This article describes the relationship between the Seventh-day Adventist Church and other Christian denominations and movements, and other religions. Adventists resist the movement which advocates their full ecumenical integration into other churches, because they believe that such a transition would force them to renounce their foundational beliefs and endanger the distinctiveness of their religious message. According to one church document, "The ecumenical movement as an agency of cooperation has acceptable aspects; as an agency for the organic unity of churches, it is much more suspect."
History
Adventists have often been skeptical of other faiths. The Millerite movement, which gave birth to Seventh-day Adventism, was rejected and treated with hostility by the majority of the North American Christian churches which existed at that time. The early Adventists were treated with hostility because they had unique views about the Sabbath. They consequently came to see themselves as an obedient remnant which was encountering the wrath of the dragon, as it was prophesied in . Subsequent developments in Adventist eschatology saw the Sunday-keeping churches identified with Babylon the Great (). A central aspect of the Adventist mission was to call people out of Babylon, and into the remnant church, as signified by the second of the three angels' messages.
The Review and Herald (now Adventist Review) October 12, 1876 contains an "amazing" article on cordiality between the Adventist pioneers and the Seventh Day Baptists. James White pointed out that the two bodies agreed on the two great tests of the Christian life, i.e. the divine law and redemption from its transgression through the Son. The main difference between them, White observed, was the question of immortality. Even though differences existed between the two groups, White recommended, "that there be no controversy between the two bodies." He continued, "we further recommend that Seventh-day Adventists in their work avoid laboring to build up Seventh-day Adventist churches where Seventh-day Baptist churches are already established..." He said it is much better to seek union with Seventh Day Baptists on the points they agree than to sacrifice that union by urging on them peculiar Adventist sentiments.
While the Adventist church matured and institutionalized itself in the 20th century, opposition from other churches also declined. By the 1950s, Adventists and American conservative Christians were ready to begin a dialogue. A series of discussions between Adventist and conservative leaders led to greater understanding and acceptance on both sides. Even after these milestone events, however, Adventists continued to resist full ecumenical cooperation with other churches, because they believed that such cooperation would endanger the distinctiveness of their religious message.
Bert Beach was the main Adventist who was involved in interreligious dialogue.
On January 22, 2007, church leaders voted to rename the Council on Inter-church/Inter-faith Relations the Council on Inter-church/Inter-religion Affairs. This involved more than a change of name, representing a desire for increased dialogue with other religions.
Religious liberty
"Seventh-day Adventists believe that freedom of religion is a basic human right." For over 100 years, the Adventist church has actively advocated freedom of religion for all people, regardless of faith. In 1893, its leaders founded the International Religious Liberty Association, which is universal and non-sectarian. The Seventh-day Adventist Church State Council serves to protect religious groups from legislation which may affect their religious practices.
The church publishes the magazine Liberty.
Theological conferences
The church has two professional organizations for Adventist theologians who are affiliated with the denomination. The Adventist Society for Religious Studies (ASRS) was formed to foster community among Adventist theologians who attend the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL) and the American Academy of Religion. In 2006 ASRS voted to continue their meetings in the future in conjunction with SBL. During the 1980s the Adventist Theological Society was formed by Jack Blanco to provide a forum for more conservative theologians to meet and is held in conjunction with the Evangelical Theological Society.
Adventists and ecumenism
The Adventist church generally opposes the ecumenical movement, but it supports some of the goals of ecumenism. The General Conference has released an official statement concerning the Adventist position with respect to the ecumenical movement, which contains the following paragraph: