Released by:   Ray Dabrowski            
Phone:    +30-955-324 (June 29-July 8, 1995) or +301-680-6300    
               
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 4, 1995

ADVENTIST STATEMENT SUPPORTS THE UNITED NATIONS
PROCLAMATION OF 1995 AS THE  YEAR OF TOLERANCE 

Utrecht, The Netherlands...  In a statement released at the 56th World
Session of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, the Church supports the
United Nations proclamation of 1995 as the Year of Tolerance and says
Christians need to develop sympathy for beliefs or practices that not
only differ, but even conflict with their own.   The statement was
released by the Office of the President, Robert S. Folkenberg, after
being adopted by the Administrative Committee of the General
Conference.
	The statement, entitled,  Tolerance,  reads as follows:
	Seventh-day Adventists support the United Nations proclamation of 1995
as the Year of Tolerance. This proclamation comes at an opportune time
when intolerance is abounding on all continents bigoted religious
extremism, racism, tribalism, ethnic cleansing, linguistic enmity, and
other forms of terrorism and violence. Christians carry their share of
the blame for prejudice and inhumanity toward humans.
	Tolerance, the capacity to endure unfavorable circumstances, is only
a beginning.  Christians and all people of good will, must go well
beyond this negative concept and develop sympathy for beliefs or
practices that not only differ, but even conflict with their own.
Dialogue is certainly much better than diatribe. Human beings must
learn to agree or disagree without violence; they must be able to
discuss varying viewpoints without hate or rancor. This does not mean
docility or abject submission, but partnership and respect for the
equal rights of others. Every person has the right and the
responsibility to express both ideas and ideals with verve and vigor,
but without reaching the boiling point of violent words or actions.
	Finally, tolerance at its best means not only acceptance of other
views and people, but moving in benevolence, responsiveness, and
understanding toward others every other human being.
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