Celebrating Adventist Heritage Month at WAU: Exploring Seventh-day Adventism and the 180th Anniversary of The Great Disappointment

Story by Shannon Smith

October is the month of many observances and holidays, like Hispanic Heritage Month, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Halloween. At Washington Adventist University October is also Adventist Heritage Month, a remembrance of history and heritage deeply rooted in the events and beliefs that shaped the Seventh-day Adventist Church. WAU is currently the first and only Adventist university to designate a month to highlight Adventist Heritage.

One of the most significant moments in this history is The Great Disappointment of 1844, when followers of William Miller—the Millerite movement—anticipating the Second Coming of Christ, faced profound disillusionment when their expectations were not realized. This pivotal event not only tested the faith of early Adventists but also led to the beginnings of Seventh-day Adventistism and the formation of key beliefs and practices that define the church today. As we commemorate this momentous occasion, Washington Adventist University (WAU) invites the community to engage with its rich heritage through a series of events focused on understanding both the disappointment and the hope that emerged from it.

October 3 – November 5: “The Disappointed and The Hopeful” Exhibition
The Weis Library reading room will host a special exhibition featuring rare Millerite and early Sabbatarian Adventist materials from the WAU Adventist Heritage Collection, featuring the only known surviving copy of the first issue of The Hope of Israel. This exhibition will be available for viewing during the library’s opening hours, offering visitors a glimpse into the rich holdings of the Weis Library Adventist Heritage Collection.

On October 16, Professor Bradford Haas, Director of the WAU Honors College, held an open Honors Seminar lecture in the Weis Library reading room. This lecture delved into the historical background of The Great Disappointment and the Millerite movement and explored the significance of the WAU Adventist Heritage Collection through its influence on religious and secular circles of contemporary literature and media. 

Tuesday, October 22, 7:00 PM: 6th Annual Adventist Archives Lectureship 
Celebrating the 180th anniversary of The Great Disappointment, Dr. Merlin Burt from the Ellen G. White Estate will deliver this year’s Adventist Archives Lectureship, “Millerites and Conditional Immortality: A Doctrine Adopted by the Seventh-day Adventists”. This event, a collaboration between the Honors College and the General Conference Office of Archives, Statistics, and Research (ASTR), promises to provide new insights into this important period of Adventist history.

Saturday, October 26, 4:00 – 6:00 PM: Adventist Identity: Discussions Surrounding the Oxford Handbook of Seventh-day Adventism
Engage in thought-provoking discussions with the editors of the new Oxford Handbook of Seventh-day Adventism. Dr. Michael Campbell, Director of the NAD Office of Archives, Statistics, and Research, and Dr. Nicholas Miller, WAU Honors College Professor of Law & Religion, will lead two panel discussions. The event will also be live-streamed and available on WAU’s Facebook and YouTube platforms.

Additionally, Dr. Lisa Beardsley will be the featured speaker for the main church service at Sligo SDA Church on October 26. Earlier that day, Dr. Campbell and Dr. Miller will also serve as guest presenters for the Sligo Church virtual Faith & Reason Sabbath School class.

These events are part of WAU’s ongoing commitment to celebrating and exploring its unique identity during Adventist Heritage Month. Don’t miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding and engage with the history and future of Adventism!