"Our community needs to seek God's guidance on the issue of marriage," says Pastor Dan Jackson, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada. Jackson is calling on all Seventh-day Adventist churches across Canada to have a special day of prayer on January 29 (Saturday). "Canada is about to make a monumental decision on our cultural framework by redefining marriage to include any two persons," he said. This is a social experiment with unforeseen consequences that will affect our children and our collective future."

Jackson noted that the church is sympathetic to the basic human rights of all. However he expressed concern about the recent court decisions to modify the designation of marriage to include same-sex relationships. The upcoming Parliamentary vote will legislate a new sexual ethic and alter the national moral code. "There is also concern over the recent decisions in British Columbia and Manitoba that has told its civil marriage commissioners that they must solemnize same-sex marriages or lose their licenses to marry even if it violates their consciences," said Jackson.

"I believe that with the redefinition of marriage, the church will come under increasing pressure to either cooperate with the law of the land or to maintain its belief in and loyalty to the directions of God as found in the Holy Scriptures. It is the role of the church to remind our country that our nation was built on the faith and discipline of our forefathers."

More than 52,000 church members worship in 329 Seventh-day Adventist congregations in Canada, which has a population of 31 million. [Editors: Barry Bussey and ANN Staff for APD]