SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST Church Manual

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTChurchManual

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTChurchManual REVISED 201 018 TH EDITIONPublished by the SecretariatGeneral Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Copyright 2010 by the Secretariat,General Conference of Seventh-day AdventistsUnless otherwise noted, Bible texts are from the New King JamesVersion. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.Used by permission. All rights reserved.Texts credited to KJV are from the King James Version.Printed in U.S.A.15 14 13 12 11ISBNISBN978-0-8280-2569-0978-0-8280-2570-65 4 3 2 1hardcoverpaperbackPrinted and distributed by theReview and Herald Publishing AssociationHagerstown, Maryland 21740

Table of ContentsCHAPTER 1Why a Church Manual? .17Authority and Function of the Church Manual .18Making Changes .19Where to Get Advice .20Terms Used in the Church Manual .20Church.20Conference, Mission, Section, Delegation, Field, Union of Churches .20Pastor and Minister .20Abbreviations .21Scripture Quotations .21CHAPTER 2Church of the Living God .22No Wall of Partition .22Supreme Object of Christ’s Regard.23Complete in Christ .24CHAPTER 3Organization and Authority .26Biblical Basis for Organization .26Importance of Organization.27Purposes of Organization.27The New Testament Model .28Church Organization Today .28Outline of Denominational Organization .29Role of Institutions .30Authority in the Early Church .30General Conference the Highest Authority .31CHAPTER 4Pastors and Other Church Employees.32A Divinely Appointed Ministry .32Conference President .32Conference Departmental Directors .32

Ordained Pastors .33Licensed Ministers .34Bible Instructors.34Conference Directs Church Employees .34Credentials and Licenses .35Expired Credentials and Licenses.35Retired Employees .36Former Pastors Without Credentials.36CHAPTER 5Organizing, Uniting, and Dissolving Churches and Companies .37Organizing a Church.37Organizing a Company .38Uniting Churches .40Dissolving or Expelling Churches .40Loss of Members .41Discipline .41Care of Members, Records, and Funds .42CHAPTER 6Membership .44Baptism .44A Prerequisite to Membership .44Mode of Baptism .45Thorough Instruction and Public Examination Before Baptism.45Baptismal Vow and Commitment .46Baptismal Vow .46Vow .46Alternative Vow .47Baptismal Covenant.47Commitment .48Voting Acceptance Subject to Baptism.49Receiving Members Who Are Not Known .49Baptismal Preparations .49Rebaptism .49Individuals From Other Christian Communions .50Apostasy and Rebaptism .50Inappropriate Rebaptism .50Profession of Faith .51Transferring Members .52Method of Granting Letters of Transfer.52Clerk to Prepare Letter .52

Letter Valid Six Months .53Alternative Method for Membership Transfer .53Membership During Transfer.53Receiving Members Under Difficult Conditions .53Counted in Statistical Reports .53If Member Is Not Accepted .54Letters Granted Only to Those in Regular Standing .54No Letter Without Member’s Approval .54Church Board Cannot Grant Letters .54Membership in the Conference Church .55Membership Record .55CHAPTER 7Discipline .56General Principles .56Dealing With Erring Members .56God’s Plan.57Authority of the Church .58Church’s Responsibility .58Unconsecrated Resist Discipline .58Safeguarding Unity of the Church .59Reconciliation of Differences.59Settlement of Grievances of Members Against the Church .61Settlement of Grievances of the Church Against Members .61Reasons for Discipline .61Process of Discipline .62Discipline by Censure .62Discipline by Removal From Membership .63No Additional Tests of Fellowship.63Timeliness of Discipline .63Caution About Judging Character and Motive.63At a Properly Called Meeting .64By Majority Vote .64Church Board Cannot Remove Members .64Fundamental Rights of the Members .64Lawyers Not to Represent Members .65Transferring Members Under Censure.65Members Not to Be Removed for Nonattendance .65Members Moving Away and Not Reporting .65Members Not to Be Removed for Pecuniary Reasons .66Removing Members at Their Request .66Notification to Those Removed From Membership .66

Reinstating Those Previously Removed From Membership .66Right of Appeal for Reinstatement .67CHAPTER 8Local Church Officers and Organizations.68General Qualifications .68Moral and Religious Fitness .68Feeding and Guarding the Church.69Respecting Pastors and Officers .69Not Hurried Into Office .70Those Opposing Unity Not Suitable for Office .70Unsafe to Choose Those Refusing to Cooperate .70Local Membership .70Setting Tithing Example .71Not Delegates Ex Officio .71Distributing Responsibility .71Removal and Readmission .71Term of Office .71Elders .71Religious Leaders of the Church .71Ordination of Elders .72Relationship to the Pastor .72Work of Elders Is Local .73Conducting Church Services .73Baptismal Service.73Marriage Ceremony .73To Foster Tithing .74To Foster Bible Study, Prayer, and a Relationship With Jesus .74To Foster All Lines of Work .74To Cooperate With the Conference .74To Foster Worldwide Work .75Training and Equipping of Elders .75Free to Work Effectively .75First Elder .75Limitation of Authority .75Church Leaders .75Deacons.76Board of Deacons.76Deacons Must Be Ordained .77Deacons Not Authorized to Preside .77Duties of Deacons .77Assistance at Services and Meetings .77

Visitation of Members .77Preparation for Baptismal Services .77Assistance at Communion Service .

Church Manual REVISED2010 18TH EDITIO N SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST Published by the Secretariat General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists