10 Jul 2025, 12:14Max McKenzie-Cook and BUC Communications
Notable Changes to Policy, the Church Manual and a Reflection - So Far
The 2025 General Conference (GC) Session has proven to be a compelling study in how our global Church seeks to move forward collectively, while striving to include diverse voices and perspectives. Beyond the critical task of electing leaders, this Session has engaged with substantial agenda items, including amendments to the GC Constitution, Bylaws, and the Church Manual.
The GC Constitution outlines the Church’s purpose, authority, and governance framework, while the Church Manual focuses more directly on the local church and its relationship with broader administrative bodies.
One of the most debated amendments to the Church Manual was the new requirement that, to hold a local church office, an individual must be a tithe returner. While the intent is to uphold faithfulness and spiritual accountability among church leaders, the amendment presents both practical and pastoral challenges, particularly in regions like the British Union Conference. It raises important questions about how the policy will be implemented fairly and sensitively, especially in contexts where financial hardship, cultural perspectives, or differing understandings of stewardship may impact tithing practices.
Another amendment clarified the role of nominating committees, underscoring that they recommend rather than appoint officers. The intent is to reinforce the representative nature of church governance, ensuring that decisions reflect the broader will of the membership rather than the deliberations of a small group. While this change aims to promote transparency and limit centralised power, it also reignites vital questions: Are our current structures truly representative? Do members feel empowered, or does the process merely simulate democratic engagement? These are conversations that will continue well beyond this Session.
A noteworthy constitutional change concerned the timeline for finalising delegate numbers by world Divisions. The adjustment – from two to three years before a Session – addresses the practical challenges of international travel and visa delays. However, it introduces new complexities: What if a delegate relocates or changes status within that extended timeframe?
Financial appropriations also sparked lively discussion. Debates on resource allocation revealed a deep interest in ensuring fairness and aligning with the mission. Several agenda items were referred back to committees, reflecting a preference for careful, consultative decision-making over expedience. The overall atmosphere of the business sessions was one of quiet intensity, marked by thoughtfulness, passionate engagement, and a shared commitment to the Church’s future.
The worship experiences have elicited mixed responses. Some attendees found them spiritually uplifting and grounding; others sensed a disconnect. For a global Church, there is a lingering feeling that worship moments could have better reflected the cultural and linguistic diversity of the worldwide Adventist family.
Beneath it all lies a deeper reflection – a collective searching for how best to understand authority, voice, and participation in a Church that spans cultures, continents, and generations. This Session has not resolved these tensions, but it has brought them into more precise focus, creating space for deeper, more intentional conversations in the future.
The 2025 General Conference (GC) Session has proven to be a compelling study in how our global Church seeks to move forward collectively, while striving to include diverse voices and perspectives. Beyond the critical task of electing leaders, this Session has engaged with substantial agenda items, including amendments to the GC Constitution, Bylaws, and the Church Manual.
The GC Constitution outlines the Church’s purpose, authority, and governance framework, while the Church Manual focuses more directly on the local church and its relationship with broader administrative bodies.
One of the most debated amendments to the Church Manual was the new requirement that, to hold a local church office, an individual must be a tithe returner. While the intent is to uphold faithfulness and spiritual accountability among church leaders, the amendment presents both practical and pastoral challenges, particularly in regions like the British Union Conference. It raises important questions about how the policy will be implemented fairly and sensitively, especially in contexts where financial hardship, cultural perspectives, or differing understandings of stewardship may impact tithing practices.
Another amendment clarified the role of nominating committees, underscoring that they recommend rather than appoint officers. The intent is to reinforce the representative nature of church governance, ensuring that decisions reflect the broader will of the membership rather than the deliberations of a small group. While this change aims to promote transparency and limit centralised power, it also reignites vital questions: Are our current structures truly representative? Do members feel empowered, or does the process merely simulate democratic engagement? These are conversations that will continue well beyond this Session.
A noteworthy constitutional change concerned the timeline for finalising delegate numbers by world Divisions. The adjustment – from two to three years before a Session – addresses the practical challenges of international travel and visa delays. However, it introduces new complexities: What if a delegate relocates or changes status within that extended timeframe?
Financial appropriations also sparked lively discussion. Debates on resource allocation revealed a deep interest in ensuring fairness and aligning with the mission. Several agenda items were referred back to committees, reflecting a preference for careful, consultative decision-making over expedience. The overall atmosphere of the business sessions was one of quiet intensity, marked by thoughtfulness, passionate engagement, and a shared commitment to the Church’s future.
The worship experiences have elicited mixed responses. Some attendees found them spiritually uplifting and grounding; others sensed a disconnect. For a global Church, there is a lingering feeling that worship moments could have better reflected the cultural and linguistic diversity of the worldwide Adventist family.
Beneath it all lies a deeper reflection – a collective searching for how best to understand authority, voice, and participation in a Church that spans cultures, continents, and generations. This Session has not resolved these tensions, but it has brought them into more precise focus, creating space for deeper, more intentional conversations in the future.
