For some time we have felt a growing conviction regarding an ebb in the use of the name "Seventh-day Adventists" in connection with many important -functions and operations of the church. For lack of a better title, we choose to call this general trend "The Silent Adventists."
We preface these thoughts by saying that we have no "burden" against anyone; we simply want to reverse the trend, for reasons which are mentioned below:
ITEM: A number of Seventh-day Adventist hospitals are changing their names these days. The new name, more often than not, does not carry any indication of the hospital's connection with the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
"The name Seventh-day Adventist carries the true features of our faith in front, and will convict the inquiring mind."—Testimonies, vol. 1, p. 224.
ITEM:, Many, in fact most, of the buses that carry Seventh-day Adventist young people to Seventh-day Adventist academies carry no indication of the school's connection with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The names of many of our academies have no connection with the church.
"No name which we can take will be appropriate but that which accords with our profession and expresses our faith and marks us a peculiar people. The name Seventh-day Adventist is a standing rebuke to the Protestant world. Here is the line of distinction between the worshipers of God and those who worship the beast and receive his mark." —Testimonies, vol. 1, p. 223.
ITEM: A growing number of Seventh-day Adventist churches are changing their names, with the new name making no mention of the name of the Advent faith. The word "community" seems gaining as a substitute for the name Seventh-day Adventist.
"Men will employ every means to make Less prominent the difference between Seventh-day Adventists and observers of the first day of the week. A company was presented before me . . . advising that the banner, or sign, which makes us a distinct people should not be held out so strikingly; for they claimed that this was not the best policy in order to secure success to our institutions. But this is not a time to haul down our colors, to be ashamed of our faith. This distinctive banner . . . is to be borne through the world to the close of probation."—Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 144.
ITEM: In an increasing number of written articles, aimed at Seventh-day Adventists and nonSeventh-clay Adventists alike, the name is either not used at all when it might be used naturally or the name is abbreviated "SDA." Only to a minute fraction of the public do these initials suggest the name Seventh-day Adventist. To altogether too many it is confused with "LDS."
Never for one moment should the impression be given to anyone that it would be for his profit to hide his faith and docrtines from the unbelieving people of the world, fearing that he may not be so highly esteemed if his principles are known. . . . Every Christian is to be a light, not hid under a bushel or under a bed, but put on a candlestick, that light may be given to all who are in the house. Never, from cowardice or worldly policy, let the truth of God be placed in the background."—Testimonies, vol. 6, pp. 144, 145.
We believe, and we feel you do too, that any trend to hide the name of our faith, no matter how well intentioned, should be reversed. And that is the challenge we would like to lay upon you.
In your important responsibility your view, your voice, moves the part of the church you are responsible for in one way or another. Whether you like it or not, people do things or they do not do things because of positions you take, speeches you make, counsel you give.
The tenor of the Spirit of Prophecy regarding the matter of the church name leaves little doubt that every Seventh-day Adventist hospital should carry the name of the church in its name; every Seventh-day Adventist church, academy, elementary school, and school bus should bear the name "Seventh-day Adventist" somewhere in its title.
Every article written for the non-Seventh-day Adventist public should use the name of our faith unless such use would appear grossly unnatural. The name of our faith should be written out, not abbreviated, in articles written for our denominational journals.
We earnestly seek your help in reversing this trend which, whether we like it or not, puts "the truth of God . . . in the background." Thank you for the help we know you will give in this matter. Taken from the Pacific Union Recorder, Oct. 25, 1965.
HERBERT FORD, Secretary Public Relations Dept. Pacific Union Conference
