Remembering Dr. Ronald L. Lawson

Dr. Ronald L. Lawson

Seventh-day Adventist Kinship International mourns the passing of Dr. Ronald L. Lawson, who died on August 3, 2026, at his home in Loma Linda, California.

Ron was a pioneer of Seventh-day Adventist Kinship International and one of the most influential voices in our organization’s history.

From Kinship’s earliest years, he helped shape a community where LGBTQIA+ Seventh-day Adventists could find belonging, friendship, and hope.

As Kinship’s first Church Liaison, Ron worked tirelessly to build understanding between the Seventh-day Adventist Church and LGBTQIA+ Adventists. He believed that no one should have to choose between faith and living authentically.

His wisdom, compassion, and commitment helped establish the foundation upon which Kinship continues to grow.

Born in Sydney, Australia, in 1940, Ron earned his doctorate in History and Sociology from the University of Queensland. He later pursued postdoctoral research at Columbia University and served as a professor at Queens College, City University of New York, where he was named Professor Emeritus following his retirement.

Ron gained international recognition as one of the foremost sociologists of religion studying the Seventh-day Adventist Church. For more than four decades, he documented the global Adventist experience through approximately 4,500 interviews conducted in around 60 countries.

His research became one of the most extensive sociological studies ever undertaken on Seventh-day Adventism. It examined the church’s growth, diversity, social structures, and relationship with issues including race, gender, migration, and the experiences of LGBTQIA+ Adventists.

Ron’s work will continue to serve researchers, historians, church leaders, and future generations for many years.

Even as his health declined, Ron remained committed to preserving his life’s work. He continued organizing decades of interviews, manuscripts, and research through what became the Lawson Interviews of Seventh-day Adventists project, known as LISDA.

Through this work, Ron helped ensure that the stories, experiences, and voices he spent a lifetime documenting would remain available to future generations.

Beyond his academic achievements, Ron will be remembered for his kindness, humility, intellectual curiosity, and deep respect for the dignity of every person. He influenced countless lives through his research, friendship, mentorship, and conviction that everyone deserves to experience God’s love without fear.

Ron is survived by his beloved partner, Tyler, along with family members, friends, colleagues, and a worldwide Kinship family whose lives were enriched by his presence.

Today, we mourn the loss of a founder, scholar, mentor, and dear friend. We also celebrate a life that helped change the course of Kinship’s history.

Ron’s legacy lives on in every person who has found hope, community, and the courage to live authentically through the work of Kinship.

We extend our deepest condolences to Tyler and to all who knew and loved Ron. May his memory continue to inspire us as we carry forward his vision of a church and a world where every person is welcomed with dignity, compassion, and love.

Thank you, Ron.

Your legacy will live on.

Seventh-day Adventist Kinship International

August 2026