It was established "to encourage Seventh-day Adventist participation in the discussion of contemporary issues from a Christian viewpoint, to look without prejudice at all sides of a subject, to evaluate the merits of diverse views, and to foster intellectual and cultural growth."
Molleurus Couperus, a physician in Loma Linda, California, was appointed the first editor.
Editor Roy Branson later reflected that "was the single most important issue" of the journal.
[4] In 1998, Spectrum's offices moved from Takoma Park, Maryland, to Roseville, California.
The organization also maintains an active website focused primarily on original news reporting.