What is in a Name? Identity Construction and Denominational Designations: A Case Study of the Seventh-day Adventist Church

Abstract

The names adopted by Christian denominations customarily express elements deemed crucial for their identity. This article uses the Seventh-day Adventist Church as a case study. It traces the initial debate over the necessity of a name, discusses the conflict regarding "biblical" names, and describes the decision process that led to the denomination's official self-designation. In most cases, it was subsequently translated into other languages in a literal manner, but there are also noteworthy modifications, especially in Europe. Several factors contribute to the stability and changeability of church names and the concomitant identity construction dynamics: theology, history, context, and language.

Key words: Seventh-day Adventist, church name, identity