As Australians prepare to complete the national Census on Tuesday, August 11, the Adventist Church is encouraging members to answer the optional religion question and identify themselves as Seventh-day Adventists.
Australian Union Conference Public Affairs and Religious Liberty director Pastor Kojo Akomeah said Census data provides an important picture of religious affiliation in Australia and helps the Church understand its own growth and mission.
“Having an accurate picture of Australia’s religious population allows us to gauge how we are tracking in advancing the mission of the Church in Australia,” he said. “The data also helps us understand growth or decline in the number of people affiliated with the Church.”
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, religion data collected through the Census helps inform planning for services and facilities, including schools, places of worship, aged care, chaplaincy in hospitals, prisons and the armed services, as well as sociological research.
Pastor Akomeah said the data also provides an important evidence base for public policy discussions affecting faith communities.
“The data informs policies that promote social cohesion and protection against religious discrimination. It also supports equal access to services such as education, healthcare and places of worship.”
Because “Seventh-day Adventist” is not listed among the Census response options, Pastor Akomeah encouraged members to select “Other” and write “Seventh-day Adventist”.
“Although it may require additional time and effort, we encourage Seventh-day Adventists to write out their religion, as this helps identify the number of Seventh-day Adventists in Australia and those affiliated with Adventism,” he said.
Pastor Akomeah also addressed misconceptions about the optional religion question, saying completing it is a civic responsibility and does not affect church membership.
“There has been debate about whether the question assumes that a person has a religion,” he said. “However, the option to choose ‘No religion’ allows people to state their position in relation to religious affiliation.”
