Church Criteria

[cricket]

What are the criteria a group of Christians must meet in order to become a full-fledged Seventh-day Adventist church?

There are small group Bible studies, there are companies, there are church plants, there are in-home Sabbath schools, etc. Of these various forms and structures, what is it, exactly, that makes a church a church? What is required of a church to be officially recognized as part of the Seventh-day Adventist organization?

In already established churches, what criteria must a church meet in order to remain a "member" church?

Are there guidelines, and if so, what are they--where can they be found?

[Gregory Matthews]

Christine, there are no firmly fixed statdards that apply to everyone.

Basiclly, this is an issue for the local Conference to decide. The fundamental issue here is whether or not the group is considered able to function as an organied church from the standpoint of both financial aspects and leadership.

While the following statement is taken from a very old CHURHC MANUAL, I suggest that it is probably authorative:

"When a company of baptized believers, fully instructed in the message, is prepared to assueme the responsibilities of an organized church, the conference or field president should be taken into counsel, and a date should be agreed upon for the organization to take place."

The above is the entire paragraph, and the only statement of reasons to organize a church in the applicable section of the CHRUCH MANUAL. As I said, I have just quoted from a very old CHRUCH MANUAL. But, I doubt if that section has changed in any major way.

[Halfstep Denise]

Check with your conference office. There's more to it than what is in the Church Manual.

I do know that the number of members is part of what makes the difference between being a Company and a full-fledged Church. Also a vote and acceptance at the next Constituency meeting.

Also, the membership numbers have to be kept up or you will probably go back to being a Company and have to go through the same process again.

I was a pastor's secretary for a congregation that was going through the process of being re-accepted as a full-fledged Church. This was for a California congregation back in the 1970's.

I don't remember the entire process, unfortunately, but I do remember it was a wonderful feeling when we were voted by the Constitueny delegates back into the status of being a church.

No matter the size of group worshipping, they're all members of the family of God, but there are policies and legal requirements for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in order for it to maintain its own legal status.

Denise Farquhar

[Gregory Matthews]

Denise, agree. It depends upon the Conference. I have noted that the criteria for a cettain Conference in Central America were much different from what the standards would have been in the United States of America.

[cricket]

More than just numbers and financial status, I was really interested in knowing if there are organizational requirements such as: adhering to the Church Manual; teaching only Seventh-day Adventist beliefs; and following a predetermined hierarchial system that utilizes elders, deacons, deaconesses and the like.

At what point would a conference no longer recognize a church as being one of it's own?

[Gregory Matthews]

There may be requirements that the local Conference places on the congregation. I am aquainted with one situation in which the Conference had a requirement that they local chruch have a weekly Prayer Meeting, that was well attended by the members.

You bring a different point up when you ask when the Conference might not recognize a local chruch as its own. However, there are basicly three reasons:

a) Loss of members: This generally takes place by actions of the Conference Executive Committee and/or the local church.

Disicipline: The power to do this rests in the local church. The local Conference and Union Conference Executive Committeeies are invovled. But the authority for this lies with the local chruch. It just about never happens.

c) Apostasy: This may only be done by the Conference Consituency meeting in full session, and happens after a recommendation by the Conference Executive Committee.

From the practical standpoint, a and c are the only methods used to disband a local congregation. I have seen both used in the Conference where I live.

NOTE: I am using an older edition of the CHURCH MANUAL as my reference. But, I think that it is still correct in general terms.

I know that you probably want more specific answers, but, there are not such. To take the specific issues you have raised.

1) Teaching SDA beleifs: This remains a requirement. Failure to do so falls under the point of apostasy. However, what are required SDA beliefs. Today, they are few and far between. Congregations are given some latitude. A more critical point is whether SDA beleifs are taught against, rather than just not taught.

2) Folowing the CHURCH MANUAL: Many congregations today do not follow the CHRUCH MANUAL. This is not an important issue.

3) Organizational structure: This is not an issue.

NOTE: While 2 & 3 are true, there are limits. A congregation that goes beyond those limits will be qeustioned, and dwelt with. But, it is unlikely that a situation will arise where the Church would be disbanded.

Congregations and pastors who work openly with the Conference will often be allowed to go beyond what it typical of a SDA Chruch. Let me give you two examples:

a) In a Union, far away from where I live, a local pastor and congregation wanted to reach out to a specifc group of people whom the SDA Chruch has not generally reached. In the agreement that was reached, the congregation agreed to hold to certain basic doctrinal positions of the SDA Chruch. But, people who were not officially members of the SDA Chruch could actively participate in the life and ministry of that church. And, all who walked through the doors of the church were welcome.

b)In another situation, a Conference agreed to a number of atypical aspects of a congregations life and ministry. But, the congregation was required to adhere to standards on ownership of property, hold services on the Sabbath, and issues of tithe funds. That congregation remained an officially recognized churuch as long as it held to the above three. When if departed from all three, it lost its recognitation.

[cricket]

Thank you, Gregory. You have answered my questions specifically enough. I can better understand the way things work concerning these church criteria. Thanks again!