(1883–1894, 1904– ; printed annually by RH for the General Conference; file in Seventh-day Adventist libraries and archives). The church’s world directory of organizations, institutions, and workers, containing these sections: fundamental beliefs of Seventh-day Adventists; General Conference Constitution and Bylaws; organizational listings of the General Conference and its departments and miscellaneous services, of all church units throughout the world, and of institutions; necrology; directories of institutional workers and general workers; and listings of GC presidents, secretaries, and treasurers.
The first Yearbook resulted from an action of the General Conference Committee at its twenty-first session in December 1882. A later announcement of its issuance stated that it “contains the statistics of our denomination, the proceedings of our General Conference, T. and M. [Tract and Missionary] Society, and other associations, the financial condition of our institutions, our General and State Conference constitutions, a good calendar, and full directories of all our Conferences and various societies throughout the country.” This 72-page paperback book also contained postal information and a catalog of the publications of the Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association.
Succeeding issues brought some changes in content. At first the proceedings of the GC Committee appeared as minutes; later the actions were summarized by category. The 1884 Yearbook was the first to contain a ministers’ directory. From 1884 to 1886 the Yearbook contained major articles on the history of the church; later editions emphasized the activities of the organizational units for the preceding year. The 1887 edition was the first to use engravings of institutions.
From 1895 to 1903 the General Conference Bulletin replaced the Yearbook, carrying such features as statistical reports, directories of workers and organizations, lists of periodicals, and financial statements, as well as other materials. At its resumption with the 1904 edition, the Yearbook no longer contained GC Committee proceedings, appearing essentially as it has in succeeding years. Statistical reports terminated with the 1964 edition.
Responsibility for gathering the data and editing the Yearbook was first given to the Publishing Committee of the Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association. Later three-member committees undertook the annual task. From 1904 to 1975 the Yearbook was a production of the GC statistical secretary, with infrequent exceptions. From 1975 it has been the responsibility of the director of the Archives and Statistics Department.