No denomination I know of in South America uses a flag in the church building.

I also think Christianity is above nationalistic considerations.

Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

This has been a most interesting topic.

I am wondering why EGW wasn't given any revelation against displaying flags in the sanctuary.

Were flags displayed in any of our SDA churches during the lifetime of EGW? If no, then that would explain the absence of any writings against it, however, where was she when the USA flag was draped in her honour? Was it in a SDA Church

From my understanding of what I have read, Ellen was in Europe speaking as a guest at a "temperance meeting" that wasn't SDA sponsored," when the flag draping event occurred.

I also understand from my reading, that the placing of the American flag in the churches began about the time of WWI. Which would have been near the time of or after her death.

I have also read that WWI "started" it, and that flag waving in church generally increases during times of war. It seems that when patriotism rises, we tend to mix it with Christianity.

How true. It kind of hints of "church and state".

In the USA the so called "Christian Right" tend to be "flag wavers". At the other extreme in the 1960's we had the "flag burners".

When the "attacks of 9/11 occurred there were lots of flag waving. I was a bit surprised to see some who were flying flags, though it didn't last long.

Were there any flags in the churches during the time of the American Civil War between the North and the South?

This is interesting, Here in Moncton we had not had any flags in the sanctuary.At my wedding in 1992 we could not fit our families and guests in the Moncton Church so we used my fathers family Church for the wedding (yikes I was married in a United Church by an SDA minister and it was an SDA wedding) At St. John's United Church they have the old Canadian Flag (Union Jack) on one side of the Church, with a nameplate of honor of the church members that were in WWI, they also have a British Ensign (another of Canada's flags) also a modern Canadian Flag (Maple Leaf) on the other side of the Church they have a Christian Flag. Also many stained glass memorials for the boys that fell in battle! BUT the church focus is on Jesus Christ with stained glass depictions of many Bible verses and stories.
-This said: The church is made up people/families and with that many paople have gone to fight for freedom (better than the option of us all speaking nazi in 2007 here in canada) so the place that these families felt was a place of respect and honour was at their local church. Right or Wrong God will judge the intent and reason behind peoples motives and actions.

-If this item was of crutial importance there would be guidence from Scripture and or SOP. Do we worship the flag?? Or do we show respect to it and for what it stands for?? (the flag will obviously stand for different things for different people) ifthe flag offended someone I would wonder why!

-At the last Triennial session (now quadraniel sp? ) the provincial flags of NB, NS and PEI as well as the Canadian flag was brought into the Moncton Church Sanctuary by the Conference office staff to be displayed for the session. They left them there for a long time, and many people commented that the flags were a nice thing to have in Church.
-This is a very interesting topic and I look forward to further discussion on this topic.

Is there anything anywhere in our church that speaks against flags in our church?

And vice versa. During WWII the Soviet Union opened churches and encouraged people to attend.