Every five years, the Seventh-day Adventist Church gathers its global family for an event known as the General Conference Session. This year, from July 3 to 12, 2025, more than 100,000 people are expected to convene in St. Louis, Missouri, United States, for the 62nd Session. Beyond the worship services, mission reports, and business meetings, a key highlight of this gathering is the prayerful election of global church leaders.

How the Church Chooses Its Leaders

Step 1: Delegates Assemble and Organize

The process begins with the gathering of official delegates from all 13 world divisions of the Adventist Church. These individuals are selected ahead of time to represent their local regions and play a vital role in the Session’s decision-making. Their initial responsibility is to elect members of the Nominating Committee.

Step 2: The Nominating Committee Is Formed

Each division selects 10 percent of its regular delegates to serve on the Nominating Committee, while the General Conference appoints 8 percent of its delegates at large. In total, around 280 individuals will comprise this year’s committee.

This group reflects the global nature of the church, with diverse representation in language, culture, and experience. Interpreters ensure effective communication across linguistic barriers.

Step 3: Prayerful Deliberation Begins

The Nominating Committee convenes in a private, secure setting to allow for focused, prayer-driven deliberation. This environment is designed to minimize external influence and enable spiritual clarity. The committee’s first major task is to recommend a name for the position of General Conference president.

Step 4: Selection of the General Conference President

Once a candidate for president is identified, the name is presented to the full delegation on the Session floor. Delegates then vote to approve the nomination or refer it back to the committee. Once approved, the newly elected president joins the Nominating Committee in an advisory capacity as it continues its work.

Step 5: Continued Nomination of Key Leaders

The Nominating Committee proceeds to recommend individuals for other vital roles: vice presidents, secretaries, treasurers, department directors, and division officers. Each nominee undergoes a similar process—prayerful consideration, personal notification, and public approval through delegate voting.

If concerns are raised on the floor, the nomination may be referred back for reconsideration. This ensures transparency without compromising the dignity of the process.

Step 6: Affirmation and Introduction

After each vote, elected leaders are introduced to the Session and to the global audience watching online. These moments often bring expressions of joy, reflection, and renewed commitment. It is a visible affirmation of God’s guidance over the church.

A Model of Leadership Grounded in Mission

What distinguishes the Adventist Church’s election process is its resolute focus on mission and humility. Leaders are not self-appointed, elected through popularity, or endorsed through campaign strategies. Instead, each selection is the result of extensive prayer, consultation, and consensus—anchored by a shared desire to advance the mission of the gospel.

This process may seem unusual to those accustomed to secular models of leadership selection, but it reflects the church’s core values: Christ-centered leadership, spiritual accountability, and service above self.

Why This Matters Today

For Adventist church members around the world—many of whom seek authenticity, global engagement, and meaningful leadership—understanding this process is vital. The leaders chosen during the GC Session help shape how the church responds to global challenges, digital transformation, membership involvement, and growing mission fields.

This is more than a tradition. It is a testimony to how a worldwide church family, guided by prayer and the Holy Spirit, steps forward in unity and purpose.

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