By Esther Claudette Gittens | Editorial credit: JC Fotografia / Shutterstock.com

The Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church, founded in the mid-19th century, has grown into a global denomination known for its emphasis on the Sabbath, health practices, and eschatology. However, its historical relationship with Black and Native American communities is fraught with contradictions, discrimination, and cultural insensitivity. This article provides a critical analysis of the top ten reasons why Black and Native Americans may wish to carefully evaluate joining the SDA Church, drawing on its historical actions, doctrines, and practices.

1. Racial Segregation in Adventist Institutions

From its early days, the SDA Church practiced racial segregation in its schools, hospitals, and churches. Black members were often excluded from white congregations and forced to form separate churches or conferences to worship and govern independently. These practices mirrored the broader racial divisions in American society but contradicted the Church’s professed commitment to unity and equality.

Example: The 1944 establishment of the Regional Conferences, separate governing bodies for Black Adventists, institutionalized segregation rather than fostering integration.

Citation: Baker, Delbert W. The Unknown Prophet: Rediscovering John Byington, the First General Conference President. Review and Herald Publishing, 2015.

2. Silence During Civil Rights Movements

During the 20th-century Civil Rights Movement, the SDA Church largely remained silent. While individual members, such as Oakwood University students, participated in protests and activism, the institutional Church refrained from taking a public stand against segregation and systemic racism. This lack of institutional support disappointed many Black Adventists who sought stronger advocacy from their Church.

Citation: Reynolds, Louis B. We Have Tomorrow: The Story of American Seventh-day Adventists with an African Heritage. Review and Herald Publishing, 1984.

3. Historical Disregard for Indigenous Peoples

The SDA Church’s missionary efforts among Native Americans have often been characterized by cultural insensitivity and efforts to assimilate Indigenous peoples into Western norms. Missionaries prioritized converting Native Americans over respecting or preserving their cultural identities.

Example: Early Adventist boarding schools for Native American children followed broader U.S. policies of forced assimilation, pressuring students to abandon their languages, customs, and spiritual practices.

Citation: Taylor, Allan J. “The Adventist Indian Work in North America.” Journal of Adventist Education, 1991.

4. Promotion of White Supremacist Ideology in Early Writings

Some early Adventist leaders and members espoused beliefs that aligned with white supremacist ideology. While the Church officially condemned slavery, writings from figures like Ellen G. White included problematic views about race, often reflecting the biases of their time.

Example: White referred to Black people as “a degraded race” in some early letters, a term she later clarified but which remains troubling when analyzed in historical context.

Citation: White, Ellen G. Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 1. Pacific Press, 1855.

5. Limited Representation in Leadership

Historically, the SDA Church has had limited representation of Black and Native Americans in its upper leadership. While regional conferences allowed Black Adventists some degree of governance, the General Conference, the global decision-making body, has remained predominantly white. This lack of representation reinforces systemic inequities and alienates marginalized communities.

Citation: Bull, Malcolm, and Keith Lockhart. Seeking a Sanctuary: Seventh-day Adventism and the American Dream. Indiana University Press, 2007.

6. Cultural Erasure in Missionary Work

Adventist missionary efforts have often undermined the cultural traditions of the communities they sought to convert. Among both Black populations in Africa and Indigenous peoples in North America, SDA missionaries promoted a Eurocentric version of Christianity that marginalized local customs and spiritual practices.

Example: African converts were discouraged from participating in traditional ceremonies or adopting cultural expressions that didn’t conform to Western Adventist norms.

Citation: Doss, Gorden R. Introduction to Adventist Mission. Review and Herald Publishing, 2018.

7. Health Message and Class Bias

The SDA Church’s emphasis on health and vegetarianism, while valuable, has sometimes been applied in ways that reflect class and cultural biases. For example, Black and Native American communities, which may face food deserts and economic challenges, are often judged for not adhering to the Church’s dietary ideals. This approach can create barriers to inclusion and alienate those who cannot easily adopt Adventist health practices.

Citation: Knight, George R. A Brief History of Seventh-day Adventists. Review and Herald Publishing, 1999.

8. Exploitation in Mission Fields

The Church has faced criticism for its treatment of Black and Indigenous workers in mission fields. Local leaders in Africa and South America have historically been underpaid or excluded from decision-making roles, while white missionaries maintained control. This exploitation mirrored colonial power dynamics, further alienating these communities.

Example: Indigenous pastors in South America were often assigned lower salaries than their white counterparts, despite doing comparable or more work.

Citation: Trim, David J.B. Adventist World Mission and the Global South. General Conference Archives, 2017.

9. Doctrinal Inflexibility and Lack of Contextual Theology

The SDA Church’s rigid adherence to certain doctrines, such as the Sabbath and dietary laws, often disregards the cultural and historical contexts of marginalized communities. Black and Native American spiritual traditions, which emphasize oral history and community over rigid doctrinal structures, may find Adventist theology incompatible with their worldviews.

Citation: Douglas, Herbert E. Faith Alive: The Seventh-day Adventist Understanding of Salvation. Pacific Press, 1999.

10. Failure to Fully Reckon with Its History

While the SDA Church has acknowledged some of its past mistakes, it has not taken significant steps to address systemic racism or colonialism within its history. There has been little in terms of reparative action, official apologies, or structural reform to ensure inclusion and equity for Black and Native American members.

Example: The Church has not issued an official apology for its history of segregation or its complicity in cultural erasure.

Citation: Morgan, Douglas. Adventism and the American Republic: The Public Involvement of a Major Apocalyptic Movement. University of Tennessee Press, 2001.

Conclusion

The Seventh-day Adventist Church has a long and complicated history with Black and Native American communities. While its commitment to health, education, and spirituality has positively impacted many, its history of segregation, cultural erasure, and marginalization raises valid concerns for potential members from these backgrounds. Black and Native Americans considering joining the SDA Church should carefully evaluate whether its history and practices align with their values and cultural heritage.

For the SDA Church to move forward inclusively, it must address its historical shortcomings, amplify marginalized voices, and commit to equity and reparative justice. Until such steps are taken, many may find that alternative faith communities offer a more welcoming and affirming environment.

Citations:

1. Baker, Delbert W. The Unknown Prophet: Rediscovering John Byington, the First General Conference President. Review and Herald Publishing, 2015.
2. Reynolds, Louis B. We Have Tomorrow: The Story of American Seventh-day Adventists with an African Heritage. Review and Herald Publishing, 1984.
3. Taylor, Allan J. “The Adventist Indian Work in North America.” Journal of Adventist Education, 1991.
4. White, Ellen G. Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 1. Pacific Press, 1855.
5. Bull, Malcolm, and Keith Lockhart. Seeking a Sanctuary: Seventh-day Adventism and the American Dream. Indiana University Press, 2007.
6. Doss, Gorden R. Introduction to Adventist Mission. Review and Herald Publishing, 2018.
7. Knight, George R. A Brief History of Seventh-day Adventists. Review and Herald Publishing, 1999.
8. Trim, David J.B. Adventist World Mission and the Global South. General Conference Archives, 2017.
9. Douglas, Herbert E. Faith Alive: The Seventh-day Adventist Understanding of Salvation. Pacific Press, 1999.
10. Morgan, Douglas. Adventism and the American Republic: The Public Involvement of a Major Apocalyptic Movement. University of Tennessee Press, 2001.

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