4,791 baptised adult Seventh-day Adventists lived in Switzerland on December 31, 2022―40 members more than a year earlier. Worldwide, there were more than 21.9 million Adventist Christians at the end of 2021.
In addition to the 69 baptisms (baptism of minors) and 17 admissions to the Church - on the basis of profession of faith - 25 more Adventists immigrated to Switzerland from abroad, last year, than members emigrated abroad. In 2022, there were 47 deaths and 22 church resignations and/or withdrawals of membership, as well as two untraceable members.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Switzerland celebrates worship in 57 local churches and three groups.
Children and unbaptised youth are not counted as members
An estimated 500 children and teens, up to the age of 16, who grow up in Adventist families in Switzerland and take part in church life are not included in the membership figure. The Protestant church does not usually baptise children and therefore does not count them as members, nor does it count unbaptised young people over 16.
Swiss Adventists are organised as an association
Swiss Adventists are organized under the law of associations and are divided into two church regions: the German-Swiss Federation Adventists (DSV), based in Zurich, and the Fédération des Eglises Adventistes du 7e jour de la Suisse romande et du Tessin (FSRT), based in Renens/VD. Both administrative regions together form the Swiss church leadership, the Swiss Union, with headquarters in Zurich.
Adventist institutions and ministries in the language regions
The Adventists in Switzerland run the public schools ‘A to Z’ in Zurich and Reinach/AG; two youth centres in St. Stephan/BE and Les Diablerets/VD; three old people's homes and nursing homes in Krattigen/BE, Oron-la-Ville and Epalinges near Lausanne; the Adventist Publishing House Switzerland in Krattigen/BE; and a mail order centre for French books in Renens/VD. They also maintain the Hope Bible Study Institute (HBI) and the Religious Education Institute (RPI) in Zurich as well as the Institut d'Etude de la Bible par Correspondance (IEBC) in Renens.
The La Lignière Clinic is located in Gland/VD and specialises in rehabilitation for cardiovascular, neurological, orthopaedic, and rheumatic diseases as well as aftercare for cancer.
Adventist institutions throughout Switzerland
The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in Switzerland, with its headquarters in Zurich, is one of the nationwide agencies. The office is located in Aarau. ADRA Switzerland is a ZEWO-certified partner relief organisation of Swiss Solidarity. The relief organisation is active in the social sector in Switzerland with around 30 local groups and maintains various ADRA shops (Berne, Biel/Bienne, Bürglen, Heiden, Zurich), which distribute everyday goods to the needy. Abroad, ADRA Switzerland works with local partner organisations, primarily on disaster and development aid projects.
The Adventist Press Service APD Switzerland, in Basel, directs its services primarily to secular and church media.
The Swiss Life and Health League (LLG), in Zurich, offers holistic health promotion through its seminars in around 40 local groups: physical, mental, spiritual, and social.
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