Labels like liberal, conservative, progressive, or historical get thrown around a lot in Adventism—but do they really capture what we’re about? And where does BarelyAdventist actually fit on that map?
For the last 15 years, one of the most frustrating realities in Adventism has been the suffocation of alternate points of view by a conservative stronghold at the General Conference. Until the recent leadership changes at the presidency level, progressive academics were sidelined, progressive media was discredited (I know—because I work in Adventist media), and Adventism was narrowly defined from the top down. It was a my-way-or-the-highway version of faith. And it was suffocating.
But extremes in the other direction can be suffocating too. We see it clearly in broader cultural movements where ideological policing punishes dissent, blacklists disagreement, and labels anything outside the approved framework as hateful. Control doesn’t become holy just because it switches sides.
BarelyAdventist doesn’t want either extreme.
We want openness. We want honest dialogue. We want fair treatment for people we agree with and people we don’t. We want the love and patience of Jesus—not fear or power—to guide our conversations. We believe different cultures, approaches, and convictions deserve to be respected and taken seriously, even when disagreement remains.
As Romans 14 teaches, each person should be fully persuaded in their own mind. That is the standard we aim for: a church where convictions are honored, dialogue flourishes, and no one is silenced or shamed for thinking differently.
That is the future we’re welcoming—and we’re glad you’re here with us.
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