Church Position

Seventh-day Adventists accept the Bible as their only creed and hold certain fundamental beliefs to be the teaching of the Holy Scriptures. These beliefs constitute the church's understanding and expression of the teaching of Scripture. These beliefs, and statements, guidelines, and other documents can be found at the following links:

[Fundamental Beliefs] [Official Statements]

Ministry Request to the SDA Church

We have a request in process with the Executive Committee of the Seventh-day Adventist Church to clarify and/or modify the 1999 Position Statement on Homosexuality drafted at its 2000 Annual Council, in regards to the two phrases "homosexual activity or relationships" and "homosexual practices and relationships". The overall compassionate and Christian views of the statement lead this ministry and most church members to interpret these phrases as pertaining to "sexual" activity, practices, and relationships. We consider this to be of the highest priority to guide the church members and leaders who interpret these phrases as condemnations in their broadest definitions, giving them church sanctioning to exclude homosexuals from such things as attending Worship Services or striking up friendships with church members. We believe this was an inadvertent oversight in the drafting of the Statement.

In light of this Statement being misused by some in a way that ;the church never intended, we have suggested that the aforementioned phrases be amended to clearly reflect opposition to same gender sexual activities, not same gender activities and relationships in general. The suggested changes are notated in red in the following copy of the statement.

Please pray that God's will be done.

"Seventh-day Adventist Position Statement on Homosexuality"

(with suggested changes in red)

The Seventh-day Adventist Church recognizes that every human being is valuable in the sight of God, and we seek to minister to all men and women in the spirit of Jesus. We also believe that by God's grace and through the encouragement of the community of faith, an individual may live in harmony with the principles of God's Word.

Seventh-day Adventists believe that sexual intimacy belongs only within the marital relationship of a man and a woman. This was the design established by God at creation. The Scriptures declare: "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh" (Gen. 2:24, NIV). Throughout Scripture this heterosexual pattern is affirmed. The Bible makes no accommodation for ~~homosexual activity or relationships~~ same-gender sexual intimacies. Sexual acts outside the circle of a heterosexual marriage are forbidden (Lev. 20:7-21; Rom. 1:24-27; 1 Cor. 6:9-11). Jesus Christ reaffirmed the divine creation intent: "'Haven't you read,' he replied, 'that at the beginning the Creator "made them male and female," and said, "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh?" So they are no longer two, but one'" (Matt. 19:4-6, NIV). For these reasons Adventists are opposed to ~~homosexual practices and relationships~~ same-gender sexual intimacies.

Seventh-day Adventists endeavor to follow the instruction and example of Jesus. He affirmed the dignity of all human beings and reached out compassionately to persons and families suffering the consequences of sin. He offered caring ministry and words of solace to struggling people, while differentiating His love for sinners from His clear teaching about sinful practices.