Background of the Issue

Since their earliest years, Seventh-day Adventists have discussed whether church members should participate in insurance plans for protection against loss, with special attention being given to life insurance.SDALI 1.1

Although the denomination as a whole has not taken an official position, much less made it a test of fellowship, many church members have believed that the church discouraged or disapproved of the purchase of life insurance policies as being incompatible with the kind of trust in God’s providence that marks the dedicated Christian. Ministers have often included testimony against insurance in their public presentations and have encouraged believers, both old and new, to discontinue any insurance policies which they already had.SDALI 1.2

Many early Adventists, while recognizing that the Bible does not address the subject of insurance directly, urged that no type of insurance should be taken by Christians. For example, in 1860 Roswell F. Cottrell, prominent author and leader, cited these Bible texts in support of his position:SDALI 1.3

“He that hateth suretyship is sure” (Proverbs 11:15). “Be separate and touch not the unclean” (2 Corinthians 6:17). “I have not sat with vain persons....I have hated the congregation of evildoers; and will not sit with the wicked” (Psalm 26:4, 5). “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help” (Psalm 146:3). “He shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him” (Psalm 37:39, 40). “Blessed is the man that trusteth in thee” (Psalm 84:12).—The Review and Herald, June 5, 1860, p. 20.

While concurring with Cottrell’s general position, James White had reservations about the texts’ applicability and expressed his concern about the consequences, writing:SDALI 1.4

“As for insurance, we said [in Vol xv, No. 23], ‘In regard to insurance we have nothing to plead at this time. We do not get our own buildings insured and if the church agrees to trust the Office property without insurance, we shall be suited.’ Therefore Brother RFC’s ‘strong reasons’ are one side of the main question under discussion. But we hope that all will carefully consider his proof texts and their connections, and see for themselves the amount of direct testimony against insurance. Truth will stand.”—Ibid

While the early discussion among Adventist leaders dealt with insurance of all kinds, the risks involved led them in time to accept the principle of insuring property against fire, storm and theft. The change in attitude developed about 1860, at the time the church was accepting legal incorporation as a means of holding church-held properties. In that period the risk of fire was especially threatening, for heat was provided by coal or wood stoves and light was often by oil lamps.SDALI 1.5

Ellen G. White’s acceptance of insurance protection for property is illustrated by her letters. In 1880 she wrote her son, W. C. White, “I wish you would see that the house at Healdsburg is insured. Talk to Lucinda about it. I feel anxious in regard to it” (Letter 17, 1880). Four years later she wrote, “Brother Palmer says he has written to you in regard to the insurance. If the house is not insured, it should be at once” (Letter 53, 1884).SDALI 1.6

Such counsel was in harmony with her often-repeated instructions that every reasonable step be taken to safeguard property. While she was still living, her son, W. C. White, responded to an inquiry concerning fire insurance:SDALI 2.1

“We do not find in Mother’s writings any condemnation of the practice of insuring our property against fire. Mother has always regarded this as very different from life insurance. She keeps her own buildings properly insured, and has encouraged some of our institutions to do the same.”—W. C. White Letter, August 5, 1912.