The present Statement of Fundamental Beliefs was first voted at the 1980 General Conference Session. A twenty-eighth statement was added at the 2005 session. While expressing the church’s current understanding of biblical truth, it was not intended to be the last word. Seventh-day Adventists have always considered it to be a living document, not a creed. As the preamble makes clear, the Bible is our only creed, the twenty eight fundamental beliefs “constitute the church’s understanding and expression of the teaching of Scripture, and “revision of these statements may be expected at a General Conference session when the church is led by the Holy Spirit to a fuller understanding of Bible truth or finds better language in which to express the teachings of God’s Holy Word.”

As a living document, the Statement may be enriched by incorporating into it new doctrinal insights, obtained through Bible study, that will deepen and clarify its content. It is also kept alive through the periodic revision of its verbal expression in order to better articulate biblical truth to new generations. These two aspects of this document will guide the task of revising the language of the Statement for consideration at the 2015 General Conference session.

The need for such a revision was recognized and voted by the 2010 General Conference session. Explicitly mentioned was the statement on Creation, an assignment later enlarged by the General Conference Executive Committee (GC Exec Comm) to include, if deemed necessary, making minor editorial changes to all twenty eight statements of belief. The specific tasks of the Fundamental Beliefs Review Committee (FBRC) were specified:

1. Review the fundamental beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist Church to determine if the language is clear and distinct or if wording refinements are needed.

2. Integrate Fundamental Belief #6 “Creation” and the statement “Response to ‘An Affirmation of Creation,’”¹ as provided for by the 2005 General Conference Session protocol for amending a fundamental belief.

Proposed Timeline

The following timeline for the FBRC’s work has been voted by the GC Exec Comm:

October 2011 to October 2012 – A Time for Listening
The FBRC will solicit suggestions from individuals, scholars, theologians and committees.

October 2012 to October 2013 – A Time for Writing
The FBRC will incorporate the suggestions gleaned from the listening process into a preliminary draft for presentation to the Annual Council meeting of the GC Exec Comm in October, 2013.

October 2013 to July 2015 – A Time for Editing, Publication, and Discussion
During these twenty-one months, the FBRC will coordinate the publication and dissemination of any proposed new language for the Statement of Fundamental Beliefs to the world church as per the protocols for amending a fundamental belief voted in 2005.

We urge all church members to prayerfully consider these statements and make suggestions as to how they may be improved during the next twelve months.