Crime & Safety

Seventh-Day Adventist Church Issues Another Statement on Tennessee Pastor

The statement was distributed by the church's communication director in Silver Spring, Md., shortly before 8 p.m. Pacific Time, Tuesday July 17.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church of North America issued another statement about Pastor Walter McGill of Guys, Tenn., and their dispute shortly before 8 p.m. Tuesday.

McGill, 66, was arrested Friday on the grounds of the Loma Linda University Seventh-day Adventist Church, according to the sheriff's department. He is pastor of Creation Seventh Day Adventist Church in Guys.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church of North America statement was distributed by George Johnson Jr., the church's communication director in Silver Spring, Md.

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See the Monday morning for a pdf copy of the court ruling referenced by the church in the statement, which appears in plain text.

July 17, 2012

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Re: Walter McGill and the Creation "Seventh-­day Adventist Church"

Note: Recent news reports have addressed the trademark infringement claims between Mr. Walter McGill and the Seventh-­day Adventist Church. The following news release from the Seventh-­day Adventist Church serves as an accurate account of the relationship between Mr. McGill and the Seventh-­day Adventist Church.

According to church records, Walter McGill was a member of the Seventh-­day Adventist Church but left in the early 1990s citing reasons of doctrinal differences. He has never been a pastor of the Seventh-­day Adventist Church.

After leaving the Seventh-­day Adventist Church, McGill began a new ministry – utilizing the name "Seventh-­day Adventist." Prior to filing a claim in 2006, the Seventh-­day Adventist Church attempted on multiple occasions to reach out to McGill asking him to cease and desist the usage of the name "Seventh-­day Adventist." These attempts were made because McGill's ministry was not a part of the Seventh-­day Adventist Church.

After numerous attempts to resolve this matter amicably, the Seventh-­day Adventist Church filed suit against McGill to stop using the name "Seventh-­day Adventist." As a part of the court process, the Court ordered mediation but McGill did not appear at any of the court ordered mediations. The Court warned McGill that his lack of participation in the mediations could result in sanctions. McGill continued to disregard and disobey the requests of the Court. During this time, McGill also ignored the District Court's orders by placing and re-­placing signage on his church's property containing the name "Seventh-­day Adventist" as well as operating Web sites bearing the name "Seventh-­day Adventist." It was at that point McGill was found in contempt of violating the District Court's orders.

It is not now nor has it been the intention of the Seventh-­day Adventist Church to shut down McGill's ministry or for him to be jailed. Recent developments are the result of actions taken by the court because Mr. McGill did not comply with the court's ruling.

We believe that Mr. McGill has the right to exercise his religious beliefs and operate a ministry, however to falsely identify himself with an organization of which he is not a part, is not acceptable. This false association confuses the public, media and at times members of the Seventh-­day Adventist Church. The Seventh-­day Adventist Church has defined processes and procedures for establishing and maintaining congregations.

The doors of the Seventh-day Adventist Church are always open to the community and to anyone who wishes to worship in one of our more than 6,200 congregations in North America.

The Seventh-­day Adventist Church is a Bible-believing Protestant denomination. Its members base their faith, hope and future in Jesus Christ. "Seventh-day" indicates our adherence to the biblical Sabbath, while "Adventists" means we anticipate the promised return of Christ and identifies our faith community and distinct value system. The Church has more than 17 million members worldwide and 1.2 million members in North America.

Approximately 6,500 members of the Loma Linda University Seventh-day Adventist Church comprise the largest Adventist congregation in North America, according to the church's website.

McGill was being held Tuesday at Central Detention Center in San Bernardino. He was ineligible for bail, according to inmate records.

For perspective from McGill's assistant Lucan Chartier, . For an update on McGill's next court appearance in Riverside, .

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