Representatives of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches met in Jongny sur Vevey, Switzerland, from April 1 to 7 2001, for the first international theological dialogue between the two Christian world communions. The dialogue was hosted by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Its aims were to promote and foster mutual understanding between Adventist and Reformed Christians and churches as well as to explore the contemporary challenges faced by Adventist and Reformed churches as they seek to participate in God's mission in the world. The general theme of the dialogue was "The church in the setting of the Reformation heritage: its mission in a world of widespread injustice and ecological destruction".

Participants were drawn from various parts of the world and took up topics of global significance. Following the delivery and discussion of the papers, the participants produced a final report for submission to their respective appointing bodies. In the first part of this report, partners in dialogue described some of the distinctive elements of their respective traditions, articulated the common doctrinal ground they share and offered some mutual clarification designed to dispel misunderstandings on either side. In the second part they brought their perspectives to bear on contemporary problems such as socio-economic injustices (poverty, HIV/AIDS, violence), ecological destruction, and different forms of prejudices related particularly to religion and gender. In the course of these discussions, a number of issues were noted which merit future considerations. These include the question of biblical interpretation and the Sabbath. It will be for the sponsoring bodies to determine whether future conversations shall take place.

The meeting was co-chaired by Dr Bert Beach (USA, general secretary of the Seventh-day Adventist council on interchurch relations) and Prof. Cynthia Rigby (USA, Reformed, associate professor of theology, Austin Theological Seminary). The Adventist representatives presented the following papers: "Seventh-day Adventists: a profile" (by Dr William G Johnsson, Australia/USA, editor of the Adventist Review), "The Apocalypse: God's answer to the human cry for ultimate justice" (by Dr Roy Adams, Grenada/USA, associate editor of the Adventist Review), "Keepers of the garden: Christians and the environment - an Adventist perspective" (by Dr John T Baldwin, USA, professor at the Seventh-day Theological Seminary at Andrews University), "Seventh-day Adventists and religious freedom - an aspect of justice" (by Dr John Graz, Switzerland/USA, director of the department of public affairs and religious freedom of the Seventh-day Adventist general conference), and "Protestant theological heritage in Seventh-day Adventism" (by Dr Hans K LaRondelle, The Netherlands/USA).

The Reformed representatives presented the following papers: "The challenges of the post-cold war for Protestant Christianity in Latin America" (by Dr Arturo Piedra, Costa Rica, professor of church history at the Latin American Biblical University), "Church concerns from the Southern Africa Perspective: a presentation to the Adventist-Reformed dialogue" (by Revd Ruppert Hambira, Botswana, synod secretary of the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa); "Women's concerns from a Dalit perspective" (by Dr Nalini Arles, dean of master's studies of the United Theological College, Bangalore), "The doctrine of forgiveness and its implications for justice: a Reformed, feminist, North American perspective" (by the Reformed co-chair, Dr Cynthia Rigby, USA, associate professor of theology, Austin Theological Seminary) and "Reformed ecclesiology and missiology" (by Dr Alan Sell, England/Canada, professor of Christian doctrine and philosophy of religion at the United Theological College, University of Wales).

Other participants included Dr Niels-Eric Andreasen (Adventist, Denmark/USA, president of Andrews University), Dr George Reid (Adventist, USA, director of the Biblical Research Institute, Silver Spring), Dr Angel M. Rodriguez (Adventist, Puerto Rico/USA, associate director of the Biblical Research Institute, Silver Spring), Dr Setri Nyomi (Ghana/Switzerland, general secretary of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches), and Dr Odair Pedroso Mateus (Brazil/Switzerland, theological secretary of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches).

Participants shared in daily devotions. They attended the closing worship, followed by lunch, on the Adventist Sabbath, April 7, at the Seventh-day Adventist Church at La Lignière, in Gland, Switzerland.