Vaccination: A Biblical and Theological Reflection

You are invited to attend the upcoming Conference on Adventist Identity titled, "Being the Remnant: Adventist Identity in History and Theology," presented at Andrews University from Oct. 13–15, 2022, either in person or via livestream on YouTube. Full program is below.

Registration
Please register using the registration link below. There is no charge to you. The use of your email will be only to forward information and links for this conference and associated publications and future conferences on Adventist identity.

https://forms.gle/HD8WyqMJCvrw8u7d7

Livestream Link
All who register will be sent the livestream link the week of the conference via email.

Paper Access
The presentations at the conference will normally be a 15-minute summary of the full paper written by the presenters. The full papers will be available for access on a cloud drive so they can be read in advance of the conference.

All who register will be sent the link and access code to the full papers for the conference, most of which will be available after Oct. 1.

Book Intent
Please note that it is the intent of the organizers to produce a book using the papers of this and future Adventist Identity conferences. As such, you may make use of the papers for education purposes and as a resource within your own research but may not publish any portion of any of these papers except properly documented quotations within a document.

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Schedule

Thursday, Oct. 13: Seminary Chapel

"What is Identity?" (5:30–7:30 p.m.)
Chair: Andrea Luxton (Andrews University)

1. (Philosophy): “Defining Identity,” Ante Jerončić (Andrews University)
2. (Philosophy/Theology): “The Concept of Worldview and its Relevance to the Remnant,” Jud Lake (Southern Adventist University)
3. (Theology): “Who are We? Current Adventist Self-Understanding,” Jiří Moskala (Andrews University)
4. (History): “How Seventh-day Adventists Understood the Concept of Identity, Historically,” Alberto Timm (Biblical Research Institute)

Q&A/Discussion

"How Do Christians Arrive at a Shared Identity?" (8–9:30 p.m.)
Chair: Trevor O’Reggio (Andrews University)

1. (History): “Christian Identity in the Early Church,” John Reeve (Andrews University)
2. (History): “A Protestant Identity or Protestant Identities? The Formation of Protestant Christianity, 1517–1600,” Abner Hernandez  (Andrews University)
3. (History): “A Sense of Belonging: The Adventist Journey Home,” Denis Kaiser (Andrews University)

Q&A/Discussion

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Friday, Oct. 14: Seminary Chapel

"Narrative" (8:30–10 a.m.)
Chair: Dragoslava Santrac (Office of Archives, Statistics, and Research)

1. (Theology): “Narratives in Conflict: The Emergence of Christian Identity in the Ancient World,” Felix Cortez (Andrews University)
2. (History): “Ultraism and the Present Truth: The Radical Essence of Early Adventism and How It Has Been Forgotten,” Kevin Burton (Andrews University)
3. (History): “Historical Memory and the Identity of the Seventh-day Adventist Church,” Valentyna Kuryliak (Ukrainian Institute of Arts and Sciences)

Q&A/Discussion

"Doctrine" (10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.)
Chair: Daniel Bediako (Biblical Research Institute)

1. (Theology): “Views on the Identification of the Remnant within the Seventh-day Adventist Church,” Sang-hoon Jee (Asia-Pacific International University)
2. (Theology): “The Centrality of Christ in Adventist Doctrine,” Richard M. Davidson (Andrews University)
3. (Theology/History): “Adventist Systematic Theology: Retrospect and Prospect,” John Peckham (Andrews University)

Q&A/Discussion

LUNCH (12–1:30 p.m.)

"Healthy Living" (1:30–3 p.m.)
Chair: Galina Stele (Office of Archives, Statistics, and Research)

1. (Theology-Law): “Adventism, Sexuality and Gender in an Age of Flux,” Nicholas P. Miller (Andrews University)
2. (Sociology of Medicine): “Adventist Lifestyle Paradox: Increasing Scientific Affirmation, Waning Member Support,” David Williams (Harvard University)
3. (Sociology of Religion): “God’s Law and Love in Adventist Perspective,” Petr Činčala and Duane McBride (Andrews University)

Q&A/Discussion

"Eschatology and Prophecy" (3:15–4:45 p.m.)
Chair: Elias Brasil de Souza (Biblical Research Institute)

1. (Art History): “A Visual Apocalypse: Adventist Eschatology in the History of Art,” Neale Schofield (Independent Scholar)
2. (Theology): “The Cleansing of the Temple, the Land and the People in the Haggai-Zechariah Corpus: Implications for the Formation of Adventist Social Identity,” Goran Zivkovic (McMaster Divinity College)
3. (Historical Theology): “Development of Adventist Apocalyptic Eschatology and Seventh-day Adventist Identity, 1844–1863,” Clinton Wahlen (Biblical Research Institute)

Q&A/Discussion

"Knowledge, Study, and Education" (5–6 p.m.)
Chair: Adam Fenner (Andrews University/Adventist Learning Community)

1. (Philosophy-History) “The Value of Adventist Education: Historical and Contemporary Perspectives,” John Wesley Taylor (GC Education Department)
2. (History): “Adventist Medical Education,” Lisa Beardsley-Hardy (GC Education Department)

Q&A/Discussion

SUPPER (6–7:30 p.m.)

"Sabbath" (7:30–9:30 p.m.)
Chair: Anna Galeniece (Andrews University)

Andrews String Quartet performance

1. (Theology): “Biblical Principles of Sabbath-Keeping,” Jo Ann Davidson (Andrews University)
2. (History): “Concepts of Sacred Time,” Michel Sunhae Lee (Southern Adventist University)
3. (Historical Theology): “Becoming More Like Jesus—The Significance of the Image of God in the Writings of the Pioneers, 1842 to 1915,” Gavin Anthony (Iceland Conference)

Q&A/Discussion

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Sabbath, Oct. 15

"Mission" (9–11 a.m., Seminary Chapel)
Chair: Cheryl Doss (Institute of World Mission)

Seminary Chorus performance

1. (Biblical Theology): “Living into the Just and Joyful Reality of the New Earth: Good News for the Past, Present, and Future,” Andrew Tompkins (Andrews University)
2. (Missiology): “Adventist Identity and World Religions,” Petras Bahadur (Center for Adventist-Muslim Relations)
3. (History): “‘Their Works do Follow Them’: The Importance of Foreign Mission in Adventist Identity, through the Lens of Missionary Tragedy,” Ashlee Chism (Office of Archives, Statistics, and Research)

Q&A/Discussion

Worship Service (11:45 a.m., Pioneer Memorial Church)
Sermon on Adventist identity by Dwight Nelson (Andrews University)

LUNCH (1–2:30 p.m.)

"Spirit of Prophecy" (3:30–5 p.m., Pioneer Memorial Church)
Chair: Jerry Moon (Andrews University)

1. (History): “‘Ellen White in Color’: The Divine and Human Elements in the Life and Ministry of Ellen G. White,” Merlin Burt (Ellen G. White Estate)
2. (Historical Theology): “Learning from Ellen G. White about Essential Aspects of Adventist Identity,” Frank M. Hasel (Biblical Research Institute)
3. (History): “Wholistic Living: Ellen G. White and the Development of the Seventh-day Adventist Health Message,” Theodore Levterov (Loma Linda University/Ellen G. White Estate)

Q&A/Discussion

Concluding Session (5:30–7 p.m., Seminary Chapel)
Chair: Zdravko Plantak (Loma Linda University)

“What Have We Learned about Adventist Identity?,” David Trim (Office of Archives, Statistics, and Research/Andrews University)

Plenary Discussion

The Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary is not an institution of higher learning that is merely in the education business. The seminary is made of people who are pastors, counselors, chaplains. We are in the people business– educating and ministering to said people is what we do.

At the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Seminary saw the need to form a support team to care for the mental, emotional, social, and financial needs of the seminary student family. Seminarians were experiencing the fear, depression, anxiety, loneliness, and overall stress that comes with isolation, bereavement, loss of income, and uncertainty.

The intent of the seminary administration was to pull together individuals and ministries that provide care and to coordinate their efforts in creating or developing educational and healing events for seminary students and their families. The Associate Dean of the Seminary (Dr. Teresa Reeve) was given the task of leading the effort supported by her Administrative Assistant and the Seminary Director of Finances. Seminary counselors, chaplains, the First the Blade team, and the co-directors of the Seminary Student Forum (SSF) were also asked to join the “Seminary Care Team” that meets every other week to discuss and plan together.

The Care Team responded to the massive needs by rallying financial and food support for those in need. Counselors and chaplains provided emotional support and facilitated student initiatives for spiritual and responsible social engagement.

Within 7 weeks of the pandemic shut-down, the realities of social injustice rocked the campus with the death of George Floyd. The Seminary Care Team immediately rallied and held 3 race forums/family meetings for faculty and student support.

The Team planned colloquia on mental health, trauma, and grief. They scheduled monthly hour-long seminars on topics such as financial health, anxiety and depression, and trauma. They also shared brief mental health nuggets during the seminary worship times.

First the Blade facilitated a gathering of seminary students and their families around a meal for the purpose of building connections between the families. This ministry also assisted in the reactivation of the Seminary Spouses Ministry (SSM) which is still quite active and has held two events for spouses with more planned in the near future.

Two years later, the worst of the pandemic is considered over; however, seminary students, like many others, are still dealing with the after-effects of the crisis. For this reason, the Seminary Care Team continues its ministry. We want our students and graduates to enter the field able to serve from a place of wellness and empowerment.

Dr. David Sedlacek

Esther Green

Quickly scanning my gallery view, I noticed that there were seminary professors and fellow seminarians in attendance.  It was in that moment I could not help but notice out of the 30 plus individuals in attendance there were only a handful of my white counterparts. Nevertheless, Dr. Teresa Reeve and Dr. Sedlacek provided context and went over the agenda for the forum. We were at a tipping point because the past few months had been filled with uncertainty and anxiety. Everyone was facing individual and collective battles in protecting themselves and their loved ones from the COVID-19 virus. However, there was one incident in the news stories about an injustice in our society that overshadowed it all, the murder of George Floyd. As the conversation began to take shape I slipped further away as I reflected on the murder of George Floyd and questions filled my mind. I started to feel the palpitations of my heart grow stronger and felt shortness of breath while sweat tried to ease its way down my clenched fist. I began to drift even further away as more questions invaded my mind: how does one accurately define suffering when language misses the mark?

I was quickly snapped back into reality as I heard a familiar voice share similar feelings. I resonated deeply with feeling trapped by all the social unrest in the news but also in my own life.  Although, words failed to express the extent of my pain, listening to fellow seminarians share somehow gave me the courage to speak. As I was given a chance to speak, I chose to avoid cheap cliches and eloquent speech and spoke from the heart. I shared with the group that I was still processing and have not been able to fully reflect. I listed the names of Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, Oscar Grant, Eric Gardner, Kenneth Chamberlain, John Crawford, Philando Castile, Brianna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd. It was in that moment that I realized the question that was staring me in my face every morning: how do I protect my unborn child from the world he would soon enter?

The first forum ended with participants emotionally spent from sharing and listening to one another’s expression of grief, pain, and hope. Due to the obvious need, a second forum was held virtually on July 14, 2020 at 12pm. There is a particular segment from this second forum on race that is important to highlight. If people in our Andrews University Seminary community hear nothing else, this is what I want them to hear. To hear someone that expresses your worldview and looks like me but is a professor share the wrongs and ills that they experienced in the seminary just broke our hearts. I watched as another professor showed compassion in the most altruistic form and just begin to cry as his heart was breaking for his friend. It was then that I came to realize that tears do not discriminate based on color, ethnicity, gender, doctrine, creed, or belief but seeks, rather, to reach the heart. Just for a moment we held space where we were seen, heard, and valued. Although some had to relive traumatizing experiences to help some of our colleagues in understanding the pathos of the black experience, the cognitive shift was beginning which one could observe from the head nods followed by the phrase “Thank you for sharing!”.

It has been difficult, to be honest, but I have not lost--and will not lose--my hope. Yes, I am tired of having courageous conversations BUT what holds me up is this simple truth found Lamentations 3:24, “The Lord is my portion, says my soul." The issue is a strained one; nevertheless, we need to move forward. I believe there is going to be a continued resistance; however, I am more hopeful for future change in the world because it is happening in our Seminary.

For too long, church members have believed that the call to ministry is primarily for pastors and evangelists. However, the Great Commission—given by Jesus, who was in the business of carpentry, to His disciples, who were in the business of fishing—is not limited to those who minister in churches and from pulpits. It is for all who are part of the “priesthood of all believers.” Seminary-trained entrepreneur Jeff Tatarchuk, founder and owner of Life Rx Fitness, has discovered that for him, the marketplace is his ministry and his business is his pulpit.

Tatarchuk has been entrepreneurial since childhood.  “I always wanted to create things,” he said. “I would mix my mom’s spices into new blends and sell them, and in middle school, I started a t-shirt business.”

However, his potential was almost cut tragically short. Locked in a dark cloud of prescription drugs and depression, Tatarchuk attempted suicide in junior high after declaring himself an atheist.

It wasn’t until he was in a group home in Tennessee that he experienced the power of Jesus. When a friend challenged him to read the Bible, the stories he read came to life for the first time. The image of Jesus choosing nails for him was a self-described turning point, and he surrendered to Jesus.

“I experienced the relief of knowing that Jesus took all my junk on the cross,” he said.  “I knew there were a lot more people out there who needed to experience this, and I wanted to share that hope.”

After graduating from college with a theology degree, Tatarchuk became a full-time evangelist.  However, before moving to Michigan to study at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University, Tatarchuk connected with a church that was running a community thrift store.  He was fascinated by the opportunity that the store gave pastors and volunteers to converse with unbelievers about the gospel.

“They’d found something that elevated the community and transcended the four walls of the church,” he said. “That’s what I wanted.”

Ever the entrepreneurial evangelist, Tatarchuk opened a similar thrift store in Berrien Springs, Michigan, before the Seminary school year began.  The endeavor was profitable and allowed him to reach community members. However, one year after opening the store, his business partner had a brain aneurysm and the business seemed doomed.

“I felt like I had failed,” Tatarchuk said. “I had also gained a lot of weight and needed to do something to get healthy. That’s when a friend introduced me to the burpee.”

The burpee, a full-body aerobic move, launched Tatarchuk into what would become his most successful business venture to date.  Needing to finish out his lease, Tatarchuk turned the thrift store into a Crossfit gym, hoping to break even financially. He broke even on opening day. Since its start in 2013, the gym has expanded from a Crossfit facility to an all-inclusive fitness center, Life Rx Fitness.

“We’ve used the space to do community breakfasts, health expos and vespers,” he said. “The gym has created a neutral environment for people to be open and share at any time.”

Tatarchuk also uses the language of the gym to introduce faith to those who would never attend a traditional evangelistic meeting.

“We package our vespers in the gym’s language. In Crossfit, the goal is to progress and get to the level of the prescribed workout. When you successfully complete it, you get ‘Rx’ next to your name. So we started FaithRx, a vespers program, to teach people how to live life as it’s meant to be.”

In addition, the Seminary has partnered with Tatarchuk to host creative evangelistic meetings. Over fifty people attended the meetings in the gym and 16 were baptized, all of which are still active in church.

One of the most important pieces of advice Tatarchuk can give to business people who are passionate about God is to connect with other believing businesspeople.

“Be a part of a network,” he challenges other entrepreneurs. “Find somebody that you enjoy and hold each other accountable to do something for God through your business.”
Secondly, he implores business people to be grounded in scripture.

“Having a theological foundation is important,” he said.  “There are so many complex ideas out there that it’s hard to navigate a conversation with people who think differently than you. However you can get it, whether through Bible college, Seminary or another avenue, do it if you can.  Because nobody out there should hear the gospel twice until everyone has heard it once.”

The Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary’s new MA Religion Interdisciplinary Studies Online degree can help any layperson develop a stronger theological foundation through a cohort-based, online experience. Visit andrews.edu/sem/findyourcalling to start equipping yourself for a deeper ministry today.