by Wayne Willey
My first impression was that the cross is neither prominent nor dominant in this logo. Does this logo suggest that the cross (and the gospel) is less important in Adventist theology than doctrines such as the Sabbath and the state of the dead or the gifts of the Holy Spirit, especially the gift of prophecy as manifest in the writings of Ellen White? The cross can be easily overlooked or even obliterated from this logo. It seems to me that the cross should be much more prominent in the logo of any church or denomination which claims to be Christian.
My second impression was that the flames or tongues of fire seem to be the most prominent and dominant feature of this logo. Although the the flames or tongues of fire are about the same size as the two pages of the book, the vertical presentation of the flames or tongues of fire make them appear larger than the Bible. The prominence of the tongues of fire in this logo might cause some to believe that the Seventh-day Adventist Church is part of the charismatic movement.
The description of the logo says that the flame symbolizes the Holy Spirit and the three angels of Revelation 14. I can see how one might see the wings of one angel in the flame, but I do not see how anyone would see three angels in the flame.
The method by which the new Adventist logo was chosen also raises questions in my mind. Why did denominational leaders fail to give the membership of the Adventist denomination any opportunity for input about a logo which has now been approved as the official symbol of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination?
Allen Collins designed a much better logo to symbolize Adventism about 25 years ago. Collins' logo was a cross and three angels in flight. When I saw Allen Collins' letterhead in the *Adventist Review*, I asked Mr. Collins for permission to use his logo on church letterheads. I used Collins' logo on church letterheads for more than twenty years.
Pastor Wayne Willey