Letters of Transfer (cid:9) 36
Clerk to Prepare Letter (cid:9) 36
Membership During Interval of Transfer (cid:9) 37
The Receiving of Members Disturbed by World Conditions(cid:9) 37
Counted in Statistical Reports (cid:9) 37
If Member Is Not Accepted (cid:9) 37
No Letters to Members Under Discipline (cid:9) 38
Church Letters Granted Only to Those in Regular Standing(cid:9) 38
Not to Vote Letter Without Member's Approval (cid:9) 38
Church Boards Cannot Grant Letters (cid:9) 38
Conference/Mission/Field Church (cid:9) 39
Organized Companies (cid:9) 39
Queries Concerning Receiving and Removing Members (cid:9) 40
Receiving Members on Profession of Faith (cid:9) 40
Removing Names (cid:9) 41
No Retired Membership List (cid:9) 41
TABLE OF CONTENTS(cid:9) vii
Rebaptism (cid:9) 42
Of Converts From Other Religious Communions (cid:9) 42
Of Church Members and Former Seventh-day Adventists . (cid:9) 42
CHAPTER 7
Church Officers and Their Duties (cid:9) 43
Their Qualifications (cid:9) 43
Moral Fitness (cid:9) 43
Religious Fitness (cid:9) 43
The Church Must be Guarded and Fed (cid:9) 44
Respect and Deference Due to Ministers and Officers
of the Church (cid:9) 45
Not to beHurried Into Office (cid:9) 45
Those Opposed to Unity Not Suitable for Office (cid:9) 46
Unsafe to Choose Those Who Refuse to Cooperate
With Others (cid:9) 46
Membership Required for Election (cid:9) 47
Term of Office (cid:9) 47
The Church Elder (cid:9) 47
The Office an Important One (cid:9) 47
A Religious Leader of the Church (cid:9) 48
Capable of Ministering the Word (cid:9) 48
Term of Office (cid:9) 48
Ordination of Local Elder (cid:9) 48
Training and Equipping of Local Elders (cid:9) 49
Work of Church Elder Is Local (cid:9) 49
To Foster All Lines of Church Work (cid:9) 49
Relationship to the Ordained Minister (cid:9) 49
Conduct of Church Services (cid:9) 50
The Baptismal Service (cid:9) 50
The Marriage Ceremony (cid:9) 50
To Cooperate With the Conference/Mission/Field (cid:9) 51
To Foster Worldwide Work (cid:9) 51
To Foster Tithing (cid:9) 51
To Distribute Responsibility (cid:9) 52
First Elder (cid:9) 52
Elder Not a Delegate Ex Officio (cid:9) 52
Limitation of Authority (cid:9) 52
Church Leaders (cid:9) 52
The Deacon (cid:9) 53
Importance of the Office (cid:9) 53
Board of Deacons (cid:9) 54
viii(cid:9) CHURCH MANUAL
Deacons Must be Ordained (cid:9) 54
Deacons Not Authorized to Preside (cid:9) 54
The Duties of Deacons (cid:9) 54
Assistance at Services and Meetings (cid:9) 54
Visitation of Members (cid:9) 55
Preparation for Baptismal Services (cid:9) 55
Assistance at the Communion Service (cid:9) 55
The Care of the Sick and the Poor (cid:9) 55
Care and Maintenance of Church Property (cid:9) 55
The Deaconess (cid:9) 55
The Duties of Deaconesses (cid:9) 56
Assistance at Baptisms (cid:9) 56
Arrangements for the Communion Service (cid:9) 56
The Care of the Sick and the Poor (cid:9) 56
Board of Deaconesses (cid:9) 56
The Church Clerk (cid:9) 57
An Important Office (cid:9) 57
No Names Added or Removed Without Vote of the Church(cid:9) 57
Transferring Members (cid:9) 57
Corresponding With Members (cid:9) 57
Delegates' Credentials for Conference/Mission Session(cid:9) 57
Reports to be Furnished Promptly (cid:9) 57
Church Records (cid:9) 58
The Church Treasurer (cid:9) 58
A Sacred Work (cid:9) 58
Church Treasurer the Custodian of All Church Funds (cid:9) 58
Conference/Mission/Field Funds (cid:9) 58
Sabbath School Funds (cid:9) 59
Adventist Youth Society Funds (cid:9) 59
Local Church Funds (cid:9) 59
Funds of Auxiliary Organizations (cid:9) 59
Safeguarding the Purpose of Funds (cid:9) 60
Money for Personal Literature Orders (cid:9) 60
Proper Method for Payment of Money by Members (cid:9) 60
Receipts to Church Members (cid:9) 61
Proper Method of Remitting Funds to the Conference/
Mission/Field (cid:9) 61
Preservation of Financial Documents (cid:9) 61
Books Should be Audited (cid:9) 61
Relations With Members Confidential (cid:9) 62
Interest Coordinator (cid:9) 62
A Church Officer Removed from Church Membership (cid:9) 62
TABLE OF CONTENTS(cid:9) ix
Induction Service (cid:9) 62
Notes (cid:9) 63
Training and Equipping of Local Elders (cid:9) 63
The Marriage Ceremony (cid:9) 63
Preparation for Baptismal Services (cid:9) 63
Care and Maintenance of Church Property (cid:9) 63
An Important Office (cid:9) 64
Corresponding With Members (cid:9) 64
Reports to be Furnished Promptly (cid:9) 64
Money for Personal Literature Orders (cid:9) 64
CHAPTER 8
The Services and Meetings of the Church (cid:9) 67
General Principles (cid:9) 67
Spiritual Worship (cid:9) 67
The Purpose of the Services and Meetings of the Church(cid:9) 67
Reverence for the House of Worship (cid:9) 67
Children to be Taught Reverence (cid:9) 68
Decorum and Quietness in the Place of Worship (cid:9) 68
Arrangements for Church Meetings (cid:9) 69
Hospitality (cid:9) 69
Unauthorized Speakers in Our Churches (cid:9) 69
Place of Music in Worship (cid:9) 70
Place of Music in Worship (cid:9) 70
Sing With the Spirit and the Understanding (cid:9) 70
Selecting Choir Leaders (cid:9) 70
Membership of Church Choirs (cid:9) 71
Sabbath Services (cid:9) 71
The Sabbath School (cid:9) 71
The Worship Service (cid:9) 71
Sacredness of the Sabbath Worship Hour (cid:9) 71
The Form of Service (cid:9) 72
Announcements (cid:9) 72
Public Prayer (cid:9) 72
The Communion Service (cid:9) 73
Ordinance of Foot-Washing (cid:9) 74
Unleavened Bread and Unfermented Wine (cid:9) 74
A Memorial of the Crucifixion (cid:9) 75
A Proclamation of the Second Coming (cid:9) 75
Announcing the Communion Service (cid:9) 75
Conducting the Communion Service (cid:9) 76
Length of Service (cid:9) 76
x (cid:9) CHURCH MANUAL
Preliminaries (cid:9) 76
Foot-washing (cid:9) 76
Bread and Wine (cid:9) 76
Celebration (cid:9) 76
Who May Participate (cid:9) 76
Every Member Should Attend (cid:9) 77
Who May Conduct Communion Service (cid:9) 77
Communion for the Sick (cid:9) 77
The Prayer Meeting (cid:9) 77
Adventist Youth Society (cid:9) 78
Adventist Junior Youth Society (cid:9) 79
Pathfmder Club (cid:9) 79
Adventurer Club (cid:9) 80
Church Outreach (Missionary) Meetings (cid:9) 80
Times of Meetings (cid:9) 80
Supplying Literature on the Sabbath (cid:9) 80
Business Meetings (cid:9) 81
The Church Board and Its Meetings (cid:9) 81
Definition and Function (cid:9) 81
Membership (cid:9) 82
Officers (cid:9) 83
Meetings (cid:9) 83
Work of the Board (cid:9) 83
Committees of the Board (cid:9) 84
School Board Meetings (cid:9) 84
Home and School Association (cid:9) 84
Notes (cid:9) 87
The Form of Service (cid:9) 87
The Form of Service (cid:9) 88
Foot-washing (cid:9) 89
Bread and Wine (cid:9) 89
Adventist Youth Society (cid:9) 90
Adventist Youth Society (cid:9) 90
Adventist Junior Youth Society (cid:9) 90
Times of Meetings (cid:9) 90
Business Meetings (cid:9) 91
Committees of the Board (cid:9) 92
CHAPTER 9
Auxiliary Organizations of the Church and Their Officers . . (cid:9) 93
The Personal Ministries Department (cid:9) 93
Personal Ministries Council (cid:9) 93
TABLE OF CONTENTS(cid:9) xi
Personal Ministries Leader (cid:9) 94
Personal Ministries Secretary (cid:9) 94
Community Services/Dorcas Society (cid:9) 94
Adventist Men (cid:9) 94
Community Services Center (cid:9) 95
Ministry to People with Disabilities (cid:9) 95
The Sabbath School Depaitment (cid:9) 95
The Sabbath School Council (cid:9) 96
The Superintendent (cid:9) 97
The Assistant Superintendent (cid:9) 97
The Secretary (cid:9) 97
Assistant Secretary (cid:9) 97
Investment Secretary (cid:9) 97
Vacation Bible School Director (cid:9) 98
The Music Director (cid:9) 98
The Pianist and/or Organist (cid:9) 98
Sabbath School Division Leaders (cid:9) 98
Extension Division (cid:9) 98
Sabbath School Teachers (cid:9) 98
The Sabbath School Teachers' Meeting (cid:9) 99
Sabbath School Lessons (cid:9) 99
Sabbath School Offerings (cid:9) 99
Expense Money (cid:9) 100
The Quarterly Report (cid:9) 100
Adventist Youth Society (cid:9) 100
Mission Statement (cid:9) 101
Objectives (cid:9) 102
Membership in the Adventist Youth Society (cid:9) 102
The Adventist Youth Ministries Committee (cid:9) 102
The Adventist Youth Society Committee (cid:9) 103
Officers of the Adventist Youth Society (cid:9) 103
Youth Leader and Associate Youth Leader (cid:9) 103
Secretary-Treasurer and Assistant (cid:9) 104
Adventist Youth Society Sponsor (cid:9) 104
Adventist Youth Features (cid:9) 105
Devotional and Educational (cid:9) 105
Witnessing (cid:9) 105
Recreation (cid:9) 105
The Adventist Junior Youth Society (cid:9) 105
Adventist Junior Youth Pledge (cid:9) 106
Adventist Junior Youth Law (cid:9) 106
AY Classes (cid:9) 106
xii(cid:9) CHURCH MANUAL
Adventist Youth Honors (cid:9) 106
Pathfinder Club (cid:9) 107
Adventurer Club (cid:9) 108
Christian Education and the Church School (cid:9) 108
Philosophy (cid:9) 108
Objectives (cid:9) 108
Education Secretary (cid:9) 109
Home and School Association (cid:9) 109
Purpose (cid:9) 109
Objectives (cid:9) 109
Membership (cid:9) 110
Officers (cid:9) 110
Leader (cid:9) 110
Secretary-Treasurer (cid:9) 110
Ex Officio (cid:9) 110
The Church School Board (cid:9) 110
Membership (cid:9) 110
Officers (cid:9) 111
Relation of Union School Boards to the Local Churches(cid:9) 111
Term of Office (cid:9) 111
Meetings (cid:9) 112
Qualifications (cid:9) 112
Duties of the Officers (cid:9) 112
Functions (cid:9) 113
Communication Department (cid:9) 113
Importance of Effective Communication (cid:9) 113
The Organization (cid:9) 113
The Communication Secretary's Work (cid:9) 113
The Communication Committee (cid:9) 113
Relation to Other Departments of Church (cid:9) 114
In Large Adventist Centers (cid:9) 114
Qualifications (cid:9) 114
Health Ministries Department (cid:9) 115
Health Ministries Leader (cid:9) 115
Associate Health Ministries Leader (cid:9) 115
Health Ministries Council (cid:9) 115
Health Ministries Activities (cid:9) 115
Health Ministries Society (cid:9) 115
World Health Ministries Sabbath Offering (cid:9) 115
Stewardship Department (cid:9) 116
Stewardship Leader (cid:9) 116