Press Releases

Reflection on Social Injustice

Life is a miraculous gift that God has given to all His children. We are made in His image and each life is precious.  Every person should be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of personal characteristics, backgrounds, experiences or different views. 

Christians are called to be peacemakers in a world of sin which causes conflict, violence, racism, and oppression of all kinds. The Seventh-day Adventist Church (British Columbia Conference) stands united with all its entities in condemning injustice and oppression. As we adhere to Jesus’ peaceful measures found in Matthew 5:3-10, our hearts ache over recent and past deaths and the resulting turmoil in society. We deeply sympathize with the grieved families for their losses and all who have suffered the consequences of such turbulent times. We invite our members and the community at large to pray for healing.    

Scripture plainly teaches that every person was created in the image of God, who “made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth” (Acts 17:26). Intolerance and hatred are offenses against our Creator and our fellow human beings, all of whom are created in God’s image. In Christ, there is only one race: the human one (Gal. 3:28). All human beings are the caring workmanship of our Creator. Christ’s followers will be known by their love (John 13:34-35). Love is the foundation of Christian character, and listed first in Galatians 5:22 as the effect of the Holy Spirit working on the heart of a person: love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

We hold strongly to our teaching that “In Christ we are a new creation; distinctions of race, culture, learning, and nationality, and differences between high and low, rich and poor, male and female, must not be divisive among us. We are all equal in Christ, who by one Spirit has bonded us into one fellowship with Him and with one another; we are to serve and be served without partiality or reservation.” (Seventh-day Adventist Church Fundamental Belief #14)

BC Conference Administration