The 2026 Declaration of Principles
Preface
As anticipated, I am now publicly releasing the proposed text of what would be the 2026 Declaration of Principles. This follows a series of articles I have recently published: An Invitation to Advent Christian Renewal; Adventism’s Regrettable Divorce; and To Reckon and To Answer: God’s Call Upon Advent Christians. For those new to the conversation, these will help you understand the movement behind this proposal.
My goal is that this new Declaration of Principles would be adopted by the Advent Christian delegate body at the 2026 ACGC Triennial Convention. While this is my aim, it will be necessary for this proposal to be sufficiently considered by a task force that would be appointed by the Executive Council, such that it can be recommended and communicated to the denomination by February 2026. I am hopeful that this can be achieved, but have also learned that things sometimes take longer than expected - I trust God in all circumstances. Even so, I have felt compelled to move with urgency in making this proposal and believe that delaying until 2029 might mean some significant loss of opportunity to stem the tide of our denominational decline.
At this time, the board of Rockland Community Church (the church I pastor) and the boards of the Maranatha Advent Christian Conference, New Life Advent Christian Conference, and Heritage Advent Christian Conference have all chosen to endorse the 2026 DOP; I have yet to present this proposal to other churches, conferences, and regions. This follows after a season in which I shared drafts of this proposal with over thirty Advent Christian leaders, a certain number of them providing substantial feedback that has shaped its form as it is now presented. I give thanks to all who gave feedback and all who offered their support; I am especially thankful to Nathaniel Bickford whose constructively critical eye and theological acuity was immensely helpful in word-smithing this declaration.
This version of the DOP introduces a traditional affirmation/denial pattern, the benefit of this being that it is both succinct and yet comprehensive; you will find this pattern used in the Nashville Statement endorsed under the Advent Christian Statement on Human Sexuality. I intend to eventually offer commentary on each principle. For now, I leave you with the 2026 DOP and this last bit of preface that I have shared with my reviewers to aid in your comprehension:
What I am proposing here is a whole cloth replacement of the current form of the DOP. There is precedent for this as the 1900 DOP was a whole cloth replacement of the 1881 DOP.
The aim of introducing this new DOP is to establish a clear sense of Advent Christian identity in the 21st century and thereby provide a clear standard for membership in the denomination (regions, conferences, churches, and ministers) and a renewed sense of our purpose. Notably, the 2026 DOP would it make clear that we mean to stand squarely on the essentials of the Christian faith, affirming the basic creeds of Christian orthodoxy, while remaining unapologetically devoted to a clear articulation of the Christian hope fixed upon Christ's return, a commitment that drives us forward in the Gospel mission to the ends of the earth.
Other notable changes include open-handed silence on the intermediate state except to say our hope is resurrection, not disembodiment; open-handedness on the nature of the final punishment (annihilation or eternal torment) while denying universalism; a clear move away from end times speculation, denying we can "approximate" the time of Christ's return; a clear statement that our churches/pastors welcome denominational accountability in maintaining these standards among other things; a clearer statement on our position regarding war, not pretending to be pacifist but continuing to privilege those who might conscientiously object.
These are some significant changes, but I believe this version of the DOP maintains some of the critical insights from our past regarding human nature (we are not inherently immortal and we are created to be embodied beings) and the ultimate importance of Christ's return for God's redemptive mission. I'm hopeful it will enable the people who may join our churches or who are already members to more readily identify as Advent Christian and that this will also help us in recruiting and integrating outside pastors into the denomination.
We affirm that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant, infallible Word of God, being in its entirety God’s revelation given to humanity under divine inspiration and providence; that its historic statements are correct, and that it is the only divine standard of faith and practice.
We deny that the authority of God’s Word - the Bible - and the truth of its testimony can ever be overturned, superseded, or added upon by any claims of new revelation or the supposed wisdom of human knowledge.We affirm the clarity of Scripture: that all things necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation are set forth clearly in Scripture, and that, as far as the meaning of the text can be understood, Christians should seek to be of one mind in the Spirit and uphold such teachings as authoritative.
We deny that human fallibility places the true meaning of the biblical text beyond reach; that the presence of differing interpretations indicates this; or that Christians must agree on every matter of the faith to share in one fellowship.We affirm that the name of Christian includes those who may disagree in some respects with the beliefs stated in this declaration, but who would confess the biblically orthodox creeds affirmed herein.
We deny that denominational membership should be extended to any churches or ministers who reject the convictions contained in this declaration.We affirm that the teachings of the Apostles Creed, the Nicene Creed (381 AD), the Athanasian Creed, and the Chalcedonian Definition faithfully summarize the teachings of Scripture; that they supply a most accurate account of the Bible’s teaching regarding the nature of God and the person of Jesus Christ; and that they should be affirmed by all Christians on the authoritative basis of this biblical foundation.
We deny as Christian any confession or creed that does not accord with these summaries of biblical truth.We affirm that God alone is immortal; that God created human beings as creatures with mortal natures who could yet receive and enjoy eternal life with God; that through sin they forfeited this divine birthright; and that because of sin they can only be restored to life with God by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone, resulting in a life of repentance from sin and consecration to the Lord.
We deny that human beings are inherently immortal or that God could be compelled to maintain human existence in opposition to his divine will.We affirm that Jesus is the promised Messiah, the eternal Son of God who took on human flesh; that he was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, and lived a sinless life under the Law; that in his death on the cross he offered himself unto God as our substitute, making of himself the only sufficient sacrifice for the atonement of human sin; that Christ, having been bodily raised for our justification, has conquered sin, death, and the devil; that he has ascended to the right hand of the Father to present himself as the Lamb who was slain; that he presently intercedes for us as our Great High Priest; that both the Father and the Son have sent the Holy Spirit upon the Church to apply salvation and the benefits thereof unto her; and that the work of this salvation will be fully revealed upon the day of Christ’s return.
We deny that there can be any salvation apart from the work of Christ alone or that there is any hope of salvation based upon human works, religious or otherwise.We affirm that death is the consequence of sin, depriving those who die of the bodily life for which they were created.
We deny that the dead in Christ have already realized the complete restoration that God has in store for them and that the dead without Christ have received their final punishment.We affirm that in accordance with his promise, Jesus Christ will come again to this earth, even “in like manner” as he went into heaven – personally, visibly and gloriously – to reign here forever; and that this coming is the hope of the church, inasmuch as upon that coming depend the resurrection and reward of the righteous, the abolition of sin and its consequences, and the renewal of the entire cosmos, both the heavens and the earth – now marred by sin – to become the eternal home of the redeemed, after which event the earth will be forever free from sin and death.
We deny that there is any hope for the living or the dead apart from Christ’s return and the resurrection of the dead.We affirm that the final judgment of all people awaits the resurrection of the dead at Christ’s Second Coming; that those who belong to Christ will live eternally with God in the new heavens and new earth; and that those outside of Christ will receive the everlasting punishment of the Second Death in the Lake of Fire.
We deny that anyone condemned to this final punishment will be given another opportunity for salvation.We affirm that the Church is the Body of Christ; that it is an institution of divine origin, which includes all true Christians; that the Church visibly manifests itself in local congregations of believers; that these local churches are governed under the authority of Christ, with congregational involvement and biblical patterns of leadership such as elders and deacons; and that these churches should freely covenant together, agreeing to uphold standards common to the whole.
We deny that the liberties and prerogatives of the local church would preclude covenantal accountability from a denominational body in maintaining such freely agreed upon standards of membership.We affirm that the only ordinances of the Church are Baptism and the Lord’s Supper; that only those who have faith in Christ should be baptized, baptism taking the mode of immersion whenever possible.
We deny that baptism must be repeated for any who have been truly baptized and possess this faith.We affirm that the first day of the week, as the day set apart by the early church in commemoration of Christ’s resurrection, should be observed as the Lord’s Day; that in the freedom of the Spirit it should be used as a day for Christian worship, fellowship, and rest.
We deny that this practice of the Lord’s Day should be observed as though we remain under the Law.We affirm that as servants of Jesus Christ we have been commanded to be found ready at all times for his return, steadfastly pursuing personal holiness and the fulfillment of the Great Commission.
We deny that readiness entails speculating about the approximate time of Christ’s “soon” return.We affirm that the Bible teaches that properly constituted governments are ordained of God and are divine instruments for the welfare and protection of humanity, even as we await perfect justice and everlasting peace to be established in the coming Kingdom of God.
We deny that every war is just or that anyone should be compelled to take up arms in violation of their conscience.
Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.