Seventh-Day Adventists and The Salvation Army join for second series of discussions
The second bilateral dialogue between The Salvation Army and the Seventh-Day Adventist Church took place at Jackson’s Point, Ontario, Canada.
Salvation Army team members, representing the International Doctrine Council, were Lars Lydholm (Denmark Territory, co-chair), Colonel Earl Robinson (Chair of the International Doctrine Council, co-secretary), Colonel Prathipaty Devavaram (India Eastern Territory), Major Lester Ferguson (Caribbean Territory), Dr Roger Green (Professor and Chair of Biblical and Theological Studies, Gordon College, USA), Major Edwin Okorougo (Nigeria Territory), Major Barbara Robinson (Canada and Bermuda Territory), Colonel Benita Robinson (Secretary, International Doctrine Council) and Major Karen Shakespeare (UK Territory).
At the dialogue, Salvationists and Seventh-Day Adventists presented three sets of companion papers on education, the theology of the Church and the sacraments, and missiology. The Salvation Army’s paper on education linked education with discipleship, providing three international perspectives that focused on education in both church life and more formal educational settings. The parallel Seventh-Day Adventist paper discussed the historical development of the Adventist Church’s education system, its underlying philosophy and the structures and processes that encourage mission effectiveness.
The Seventh-Day Adventist paper on sacraments identified the Adventist Church position within the historic framework of the Christian Church and the importance of the practice of the two ordinances (baptism and Lord’s Supper) within that tradition. The Salvation Army paper spoke of developing concepts on ecclesiology and the sacraments, identifying areas of present discussion.
The Salvationist paper on mission indicated that Wesleyan Methodist practice and theology are the foundation for Army mission while the Seventh-Day Adventist paper developed the thesis that Adventist success in mission was inextricably linked with eschatology, stewardship and church structure.
In addition to these three sets of papers, The Salvation Army presented a fourth paper on the role and spiritual leadership of women in The Salvation Army. The writer emphasised the early focus of the Army on equality in ministry and how that has worked out in organisational life. The papers unique to the Seventh-Day Adventist team were on the Adventist Disaster and Relief Agency (ADRA) and the Adventist position on the nature of man, death and the final eradication of sin. The ADRA presentation focused on the 16 belief statements of the organisation, including its egalitarian and participatory emphases. The presentation on the Adventist view of death discussed the way the Adventist church develops doctrinal positions as well as the specifics of the Adventist view of the holistic (non-dualistic) nature of man, death as sleep, with a physical resurrection and final eradication of evil.
The formal dialogue sessions were enhanced by a tour of several Salvation Army ministries and facilities in the Toronto area that provide practical examples of the effectiveness of Salvation Army witness to the people of Toronto. Commissioner Christine MacMillan (Territorial Commander, Canada and Bermuda), spoke to the dialogue teams of the specific challenges for The Salvation Army in Canada and her vision to ensure Salvationists remained relevant to the present generation.
The second Salvation Army/Seventh-Day Adventist dialogue took place in an environment of openness, respect and empathy. In concluding their dialogue, participants expressed their greater understanding of the theology and mission of their partners in dialogue, and their mutual appreciation for each other’s spiritual and social ministry.
The dialogue clarified the mutual Methodist (Wesleyan) background and its strong influence on the development of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church and The Salvation Army. The dialogue also confirmed that the two churches have much in common when it comes to both preaching a holistic gospel and practising holistic living.
Discussions confirmed that Salvationists and Adventists are Bible-centred in their preaching and theology and Christ-centred in their mission. Both The Salvation Army and the Seventh-Day Adventist Church emphasise holiness and sanctification, the heart of both messages being a strong emphasis on righteousness by faith. Both also equally recognise the responsibility of a Christian to be engaged in works that are a natural fruit of the tree of faith. Both denominations believe in the importance of responding to human need, with this a particular strength of The Salvation Army. However, both also agree that salvation is the central purpose and goal of the Church.
The participants noted that, in relating to human need, the Seventh-Day Adventist Church has a greater eschatological emphasis. Both have a theology and philosophy of social responsibility that is rooted in the love of God, but for The Salvation Army there is more urgency and focus on serving the disadvantaged and poor. Adventists and Salvationists are engaged extensively in medical work, but again the particular mission of The Salvation Army is more to the poor. Both are also engaged in education, although in this connection the Seventh-Day Adventists have a more developed sense of mission and philosophy and have an international educational structure not yet present in The Salvation Army.
Overall, the bilateral dialogue gave evidence to the reality that both churches are committed to the global dimension of an egalitarian gospel that is evidenced in word and deed and is the responsibility of every committed Adventist and Salvationist.
In concluding their meetings, the dialogue team agreed that the two meetings of 2004 and 2005 had provided both personal and corporate benefits, particularly in relation to increased awareness and understanding. This can be capitalised on by both churches through articles, presentations to the two communities and possibly joint social projects, especially in the international setting. The team considers that a third and final meeting, to develop a formal statement of understanding, would be valuable in providing closure to this very constructive bilateral dialogue. This would be no earlier than 2007. Possible topics, among others, for discussion at that time could be the law and gospel, the place of their individual churches within the universal Church, religious freedom and world evangelisation.