Sabbath Rest Advent Church
| Sabbath Rest Advent Church | |
|---|---|
| Founder | Frederic T. Wright |
| Origin | 1954 Australia |
| Members | 100-150 (Germany) |
| Official website | www.srac.de (Germany) |
The Sabbath Rest Advent Church is a Christian church which has its spiritual roots in the Seventh-day Advent Church. It claims the inheritance of Seventh-day Adventist theologians Ellet J. Waggoner and Alonzo T. Jones. The church proper was founded by Australian preacher Frederic T. Wright in 1954 and preached in New Zealand, Australia and later in North and Central America, Europe, and Africa. In Germany the church activities were first led by Wolfgang Meyer and later by Andreas Dura; the German branch can claim 100 to 150 members, and is headquartered in Dickendorf, where Wright is buried. The worldwide church assumed the name of Sabbath Rest Advent Church in 1989.
The church accepts Wright's claim that church leaders are chosen by God and that they are responsible to him only, not to church members—Wright was deemed to be one such divine channel, but the church mentions Martin Luther as another. One characteristic of the belief is that God is looked to as the Master Healer. Some have accused the church that members are not allowed to visit a doctor. Andreas Dura, however, in a 2006 interview with the Siegener Zeitung, stated that church members are free to visit doctors. Dura also stated that the church is financed by way of tithes, and that church decisions must be taken in "harmony", even though the church sees itself as a theocracy.
In Germany, the headquarters houses a meeting room, a medical center with counseling and natural remedies, and rooms where the elderly and sick are cared for. A natural food store keeps a range of their own fresh and baked products as well as products from other suppliers.
In recent years the church has dealt specifically with the global problems of the energy crisis, the climatic change, the financial crisis, inflation etc. These topics have been investigated and presented to the public in the forms of lectures, a children’s musical, a panel discussion, and various projects and exhibitions. Not only has a view of the present and future crises been presented, but also the cause of these problems and possible solutions have been discussed.
Seminars are also held for members from various countries throughout the world where the participants learn to deal with practical, every day matters.
In New Zealand the church runs a community early childhood education centre (ECE) which enjoys official recognition by the government education review office. Other activities include supplying the local area with a range of healthy dietary products and courses in health care.
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