Lauren Davis – St. Louis, Missouri … During the afternoon business session on July 3, 2025, at the 2025 General Conference (GC) Session in St. Louis, Missouri, a delegate made a motion to add to the agenda a review and discussion relating to the GC’s 2015 statement on immunization. The delegates voted against the motion.

The motion, brought by delegate Yuliyan Filipov from the North American Division’s Ohio Conference, read:

“To add to the agenda a review and discussion of the 2015 General Conference Administrative Committee statement on immunization, specifically its claim about peer-reviewed scientific literature in addition to the Bible and writings of Ellen G. White.”

Filipov shared his concern that the church was pivoting toward human tradition over biblical doctrine.

Business meeting chair and general vice president Artur Stele clarified that Filipov’s motion was suggesting an amendment to the original motion on the floor to adopt the session agenda as originally presented.

GC delegate-at-large Amireh Al-Haddad, the director of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty for the North American Division’s Southern Union, drew from her years of experience working in the immunization field, noting that a vaccine accommodation has never been refused, regardless of the church’s statements on immunization.

“We have not turned our backs on any sincere religious objection. We continue to help people we disagree with because religious liberty gives you the right to hold a different personal belief,” Al-Haddad said.

Another delegate expressed a different concern that considering the amendment would require more research and preparation.

“I speak against accepting the amendment because the issue would need to be studied very thoroughly before placing it on the agenda,” said Niklas Rantanen from the Trans-European Division’s Finland Union of Churches Conference.

In April 2015, the GC Administrative Committee voted a statement affirming the responsible use of vaccines as a public health measure. This position was reinforced on October 25, 2021, amid the global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. While the statement encourages vaccination, it emphasizes that the final decision rests with the individual.

Before voting began, GC president Ted Wilson addressed delegates, cautioning against misinformation within the church.

“My brothers and sisters, I would urge you not to get involved in conspiracy approaches,” Wilson said. “Suggesting that the GC and the world church is receiving instructions and is under the thumb of the United Nations is a complete fallacy.”

This amendment was voted down 310 to 1,662.

The document, dated October 25, 2021, was written collaboratively by the GC administration, the Biblical Research Institute, Adventist Health Ministries, Public Affairs and Religious Liberty department, GC Office of General Counsel, and Loma Linda University Health.

For more information about the 2025 General Conference session, visit http://www.gcsession.org. Join the ANN WhatsApp Channel for the latest Adventist news.

—Lauren Davis writes for Adventist News Network (ANN). Republished with permission from ANN GC Session July 3, 2025, article. Photo by Jim Botha.