The
Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement is a
Protestant Christian denomination, part of the
Sabbatarian adventist movement, and the result of a split from
the
Seventh-day Adventist
Church created by disagreement over proper
Sabbath observance and
military service during
World War
I.
History
When the German army mobilized in 1914, Seventh-day Adventists in
that country had to decide whether they would serve in the
military. The president of the East German Union Conference and
others in council decided that conscripted Adventists would bear
arms and could render service on the Sabbath in defense of their
country. Though most followed their leadership in this policy, a
minority felt they must uphold the church's original position in
regard to keeping the Law of God and also serve in the military.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Europe disfellowshipped those
who refused to serve in the military. It is interesting to note
that one of the methods to circumvent the problems with compulsory
military service and their doctrines, such as in the former
Yugoslavia, was not to baptise young men who had not yet done
military service. This 'legal loophole' allowed the SDARM to claim
that none of its members ever left the church to do military
service.About 4,000 Adventists in Germany and other parts of Europe
were disfellowshipped. Attempts at reconciliation were made at the
conclusion of the war, and again in 1920 and 1922, but failed.
However, this breakaway group had already registered themselves as
a church in 1919, which militated against them truly seeking any
reconciliation. Rather, the attempts to reconcile where cosmetic,
and aimed more at highlighting their grievances, and attracting
others to their group. Then they registered once again, this time
as the Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement, which was organized
into a separate church from the main body of Seventh-day Adventists
at Gotha, Germany, July 14–20, 1925. The Reform Movement was first
headquartered in Isernhagen, Germany, then later in Basel,
Switzerland. After World War II, the headquarters were moved to
Sacramento, California. The Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement
has members in nearly 150 countries. The General Conference
coordinates the work of the denomination around the world,
including the various Union Conferences, Field Conferences and
Missions.Seventh-day Adventist church leaders in Germany and
Austria released a declaration in 2005 deeply regretting its
failures during World War II in a declaration first published in
2005, but made no mention of what they had done during World War I.
This ongoing battle between these two rival groups focuses on
accusations of adultery and fraud. The leader of one group,
Nicolici, was accused of obtaining donations from elderly people,
whilst a minister of one of the other factions was accused of
living in adultery. Nicolici, a Romanian, was looked after by
members at a property known as Moriah Heights, where in his old age
suffered from senile dementia, and was known to run around naked
and engage in other unusual behavior.There are numerous
eccentricities and inconsistencies in this movement. For example,
at one of their General Conference sessions, it was debated whether
to make it 'unlawful' to eat beans and rice at the same meal, and
to make this a point of faith. This was strongly supported by the
South American delegations, but was finally rejected.Also, women
are required to grow their hair as a point of faith, but this is
difficult for African women. To avoid the inconvenience of an
'Afro' hairstyle, African women are permitted to cut their hair.
This leads to two different religious requirements.Other
requirements are that members are not permitted to eat chocolate or
cheese, may not go to the cinema, dance or watch television. Also,
they do not accept vaccinations for their children, and tend to
keep away from orthodox medicine.
Officers
President
Vice-President
Secretary
General Conference Sessions
ans
See also
External links
SDARM Sites:
Other:
References
- The Seventh-day Adventist Encyclopedia, Review &
Herald Publishing Association
- History of the Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement,
Alfons Balbach, Reformation Herald Publishing Association,
1999.
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