THE Seventh-day Adventist Church world-wide will mark the 150th year of the adoption of the name "Seventh-day Adventist" today.

The name was chosen during a special meeting of the pioneers in 1860 in Battle Creek, Michigan, USA. At that time the movement had about 2,500 adherents in Northeastern United States and southeastern Canada. Today, this movement has more than 16 million adult baptised members in 203 countries and operates the largest Protestant network of schools and hospitals worldwide.

"Seventh-day" acknowledges obedience to the Fourth Commandment outlined in the book of Exodus to remember the Sabbath Day to keep it Holy. "Adventist" is an acknowledgement of our faith in the Second Advent of Jesus, or the Second Coming.

It is proposed that this historically significant anniversary be used as a time for every member and congregation, as well as other church institutions and organisations, to reflect seriously on the significance of the name "Seventh-day Adventist" in terms of what they are doing individually and corporately.

In Jamaica a service to mark the occasion will be held at the North Street Seventh-day Church, which is the first and oldest Seventh-day Adventist Church in the island. The service includes a dramatic presentation of the historic happening in 1860. The membership will be reminded and asked to give their feelings on what it means to be a Seventh-day Adventist. The speaker for the Divine Service will be Pastor Derek Bignall, president of the Adventist Church in the West Indies Union.

"Some people ask what's there to celebrate in a name?" said Pastor Bignall. "Our name 'Seventh-day Adventists' says precisely who we are: It says we recognise the keeping of the Seventh-day Sabbath, the Commandments of God and we testify of Jesus and His imminent return. Our name reminds us of who we are and the blessed hope we share with Christians everywhere. Our name is very special to us."

Though the name came to describe the church, it was originally chosen for the early movement's publishing work. In 1860, leaders called a general meeting, which brought together 25 ministers, with church co-founder James White urging the formation of an organisation that could legally own a publishing house. Without a legal name, however, it could accomplish little.

Many favoured "Church of God," including White, but some soon found the name presumptuous. Besides, other movements were already employing the name.

David Hewitt, a Battle Creek resident, then introduced and formally proposed the name "Seventh-day Adventist," which would come to brand not only the publishing work, but the movement itself.

Regarding the name selection, Adventist Church co-founder Ellen White later wrote: "The name Seventh-day Adventist carries the true features of our faith in front, and will convict the inquiring mind."

"I think the name has been used through the years in a very positive way because its members have decided to make a difference here and now in anticipation of the Second Coming," said Jim Nix, board chair of Adventist Heritage Ministry, a church corporation that preserves denominational historical sites.

Nix, who is organising the anniversary commemoration at the World Church headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA, said he hoped members would spend time on Sabbath day October 2 reflecting on what it meant to continue the legacy of the name the leaders took in 1860. Additionally, he urged members to consider what difference the name was making in their communities.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Jamaica has a membership of approximately 250,000 worshipping in more that 650 congregations. It operates institutions such as the Andrews Memorial Hospital, Northern Caribbean University and the Book and Nutrition Centre along with seven high schools and 17 preparatory schools.

— Nigel Coke