Editing Seventh-day Adventist Church (section)

==Culture and practices==
===Sabbath activities===
{{See also|Sabbath in Seventh-day Adventism}}
Part of Friday might be spent in preparation for the Sabbath; for example, preparing meals and tidying homes. Adventists may gather for Friday evening worship to welcome in the Sabbath, a practice often known as [[vespers]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sdachurch.com/worship/sabbath-vespers/|title=Sabbath Vespers – SDA Church|website=www.sdachurch.com|language=en-US}}</ref>

====Worship service====
The major weekly worship service occurs on Saturday, typically commencing with [[Sabbath School]] which is a structured time of [[small group learning|small-group]] bible study at church. Adventists make use of an officially produced "Sabbath School Lesson", which deals with a particular biblical text or doctrine every quarter.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://spectrummagazine.org/sabbath-school |title=- Spectrum Magazine |website=spectrummagazine.org}}</ref>

After a brief break, the community joins together again for a church service that follows a typical evangelical format, with a [[sermon]] as a central feature. Corporate singing, Scripture readings, prayers and an offering, including [[Tithe|tithing]] (money collection), are other standard features. The instruments and forms of [[worship music]] vary greatly throughout the worldwide church.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/guidelines/music_guidelines.html|title=A Seventh-day Adventist Philosophy of Music—Guidelines|date=October 2004|publisher=General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Annual Council|access-date= April 4, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070405181010/http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/guidelines/music_guidelines.html|archive-date=April 5, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

====Holy Communion====
Adventist churches usually practice open [[Eucharist|communion]] four times a year. It commences with a [[Maundy (foot washing)|foot washing]] ceremony, known as the "Ordinance of Humility", based on the Gospel account of [[John 13]]. The Ordinance of Humility is meant to emulate Christ's washing of his disciples' feet at the [[Last Supper]] and to remind participants of the need to humbly serve one another. Participants segregate by gender to separate rooms to conduct this ritual, although some congregations allow married couples to perform the ordinance on each other and families are often encouraged to participate together. After its completion, participants return to the main sanctuary for consumption of the [[Eucharist|Lord's Supper]], which consists of [[unleavened bread]] and unfermented grape juice.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sdanet.org/atissue/books/27/27-15.htm|title=Seventh-day Adventists Believe. . . The Lord's Supper: 27-15.htm|website=www.sdanet.org}}</ref>

===Health and diet===
[[File:CornFlakesPackage1906.jpg|thumb|left|Corn flakes package from 1906]]
[[File:San health food.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.15|[[Sanitarium Health Food Company|Sanitarium]] products for sale]]
[[File:Main Dining Room, Battle Creek Sanitarium (2).jpg|thumb|The main dining room of the [[Battle Creek Sanitarium]] founded in Michigan by Adventists and run by John Harvey Kellogg. The sanitarium only served vegetarian meals.]]

Since the Seventh-day Adventist Church began in the 1860s, it has advocated its members to eat a [[vegetarian]] diet,<ref name=vegetarian>{{Cite web|url=https://abc.net.au/news/2020-07-26/why-seventh-day-adventists-advocate-a-vegetarian-diet/12485284|title=Seventh-day Adventists advocate a vegetarian diet-but it's not because of animal ethics|last=Hegarty |first=Siobhan|date=2020-07-25|website=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]|access-date=2022-09-03}}</ref> particularly the consumption of [[kosher foods]] described in {{Bibleverse|Leviticus|11|KJV}},<ref name=unclean>{{Cite web|url=https://orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1991-08-02-9108020635-story.html|title=Many Adventists Advocate Rich-Grain, No-Meat Diet|date=1991-08-02|website=[[Orlando Sentinel]]|url-access=subscription|access-date=2022-09-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jewishjournal.com/culture/health/9032/|title=Kosher Consumers for a New Age|last=Wenig|first=Gaby|date=2004-01-22|website=[[Jewish Journal]]|access-date=2023-07-11}}</ref> meaning abstinence from [[pork]], [[rabbit]], [[shellfish]], and other animals proscribed as "[[Unclean animal|unclean]]".<ref name=unclean /> The church discourages its members from consuming [[Alcoholic drink|alcoholic beverages]], [[tobacco]], and [[Prohibition of drugs|illegal drugs]].<ref name=vegetarian /><ref name=abstain>{{Cite web|url=https://nytimes.com/1986/11/11/science/adventists-are-gold-mine-for-research-on-disease.html|title=Adventists Are Gold Mine For Research On Disease|last=Brody |first=Jane |date=1986-11-11|website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=2023-07-08}}</ref><ref name=shun>{{Cite news|url=https://washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/02/14/centenarians-healthy-eating-habits/|title=Want to live a longer life? Try eating like a centenarian|last=O'Connor |first=Anahad|date=2023-02-14|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=2023-07-08}}</ref> In addition, some Adventists avoid [[Convenience food|processed foods]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economist.com/united-states/2023/02/19/christian-californians-may-have-a-solution-to-americas-obesity|title=Christian Californians may have a solution to America's obesity|date=2023-02-19|newspaper=[[The Economist]]|url-access=subscription|access-date=2023-07-08}}</ref> and [[caffeine]].<ref name=abstain /><ref name=shun />

The pioneers of the Adventist Church had much to do with the common acceptance of [[breakfast cereal]]s and [[meat alternative]]s into the Western diet. [[John Harvey Kellogg]] started the meat alternative movement by creating Protose at [[Battle Creek Sanitarium]], which was later sold through mail order by Battle Creek Food Company. The Battle Creek Food Company manufactured mostly meat alternatives for the guests at Battle Creek Sanitarium.<ref name=kellogg>{{Cite web|url=https://battlecreekenquirer.com/story/life/2019/10/04/fake-meat-battle-creek-kellogg-vegetarianism-seventh-day-adventist-protose/2301425001/|title=Fake meat is baked into Battle Creek's history|last=Buckley|first=Nick|date=2019-10-04|website=[[Battle Creek Enquirer]]|access-date=2022-09-08}}</ref><ref name=meat>{{Cite web|url=https://atlasobscura.com/articles/the-history-of-fake-meat-starts-with-the-seventh-day-adventist-church|title=The History of Fake Meat Starts With the Seventh-Day Adventist Church|last=Smith|first=Ernie|date=2015-08-17|website=Atlas Obscura|access-date=2022-09-09}}</ref> [[Will Keith Kellogg]] and John Harvey Kellogg invented [[corn flakes]] at Battle Creek Sanitarium, by putting stale wheat berry between rollers and baking it.<ref name=cereal>{{Cite web|url=https://csmonitor.com/Technology/2012/1005/The-20-most-fascinating-accidental-inventions/Corn-Flakes|title=The 20 most fascinating inventions |last1=Cyran|first1=Pamela |last2=Gaylord|first2=Chris|date=2012-10-05|website=[[The Christian Science Monitor]]|access-date=2022-09-09}}</ref> It was later served to the sanitarium guests. The Kellogg brothers also invented [[bran flakes]] and [[Rice Krispies]].<ref name=cereal /> Later in 1906, Will Keith Kellogg founded the [[Kellogg's|Battle Creek Toasted Corn Flake Company]] in Battle Creek, Michigan.<ref name=kellogg /> Special Foods founded in [[Worthington, Ohio]], in 1939, manufactured nut meat substitutes. After World War II, it changed its name to Worthington Foods. Worthington Foods introduced two canned meat alternatives in 1949: Soyloin Steaks, and Meatless Wieners.<ref name=meat /> In 1960, it bought the rights to manufacture and market Battle Creek Foods Company products after John Harvey Kellogg died. In 1975, it released its frozen, soy-based meatless foods nationwide.<ref name=kellogg /> In both Australia and New Zealand, [[Sanitarium Health and Wellbeing Company]] owned by the church manufactures brands such as [[So Good (soy beverage)|So Good]], Up & Go, and [[Weet-Bix]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://adnews.com.au/news/slingshot-wins-14m-food-giant-sanitarium|title=Slingshot wins $14m food giant Sanitarium |last=Chambers|first=Pippa|date=2017-12-06|website=AdNews |access-date=2022-08-31}}</ref>

The [[Adventist Health Studies]] indicate that the average Adventist in [[California]] lives four to ten years longer than the average Californian. The research concludes that Adventists live longer because they do not smoke or drink alcohol; have a day of rest every week; and maintain a healthy, low-fat, [[vegetarian]] diet that is rich in nuts and beans.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://search.epnet.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=anh&an=18574682 |last=Buettner |first=Dan |title=The Secrets of Long Life |journal=[[National Geographic (magazine)|National Geographic]] |date=November 16, 2005 |volume=208 |issue=5 |pages=2–27 |issn=0027-9358 |access-date=June 6, 2006 |archive-date=November 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130165751/http://search.epnet.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=anh&an=18574682 |url-status=dead }} [http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0511/feature1/index.html Excerpt] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071116202303/http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0511/feature1/index.html |date=November 16, 2007 }}. See also ''National Geographic'', "[https://web.archive.org/web/20071211162258/http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0511/sights_n_sounds/index.html Sights & Sounds of Longevity]"</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2012/03/23/march-23-2012-seventh-day-adventists-and-health/10575/|title=Seventh-day Adventists and Health|date=2012-03-23|website=PBS Religion & Ethics Newsweekly|access-date=2022-09-21}}</ref> The [[group cohesiveness|cohesiveness]] of Adventists' social networks also has been put forward as an explanation for their extended lifespan.<ref>{{cite news |first=Gina |last=Kolata |title=A Surprising Secret to a Long Life: Stay in School |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/03/health/03aging.html?em&ex=1168146000&en=81e0250ab7d4ae5d&ei=5087%0A |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=January 3, 2007}}</ref> Dan Buettner named Loma Linda, California a "[[Blue zone|Blue Zone]]" of longevity, and attributes that to the large concentration of Seventh-day Adventists and their health practices.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://latimes.com/health/la-he-blue-zone-loma-linda-20150711-story.html|title=Why Loma Linda residents live longer than the rest of us |last=Macvean |first=Mary |date=2015-07-11 |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=2022-08-31}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://nbcnews.com/better/lifestyle/what-blue-zone-city-loma-linda-california-can-teach-us-ncna989661|title=What 'Blue Zone' city Loma Linda, California can teach us about living longer |last=Spector|first=Nicole|date=2019-04-03|website=NBC News Better |access-date=2022-08-31}}</ref><ref name=health>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/25/health/longevity-blue-zone-wellness/index.html|title=What sunny, religious town in California teaches us about living-longer|last=LaMotte|first=Sandee|date=2019-11-25|publisher=CNN health|access-date=2022-08-31}}</ref> The 96,000 adults who participated in the Adventist Health Studies-2 from 2001 to 2007 were 30 to 112 years old, and lived in [[Canada]] and the [[United States]]. The study revealed that 8% were [[Veganism|vegans]], 28% were [[Ovo vegetarianism|ovo]]/[[Lacto vegetarianism|lacto]]-[[Lacto-ovo vegetarianism|vegetarians]], 10% were [[Pescetarianism|pesco-vegetarians]], 6% semi-vegetarian, and 48% non-vegetarian. 98.9% of the participants were non-smokers and 93.4% [[Teetotalism|abstained from drinking alcohol]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Adventist Health Study-2 {{!}} Adventist Health Study |url=https://adventisthealthstudy.org/studies/AHS-2 |access-date=January 5, 2021 |website=adventisthealthstudy.org}}</ref> Those who were vegetarian had a much lower risk of [[obesity]], [[hypertension]], and [[hyperglycemia]]. Adventists who were vegetarian had a lower risk of [[breast cancer]], [[colorectal cancer]], [[Coronary artery disease|coronary heart disease]], [[lung cancer]], and [[prostate cancer]], compared to non-vegetarians.<ref name=study>{{Cite web |url=https://worldlifeexpectancy.com/what-adventists-mean-to-you|title=The Adventists And What They Mean To You |website=[[World Life Expectancy]] |access-date=2022-09-23}}</ref> Those who were vegan had a lower [[body mass index]], compared to vegetarians and meat eaters.<ref name=health />

Adventists' clean lifestyles were recognized by the [[United States Army|U.S. military]] in 1954 when 2,200 Adventists volunteered to serve as human test subjects in [[Operation Whitecoat]]: a [[biodefense]] medical research program whose stated purpose was to defend troops and civilians against [[Biological warfare|biological weapons]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fredericknewspost.com/news/health/treatment_and_disease/operation-whitecoat-benifits-army-research-60-years-later/article_b4506486-7fb5-585c-866d-bb25d1352242.html|title=Operation Whitecoat benefits Army research 60 years later|last=Carignan|first=Sylvia|date=2015-10-23|website=[[Frederick News-Post]]|access-date=2022-09-23}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blueridgenow.com/story/news/2004/01/26/adventist-helped-biological-weapons-study/28146747007/|title=Adventist helped biological weapons study|last=Giles|first=Jennie|date=2004-01-25|website=[[BlueRidgeNow]]|access-date=2022-09-23}}</ref>

===Marriage===
The Adventist definition of marriage is a lawfully binding lifelong commitment between a man and a woman. The Church Manual professes the belief that marriage originated as an institution from the biblical story of Adam and Eve and that their union should be used as the pattern for all other marriages.<ref>{{Citation
| url   = http://www.adventistreview.org/church-news/story3051-delegates-reinforce-“man-and-woman”-definition-of-marriage
| title   = Delegates Reinforce 'Man and Woman' Definition of Marriage
| access-date   = August 2, 2020
| archive-url   = https://web.archive.org/web/20200601200841/https://www.adventistreview.org/church-news/story3051-delegates-reinforce-%E2%80%9Cman-and-woman%E2%80%9D-definition-of-marriage
| archive-date  = June 1, 2020
| url-status    = dead
}}</ref>

Adventists hold that marriage is a divine institution established by God during the events of the Book of Genesis prior to the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Eden. They believe that God celebrated the union of Adam and Eve and that the concept of marriage was one of the first gifts of God to man, and that it is "one of the two institutions that, after the fall, Adam brought with him beyond the gates of Paradise."<ref>The Adventist Home, pp. 25, 26.</ref>

The Old and New Testament texts are interpreted by some Adventists to teach that [[Complementarianism|wives should submit to their husbands]] in marriage.<ref>{{Cite journal |author=Mueller |first=Ekkehardt |year=2005 |title=Submission in the New Testament (Ephesians 5) |url=http://biblicalresearch.gc.adventist.org/documents/Ephesians%205.pdf |url-status=dead |journal= |publisher=Biblical Research Institute |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927103113/http://biblicalresearch.gc.adventist.org/documents/Ephesians%205.pdf |archive-date=September 27, 2011}}</ref>

Adventists hold that [[heterosexual]] marriages are the only biblically ordained grounds for [[sexual intimacy]]. Adventists do not perform [[same-sex marriage]]s, and individuals who are openly [[homosexual]] cannot be ordained, but may hold church office and membership if they are not actively pursuing same-sex relationships. Current church policy states that openly homosexual (and "practicing") persons are to be welcomed into the church services and treated with the love and kindness afforded any human being.<ref>{{cite web
| title=Seventh-day Adventist Position Statement on Homosexuality
| publisher=Seventh-day Adventist Church
| date=October 3, 1999
| url=http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/statements/main_stat46.html
| access-date=October 18, 2006
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061003181403/http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/statements/main_stat46.html
| archive-date=October 3, 2006
| url-status=dead
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| title=Seventh-day Adventist Response to Same-Sex Unions—A Reaffirmation of Christian Marriage
| publisher=[[General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists]]
| date=March 9, 2004
| url=http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/statements/main_stat53.html
| access-date=January 11, 2007
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070110193059/http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/statements/main_stat53.html
| archive-date=January 10, 2007
| url-status=dead
}}</ref>

===Ethics and sexuality===
The Seventh-day Adventist Church opposes [[abortion]], believing it can have long-term negative effects on both the individuals involved and society as a whole. In an official statement on the "Biblical View of Unborn Life", the church declared that an unborn child is considered by God to be a living individual.<ref>{{cite web
| url=https://www.adventist.org/en/information/official-statements/statements/article/go/-/statement-on-the-biblical-view-of-unborn-life-and-its-implications-for-abortion-1/
| access-date=December 2, 2019
| title=Statement on the Biblical View of Unborn Life and Its Implications for Abortion
| author=[[General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists]] Executive Committee
| date=October 16, 2019
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191202202514/https://www.adventist.org/en/information/official-statements/statements/article/go/-/statement-on-the-biblical-view-of-unborn-life-and-its-implications-for-abortion-1/
| archive-date=December 2, 2019
| url-status=dead
}}</ref> However, there are circumstances where the mother's life is at risk and Seventh-day Adventist hospitals will perform emergency abortions.<ref>{{cite web
| url=https://adventistbioethics.org/sites/adventistbioethics.org/files/docs/policy-docs/4997_7.pdf
| access-date=September 9, 2021
| title=Operating Policy
| publisher=Loma Linda University Medical Center
}}</ref>

Adventists encourage [[sexual abstinence]] for both men and women before marriage. The church disapproves of extra-marital [[cohabitation]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Kiš |first=Miroslav M. |title=Seventh-day Adventist Position on COHABITATION |url=http://biblicalresearch.gc.adventist.org/documents/CohabitationandSDA.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110112160927/http://biblicalresearch.gc.adventist.org/documents/CohabitationandSDA.htm |archive-date=January 12, 2011}}</ref> Adventists oppose homosexual activities and relationships, citing the belief that scripture makes no accommodation for homosexuality.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.adventist.org/en/information/official-statements/statements/article/go/-/homosexuality/|title=Homosexuality|date=October 4, 2016|website=www.adventist.org}}</ref>

The Adventist church has released official statements in relation to other ethical issues such as [[euthanasia]] (against active euthanasia but permissive of passive withdrawal of medical support to allow death to occur),<ref>{{cite web
| title=A Statement of Consensus on Care for the Dying
| publisher=[[General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists]]
| date=October 9, 1992
| url=http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/statements/main_stat6.html
| access-date=January 11, 2007
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061206202122/http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/statements/main_stat6.html
| archive-date=December 6, 2006
| url-status=dead
}}</ref> [[birth control]] (in favor of it for married couples if used correctly, but against abortion as birth control and premarital sex in any case)<ref>{{cite web
| title=Birth Control: A Seventh-day Adventist Statement of Consensus
| publisher=[[General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists]]
| date=September 29, 1999
| url=http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/statements/main_stat44.html
| access-date=January 11, 2007
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061130142324/http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/statements/main_stat44.html
| archive-date=November 30, 2006
| url-status=dead
}}</ref> and [[human cloning]] (against it if the technology could result in defective births or abortions).<ref>{{cite web
| title=Statement on Ethical Considerations Regarding Human Cloning
| publisher=[[General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists]]
| date=September 27, 1998
| url=http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/statements/main_stat38.html
| access-date=January 11, 2007
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061207060652/http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/statements/main_stat38.html
| archive-date=December 7, 2006
| url-status=dead
}}</ref>

===Dress and entertainment===
{{Further|Plain dress}}
Adventists have traditionally held [[social conservative|socially conservative]] attitudes regarding dress and entertainment. These attitudes are reflected in one of the church's fundamental beliefs:

{{Blockquote|For the [[Holy Spirit|Spirit]] to recreate in us the character of our Lord we involve ourselves only in those things which will produce Christlike purity, health, and joy in our lives. This means that our amusement and entertainment should meet the highest standards of Christian taste and beauty. While recognizing cultural differences, our dress is to be simple, modest, and neat, befitting those whose true beauty does not consist of outward adornment but in the imperishable ornament of a gentle and quiet spirit.<ref name="webfundamentals">{{cite web
| title        = Fundamental Beliefs
| publisher    = Seventh-day Adventist Church
| url          = http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/fundamental/index.html
| access-date  = January 18, 2018
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20060310104717/http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/fundamental/index.html
| archive-date = March 10, 2006
| url-status   = dead
}}</ref>}}

Accordingly, Adventists are opposed to practices such as [[body piercing]] and [[tattoo]]s and refrain from the wearing of jewelry, including such items as earrings and bracelets. Some also oppose the displaying of wedding bands, although banning wedding bands is not the position of the General Conference.<ref>{{cite web
| last         = Roger
| first        = Coon
| title        = The Wedding Band, Ellen G. White, and the Seventh-day Adventist Church
| publisher    = [[Biblical Research Institute]]
| date         = December 10, 1987
| url          = http://www.adventistbiblicalresearch.org/documents/weddingband.htm
| access-date  = January 11, 2007
| archive-date = December 6, 2006
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20061206145352/http://www.adventistbiblicalresearch.org/documents/weddingband.htm
| url-status   = dead
}}</ref> In 1986, the North American Division permitted the wearing of [[wedding ring]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://reference.com/world-view/can-seventh-day-adventists-wear-wedding-rings-236ec50656499fe6|title=Can Seventh Day Adventists Wear Wedding Rings?|date=2020-04-08|website=Reference|access-date=2022-09-29|archive-date=September 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929192949/https://www.reference.com/world-view/can-seventh-day-adventists-wear-wedding-rings-236ec50656499fe6|url-status=dead}}</ref> Before that, it was a source of friction, since Adventists [[Expatriate|overseas]] have worn wedding rings for many decades.<ref name=ring/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1979/03/30/seventh-day-adventists-ring-case-carried-to-district-agency/2bc380fa-f37f-4682-96a2-8effde465a74/|title=Seventh-Day Adventist's Ring Case Carried to District Agency|last=Hyer|first=Marjorie|date=1979-03-30|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=2022-09-29}}</ref>

Conservative Adventists avoid certain recreational activities which are considered to be a negative spiritual influence, including dancing, rock music and secular theatre.<ref>{{cite news
| title      = Adventist students sanctioned for attending dance (2001)
| agency     = Associated Press
| year       = 2001
| url        = http://www.eijkhout.net/rad/dance_other/banned3.html
| access-date = January 11, 2007
}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Pipim |first=Samuel |title=Applause, Hand Waiving, Drumming, & Dancing in the Church |url=http://www.drpipim.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=108&Itemid=48 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100711201745/http://www.drpipim.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=108&Itemid=48 |archive-date=July 11, 2010 |access-date=September 14, 2010 |work=drpipim.org}}</ref> However, [[Valuegenesis|major studies]] conducted from 1989 onwards found that a majority of North American church youth reject some of these standards.<ref name="SteveCase">{{cite web
| last        = Case
| first       = Steve
| title       = Shall We Dance?
| publisher   = Dialogue
| url         = http://dialogue.adventist.org/articles/06_2_case_e.htm
| access-date  = January 11, 2007
| url-status   = dead
| archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20070203183504/http://dialogue.adventist.org/articles/06_2_case_e.htm
| archive-date = February 3, 2007
}}</ref>

On June 29, 2000, the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists adopted a [[resolution (law)|resolution]] on [[gambling]]. The church encourages its members not to gamble and it will not accept funding from it.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://stvincenttimes.com/seventh-day-adventist-church-position-on-gambling/|title=Seventh-Day Adventist Church Position On Gambling|date=2019-01-28|website=[[St. Vincent Times]]|access-date=2022-09-28}}</ref>

===Youth ministry===
Missionary work with children and youth begins with the Adventurer club. The Adventurer curriculum is for children aged between 4–9 and it is divided into 6 classes which are little lamb, early bird, sunbeam, builder and helping hand. Each class builds on the previous class. The curriculum is structured in way that will interest, challenge, and provide successful experiences for children. The curriculum is divided into 5 sections which are, Basic, My God, Myself, My Friends and My World which help children to meet the objectives of the curriculum. The objectives of the Adventurer Curriculum are: to develop a Christ-like character; to experience the joy and satisfaction of doing things well; to express their love for Jesus in a natural way; to learn good sportsmanship and strengthen their ability to get along with others; to discover their God-given abilities and to learn how to use them to benefit self and serve others; to discover God's world; to improve their understanding of what makes families strong; to develop parental support for the training of children. The club engages in witnessing, community work so as to share the love of Jesus.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gcyouthministries.org/ministries/adventurers/ |title=Adventurers|date=June 2, 2020 }}</ref>

[[Pathfinders (Seventh-day Adventist)|Pathfinders]] is a club for 5th to 10th grade (up to 12th in the Florida Conference) boys and girls. It is similar to and based partly on the [[Scouting]] movement. Pathfinders exposes young people to such activities as camping, community service, personal mentorship, and skills-based education, and trains them for leadership in the church. Yearly "Camporees" are held in individual Conferences, where Pathfinders from the region gather and participate in events similar to Boy Scouts' Jamborees.

After a person enters 9th grade, they are eligible to join Teen Leadership Training within Pathfinders. In the 11th grade, typically after being a member of a club, they can become a Pathfinder or Adventurer staff member and begin the "Master Guide" program (similar to Scout Master) which develops leaders for both Adventurers and Pathfinders.<ref>''Adventist Manual''</ref>