The following action was voted by the General Conference Executive Committee at the 1971 Autumn Council

EDUCATIONAL VOUCHERS--1971

WHEREAS, the voucher system is becoming more and more of an issue in the problem of financing education,

VOTED, That the Seventh-day Adventist church take no open position on the question pending the introduction of definite and detailed laws governing the issuance of educational vouchers, but that the following points be taken into consideration as the problem is studies:

1. If the issuance of vouchers is related solely to financial aid for parents to send their children to any school of their choice, with no conditions placed on the operation of the school, the acceptance or nonacceptance of such vouchers is the responsibility of the parents.

2. The management and control of Seventh-day Adventist educational institutions must be the responsibility of church-elected school boards. If a voucher plan entails restrictions on the operation of a school, such as controls of admission, employment of staff, application of standards, development of curriculum, selection of textbooks, et cetera, Seventh-day Adventist schools could not accept such vouchers.

Autumn Council
October 7-15, 1971