September 15, 1997
Raffael Perez, Pastor
Eternal Gospel SDA church
P. O. Box 15138
West Palm Beach, FL 33416
Dear Mr. Raffael:
We have received information that the Eternal Gospel SDA Church has placed advertisements in The Washington Times, The Miami Herald, and The New York Daily News. We checked with both the Florida Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and the Southeastern Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in an attempt to contact the leadership of the Eternal Gospel SDA Church through the appropriate denominational channels. We learned from those conferences that the Eternal Gospel SDA Church is not part of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination. We learned from those conferences that the Eternal Gospel SDA Church is an independent church without any formal ties to the Seventh-day Adventist denomination. I understand from informal channels that you are the leader of this church. Can you confirm for me that the Eternal Gospel SDA Church is not part of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination?
If that is true, I need to ask you to stop using the initials "S. D. A." in your name. The advertisement that appeared in The Washington Times produced a great deal of confusion. There were several angry letters to the editors of The Washington Times letters that accused the Seventh-day Adventist denomination of being intolerant and bigoted. Obviously, the use of the initials, "S. D. A." by Eternal Gospel SDA Church has resulted in significant confusion with the Seventh-day Adventist denomination.
You may not be aware that the Seventh-day Adventist denomination has trademarked our name in order to prevent just such confusion and misunderstanding in the minds of members of the public. The advertising of the Eternal Gospel SDA Church is leading to the kind of misunderstanding and confusion that we have sought to avoid. For that reason, I must ask you to either cease using the term "S. D. A." in your name.
I would appreciate hearing from you as soon as possible. This is a matter of great urgency to the Seventh-day Adventist denomination.
God bless you,
Kermit L. Netteburg
Assistant to the President for Communication
lm
c: Walter E. Carson, Seventh-day Adventist Church attorney
Office of the President
12501 Old Columbia Pike, Silver Spring, MD 20904-6600 *
Tel: (301) 680-6406 * Fax: (301) 622-7712*E-mail: 102555.1534@compuserve.com