ANN Glossary

ANN Glossary

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10/40 Window A term used to describe a geographical rectangle extending from West Africa, through the Middle East and into Asia, where more than 60 percent of the world's population live, most of whom have not yet been reached with the Gospel message.

3ABN Abbreviation and alternate name for Three Angels Broadcasting, an independent Adventist radio and television broadcaster.

A

Adventist Book Center Often used to describe church-owned retail establishments offering Christian literature and health foods. ABC is acceptable on second reference.

 

Adventist Church Always use Seventh-day Adventist Church on first reference, capitalizing "C" for the world church. Use a lower case "c" for local congregations, church members, etc.

 

Adventist Church world headquarters Do not use General Conference or GC.

Adventist Development and Relief Agency ADRA is acceptable on second reference or in headlines. International headquarters is in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States.

Adventist world church a global Christian faith community currently numbering 14 million baptized members.

 

Adventist World Radio AWR is acceptable on second reference. Headquarters is in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States.

Andrews University Located in Berrien Springs, Michigan, United States.

Annual Council one of two biannual meetings of the Adventist world church's executive committee usually held at the world church headquarters in autumn. See also Spring Meeting.

 

Approximately Use about instead.

 

Adventist-laymen's Services and Industries ASI is acceptable on second reference. An association of lay members in business and the professions, as well as of lay supporting ministries, all dedicated to sharing Christ in the marketplace. Headquarters is in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States.

ASI See Adventist-laymen's Services and Industries.

B

Biblical Research Institute BRI is acceptable on second reference. It provides biblical studies, reviews documents, and answers questions on biblical matters. Located in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States.

Blessed hope Biblical reference to the expectation of the literal return, or Second Coming, of Jesus Christ.

C

Campaign See "crusade."

Center for World Evangelism Office at the Adventist Church world headquarters dedicated to stimulating creative ideas on the part of the church's regions by providing training events in evangelism and outreach.

Children's Ministries Adventist world church department dedicated to Christian child development.

Colporteur see literature evangelist.

Communication No "s" - do not use "Communications Department."

Conference A local area consisting of a number of church congregations. Instead, name or describe the area. Smith is youth director for the church in Northern California. See also Union.

Crusade Never use when describing an evangelism event. Also, avoid campaign. Use meeting, series, or public evangelism outreach.

D

Dateline use city, state (province), and country. When referring to one of the international cities sited in the Associated Press Stylebook, just use the city. (i.e. no location explanation needed for well-known cities such as London, Tokyo, etc.)

Division Use region instead. West Africa region of the church or president of the church in West Africa.

E

Ellen G. White Do not abbreviate. One of the church's founders, who exercised the gift of prophecy during her 70-year ministry.

Elder Title of a local church lay leader. For ordained clergy, particularly leadership, the preferred term is Pastor, e.g., Pastor Jan Paulsen.

Education Church department aiding development of the Adventist school/university system; a core church program.

F

Family ministries Church department centered on supporting and developing better family life.

Field In-house term for a geographic area in which Adventist pastors and lay members work to advance the Gospel message. Use the actual geographic designation, e.g., Israel and not "Israel Field."

G

GC see General Conference.

GC president Use Adventist world church president.

General Conference Use Adventist Church world headquarters.

General Conference Session Use Adventist Church world session.

Global Mission The church's initiative to reach people in areas of the world where the church has not been established or only recently been established.

Great Disappointment an event in the early history of several Christian denominations, including Adventism, when Jesus did not to return to Earth on October 22, 1844 as some expected.
Between 1831 and 1844, Baptist preacher William Miller launched the "great second advent awakening." Based on his study of Daniel 8:14, Miller calculated Jesus would return sometime between 1843 and 1844. Others calculated a specific date of October 22, 1844. When Jesus did not appear, Miller's followers experienced what came to be called "the Great Disappointment." See also Millerite movement. (Definition adapted from Wikipedia.org.)

H

Health Ministries Church department promoting healthy lifestyles, a core church program.

Health message Instead, mention Adventist emphasis on healthy living.

Home Study International The recognized extension division in distance education for the Adventist church. Offers preschool, kindergarten through 12th grade, and college degrees.

Hope Channel, The Alternate name for Adventist Television Network, the world church's official, donor-supported satellite television network.

I

International Religious Liberty Association IRLA is acceptable on second reference.

L

Literature evangelist One who goes door-to-door selling religious materials.

M

Millerite movement Founded by Baptist preacher William Miller to propagate the soon return of Jesus Christ, precursor to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. See also Great Disappointment.

Ministerial The Ministerial Association of the Adventist world church serves the global Adventist through services to pastors, pastors' families, local church elders and company leaders, and Seventh-day Adventist Ministerial Association secretaries.

N

North American Religious Liberty Association NARLA is acceptable on second reference.

P

Pacific Press Publishing Association an Adventist publishing house in Nampa, Idaho, United States; commonly referred to as Pacific Press.

Pastor Capitalize when used immediately before a name on first reference: Pastor Phillip Lizzi. Otherwise, lowercase: Joe Strock is pastor of the New Hope Adventist Church. On second reference, use only last name. See also elder.

Pathfinders a youth activity organization.

PARL Use as an abbreviation of a department of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty.

Pen of inspiration Colloquial phrase used to describe the writings of Ellen G. White, and should not be used when writing for the public.

Personal Ministries Church department focusing on personal involvement in faith-sharing.

President Capitalize only when used as a title before a name: President Jan Paulsen. Otherwise, lowercase: Ruy H. Nagel is president of the church in South America.

Public Affairs and Religious Liberty PARL is acceptable on second reference.

Publishing ministries Church department focused on production and distribution of religious materials including books, magazines and multimedia.

R

Regional conferences Church associations which have historically represented African-American congregations.

Remnant or Remnant Church A theological term used to describe the Seventh-day Adventist movement, used frequently by the church's pioneers. An explanation of the term is needed, considering a reference context, when writing for non-church public.

Review and Herald Publishing Association an Adventist publishing house in Hagerstown, Maryland, United States, often referred to as Review and Herald.

S

Sabbath school Bible discussion group meeting at churches; classes are held for people of all ages.

Second Coming Refer to as the Second Coming of Jesus.

Seventh-day Adventist A recommended abbreviated version is to be "Adventist," which should be used on second and subsequent references.

Seventh-day Adventist Church See also Adventist Church.

Seventh-day Adventist world church See also General Conference.

Spirit of Prophecy Books and articles written by Ellen G. White, one of the founding pioneers of the church.

Spring Meeting One of two biannual meetings of the world church's executive committee held at the church's world headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States. See also Annual Council.

States Do not abbreviate U.S. states.

Stewardship Christian management of resources; Church department that develops and promulgates a biblical approach to stewardship ministries.

T

Three Angels Broadcasting Also known as 3ABN, a private, independent Adventist radio and television broadcaster based in the United States.

Three Angels' Message Add a reference to the Book of Revelation, chapter 14.

Twenty-seven (or twenty-eight) fundamental beliefs The church's understanding and expression of the teaching of the Bible.

Trust services assistance to church members in making provision for bequests and in managing their estate.

U

United States U.S. on second reference.

Union Internal term for a federation of churches or conferences. Use a geographic designation instead: Adventist Church in Mid-America, Adventist Church in France.

W

White, Ellen G. Do not abbreviate. One of the church's founders who exercised the gift of prophecy during her 70-year ministry.

Women's Ministries Church department focusing on women's issues and spiritual development.

Worker Older term for a Seventh-day Adventist pastor or employee. Instead, use actual job title/position: pastor or Bible teacher.

Y

Youth Use young people.


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Assistant Editors - Mark A. Kellner, Ansel Oliver, Wendi Rogers, Taashi Rowe