Hugh Davis – Lincoln, Nebraska … Every five years, Seventh-day Adventists from all over the world gather for a special event called the General Conference Session. It’s a time for worship, fellowship, and decision-making. The choices made at this meeting help shape the direction of the church for years to come. Naturally, many members want to know how they can be involved.
In the Mid-America Union, we often receive letters asking who the delegates are or how to add something to the agenda. These are good questions! This article will help you understand how delegates are chosen, how the agenda is set, and how church members can be part of the process in an effective way.
WHAT IS THE GC SESSION?
The General Conference Session is the highest decision-making meeting in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Delegates from around the world gather to elect church leaders, vote on changes to the Church Manual and constitution, discuss fundamental beliefs, and hear reports on the work of the church.
Usually held every five years, the most recent GC Session was delayed due to COVID-19. It was scheduled for 2020 but took place in June 2022 instead. The next session will be in July 3-12, 2025, in St. Louis, Missouri.
WHO SERVES AS DELEGATES?
Each world division is given a certain number of delegates to send to the General Conference Session. That number is based on membership size, so larger divisions and unions are given more spots to fill. The goal is to ensure fair and balanced representation across the global church.
The Mid-America Union Conference receives its number of delegates based on how many church members are in our territory. For the 2025 Session, we have been assigned 16 delegate spots.
Delegates must include both church employees (like pastors and administrators) and laypeople (church members who are not employed by the church). The North American Division ensures diversity by providing each Union with specific criteria designed to obtain the desired diversity.
To fill these spots, the Mid-America Union does not select the delegates independently. Instead, we work closely with our local conferences, who supply names of individuals they recommend. From these names, a balanced group is formed and then submitted to the General Conference for final approval.
The delegates from the Mid-America Union who will be serving in 2025 will be:
- 3 Union Officers
- 6 Conference Presidents
- 4 Lay Members
- 1 Pastor
- 1 Educator
- 1 Departmental Director
The agenda for the GC Session was voted by the delegates to the fall council back in October of 2024.
HOW TO SHARE IDEAS FOR FUTURE GC SESSIONS
If you have a suggestion or concern you believe should be considered by the global church, here’s how the process works:
- Start at the local level. Talk to your pastor or church board. If they agree with your proposal, they can pass it along to your local conference.
- The conference reviews the idea and can forward it to the union’s executive committee.
- The union may send it to the North American Division or the General Conference for consideration during Annual Council.
This step-by-step system ensures that every idea is fairly reviewed and supported before being added to a future GC Session agenda.
LET’S SUPPORT THE PROCESS TOGETHER
While it may be too late to influence the 2025 agenda, the Seventh-day Adventist Church has a representative system designed to include the voice of members at all levels. You can still make a difference by being active in your local church, staying informed, and using the correct channels to share your ideas.
BE ENCOURAGED—YOUR VOICE MATTERS
If you have questions about the GC Session or how to share ideas, feel free to contact the Mid-America Union Conference office. We’re here to help—and we want your voice to be heard through the established channels.
Please pray for our delegates from the Mid-America Union as they prepare to represent us in St. Louis. They carry a big responsibility, and your support makes a difference.
To learn more about the General Conference Session, please visit their website.
You can watch the GC Session live from their website or on YouTube through the Adventist News Network.
—Hugh Davis is the Mid-America Union Conference Communication director. Republished with permission from OUTLOOK Adventist News June 30, 2025, article. Photo by Pieter Damsteegt, North American Division.
