Trans-European Division Apologizes for Racial Bias in the Past

The year 2019 marked the ninetieth anniversary of the formation of the Trans-European Division as one region of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Initially established as the Northern European Division, it has gone through several reconfigurations over the years. Starting as a predominantly Scandinavian and British Isles- based unit, it has grown to now encompass countries in central and southeastern Europe, and over the decades it has also had a specific mission impact in West Africa, Pakistan, and the Middle East.

While the heritage of our division was European, the gift of mission from our early pioneers until the present has led us to grow into a highly multicultural and diverse entity, comprising 22 countries with an even greater multitude of cultures—each rich and to be valued and reflected in our worshipping congregations.

Yet sadly and all too often, a breadth of diversity does not always lead to a richness of unity, or necessarily of understanding.

As we have celebrated the milestone of our 90-year history of mission and outreach even through the difficulties of two world wars, regional conflicts, and persecution in the Communist era, we note other parts of our history, parts for which we express sincere regret. We recognize that unconscious bias, ignorance, prejudice, human fears, resentments, and suspicions have affected the church, most specifically within the British Union Conference.

Commenting on such issues, Ellen White was clear: “This grieves the heart of Christ.” She counseled: “We have the same heavenly Father and the same Redeemer, who loved us and gave Himself for us all, without any distinction.” She then urged: “When the love of Christ is cherished in the heart as it should be, . . . there will be no caste, no pride of nationality; no difference will be made because of the color of the skin.” She concluded: “The color of the skin is no criterion as to the value of the soul. . . . God has taken us, all classes, all nations, all languages, . . . and brought us into His workshop, to be prepared for His temple.”*

While we cannot rewrite history, as leaders of the Trans-European Division we acknowledge that actions were taken that were not in harmony with God’s ideal. We apologize for the failures of the church in this regard.

As we focus on mission across the rich geographical, cultural, historical, and constantly changing diversity of our division, we commit to providing a leadership model that will benefit all communities, regardless of background, in exactly the same way that Jesus modeled positive relationships, whether to high-ranking Nicodemus, the despised Samaritan woman, the outcast blind beggar, or Simon the Pharisee. These examples found in a series of Gospel stories lead toward Jesus’ wonderful prayer of unity found in the seventeenth chapter of the Gospel of John—that we can be one, united together, just as Jesus and the Father are one. That is some- thing that we want to take to heart and seriously desire and strive for.

While our apology is from the heart, we recognize that an apology is not enough. We must work vigorously and intentionally to eradicate any traces of prejudice and intolerance that continue to exist. Together with our officers, field presidents, and our division executive committee, we are reviewing policies and focusing on our strategic framework for the next five years in order to enhance our leadership and decision-making processes.

Our prayer as the leadership of the Trans-European Division is that Seventh-day Adventists in this division may indeed “be one,” embodying the union of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; that we will “put on love” and so be bound “together in perfect unity” as we allow God to mold us in His workshop, regardless of our class, race, gender, nationality, or language, so that we may, together, achieve the mission that Christ has given to us.

* Ellen G. White to W. S. Hyatt, Feb. 15, 1900.