The Formation of the Ministerial Association in the Seventh-day Adventist Church

Ministerial formation has always been pivotal in the history of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. As the denomination grew, it became increasingly imperative, to become increasingly intentional for the formation of Adventist pastors. Soon after World War I attention was given to the needs for a ministerial department. Such a request was made at the 1918 General Conference session, and even at the pivotal 1919 Bible Conference, church president A. G. Daniells gave special attention to the need to improve ministerial education.

A specific and tangible reference to creating an actual “Ministerial Association” occurred in conjunction with a reading program done by the Education Department. Such reading programs were common in Adventist history, but by 1921 it became apparent that a specific “Ministerial Reading Course” be placed under the leadership “of a Ministerial Department or Association” with “special attention to the needs of the gospel ministry.” A committee of three persons, J. L. Shaw, M. E. Kern, and A. G. Daniells, were to report back with a “recommendation . . . toward the formation of a Ministerial Association, and the nomination of a secretary for the same.” The report of 1921 stated that there were 1,329 ordained ministers and an additional 938 licensed ministers with an additional 1,836 with missionary credentials.

Due to rising pressures with planning for the next General Conference session, held in the summer of 1922, along with some surrounding controversy, meant that although the delegates re-affirmed the previous decision to form a ministerial association, no one was appointed. The major upset, the reversal of roles between William A. Spicer (former secretary, and newly appointed church president), with outgoing president, Arthur G. Daniells, meant that a vacancy was created. Daniells never lost his passion for theological education, and the change in leadership created an opportunity for Daniells, now as secretary of the General Conference, to work on an area that he was passionate about.

The right time came about during the Fall Council, held in Boulder, Colorado, of 1922 (sometimes referred to as the “Boulder Council”) when the Ministerial Association was officially formed with Arthur G. Daniells serving as its first departmental secretary. A series of resolutions was resolved with the primary work being to prepare ministers for “the work of soul-winning.” The members of this association include all ministers, licentiates, Bible workers, and editors of denominational periodicals. Some specific initiatives included:

• Creation of “leaflets of instruction” containing “fundamental principles” for “governing the work of the gospel minister.”

• The creation of “a Question Box” to answer questions.

• The institution of a “Reading Course” for 1923 that included: Testimonies, vol. 2; Will the Old Book Stand? By H. L. Hastings, and The Foreign Missionary by Arthur J. Brown.

• To recruit “young people in the work of the gospel ministry” across various churches, academies, and colleges.

• To encourage conference presidents to recruit potential ministerial recruits in their territories.

• A special committee be appointed to help the recruitment of ministers and to help develop “a course of studies” in preparation for the gospel ministry.

• To encourage every division to appoint a committee, with a secretary, by which the Association may communicate with the workers abroad.

• The referral of holding ministerial institutes.

1. General Conference Committee Minutes, July 7, 1921, 1123. 

2. Ibid.

3. Arthur G. Daniells, “Program of the Ministerial Association,” ARH, Dec. 20, 1923, 14.

4.General Conference Bulletin, 1922, 292; see also: A. G. Daniells, “The Ministerial Association of Seventh-day Adventists,” ARH, Dec. 13, 1923, 15.

5.See “The Ministerial Association,” ARH, May 10, 1923, 4.

6.Ibid.