Since its beginnings the Seventh-day Adventist Church has been challenged with the issues of what members should do in time of war. We are admonished by Jesus to be loyal citizens ("Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's") while remaining loyal to God ("and unto God the things that are God's") in Matthew 22:21. What does one do with the commandment "Thou shalt not kill," when faced with a military requirement to bear arms?

Historically, Seventh-day Adventists are noncombatants (serving without weapons). This position was officially registered with the Federal Government at the time of the Civil War and developed along these lines:

1864–Adventist leaders received recognition and approval as being conscientiously opposed to the bearing of arms from the governors of Michigan, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

1918–Woodrow Wilson issued an executive order allowing for religious conscientious objectors to serve in the U.S. military.

1938–The General Conference authorized $30,000 to construct barracks and begin training of noncombatants at Loma Linda and the Washington Sanitarium for pre-induction training in the medical corps.

1950–Everett Dick began the Medical Cadet Corps at Union College.

1953–The U.S. Army began Operation Whitecoat and nearly 2,500 Adventists volunteered as human subjects in medical preventive medicine studies.

1954–Annual Council voted noncombatancy as the church's official position. The National Service Organization was implemented to support Adventist military personnel.

1969–Annual Council affirmed the 1954 statement, but changed the wording to "the church advocates noncombatancy, but allows members to elect to be pacifists as well."

1972–Annual Council affirmed the 1954 and 1969 statements, but recognized that the issue was a matter of conscience for each individual. Members were strongly encouraged to consider the historical position of noncombatancy while leaving the door open to elect to bear arms.

During the Civil War, the Adventist Church, primarily a Northern organization of abolitionists, struggled with issues of identity and theology. After much discussion, the position was to serve honorably in the military, but to do so as noncombatants.

In 1969, the U.S. was involved in the controversial Vietnam War, and many of its citizens expressed opposition—one form being pacifism. The military only recognized those individuals who could show religious support for their pacifism by releasing them to alternate duty. As a matter of conscience, some Adventists chose to be pacifists. When drafted, they were denied that status because their choice was inconsistent with the church's stated position. Thus, in 1969, the statement was adjusted to accommodate pacifism as a choice while encouraging members to serve as noncombatants.

Since the Adventist Church is a world-wide organization and many nations do not provide an option to serve as a noncombatant, the church chose not to make noncombatancy a mandate. As members began to select how they would serve, some elected to bear arms and to serve as combatants without denominational endorsement.

Recognizing the personal conscience and convictions of the individual member, the church seeks to provide information so that personal choices are informed choices, and where possible, to provide members with legal, spiritual, and practical support.

Information provided by Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries. For further information, please call 301-680-6780, e-mail acm@gc.adventist.org, or visit website www.adventistchaplains.org.