Valuegenesis

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Valuegenesis is a research project about the faith and values of Seventh-day Adventist high school students in North America, focusing on three areas: family, school, and church. It began as part of Project Affirmation, a study by the North American Division’s Office of Education into Adventist education. The first study, Valuegenesis1, started in 1989, and in 1990 more than 13,000 students answered the survey.

From Valuegenesis1, recommendations called “Imperatives for Action” were issued, including the creation of youth ministry resource centers. This led to the formation of the John H. Hancock Center for Youth Ministry. In 1993, Steve W. Case criticized the church for not focusing enough on youth despite the study results. In response, the church updated its children’s Sabbath School curriculum, and in 2000 the early reader lessons were rewritten from Our Little Friend to Insight.

A follow-up study, Valuegenesis2, was conducted in 2000. It collected responses from over 18,000 students using more than 22,000 questionnaires. The researchers reported that students in the second study showed greater faith maturity, even though they spent less time reading the Bible.

Valuegenesis inspired research in other regions as well. For example, a Valuegenesis survey took place in the South Pacific Division in 1997, led by Barry Gane. The project also influenced other studies, such as AVANCE, which looked at Latino Adventists in the North American Division in 1993–1994, led by Edwin Hernández.

Steve W. Case edited a book based on Valuegenesis, Shall We Dance? Rediscovering Christ-Centered Standards, published in 1996. It had a significant impact on church discussions about youth. Reviews varied: Richard Duerksen offered one perspective, while Samuele Bacchiocchi offered another. Case emphasized stronger support for youth in the church and encouraged rethinking certain cultural practices, such as dancing and jewelry.