The society was organized in October 1988 at what is now Southern Adventist University, when a group of scholars broke off from the Andrews Society for Religious Studies, which is now the Adventist Society for Religious Studies. The meeting consisted of four delegates from Andrews University and eight from Southern. Jack Blanco, author of The Clear Word, was elected president. The first annual session was held at Wheaton College in November 1988. In 1989 the society decided to publish the Journal of the Adventist Theological Society, with Leo Van Dolson as editor. C. Mervyn Maxwell and Gerhard Hasel were also actively involved with the journal. The first issue was published in 1990. Since 2009 Randall W. Younker has served as editor. Membership consisted of 1400 individuals in 1994. According to a 1996 article, its religion scholars are predominantly from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University, Southern Adventist University, and the Biblical Research Institute, plus around 1,700 lay people.
President
The following is a chronological list of those who have served as presidents of the ATS:
• Northwest Chapter- founder and president, Jim Reinking 2012-2018
Publications
The organization publishes the Journal of the Adventist Theological Society, a referred scholarly journal issued twice a year from Berrien Springs, Michigan. It was first published in 1990. It also publishes the Perspective Digest, an online publication, which contains popular level articles.
Constitution
According to its constitution, "The centrist focus of the Society places it against all forms of theological extremism, avoiding theological liberalism and legalistic or literalistic interpretations of the Scriptures." According to former Journal of the Adventist Theological Society editor Ed Christian, The has six components describing the society's name, mission statement, core values, goals, categories of membership, describes the society's Mission Statement, core values, goals and other items. Acceptance of the constitution, particularly the core values, is required to become a member of ATS. The core values are acceptance of the Bible, Christ as only savior of the world, and the fundamental beliefs, as well as the following doctrinal points : According to its website, "Membership in the Adventist Theological Society is open to any serious Bible student that recognizes the strength of working together to help touch Adventist leaders, pastors, theologians, and lay person with balanced and conservative Adventist theology on the cutting edge."
