Adventist Professional

Adventist Professional was a journal produced by the Association of Business and Professional Men in Australia beginning in 1989. It gave a voice to loyal, supportive, and often questioning church and lay leaders. It saw itself as a vehicle “to encourage discussion among church members”¹ and to help them keep abreast of current issues in the church. The Association of Business and Professional Men began producing this journal at a time when the church was undergoing considerable change in its departmental and governance structures.

In the first quarterly issue, the editorial panel produced a statement with the following commitments:

• Loyalty to the teachings and standards of the Seventh-day Adventist Church

• Development of a suitable sense of pride in being both an Adventist and professional

• Encouragement of a sense of identity with the worldwide church regardless of race, color, or level of educational or economic development

• Responsible involvement in duly constituted church government and in the use of proper channels of cooperation and influence toward both Church membership and Church administrators

• Insight into what constitutes contemporary Church mission together with encouragement to use time, talents, and means toward the realization of that mission

• Fostering the physical, mental, and spiritual health of Adventist professionals and their families

• Encouragement toward the setting up of additional mission-oriented business and professional lay bodies in a growing number of areas around the globe²

In the words of A. L. Knight, the founding president of the Association of Business and Professional Men, the journal “aims to inform, stimulate and encourage one of the most neglected groups in the Church. These business and professional leaders have been blessed with unusual gifts and resources.” It was his desire that the journal should seek “to marshal their talents more and more effectively in the cause of the Kingdom.”³

For the first few issues it was published, no one was listed as the editor, but it was widely known that the president of the Association of Business and Professional Men was the driving force behind its production—he was cited as the “Chairman, Editorial Panel.”⁴ In the third edition, Dr. Trevor Lloyd is referred to in an article as the editor for the first time.⁵ Over time the quality of articles and the positive tone were recognized, and by 1992 a listing of the editorial panel appeared in the journal.

Dr. Trevor G. Lloyd was listed as editor until from 1989 to 1996 when he was replaced by Dr. Arnold C. Reye, who stayed in the role until 1999. James H. Rabe was associate editor during 1993, and Pastor Robert H. Parr was the associate editor from 1993 to 1999.

The writing was of a high standard. From the very first edition, articles by leadership of both the General Conference and division appeared.⁶ Theologians from Australia and overseas regularly had articles published.⁷ A survey of the journal reveals that the major areas focused on included current issues within the church, ministry, lifestyle and social issues, church governance, theology and doctrine, and leadership and spirituality concerns. The editors were careful not to take sides on any issue but often presented alternate views for consideration. Almost all levels of leadership in the church read the journal because it gave alternate views and opinions and allowed them insights into the thinking of leading laity and academics.⁸

Book reviews were included in most issues and highlighted current works in the areas of theology, leadership, governance, and issues of current concern. Articles on health by doctors and professional health workers were also a regular feature.⁹ The views of young people were not ignored, and articles often appeared that presented their perspectives.¹⁰ The editor was careful to remain relevant, and print space was devoted to some of the major ethical and moral issues that the Church was dealing with, such as euthanasia, reproductive technology, and child sexual abuse as well as the church’s response to AIDS and a number of other issues current at the time.¹¹

The Adventist Professional was published in hard copy for 10 years. Many of the articles that were published address issues the Church continues to deal with. It is available at Avondale College library and the through the archives of the General Conference.

Sources

“About ‘Adventist Professional.’ ” Adventist Professional 1, no. 1 (1989).

Clifford, Herbert. “Issues in Euthanasia.” Adventist Professional 6, no. 1 (1994): 7–9.

Cottrell, Raymond. “Through Openness to Unity.” Adventist Professional 7, no. 1 (1995).

Fisher, Howard J. “Green Light: The Christian Response to Environmental Concerns.” Adventist Professional 6, no. 1 (1994): 11–13.

Folkenberg, Robert. “Planted by the Waters.” Adventist Professional 2, no. 4 (1990).

Kemp, Nikki, Paul Rodionoff, Rhonda Harker, Jordan French, John Spoor, and Malcolm Butler. “Musings and Impressions of the Valuegenesis Study.” Adventist Professional 5, no. 2 (1993).

Knight, John. “Health: A Commonsense Approach for Professionals.” Adventist Professional 1, no. 1 (1989).

Lloyd, Trevor. “An Interview with George Knight: Church Structure—Help or Hindrance to the Mission of the Church.” Adventist Professional 4, no. 1 (1992).

———. “An Interview with Lyn Knight: Foundation President, Association of Business and Professional Men.” Adventist Professional 1, no. 1 (1989).

———. “Dreams, Hopes, and Plans in Perspective.” Adventist Professional 2 no. 3 (1990).

———. “The Altar that Alters All.” Adventist Professional 1, no. 3 (1989).

———. “Welcome back to Adventist Professional.” Adventist Professional 1, no. 2 (1989).

Long, Ken. “Bryan Ball—The Australian Connection.” Adventist Professional 2, no. 3 (1990).

“Magazine Encourages Discussion.” Record, July 25, 1992.

Milne, Elissa. “Boomers, Busters and Survivors: Can They Co-exist?” Adventist Professional 7, no. 2 (1995).

———. “Music and Worship.” Adventist Professional 2, no. 4 (1990).

Patrick, Arthur. “Ellen White and Public Life.” Adventist Professional 4, no. 2 (1992).

Paulien, Jon. “Meeting the Secular Challenge.” Adventist Professional 4, no. 4 (1992).

Reid, Bronwyn. “Adventist and Social Issues.” Adventist Professional 3, no. 1 (1991).

Scragg, Walter. “The Lay Person as a Denominational Resource.” Adventist Professional 1, no. 1 (1989).

“SDA Church Response to AIDS: A Position Paper Approved by the SPD Executive Committee.” Adventist Professional 6, no. 1 (1994): 10–11.

Notes

1. “Magazine Encourages Discussion,” Record, July 25, 1992, 12.↩

2. “About ‘Adventist Professional,’ ” Adventist Professional 1, no. 1 (1989): 2.↩

3. Trevor Lloyd, “An Interview with Lyn Knight: Foundation President, Association of Business and Professional Men,” Adventist Professional 1, no. 1 (1989): 30.↩

4. Trevor Lloyd, “Welcome Back to Adventist Professional,” Adventist Professional 1, no. 2 (1989): 2.↩

5. Trevor Lloyd, “The Altar That Alters All,” Adventist Professional 1, no. 3 (1989): 26.↩

6. Robert Folkenberg, “Planted by the Waters,” Adventist Professional 2, no. 4 (1990): 2–4; Walter Scragg, “The Lay Person as a Denominational Resource,” Adventist Professional 1, no. 1 (1989): 16; Trevor Lloyd, “Dreams, Hopes and Plans in Perspective,” Adventist Professional 2, no. 3 (1990): 24–26; Ken Long, “Bryan Ball—The Australian Connection,” Adventist Professional 2, no. 3 (1990): 2.↩

7. Trevor Lloyd, “An Interview with George Knight: Church Structure—Help or Hindrance to the Mission of the Church,” Adventist Professional 4, no. 1 (1992): 14–16; Arthur Patrick, “Ellen White and Public Life,” Adventist Professional 4, no. 2 (1992): 12–14; Raymond Cottrell, “Through Openness to Unity,” Adventist Professional 7, no. 1 (1995): 9–11; Jon Paulien, “Meeting the Secular Challenge,” Adventist Professional 4, no.4 (1992): 20–21.↩

8. Trevor Lloyd, telephone interview with the author, September 5, 2018.↩

9. John Knight, “Health: A Commonsense Approach for Professionals,” Adventist Professional 1, no. 1 (1989): 7–10. Articles by John Knight or another health professional featured in almost every issue.↩

10. Elissa Milne, “Music and Worship,” Adventist Professional 2, no. 4 (1990): 16–19; Bronwyn Reid, “Adventist and Social Issues,” Adventist Professional 3, no. 1 (1991): 26–27; Nikki Kemp et al., “Musings and Impressions of the Valuegenesis Study,” Adventist Professional 5, no. 2 (1993); Elissa Milne, “Boomers, Busters and Survivors: Can They Co-Exist?” Adventist Professional 7, no. 2 (1995): 20–23.↩

11. See for example, Herbert Clifford, “Issues in Euthanasia,” Adventist Professional 6, no. 1 (1994): 7–9; “SDA Church Response to AIDS: A Position Paper Approved by the SPD Executive Committee,” Adventist Professional 6, no. 1 (1994): 10–11; Howard J. Fisher, “Green Light: The Christian Response to Environmental Concerns,” Adventist Professional 6, no. 1 (1994): 11–13.↩