Strategic Issues for the Seventh-day Adventist Church

Documents January 1, 2002

VOTED, To approve and refer to each division and the attached union the document, Strategic Issues for the Seventh-day Adventist Church, as follows:

Strategic Issues for the Seventh-day Adventist Church

“The mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is to proclaim to all peoples the everlasting gospel in the context of the three angels’ messages of Revelation 14:6-12, leading them to accept Jesus as personal Savior and to unite with His church, and nurturing them in preparation for His soon return.” (GCWorking Policy A 05).

This Mission Statement is the foundation on which the following is established:

Christ’s ideal for His church was that it should reflect His workmanship, for it was He who said, “I will build my church.” Christ also affirmed that He intends to present it to His Father as a perfect church, having neither spot nor blemish. This ideal will be achieved as members respond to Christ’s love on the cross, humbly submit to Christ’s lordship as set forth in the Holy Scriptures, and depend fully on the indwelling power and leading of the Holy Spirit.

The General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, in response to the mission of Christ, is placing emphasis on three strategic issues: Quality of Life, Unity, and Growth. It is our deep desire that in the formation of a community of faith, each person will experience unconditional commitment to Christ. This commitment results in joyful and loving personal experience, active participation in the life of the church, and compassionate service to the wider community in the world.

General Conference leaders will design and carry out their services to the world field in such a way that the Lordship of Jesus Christ shall find expression in the Seventh-day Adventist Church through:

  1. Quality of personal and church life demonstrated by:
    1. Members whose lives demonstrate and illustrate the joy of salvation, restoration, and anticipation of the world to come.
    2. Weekly group Bible study for all ages with appropriate organizational curriculum.
    3. Weekly corporate Sabbath worship.
    4. Development of personal, family, and group prayer life.
    5. Regular training for discipleship, witnessing, and involvement in local church activity.
    6. Awareness of and participation in the worldwide work of the Church.
    7. Nurturing members of all ages according to their diverse needs and leading them to discover their spiritual gifts.
    8. Seventh-day Adventists who are and are perceived to be model citizens in the community and whose mental, physical, and spiritual life values are coupled with compassion and service.
  2. Unity of the church demonstrated by:
    1. Cohesiveness in doctrine: resulting from Spirit-guided world Church-approval of Bible-based, Christ-centered fundamental beliefs.
    2. Togetherness of believers: experienced by the creation and preservation of community that embraces cultural and ethnic diversity.
    3. Cohesiveness of organization: seen in distinct local and global church identity arising from the world Church-approved system of structure and organization.
  3. Growth of the church demonstrated by:
    1. Members who have a rich spiritual experience, who have discovered their spiritual gifts, and who have a commitment to active witness.
    2. Increasing accession and retention rates in local churches.
    3. A positive impact of the Seventh-day Adventist presence within a community.
    4. The number of churches established in unentered areas.
    5. The transmission of the Church=s legacy and mission to the succeeding generation.

Voted by the Executive Committee of the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church at its Spring Meeting, April 2002.