Judge James Lawrence King issued a ruling on April 27 that stops the Eternal Gospel church from identifying itself as a Seventh-day Adventist church because it has no relationship with the Seventh-day Adventist denomination.
The judge’s order says the Eternal Gospel church should not use the name Seventh-day Adventist nor the initials SDA in any of its signs or advertising or other materials.
The Eternal Gospel church’s use of the name Seventh-day Adventist has “resulted in confusion and damage” to the Adventist Church, Judge King said. The church could carry on whatever ministry it wished, according to the judge, but it could not identify itself as an Adventist church.
The Eternal Gospel church had placed newspaper advertising around the United States and had broadcast radio programs in South Florida, with each ad and program announcing that the church was an Adventist church. The church has never had any relationship with any part of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination, and testified to that in court.
“We are delighted with the judge’s ruling,” said Walter Carson, attorney for the Adventist church. “This means that we can continue to share the good news of salvation without being confused with other organizations.”
The full text of the judge’s ruling can be found on the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s web site at www.adventist.org.