Leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist world church voted a set of guidelines for regions considering the establishment of a Biblical Research Committee. These bodies are not mandatory, leaders say, but can be established in a world church region, known as a division, if the leadership there approves.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church sponsors a Biblical Research Institute (BRI) at the world headquarters in the greater Washington D.C. area at Silver Spring, Maryland. Among its primary purposes is to promote the study and practice of Adventist theology and lifestyle as understood by the world church, as well as provide theological resources for the administration and departments of the world headquarters and the church as a whole.

It is envisioned that a regional Biblical Research Committee would "study and prepare materials addressing biblical, doctrinal/theological and ethical issues of relevance to the church" within the region. It would also "evaluate materials of doctrinal and theological content" for use in a region; prepare responses to issues raised from within the church and outside; coordinate activities to increase fellowship among Adventist theologians and teachers in a region; work with the main Biblical Research Institute and the BRI Committee to integrate the church's global vision into its work; and address issues of faith and science.

"We're trying to provide some guidelines to be used in the formation of Biblical Research Committees in the different divisions of the world," said Dr. Angel Manuel Rodriguez, director of the church's Biblical Research Institute, "with an intention of finding ways to work together in theology."

Rodriguez noted that these are guidelines, not requirements, and that divisions are free to adapt them as desired. One suggestion he hopes would gain traction is that any region establishing a Biblical Research Committee would include one or two Adventist theologians from other parts of the world. This "cross-fertilization" would help avoid regionalism, he said.

"If we want to stay together as a church in the area of doctrine and theology, we will have to continue to work diligently," Rodriguez told Adventist News Network. "Let us as theologians spend a little time together and think about our role in the mission of the church and listen to people from other parts of the world."

If such sharing takes place, he added, "We may not have the theological polarization that we have in some areas."

The Seventh-day Adventist Church, formally established 143 years ago, has long placed theology at the centre of its life. As a protestant mainstream world communion, the Adventist Church has more than 14.3 million baptized members, and some 25 million attending weekly worship in more than 203 countries and territories around the world. It is one of the fastest-growing Christian church, with a global network of hospitals, educational institutions and health food businesses dedicated to serving needs worldwide.

In 2005, the church voted an additional statement of fundamental belief centring on spiritual formation and devotional life. [News editors: Mark A. Kellner and Christian B. Schaeffler for ANN/APD]