Reaffirmation Statement Summary
Reaffirmation Statement Summary
An overview of the statement published by Adventist Health Ministries of the General Conference on October 26, 2021, titled “Reaffirming Adventist Church Response to COVID-19.”
Statement Overview
The Seventh-day Adventist Church’s statement emphasizes the importance of individual conscience and informed decision-making regarding health choices, including vaccination. While supporting vaccines as a public health measure, it clarifies that vaccination is not a matter of religious doctrine, affirming individuals’ right to decide based on prayer, conscience, and medical advice.
The relevant section addressing personal freedom of choice states:
The Seventh-day Adventist Church respects each individual’s freedom of choice to make responsible decisions regarding their own health.
Additionally, the statement highlights that, while the Church encourages vaccination, it respects personal convictions and individual decisions:
The decision whether to take the vaccine or not is not a matter of salvation... It is a matter of personal choice.
"We firmly believe that in matters of personal conviction we must be guided by the Word of God, our conscience, and informed judgment.
When it comes to COVID-19 vaccinations, we believe individuals have the right to state and defend their conviction whether to be vaccinated or not.
Thus, the statement should be understood to uphold both personal liberty and religious freedom. Click here for additional quotes supporting liberty of conscience.
How might religious liberty be understood in the reaffirmation statement?
Religious Liberty and Legal Advocacy
The reaffirmation statement reflects the Church’s long-standing approach to legal advocacy on issues directly tied to its core doctrines and teachings. For example, the Church defends Sabbath observance as essential to its faith but does not support claims based on personal beliefs or individual preferences that lack grounding in established doctrine.
This framework informs the following sentence, which should be understood within this broader context:
Claims of religious liberty are not used appropriately in objecting to government mandates or employer programs designed to protect the health and safety of their communities.
The Church recognizes, however, that individual members may hold differing perspectives and convictions regarding these issues:
We understand that some of our members view things differently, and we respect those convictions. They may at times have rights that can be pursued under the law, and we will point them towards materials and resources for doing so but cannot directly undertake this personal effort for them.
This acknowledgment demonstrates the Church’s respect for individual convictions while reaffirming its role as a religious institution. Addressing personal legal challenges that fall outside the scope of established teachings would require significant resources, risk inconsistencies across a global membership, and divert attention from its mission of upholding our shared beliefs.
Broader Legal Context
A review of recent court cases involving employees who successfully challenged COVID-19 vaccine requirements demonstrates a consistent legal principle: the protection of personal religious convictions. Courts have affirmed that such convictions, even if not widely shared, fully rational, or endorsed by a denomination, are protected, reflecting a commitment to individual liberty, regardless of institutional stances.
Overall, these rulings demonstrate the protection of individuals' personal beliefs without challenging or undermining the institutional positions of religious organizations on vaccination.
Concluding Thoughts
Church statements like this one provide clarity, address misunderstandings, and guide members through complex issues. During the COVID-19 pandemic, differing perspectives among Adventists on vaccination and religious liberty often stemmed from incomplete or conflicting information. These sincerely held yet diverse views contributed to confusion about the moral considerations surrounding vaccination. The reaffirmation statement sought to outline the Church’s position on vaccines while emphasizing the importance of individual conscience and informed decision-making.
A particular sentence in the statement has garnered significant attention:
Claims of religious liberty are not used appropriately in objecting to government mandates or employer programs.
This language reflects the Church’s institutional approach to legal advocacy while acknowledging the importance of individual liberty, particularly in contexts like the United States, where constitutional protections safeguard personal beliefs. The statement affirms the value of individual conscience and provides a framework for understanding claims of religious liberty as defined by the Church in relation to personal convictions about vaccination, though further clarity in this area might have helped address differing interpretations.
As a global document, the statement is intended to guide a worldwide membership with diverse cultural, legal, and societal realities. Future challenges might be addressed more practically by providing regional entities—such as divisions, unions, and conferences—to adapt its application to their specific contexts. Although one sentence in the statement has drawn disproportionate attention, the overall document strives for a thoughtful balance between respect for individual choice and the Church’s mission.
With this understanding, it is time for the Seventh-day Adventist community to move forward in unity, focusing on its shared mission and message as we anticipate the soon return of Jesus.
Last Revised: December 26, 2024
Prepared by Andy Im, Director, Public Affairs and Religious Liberty, Michigan Conference
Michigan Conference
of Seventh-day Adventists