North American Presbyterians, Adventists continue conversations

Louisville, Kentucky/USA | 29.08.2008 | APD | Ecumenism

Third round of talks in July focus on ‘distinctives’ of each communion

After three rounds of conversations, representatives of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America say they have found more than enough common ground to continue their talks, perhaps even drawing in representatives of other Reformed denominations.

"Our differences are not of such a nature as to preclude fellowship with one another as brothers and sisters in Christ," said the Rev. Carlos Malave, associate for ecumenical relations in the PC(USA)’s Office of the General Assembly, "or cooperation in selected areas of joint concern. "

The conversations between the two Christian Communions began in November 2006 at the headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventists in Silver Spring, MD. Following that “get-acquainted” meeting — which included discussion of introductory papers prepared by theologians from both churches — a second round of talks was held in August of last year at the PC(USA) offices in Louisville.

Discussion during that round of conversation focused on the respective understandings of sola scriptura, and of law and gospel. Four papers provided a framework for the meeting: "Ellen G. White and Sola Scriptura," by the Merlin Burt of Andrews University; "John Calvin and Sola Scriptura," by the Rev. Eunice McGarrahan of The National Presbyterian Church in Washington, DC; "The Law and Gospel," by Dr. Ekkehardt Mueller, of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist Biblical Research Institute; and "The Law and Gospel," by David Jensen of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary.

Malave said that participants concluded that their churches agree on several key theological points: 1) The place of Scripture as the ultimate standard of faith and practice; 2) The Reformation teaching of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone; and 3) The continuing significance of the (biblical) law as a guide to Christian living.

“The conversations exposed significant differences in beliefs and practices,” Malave acknowledged: from the Adventist side, regarding the seventh-day Sabbath, the role of Ellen White and her writings in Adventist theology, and the role of apocalyptic in eschatology; and from the Presbyterian side, the guiding role of historic creeds and confessions, and the doctrine of election.

The third round of talks — July 16-17, 2008 at Loma Linda University in California, an Adventist institution specializing in health sciences — focused on the distinctive of each communion.

"Both churches acknowledge and respect the distinctive contributions of the other," Malave said, "in particular the concern for social justice and divine sovereignty by the Presbyterians, and the Adventists' emphases on health and religious liberty."

The July talks included a presentation on the Adventists' involvement in health concerns by Dr. Richard Hart, president of Loma Linda University and Medical Center. The Rev. David Cortes-Fuentes of San Francisco Theological Seminary’s southern California campus presented a paper on "Presbyterians and Social Policy."

Participants also discussed three other papers that highlighted the distinctive concerns of each communion: "Seventh-day Adventists and Religious Freedom," by John Graz, director of the Public Affairs and Religious Liberty department for the world Adventist Church; "Of Tulips, Daisies, and Lilies: The Garden of God’s Electing Grace," by the Rev. Sheldon Sorge of the PC(USA)’s Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary; and "Exploring the Heart of Seventh-day Adventism," by Kwabena Donkor, associate director of the Seventh-day Adventist Church's Biblical Research Institute.

Malave said the Adventist concern with health Seventh-day Adventist Church "finds resonance with the Presbyterian teaching concerning sanctification."

On social issues, both communions share similar goals for society, but the respective approaches for attaining these goals differ widely: Presbyterians tend to emphasize corporate action and public policy, while Adventists focus on individual ethics.

"The creative tension between Adventist emphasis on personal freedom and Presbyterian stress on divine election provided for rich, mutually respectful conversation," Malave said, "with both sides acknowledging appreciatively the importance of the other’s emphasis. Through these discussions, members of both delegations learned much not only about each other, but also from each other."

The next round of Presbyterian-Adventist conversations in North America have tentatively been set for the summer of 2010. [Editor Jerry L. Van Marter and Christian B. Schäffler for PCUSA News and APD]

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