Amid “the highest economic policy uncertainty ever,” the financial officers of the General Conference (GC) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church said they are thankful to God for what they called His intervention in the financial affairs of the church.

“We praise the Lord for the strong financial position of the church, considering the prevailing global economic conditions,” said GC Treasurer Paul H. Douglas at the 2025 Spring Meeting of the denomination in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States, April 8. 

Douglas reported that the GC ended the financial year with approximately US$338 million in net assets, 94 percent of which was in cash and investments.

“We have been faithful stewards of the resources God has provided to advance the cause of His kingdom,” he said. At the same time, he emphasized that the financial strength of the GC “is not because of our own accomplishment—it is rather God’s divine purpose to provide us what we need to do His work.” 

A Growing Shift 

For 2024, the GC received approximately $4 million more for its share of tithes than the approximately $82 million that was planned for in the budget, Douglas reported.

Tithes, however, showed an uneven pattern since 2019 that can be attributed to the implementation of a tithe parity agreement between world church regions, which effectively reduces the contribution of the North American Division (NAD) to overall budget, he reported. Also, in 2024 a significant strengthening of the U.S. dollar against foreign currencies resulted in a smaller amount of tithe received from certain countries around the world. 

Offerings have again surpassed what had been budgeted. Douglas explained that there is a growing shift in the tithe-offerings pattern of contributions. Tithes went from contributing 58 percent to the budget in 2020 to just 45 percent in 2024.

“The growing shift in offerings exceeding tithe suggests that an interest in the global mission of the church is being reignited in the hearts and minds of our church members,” Douglas said. “Without a doubt, there will be a reflex influence on the local work of the church that will become more prosperous because of the purposeful attention being afforded to the global work.” 

“What we are seeing here in terms of offerings is a dream,” commented GC stewardship director Marcos Bomfim after approaching one of the microphones. “It’s a reason for joy, and I think we can grow even more.”

Expenses, Capital, and Assets 

Expenses increased 6 percent in 2024. Douglas said that beyond the effects of inflation, the increase was the result of assisting world fields and responding to emergencies. In any case, the GC kept its expenses under the established cap, he reported. 

Douglas also shared that at the end of 2024 the GC had 14.6 months of available working capital (current assets minus current liabilities), which is above the policy recommendation. For available liquid assets (which can be quickly and easily converted into cash) the GC had 11.6 months, again above the policy recommendation. 

Regarding investments, Douglas shared that after a reported slump in 2022, investments have been back into positive territory.

“Yes, the financial markets are volatile and even more so in recent days, but I would like to assure the [committee] . . . that our investment philosophy is consistent with being proper stewards of the resources God has entrusted to us,” he said. 

After Douglas’ presentation, GC undertreasurer Ray Wahlen explained that after the reductions during the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s now “an approach to normal operational levels despite several years of significant inflation.”

He explained, “The practice of faithful stewardship in tithes and offerings by God’s children around the world is abundantly evident. In addition, General Conference personnel have participated in our financial recovery through wise spending decisions that were made on a daily basis throughout the course of the year. But much more than these, we are extremely grateful for the Lord’s continued abundant provision.” 

Mission Funds 

God has continued to bless His church through the faithfulness of our members so we can be about our commission to reach the world for Christ, Douglas emphasized. 

The mission funds voted to be allocated have and will be used in supporting mission initiatives administered at the local church and by world church divisions. For 2025, $6.7 million has been earmarked for local church projects, he reported.

Further, the GC has earmarked resources to support divisions in conducting territory-wide evangelistic campaigns. Reporting to date about these mission investments include thousands of lives being touched by churches through programs for spiritual outreach, community service, and education. More than 2,500 Bible studies have been conducted, resulting in more than 400 baptisms.

Douglas also reported similar results for the territory-wide evangelistic campaigns, where more than 1 million persons have been baptized in the East-Central Africa Division territory and more than 5,000 proclamation sites have been registered for the NAD territory.  

Tithe Sharing and Parity 

Douglas also reported that financial officers studied the impact of a vote that seeks every world church region to achieve parity of contributions by transferring 3 percent of their tithes to the GC by 2030. (In 2024, the NAD contributed 3 percent, but the rest of the regions transferred 2.4.) The NAD also contributes an additional 0.85 percent because of the benefits received by its members and entities as a result of Andrews and Loma Linda universities being physically located within their territory.

After the study, financial officers agreed to put to a vote the plan to go on with the schedule of contributions as voted, since other scenarios would not be financially tenable for the GC, Douglas explained. 

At the time of comments, Inter-European Division treasurer Norbert Zens said that because of the positive financial results during the past few years, he’d rather see that divisions remain at 2.5 percent of contributions to the GC instead of increasing contributions to 3 percent. “I would like for more funds to stay at the local level,” he said.  

Douglas begged to differ. “I would respectfully disagree with my colleague,” he told Zens. “I believe the path we are on is the most prudent pathway.” 

The motion passed, 141 to 37. 

Another motion recommended that the NAD would keep the additional 0.85 contribution from 2026 onward provided that the NAD is not eligible for auditing subsidies from the GC until after 2040 and the GC discontinues sending appropriations for NAD’s defined retirement plan. 

The motion passed, 148 to 16.

Appropriations and Allocations 

In the last part of the report, Douglas shared the results of an Appropriations and Allocations Study Group. The group brought seven recommendations, including implementing a methodology for calculating appropriations that takes into consideration the financial strength and mission focus of world divisions, and providing limits for the use of appropriations for administrative expenses. 

The motion to record receipt of the study group report and recommendations passed, 153 to 12. 

God Still in Control 

Douglas closed by reiterating his and his team’s trust in God’s leading.

“In spite of all the challenges we face around the world . . . the work of the church is moving forward,” he said. “Even though the word ‘uncertainty’ describes the current economic conditions, we recognize in this house that God is still in control.” 

The original article was published on the Adventist Review news site. Join the ANN WhatsApp Channel for the latest Adventist news updates.