Before the recent General Conference Session, a conversation began, rooted in our shared love for God’s Word and His church. Thousands joined a call to reaffirm a cherished Seventh-day Adventist principle: that the Bible, and the Bible alone, is our only creed. The goal was to ensure our practices always align with this foundational truth by adding a clarifying sentence from our own history to the preamble of the 28 Fundamental Beliefs.

The session has now concluded, and it’s important to share an update on this ongoing work. This journey is not about criticism but about a collective desire to hold high the standard of truth entrusted to us as a people.

An Update from the General Conference Session

The motion to amend the preamble was not brought to the delegates during this session. Due to the session’s full agenda, procedural rules did not allow for new items to be introduced from the floor.

While many had hoped to see the matter discussed, the session provided valuable opportunities for constructive dialogue. One such conversation with a delegate and member of the General Conference Executive Committee was particularly encouraging. He affirmed the importance of the principle at stake and offered insight into the church’s process, explaining that such matters are often best developed through the church’s dedicated committees between sessions.

We see this not as a halt, but as a clarification of the path forward. This is a process that requires prayer, patience, and engagement with the structures God has established in His church. We are encouraged that leaders are aware of and sensitive to this important conversation.

Our Mission: A Call to Faithfulness and a Message for the World

It is essential to clarify the heart of our mission. The Liberty of Conscience initiative has two distinct but related purposes.

First, within our beloved church, our aim is to raise awareness and encourage a return to our foundational principles. It is a call to ourselves to ensure we remain firmly planted on the rock of Scripture. The Seventh-day Adventist church is God’s remnant movement, entrusted with a sacred message. It is not, and never has been, Babylon. Our work is to help strengthen the church in its identity and mission by ensuring the Bible’s supreme authority is never functionally replaced by any human document.

Second, to the world, we are called to carry the prophetic warning of the Second and Third Angels’ Messages. This is our great commission in these last days.

Revelation 14:8 - KJV

And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

This message is a call out of the world’s fallen religious systems, where human traditions and authority have usurped the Word of God. As Ellen White clarifies, this message applies to “religious bodies that were once pure and have become corrupt” (The Great Controversy, p. 383). Our purpose is to carry this warning to the world, championing the legacy of our pioneers by inviting all people to a faith built solely upon the Bible.

The Work Continues: Our Path Forward

This important work is far from over. We are committed to continuing this conversation with grace, patience, and persistence. Here is our path forward:

• The petition will remain active. It will continue to serve as a means for members to voice their support for the Bible’s sole authority. As more voices join, it will help raise awareness and demonstrate a collective desire to see this principle upheld when the next General Conference Session convenes.
• Our focus will broaden. While we continue this internal conversation, we will increase our efforts to proclaim the message of biblical authority to the entire world. The need for a faith grounded solely on a “Thus saith the Lord” has never been greater.

We are not going to stop. We will continue to write, teach, and advocate for the sacred principle of Sola Scriptura. We are committed to doing so in a way that builds up the church and clarifies its mission to the world.

We invite you to join us on this journey. Stay tuned for further articles and resources. Subscribe to remain informed about future developments. Most importantly, we ask you to support this vital work with your prayers, asking God to guide His church and empower His people to faithfully proclaim His final message.