This letter from the Newport, WA SDA church of the Upper Columbia Conference just sent to the GC. It was voted unanimously on November 17, 2025 by the church in Business Meeting.
Appeal to Withdraw our Affiliation with the UN, WHO
And all other Worldly Affiliations
And remove all ‘official statements’ that have not been ratified by the World Church in session
To the Leadership of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, November 17, 2025
Cc: North American Division, North Pacific Union Conference, Upper Columbia Conference
We, the Newport (WA) Seventh-day Adventist Church of the Upper Columbia Conference, appeal to the General Conference Leadership to consider some issues that affect us not only globally, but locally as part of the world-wide Body of Christ. Our main issue of concern is the General Conference’s affiliation with the UN, WHO and all other political or worldly associations. Many of the ‘official statements’ found on our website, which have not been voted and ratified by the delegates in General Conference session, clearly stem from these affiliations.
Since these issues were not addressed sufficiently at the last general conference session in July and since these issues were NEVER considered and voted by the delegates in any General Conference session, we respectfully ask that the General Conference leadership withdraw from any and all worldly confederacy’s and remove all statements that have not been individually discussed, voted and approved by the delegates from around the world in General Conference session.
In 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 we have the admonition;
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”
When we read this passage in Scripture, we generally think about marriage and personal business relations. But what about the church? Is it free from that restraint, or is it under even more obligation to remain separate in her alliances with unbelievers? Both the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy maintain that the church must remain separate.
We as a world-wide church have been involved with the United Nations since 1985 (see link).
While we don’t blame our current leadership for making that alliance, we are concerned that it has been maintained for these past 40 years. We as a ‘people of the Book’ have no business being aligned with any organization who’s agenda is clearly contrary to God’s Word. Satan is behind every worldly alliance and while he uses some truth and ‘good’ to draw and deceive, his agenda is always to destroy not only God’s creation but especially God’s people.
We have positive commands in God’s Word to remain distinct and separate from the nations around us and to make no alliances with them and yet repeatedly, God’s chosen people ignored His commands and the sure result of their transgressions were recorded for us who live at the end of time.
“Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come” (1 Corinthians 10:11).
“…Solomon began to lose sight of the Source of his power and glory. Inclination gained the ascendency over reason. As his self-confidence increased, he sought to carry out the Lord's purpose in his own way. He reasoned that political and commercial alliances with the surrounding nations would bring them to a knowledge of the true God; and so he entered into unholy alliance with nation after nation… The commands of Jehovah were set aside for the customs of the surrounding nations {FE 498.4}.
The following statement announcing our affiliation with the UN made in the June 27, 1985 issue of the Review and Herald by one of our General Conference leaders at the time, uses the very same reasoning of King Solomon:
“On May 10 the United Nations recognized the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists as a nongovernmental organization (NGO) in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations… We believe that the new status will provide the Seventh-day Adventist Church with another opportunity to establish a presence and exert a positive Christian outreach among civic, religious, and government leaders of all the nations of the world.”
https://documents.adventistarchives.org/Periodicals/RH/RH19850627-V162-26.pdf
These worldly alliances very likely have been the underlying cause of some of our church employees and even laymen who are teaching Biblical truth’s, including the 3 Angel’s Messages, to be fired, banned or censored, while many worldly elements have been brought into the church and even upheld by leadership in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. This is because we have financial interests in keeping these alliances and must compromise our faith in God’s Word in order to adhere to the guidelines of these worldly organizations and to continue receiving government funding for our institutions. God’s Word ONLY, should be our authority!
“The members of the church of God should be well organized, for they are to be as one. Their bond of union should be the living oracles of truth, for they should be united under the yoke of Christ. The yoke of Christ is the only yoke they should take upon them… Any confederacy with the world is strictly forbidden by the Scriptures. God would have His people distinct from all worldly confederacy” {Lt28-1888}.
We believe that:
“God has ordained that the representatives of his church from all parts of the earth, when assembled in a General Conference, shall have authority. The error that some are in danger of committing is in giving to the mind and judgment of one man, or of a small group of men, the full measure of authority and influence that God has vested in his church, in the judgment and voice of the General Conference assembled to plan for the prosperity and advancement of his work” {PC 422.3}.
We, the Newport SDA church, strongly affirm our Fundamental Beliefs as voted by the representatives of the Seventh-day Adventist church in General Conference, but since the early 1980’s there have been many ‘official statements’ that have been made by individuals or small groups in leadership positions that align more closely with the interests of the United Nations and other worldly organizations than with the beliefs based in God’s Word.
To become a consultative member of the UN, one has to affirm that “The aims and purposes of the organization shall be in conformity with the spirit, purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.” “...whose primary purpose is to promote the aims, objectives and purposes of the United Nations and a furtherance of the understanding of its work…” https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/214368/files/E%20RES%201296%28XLIV%29-EN.pdf?In=fr
Should it really be the “the aims and purposes” of the General Conference to be in conformity with the “spirit, purposes and principles” of the United Nations? And has it really become the ‘primary purpose’ of the General Conference ‘to promote the aims, objectives and purposes of the United Nations’? In order to be a member, it can’t be otherwise.
1 Corinthians 2:12 reads; “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”
“The cause of God must be made primary” {2T 629.1}.
“In comparison with every other consideration the salvation of the souls of their fellow men should be primary…”{2T 659.1}
“We must make the work of God our first and primary business…” {Lt18-1872}
“The Lord’s injunction, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers,” refers… to all alliances in which the parties are brought into intimate association, and in which there is need of harmony in spirit and action. The Lord gave special direction to Israel to keep themselves distinct from idolaters…” {Ms53-1894}.
“The world is the chief enemy of religion. The Satanic forces are constantly at work through the world, and those who are professed Christians, yet associated with the world in close fellowship, are so much one in spirit, aims, and principles of working, that they cannot discern between him who serveth God and him who serveth the world…” {Ms39-1891}.
“Between the worldly man and the one who is faithfully serving God, there is a great gulf fixed… How can there be unity of purpose or action between them? “Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God, whosoever therefore will be the friend of the world is the enemy of God.” {Ms53-1894}.
“A Christian, as described by the Scriptures, is a person who is separated from the world in his aims and practices… They will not yield to temptations to make alliances with the world… Alliance with the world on the part of those who profess to be Christians, is pleasing to the enemy of all righteousness; for it is favorable to his determined purpose of building up his kingdom…” {RH, December 4, 1894 par. 2}.
The UN website lists the requirements for attaining consultative status;
“In addition to the mandatory documents, the following elements are required for attaining consultative status: The organization's activities must be relevant to the work of ECOSOC (Economic and Social Council of the United Nations)…” https://ecosoc.un.org/en/ngo/apply-for-consultative-status
Another requirement to become a consulting member of the UN; “The organization shall undertake to support the work of the United Nations and to promote knowledge of its principles and activities, in accordance with its aims and purposes and the nature and scope of its competence and activities” https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/214368/files/E%20RES%201296%28XLIV%29-EN.pdf?In=fr
In the General Conference quadrennial report to the UN for the period 2005-2008, it was stated; “The General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists operated a United Nations Liaison Office based at its headquarters just north of Washington, D.C., with a branch in New York City. Through this office, materials from the United Nations are disseminated by the organization’s communication channels.” https://docs.un.org/en/E/C.2/2010/2/Add.37
Again in the 2009-2012 report it was admitted; “ The office of the General Conference of Seventh Day Adventists disseminates materials from the United Nations through the communication channels at the United Nations Liaison Office.“ https://docs.un.org/en/E/C.2/2014/2/Add.8
As believers, it is our work to disseminate only light and truth. To propagate the ‘purposes and principles’ of the world should never be our ‘primary purpose’ nor should it be the work of God’s people whatsoever, and yet, many of the GC quadrennial reports to the UN and the ‘official statements’ that have been put on the GC website under ‘beliefs’, prove that our ‘primary purpose’ has been to promote the UN and not the Bible or the work of God.
From the GC quadrennial reports to the UN;
“...The values and principles of the organization find expression in a wide variety of activities that parallel United Nations goals, including health, education, humanitarian aid, youth training, women’s issues, child development, religious freedom and human rights promotion…” (from the 2009-2012 UN report) https://docs.un.org/en/E/C.2/2014/2/Add.8
Most of our activities listed above, such as ‘health, education’ etc., no longer represent the Biblical model nor the Inspired counsel that we have as Seventh-day Adventists but instead, mirror the practices of the world.
From another quadrennial report to the UN;
“The General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists actively affirmed, developed and educated principles of religious liberty and freedom of conscience enshrined in the United Nations documents dealing with religious freedom. These included, but were not limited to, article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief. To this end, it organized world congresses, regional conferences and seminars on these issues. (2005-2008 UN report). https://docs.un.org/en/E/C.2/2010/2/Add.37
Those ‘principles of religious liberty and freedom of conscience enshrined in the United Nations documents’, are interpreted much differently than what we as Seventh-day Adventists have traditionally believed as taught in the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy. This was proved during Covid, when even our beloved church refused to support its own members in their personal religious convictions.
From the 1994-1997 UN quadrennial report;
“Activities of the General Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists contribute to the promotion of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The Church has strong programmes in education, health and religious freedom in harmony with United Nations recommendations. Our organization highlighted the United Nations proclamation of 1995 as the International Year of Tolerance with a written statement to our members from our quinquennial world convocation at Utrecht, the Netherlands… The General Conference has been strongly involved in the commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, with conferences and symposiums organized in many countries and on all continents…The General Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists supports and promotes the United Nations mission in favour of justice, peace and liberty in more than 200 countries. We plan to increase our presence at United Nations meetings and commissions and our general support.” https://docs.un.org/en/E/C.2/1999/2/Add.1
One of the ‘official statements’ listed under ‘beliefs’ on the General Conference website is the ‘highlighted’ ‘United Nations proclamation’ entitled “Tolerance” made on June 29, 1995;
“Seventh-day Adventists support the United Nations proclamation of 1995 as the Year of Tolerance. This proclamation comes at an opportune time when intolerance is abounding on all continents–bigoted religious extremism, racism, tribalism, ethnic cleansing, linguistic enmity, and other forms of terrorism and violence. Christians carry their share of the blame for prejudice and inhumanity toward humans...” https://gc.adventist.org/official-statements/tolerance/
While in the UN report it was stated that this ‘written statement to our members’ came from ‘our quinquennial world convocation at Utrecht, the Netherlands’, it was not voted on by the delegates in session but “This statement was approved and voted by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Administrative Committee (ADCOM) and was released by the Office of the President, Robert S. Folkenberg, at the General Conference session in Utrecht, the Netherlands, June 29-July 8, 1995.” (this was stated on the GC website after the statement on ‘Tolerance’)
This is just one of many examples of how our ‘official statements’ parallel the aims and principles of the United Nations.
The following excerpt from another of our ‘official statements’ is yet another example of how we are trying to placate the UN while ignoring inspiration; This is listed under Beliefs on our GC website as an ‘Official Statement’ of April 15, 1997, entitled “How Seventh-day Adventists View Roman Catholicism”;
“...we recognize some positive changes in recent Catholicism…” https://gc.adventist.org/official-statements/how-seventh-day-adventists-view-roman-catholicism/
This is what the servant of the Lord has said:
“The Lord has pronounced a curse upon those who take from or add to the Scriptures. The great I AM has decided what shall constitute the rule of faith and doctrine, and He has designed that the Bible shall be a household book. The church that holds to the Word of God is irreconcilably separated from Rome. Protestants were once thus apart from this great church of apostasy, but they have approached more nearly to her, and are still in the path of reconciliation to the Church of Rome. Rome never changes. Her principles have not altered in the least. She has not lessened the breach between herself and Protestants; they have done all the advancing. But what does this argue for the Protestantism of this day? It is the rejection of Bible truth which makes men approach to infidelity. It is a backsliding church that lessens the distance between itself and the Papacy” {ST, February 19, 1894 par. 4}.
We are also admonished not to give our secrets to the world which is another requirement to become a consultative member of the UN:
…”It (the applicant for consultative status) shall have a democratically adopted constitution, a copy of which shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations…”
…”Where voluntary contributions have been received, their amounts and donors shall be faithfully revealed to the Council Committee on Non-Governmental Organizations…” https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/214368/files/E%20RES%201296%28XLIV%29-EN.pdf?In=fr
In the quadrennial reports to the UN, the General Conference has included our membership numbers and growth since the last report, how many and which countries we have entered, how many institutions we operate including schools, hospitals, clinics, orphanages and nursing homes, contribution amounts, how many millions of dollars of books we’ve sold around the world, how many summer camps we’ve conducted for the blind, how many students we have enrolled in our Home Study Institute and much more. https://esango.un.org/civilsociety/consultativeStatusSummary.do?profileCode=864
The inspired counsel that we have been given admonishes us to:
“...Be afraid of communicating to the world that which concerns the cause of God; for they would have no sympathy with those who love the truth of God. "Be ye separate, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and my daughters, saith the Lord Almighty" “ {RH, July 31, 1894 par. 3}.
“…“Be ye not unequally yoked together,” letting unbelievers into your secrets; for all alliances that give undue influence to those who do not love God over those who profess His name must be strictly avoided” {Lt28-1888}.
“God does not design that we shall be placed in any subservience to the world…, or that any communication shall be made by us to them that will give them an advantage over us” {Lt28-1888}.
“All His (Christ’s) followers are to keep step with the leaders and never introduce their secrets or make confidants of the enemies of Jesus Christ, of their movements or what they purpose to do in their line of action, for it is a betrayal of sacred trusts and is giving the enemy every advantage. Let the counsel of the people of God be within their own company. The enemies of Christ should not be made familiar with their secrets, while the children of God are kept in ignorance of the very things they ought to know. The secrets of the Lord are with them that fear Him” {Ms39-1891}.
We believe in the organized Seventh-day Adventist Church. We believe that this church was chosen, ordained, named and organized by God Himself and was set apart to give the 3 Angels’ messages to a fallen world. There can be no worldly associations apart from sharing the gospel. There can be no un-holy alliances with the world. The Word of God forbids it and we of all people should be against it!
“The church of Christ is God's agency for the proclamation of truth: she is empowered by Him to do a special work; and if she is loyal to God, obedient to His commandments, there will dwell within her the excellency of divine power. If she will be true to her allegiance, there is no power that can stand against her. The forces of the enemy will be no more able to overwhelm her than is the chaff to resist the whirlwind {MR311 15.2}.
There is before the church the dawn of a bright, glorious day, if she will put on the robe of Christ's righteousness, withdrawing from all allegiance to the world. {MR311 15.3}.
God calls upon His faithful ones, who believe in Him, to talk courage to those who are unbelieving and hopeless. Turn to the Lord, ye prisoners of hope. Seek strength from God, the living God. Show an unwavering, humble faith in His power and His willingness to save. When in faith we take hold of His strength, He will change, wonderfully change, the most hopeless, discouraging outlook. He will do this for the glory of His name.”--Prophets and Kings, pp. 259-260 {MR311 15.4}.
“All combinations with unbelievers that bind as a yoke must be broken. These words apply not only to making a marriage covenant with an unbeliever, but to the making of all unions where the worldly element can have a prevailing influence over believers…” {Lt28-1888}.
“...The yoke of Christ is the only yoke they should take upon them. The church is the Lord’s, even though all within its covenant circle are not perfect in character. Judas was among the twelve, yet he was not perfect, for he betrayed his Lord. Any confederacy with the world is strictly forbidden by the Scriptures. God would have His people distinct from all worldly confederacy…” {Lt28-1888}.
These admonitions are applicable to ADRA as well:
“…If charity work is to be done, the church is its own almoner. We do not need to unite with societies of a worldly character in order to visit the sick, clothe the naked, or help the needy. This work we can do through God’s own appointed agencies, and in the name of Jesus Christ. God does not design that we shall be placed in any subservience to the world in this regard, or that any communication shall be made by us to them that will give them an advantage over us…” {Lt28-1888}.
ADRA, our humanitarian arm, because of its worldly affiliations, is not allowed to preach the gospel and yet we’re told, the gospel is not to be separated from any other branch of the work. Therefore:
We, the Newport Seventh-day Adventist church thereby request that all un-holy affiliation with any and all worldly elements be immediately withdrawn and that all ‘official statements’ that have not been individually authorized and voted on by the delegates in General Conference session be removed.
In addition, we the Newport Seventh-day Adventist church reject as a local church, any and all affiliation with the UN or WHO or any other worldly organization. We also reject all ‘official statements’ by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist which have not been affirmed and voted by the delegates from around the world in a General Conference session.
We understand that there may be significant financial consequences to the world church in withdrawing their affiliation from these organizations but we believe that if these steps are taken, the members will regain confidence in the leadership and be faithful and generous in returning tithes and offerings and above all, God will be able to bless His church far above our expectation.
“…If men would seek for usefulness in life, for true goodness of heart, if they would sever every cord that binds them in unholy alliance to the world and would stand wholly upon the Lord’s side to be led and taught of God, then the life of Christ would be imitated. Those who profess Christ would not then seek to meet the world’s standard, and the spirit of rebellion, discord, and apostasy would not be found in the church. Men would not worship man and receive in faith his boastful words in which there is not truth…”{Lt28-1888}.
“The Lord is not in the alliances that are being formed with political movements. They are bound to bring confusion and great entanglement. “Come out from among them, and be ye separate, . .. and touch not the unclean thing.” {Lt4-1898}.
The Newport (WA) Seventh-day Adventist church,
Voted Unanimously in Business Meeting on November 17, 2025
"...The men who have banded together to carry certain matters without the voice of the church or the people will not stand, for God will not permit it. There is a lifting up of self. Too much confidence is shown in what man can do and too little in what God can do, and therefore man’s wisdom has become foolishness" {Ms29-1890}.
"When men think that it is a good plan to exclude the people who believe the truth from having any special, expressed voice in matters concerning the management and working of the cause, they make a great mistake. It is the people’s interest and money that largely sustain the work, and as the work advances step by step, the people should be enlightened, for they are part and parcel of the work in all its movements, and in no case should their judgment be ignored. You may say, “They have not a correct understanding of the work.” But when and how can they become intelligent on these matters if the work is not opened up to them?" {Lt53-1894}