International Missionary Society
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The International Missionary Society of Seventh-Day Adventist Church Reform Movement (IMSSDARM) is an independent Protestant Christian denomination that split from the Seventh Day Adventist Church in the 1920s.
IMSSDARM is a part of the Sabbatarian Adventist movement. The IMSSDARM headquarters is located in Cedartown, Georgia,.
History[]
World War I rupture in Adventist movement[]
The IMSSDARM first appeared as a distinct organization in Germany shortly after World War I .[1]
Adventist doctrine had historically condemned war and told its followers not to serve as soldiers.
“The denomination of Christians calling themselves Seventh-day Adventist, taking the Bible as their rule of faith and practice are unanimous in their views that its teachings are contrary to the spirit and practice of war, hence they have ever been conscientiously opposed to bearing arms.” –Letter to Austin Blair, Governor of Michigan, August 3, 1864, (Signed) John Byington, J.N. Loughborough, Geo. W. Amadon, General Conference Committee.
However, in 1914, the warring governments in Europe pressured the Adventist leadership to allow military service for their young men. This was the official statement issued by the church leadership in Germany:
"Most honorable Lord General and Minister of War, August 4, 1914:
"…While we stand on the fundamentals of the Holy Scriptures, and seek to fulfill the precepts of Christendom, keeping the Rest Day (Saturday) that God established in the beginning, by endeavoring to put aside all work on that day, still in these times of stress, we have bound ourselves together in defense of the 'Fatherland,' and under these circum-stances we will also bear arms on Saturday (Sabbath)….” (Signed) “H.F. Schubert, President”
Approximately two percent of Seventh-day Adventist members in more than 14 European countries were disfellowshipped from the church for their open opposition to war and their support of pacifism. In some countries, entire congregations and their elders, within just one week, found themselves deprived of church membership because of their stand on the war question and the Sabbath.
Creation of IMSSDARM[]
After World War I, disfellowshipped Adventists in Europe decided to formally organize so as to legally hold their collective resources and support their ministers and workers
Since many disfellowshipped Adventists had belonged to the International Missionary and Tract Society of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, they organized in 1919 in Germany as "Internationale Missionnsgesellshaft der Siebententags Adventisten Alte seit 1844 stehengebliebene Richtung Deutsche Union" (International Missionary Society of Seventh-day Adventists, old movement standing firm since 1844).
The new organization unsuccessfully attempted in 1920 and 1922 to reconcile their differences with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. At this point, the organization decided to continue independently of the Adventist Church. This move was facilitated by the discovery that an Adventist reform movement had been prophesied. The dissident organization now became the IMSSDARM
In July 1925, IMSSDARM representatives from around the world established basic Principles of Faith at a General Conference meeting in Gotha, Germany. IMSSDARM began spreading into Africa, Latin America, and Asia.
In April 1936, the Nazi government confiscated all IMSSDARM property in Germany. Many German IMSSDARM leaders and followers died in concentration camps. Some of them were allegedly denounced by members and leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Post war schism[]
In 1952, IMSSDARM went through a schism.
During General Conference delegates’ meetings held in the Netherlands, on May 21, 1951, the acting Secretary of the General Conference, Dimitru Nicolici, from Romania, objected to certain procedures of the meetings and walked out with 10 other delegates and an interpreter.
Within a few days, the breakaway group had set up its own separate organization, the Seventh-Day Adventist Reform Movement, in the United States. The two organizations tried to unite in 1952, 1968, and 1993, but the efforts failed.
Current structure[]
The organizational structure of IMSSDARM follows the original pattern of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The denomination has churches, mission fields, districts, fields, unions, and the General Conference.
The highest governing body of the denomination, the General Conference Assembly, is composed of delegates from around the globe. It meets in full session every five years to elect a 13-member governing Board. The Board studies doctrinal issues and establishes missionary priorities. The 2017Assembly was held in Tortoreto, Italy.
The international headquarters facility in Cedartown, Georgia, U.S.A., was purchased in 2007 and is staffed by ministers, doctors, teachers, and missionaries. The Sabbath Watchman is the official publication.[2]
IMSSDARM is represented in more than 100 countries. It has approximately 35,000 members with more than 73,000 congregants attending weekly church services.
Doctrine[]
IMSSDARM adherents worship on the seventh-day Sabbath (Saturday) and profess belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. The organization holds the Bible to be inerrant and acknowledges the writings of Ellen G. White to be part of the Spirit of prophecy (inspired writings) for the last days.
IMSSDARM attaches much importance to their name, historical roots, and Adventist doctrines.[3] Points of difference with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, besides conscientious objection to war, include the view that abortion and homosexuality violate God's will, a refusal to participate in political activity, the upholding of the marriage institution as sacred before God, a refusal to participate in ecumenism and labor unions, and advocacy of health principles, such as vegetarianism and natural healing, while abstaining from alcohol, tobacco, and drugs.
The IMSSDARM states that it does not divide into different churches on the basis of language, ethnic, or racial differences.
References[]
- ^ "International Missionary Society - American Union". Sda1888.org.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-12-25. Retrieved 2013-12-24.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^ [1][dead link]
External links[]
- General Conference - International Missionary Society
- American Union - International Missionary Society - American Union
- Canadian Field - International Missionary Society Seventh-day Adventist Reform movement, Canadian Field | IMSSDARM, Adventist Library - IMS Media Online Library and Adventist Bookstore, The Reformation Messenger
- Japan Church - IMS セブンスデー・アドベンチスト教会
- Charismatic Adventism