Many prominent Adventist figures throughout history have left the church, often due to doctrinal disagreements, loss of power or position within the church, or feelings of humiliation or mistreatment. Some key reasons for leaving included questioning beliefs such as the investigative judgment or Ellen White's prophetic role, rejecting the church organization structure, and tensions over issues like biblical interpretation, lifestyle choices, and cultural insensitivity. Studies also show that a significant percentage of those born into Adventism or converted as children will eventually leave the church.

3. Manchmal werde ich gefragt, wie viele Personen wohl in Deutschland nicht mehr zur Gemeinde gehören oder nicht mehr zur Gemeinde kommen. Nach meiner Einschätzung - gestützt auf die Diplomarbeit eines Theologiestudenten - beläuft sich diese Gruppe auf ca. 25.000. Da wir in Deutschland gegenwärtig etwa 35.000 Gemeindeglieder zählen, sollte jeder beim Vergleich dieser beiden Zahlen spüren, um welche Aufgabe es sich bei dieser Arbeit handelt. Häufig sind es ja die Jugendlichen aus unseren Gemeinden, die andere Wege einschlagen, und wir sind bestürzt, dass es so viele sind (We are sad that they are so many) % 25,000 35,000

6. The proportion of Adventists born into the church, remain loyal to it without ever faltering, and die within the faith in which they were raised may well be less than 20 percent of the total membership. Bull & Lockhart, Seeking a Sanctuary, 349 Adventist born die as Members

9. Worldwide, the church lost 35 members for every 100 baptized in the past five years. In some world church areas, the numbers are even less encouraging, Haloviak reported, with reports of 61, 65 and even 104 members being removed from membership lists for every 100 joining. http://news.adventist.org/2005/10/worl-church-membership-growth-retetio-focus-of-suay-afteroo-sessio.html Conversions Losses

10. http://www.formeradventist.com/stories/index.html

25. From Staunch Defender to Non-Believer in E.G.White Walter T. Rea Dirk Anderson

28. Along with their annual planning and budgeting for evangelism, executive committees and local church boards should assess the membership retention capacity in their territory. This will require careful review of membership care measures along with accession and loss patterns. Analysis of the situation should be followed by deliberate steps to address the circumstances that lie within the church's ability to change. RECOMMENDED To approve the following appeal to the world Church regarding membership retention and the reclaiming of former members; http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/other-documents/conserving-gains.html This Appeal was voted by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists Executive Committee at the Spring Meeting in Silver Spring, Maryland, April 10, 2007.