Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual for 1976

300 Pages·2013·3.05 MB·English

Seventh-day Adventist
CHURCH
MANUAL
Ge74,_ Lw
of Suenth-ci.
Issued by the
General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
Revised 1976
PRINTED IN U.S.A.
(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface 19
CHAPTER 1
The Church of the Living God 25
No Wall of Partition 26
The Supreme Object of Christ's Regard (cid:9) 27
The Opposition of the Enemy(cid:9) 28
The Church Complete in Christ (cid:9) 30
CHAPTER 2
Fundamental Beliefs of Seventh-day Adventists (cid:9) 32
CHAPTER 3
Organization Founded on Divine Principles (cid:9) 40
The Biblical Basis (cid:9) 40
The Vital Importance 42
The Divine Purpose (cid:9) 43
CHAPTER 4
The Form of Organization in the Seventh-day Advent-
ist Church (cid:9) 45
Forms of Church Government (cid:9) 46
Five Steps in Our Organization (cid:9) 47
Relationships Between Organizations (cid:9) 48
General Conference the Highest Authority _______ (cid:9) 48
CHAPTER 5
Church Membership 50
Membership on a Spiritual Basis 50
Baptism a Gospel Requirement (cid:9) 51
Baptism. a Prerequisite to Church Membership 51
5
(cid:9)
6(cid:9) CHURCH MANUAL
Mode of Baptism (cid:9) 52
Ministers Thoroughly to Instruct Candidates
Previous to Baptism (cid:9) 52
Public Examination (cid:9) 53
Baptismal Covenant (cid:9) 54
Doctrinal Instruction for Baptismal Candidates (cid:9) 54
Baptismal Vow and Baptism (cid:9) 61
Baptismal Vow (cid:9) 61
Welcoming Candidates (cid:9) 63
Receiving Members Who Are Not Known (cid:9) 63
Baptismal Ceremony (cid:9) 63
Transferring Members (cid:9) 64
Method of Granting Letters of Transfer _____ (cid:9) 64
Clerk to Make Out Letter 65
Membership During Interval of Transfer (cid:9) 66
The Receiving of Members Disturbed by World
Conditions (cid:9) 66
Counted in Statistical Reports (cid:9) 66
If Member Is Not Accepted (cid:9) 67
No Letters to Members Under Discipline (cid:9) 67
Church Letters Granted Only to Those in Good
and Regular Standing (cid:9) 67
Not to Vote Letter Without Member's Approval 68
Church Boards Cannot Grant Letters (cid:9) 68
Conference or Field Church (cid:9) 69
Organized Companies (cid:9) 70
Queries Concerning Receiving and Dropping Mem-
bers (cid:9) 71
Receiving Members on Profession of Faith (cid:9) 71
Dropping Names (cid:9) 72
No Retired Membership List (cid:9) 72
Rebaptism (cid:9) 72
Of Converts From Other Religious Communions 73
Of Church Members and Former Seventh-day
Adventists (cid:9) 73
(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)
TABLE OF CONTENTS(cid:9) 7
CHAPTER 6
Church Officers and Their Duties (cid:9) 75
Their Qualifications _____ ._ 75
Moral Fitness (cid:9) 75
Religious Fitness (cid:9) 75
The Church Must Be Guarded and Fed (cid:9) 77
Respect and Deference Due to Ministers and
Officers of the Church (cid:9) 78
Men Not to Be Hurried Into Office (cid:9) 79
Those Opposed to Unity Not Suitable for Office 80
Unsafe to Choose Men Who Refuse to Cooper-
ate With Others (cid:9) 81
The Church Elder (cid:9) 81
The Office an Important One (cid:9) 81
A Religious Leader of the Church 82
Capable of Ministering the Word (cid:9) 82
Elected for One Year 82
Ordination' of Local Eider (cid:9) 83
Work of Church Elder Is Local (cid:9) 83
To Foster All Lines of Missionary Work (cid:9) 84
Relationship to the Ordained Minister (cid:9) 84
Conduct of Church Services (cid:9) 85
The(cid:9) Baptismal Service _______ _____ ____ ______ ______ (cid:9) 86
The Marriage Ceremony (cid:9) 86
To Cooperate With the Conference 87
To Foster Worldwide Work (cid:9) 87
To Foster Tithe Paying 88
To Distribute Responsibility(cid:9) _ 88
First Elder 89
Elder Not a Delegate Ex Ofzcio 89
Limitation of Authority 89
Church Leader 89
(cid:9)
The Deacon 90
Importance of the 0 ce (cid:9) _ (cid:9) 90
Board of Deacons (cid:9) 92
Deacons Must Be Ordained (cid:9) 92
(cid:9)
8(cid:9) CHURCH MANUAL
The Duties of Deacons (cid:9) 93
To Assist in Church Ordinances (cid:9) 93
The Care of the Sick and the Poor (cid:9) 95
The Deaconess (cid:9) 95
The Duties of Deaconesses (cid:9) 96
Board of Deaconesses (cid:9) 97
The Church Clerk (cid:9) 97
An Important Office(cid:9) 97
No Names Added or Dropped Without Vote of
the(cid:9) Church(cid:9) ________ ________ ______ (cid:9) _____ (cid:9) 98
Transferring Members(cid:9) 98
Corresponding With Members 98
Delegates' Credentials for Conference Session(cid:9) 99
Reports to Be Furnished Promptly (cid:9) 99
Church Records (cid:9) 100
The Church Treasurer (cid:9) 100
A Sacred Work (cid:9) 100
Church Treasurer the Custodian of All Church
Funds (cid:9) 100
Conference Funds _______ (cid:9) __________ _ ______ (cid:9) 101
Sabbath School Funds(cid:9) __________ (cid:9) ______ (cid:9) ______ (cid:9) 101
Missionary Volunteer Society Funds (cid:9) 101
Local Church Funds _______ ________ ______ (cid:9) __________ (cid:9) 102
Funds of Auxiliary Organizations(cid:9) 102
Safeguarding the Purpose of Funds _________ ______ 103
Money for Personal Literature Orders(cid:9) 104
Proper Method for Payment of Money by Mem-
bers (cid:9) 104
Receipts to Church Members(cid:9) 105
Proper Method of Remitting Funds to the Con-
ference _______________ _ _____ ____________ __________ _ _____ _ 105
Preserving Vouchers(cid:9) 105
Books Should Be Audited (cid:9) 106
Relations With Members Confidential (cid:9) 107
The Church Board (cid:9) 107
Auxiliary Committees (cid:9) 107
(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)
(cid:9)
TABLE OF CONTENTS 9
CHAPTER 7
The Services and Meetings of the Church (cid:9) 109
Spiritual Worship ____ (cid:9) _____(cid:9) 109
Reverence for the House of Worship(cid:9) 109
Children to Be Taught Reverence(cid:9) 110
Decorum and Quietness in the Place of Worship 111
Arrangements for Church Meetings(cid:9) 112
Hospitality (cid:9) 112
Unauthorized Speakers in Our Churches(cid:9) 112
The Sabbath Worship Service (cid:9) 113
The Form of Service (cid:9) 113
Longer Order of Worship (cid:9) 114
Shorter Order of Worship(cid:9) 114
Announcements(cid:9) ______(cid:9) _____________(cid:9) ____(cid:9) 115
Sacredness of the Sabbath Worship Hour (cid:9) 115
The Sabbath Morning Service (cid:9) 116
Public Prayer (cid:9) 117
The Communion Service (cid:9) 119
Announcing the Communion Service(cid:9) 119
Conducting the Communion Service 120
Who May Participate (cid:9) __________ (cid:9) ______(cid:9) _____ 122
Every Member Should Attend (cid:9) 123
Unleavened Bread and Unfermented Wine(cid:9) 123
A Memorial of the Crucifixion (cid:9) 123
Ordinance of Foot Washing (cid:9) 124
Suggested Order for the Communion Service ____ 124
Who May Conduct Communion Service(cid:9) 125
Communion for the Sick (cid:9) 125
The Prayer Meeting (cid:9) 126
The Sabbath School (cid:9) 127
The Sabbath School Teachers' Meeting ___ (cid:9) ___ 127
Missionary Volunteer Society (cid:9) 128
Junior Missionary Volunteer Society 129
Church Missionary Meetings (cid:9) 129
Times of Meetings ___________________ (cid:9) ______ (cid:9) 130
(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)
10(cid:9) CHURCH MANUAL
Supplying Literature on the Sabbath(cid:9) 131
Church Board Meetings (cid:9) 131
Work of the Church Board (cid:9) 132
Quorum of the Church Board (cid:9) 133
School Board Meetings (cid:9) 133
Parents' Meetings (cid:9) 133
Business Meetings 134
Music 136
Place of Music in Divine Service (cid:9) 136
Sing With the Spirit and the Understanding (cid:9) 136
Selecting Choir Leaders 137
Membership of Church Choirs 138
CHAPTER 8
Auxiliary Organizations of the Church and Their
Officers (cid:9) 139
The Department of Lay Activities (cid:9) 139
Lay Evangelism Council (cid:9) 139
Lay Activities Leader (cid:9) 141
Lay Activities Secretary 141
Interest Coordinator 144
Dorcas Welfare Society (cid:9) 145
Community Services Center 145
The Sabbath School 146
The Sabbath School Council(cid:9) 147
The Superintendent (cid:9) 148
The Assistant Superintendent 149
The Secretary _______ (cid:9) _________ 150
Assistant Secretaries (cid:9) 151
The Chorister or Song Leader _ (cid:9) 151
The Organist (cid:9) _________(cid:9) ______________________(cid:9) 152
Sabbath School Offerings (cid:9) 152
Expense Money(cid:9) 152
The Quarterly Report 153
The Missionary Volunteer Society(cid:9) 153
(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)
TABLE OF CONTENTS(cid:9) 11
Objectives (cid:9) 154
Membership in the MV Society (cid:9) 155
Membership Pledge(cid:9) 155
Associate Member 155
The Officers of the MV Society (cid:9) 156
The MV Society Executive Committee (or MV
Council) (cid:9) 156
Leader and Associate Leader (cid:9) 157
Secretary-Treasurer and Assistant (cid:9) 158
The MV Sponsor (cid:9) 159
MV Features 160
MV Bands 161
The Junior Missionary Volunteer Society (cid:9) 161
Objective --------------------------------------- _______________ _ 161
The Work of the JMV Society (cid:9) 161
Pathfinder Clubs (cid:9) 161
Membership _______________ ______ _____________ _________ (cid:9) 162
The Junior Missionary Volunteer Pledge (cid:9) 162
The Junior Missionary Volunteer Law (cid:9) 162
JMV Classes (cid:9) 163
MV Classes 163
MV Honors 163
Officers of the JMV Society (cid:9) 163
The Executive Committee (cid:9) 164
Parents' Societies 164
Home and School Fellowship (cid:9) 165
Purpose (cid:9) 165
Objective __________ ____________ ___ __________ _____ (cid:9) _ (cid:9) 166
Membership 166
Officers(cid:9) —(cid:9) 166
Leader and Assistant Leader (cid:9) 167
Secretary-Treasurer 167
The Church School Board (cid:9) 167
Membership (cid:9) 167
Officers (cid:9) 169
Relation of Union School Boards to the Local
Churches 169
(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)
12(cid:9) CHURCH MANUAL
Term of Office _ 169
Qualifications (cid:9) 170
Duties of the Officers(cid:9) 170
Functions (cid:9) 171
Department of Communication (cid:9) 171
Importance of Effective Communication(cid:9) 171
The Organization (cid:9) 172
The Communication Secretary and His Work (cid:9) 172
The Communication Committee(cid:9) 173
Relation to Other Departments of Church(cid:9) 174
In Large Adventist Centers _ (cid:9) 174
Qualifications(cid:9) 174
Department of Health (cid:9) 175
Church Health Leader (cid:9) 175
Church Health Council (cid:9) 176
Department of Stewardship and Development (cid:9) 177
Church Stewardship Secretary 178
Temperance Department (cid:9) 179
CHAPTER 9
Ministers and Workers in Relation to the Church(cid:9) 181
A Divinely Appointed Ministry (cid:9) 181
The Conference President (cid:9) 181
Pastors and District Leaders Not Executives(cid:9) 182
President and Committee Direct Departmental Sec-
retaries 182
Work of Departmental Secretaries Not Administra-
tive (cid:9) 183
Relation of Ordained Minister to Church Work _ _ 183
Churches Do Not Elect Pastor (cid:9) 184
Licensed Ministers 185
Bible Instructors(cid:9) 186
Adventist Book Center Secretaries (cid:9) 186
The Pastor Should Assist the Evangelist 186
President and Committee Direct Conference Work-
ers (cid:9) 187
(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)(cid:9)
TABLE OF CONTENTS(cid:9) 13
Credentials and Licenses (cid:9) 188
Expired Credentials (cid:9) 189
Relieving a Minister of His Office (cid:9) 189
Sustentation Workers (cid:9) 190
Ministers Without Credentials Serving in Our
Churches (cid:9) 190
CHAPTER 10
The Church Election (cid:9) 191
Nominating Committee (cid:9) 191
How Nominating Committee Is Appointed (cid:9) 191
Who Should Be Members of the Nominating
Committee (cid:9) 193
Work of the Nominating Committee(cid:9) _ 193
Nominating Committee to Interview Prospec-
tive Officers(cid:9) 195
Appearing Before the Nominating Committee (cid:9) 195
Nominating Committee Discussions Are Confi-
dential(cid:9) 196
Reporting to the Church (cid:9) 196
Objecting to the Report of the Nominating
Committee (cid:9) 197
Vacancies (cid:9) 198
Election of Delegates to Local Conference Session 198
Choosing Delegates (cid:9) 198
Duty of Delegates 200
Responsibility of Conference Officers (cid:9) 200
Conference Committee Members to Represent the
Entire Conference (cid:9) 201
CHAPTER 11
Gospel Finance 202
Stewardship 203
The Tithe 204
Systematic Benevolence and Unity _ (cid:9) 205
How the Tithe Is to Be Used (cid:9) 206
How the Tithe Is Paid (cid:9) _ (cid:9) 206