• Mission Statement

• Abuse & Family Violence

• AIDS

• Assault Weapons

• Birth Control

• Caring for Creation

• Care for the Dying

• Chemical Use, Abuse, and Dependency

• Children, Well-being and Value

• Climate Change

• Creation: Affirmation of

• Creation: Response to Affirmation

• Competition

• Drugs

• Environment

• Stewardship of the Environment

• Family

• Family Violence

• Female Genital Mutilation

• Gambling

• Gene Therapy

• Health-Care Institutions

• Home & Family

• Homelessness & Poverty

• Homosexuality

• Human Cloning

• Human Relations

• Human Rights

• Literacy

• Marriage

• Peace

• Call for Peace

• Pornography

• Proselytism

• Racism

• Religious Freedom

• Religious Minorities

• Roman Catholicism

• Same Sex Unions

• Scriptures

• Sexual Abuse (Child)

• Sexual Behavior

• Sexually Transmitted Diseases

• Smoking & Ethics

• Smoking & Tobacco

• Spirit of Prophecy

• Spiritual Renewal

• Principles & Acceptance of Donations

• Theological Academic Accountability

• Tolerance

• Values Statement

• Women’s Issues

Same sex unions

Over the past several decades the Seventh-day Adventist Church has felt it necessary to clearly state in various ways its position in regards to marriage, the family, and human sexuality. These subjects are at the heart of many pressing issues facing society. That which for centuries has been considered to be basic Christian morality in the marriage setting is now increasingly called into question, not only in secular society but within Christian churches themselves.

The institutions of family and marriage are under attack and facing growing centrifugal forces that are tearing them apart. An increasing number of nations are now debating t he topic of "same-sex unions," thus making it a world issue. The public discussion has engendered strong emotions. In light of these developments, the Seventh-day Adventist Church is clearly restating its position.

We reaffirm, without hesitation, our long-standing position. As expressed in the Chur ch's Fundamental Beliefs, "marriage was divinely established in Eden and affirmed by Jesus to be a lifelong union between a man and a woman in loving companionship." 1 Though "sin has perverted God's ideals for marriage and family," "the family tie is the closest, the most tender and sacred of any human relationship," and thus "families need to experience renewal and reformation in their relationships" ( An Affirmation of Family, 1990). 2 God instituted "marriage, a covenant-based union of two genders physi cally, emotionally, and spiritually, spoken of in Scripture as 'one flesh.'" "The monogamous union in marriage of a man and a woman is . . . the only morally appropriate locus of genital or related intimate sexual expression." "Any lowering of this high view is to that extent a lowering of the heavenly ideal" ( An Affirmation of Marriage , 1996). 3

Homosexuality is a manifestation of the disorder and brokenness in human inclinations and relations caused by sin coming into the world. While everyone is subject to fallen human nature, "we also believe that by God's grace and through the encouragement of the community of faith, an individual may live in harmony with the principles of God's Word" ( Seventh-day Adventist Position Statement on Homosexuality , 1999). 4

We hold that all people, no matter what their sexual orientation, are children of God. We do not condone singling out any gr oup for scorn and derision, let alone abuse. However, it is very clear that God's Word does not countenance a homosexual lifestyle; neither has the Christian Church throughout her 2000 year history. Seventh-day Adventists believe that the biblical teaching is still valid today, because it is anchored in the very nature of humanity and God's plan at creation for marriage.

1 Seventh-day Adventists Believe--A Biblical Exposition of 27 Fundamental Doctrines , Doctrine 22 on 'Marriage and the Family."

2 Public Statement, An Affirmation of Family , released July 5, 1990, at the General Conference Session, Indianapolis , Indiana .

3 Statement voted by the General Conference Administrative Committee on April 23, 1996.

4 Statement voted by the Annual Council of the General Conference Executive Committee, October 3, 1999.