Every five years, Seventh-day Adventists from around the world gather for the General Conference Session — a time to reflect, reconnect and refocus the mission of the global church. As the 2025 GC Session in St. Louis, Missouri, approaches, the Northwest will be well represented with 16 official delegates participating in leadership decisions that shape the future of the church.
In addition to this strong delegate presence, Northwest members will contribute through music, service and storytelling — while many more will engage online through livestreams, updates and reports. Here’s what to expect and how you can follow along.
Why General Conference Session Matters
Sometimes it’s easy to lose sight of the broader Adventist family when we’re focused on day-to-day church life. Our attention to local ministry means we don’t always see how we fit into the worldwide church.
GC Session helps us remember that we are part of a global community, sharing similar joys, challenges and hopes. Seeing that bigger picture can inspire hope and unity, reminding us that we are connected in mission and faith.
At the same time, GC Session is one of the few opportunities when the global church’s work is openly reviewed and discussed. It offers transparent reports on finances, mission progress and ongoing challenges. This provides a measure of accountability for how resources are stewarded.
While GC Session might feel distant, its outcomes affect local churches by shaping leadership, setting priorities and guiding mission efforts. It’s a moment when the church reflects on the past, plans for the future and recommits to its calling — steps that ultimately impact your church and your faith journey.
Four Types of Topics
The 62nd GC Session will address key matters of business and mission that will shape the Adventist Church’s global direction for the next five years.
GC Session has four types of topics: elections, church manual updates, constitution and bylaws updates, and general agenda with ministry reports and key decisions.
Elections: The session will open on Thursday, July 3, 2025, with caucuses where each division will select 10% of their delegates to be on the nominating committee. A total of 280 individuals representing each of the 13 divisions will be tasked with reviewing vetted names (provided by the secretariat and treasury offices) and making recommendations to report to the gathered delegates.
Types of leadership elections include: General Conference president, secretariat, treasurer, vice presidents, ministry directors and associates in addition to division presidents, secretariat, treasurer and leadership teams. In all, 113 elections are expected. The election schedule is typically:
- Friday — President
- Sunday — Secretariat, Treasury
- Monday — Vice presidents, Division presidents
- Tuesday — Secretariat and Treasury support roles
- Wednesday — General Conference Auditing Service
- Thursday — Ministry directors
- Friday — Ministry associate directors
Church Manual Updates: The Church Manual, which guides churches worldwide, will be a key focus, with 29 proposed updates to evaluate. These updates are initially vetted at Annual Council and by a standing committee that regularly reviews the Manual.
These include updates related to the role of pastors, stewardship practices, membership recordkeeping, the Communion service and the election process at the local church level. Several new directives and editorial changes seek to bring greater clarity and consistency to church policy and practice worldwide.
Constitution and Bylaws Updates: Changes to the General Conference Constitution and Bylaws are also on the table. There are six recommendations, including provisions for session scheduling flexibility in light of global travel challenges, updates to the appropriations process with how funds are allocated and managed, as well as expanded governance responsibilities for the General Conference Executive Committee to provide a more collaborative leadership structure. These structural adjustments aim to ensure smoother administration while maintaining global representation and accountability.
General Agenda: Several presentations will anchor the spiritual and strategic tone of the session, including the “I Will Go” initiative for 2025–2030, a focused report on the Three Angels’ Messages and updates from the Biblical Research Institute and Adventist Review Ministries.
One of the most notable features of this session is the proposed reorganization and recognition of several new union missions and conferences in South Sudan, the Philippines, Ghana, Cameroon, Costa Rica and Nicaragua. These changes reflect the church’s continued growth and the need for more localized administrative support to meet the needs of members and mission in diverse regions.
Together, these agenda items in a comprehensive 94-page document reflect a church preparing to meet the future with mission focus, structural responsiveness and renewed clarity in its governance and spiritual priorities.
Northwest Delegates
When GC Session for the Adventist world church assembles for a church business session every five years, delegates are sent to represent a ministry territory.
Each GC Session has a designated number of delegates who are assigned to each of the unions within the 13 divisions worldwide.
North Pacific Union is asked to send 16 delegates. Delegates are in two categories: nine administrative delegates representing conferences and the union; and seven non-administrative delegates, including lay members, pastors and teachers. Lay members are recommended by local conference executive committees or boards of trustees, and final selections are approved by the NPUC executive committee.
Daily Livestream
The entire GC Session will be livestreamed on the Adventist News Network’s YouTube channel, giving you daily access to worship services, key presentations and important business sessions. This means you can experience the spirit and decisions of the Session in real time, no matter where you are.
You can find the livestream, schedule and supporting documents at gcsession.org.
General Schedule:
- Morning worship: John Bradshaw, It Is Written speaker/director
- Morning and afternoon sessions: church business meetings
- Evening worship: Division reports
One highlight you won’t want to miss is the division reports — each about 19 minutes long, these inspiring updates showcase the incredible ways God is working around the world. Filled with good news and testimonies, they are a true encouragement to all believers. The nightly livestream will begin at 7 p.m. Eastern / 4 p.m. Pacific.
Watch on YouTube
Watch at GCsession.org
Musical Talent
Each gathering will begin with 30 minutes of music — including musicians from the Pacific Northwest! In addition, musicians will provide concert performances at adjacent locations. The music serves as a gathering time for delegates to come into a worship-filled environment to prepare for the business sessions.
Representing the Pacific Northwest are:
- Tsikirai Family — Sunday, July 6 from 7:30–7:55 a.m. at the Ferrera Theater
- Les Chanticleers — Monday, July 7 from 1:30–2 p.m. on the Main Stage
- Matt and Josie Minikus — Thursday, July 10 from 1:30–2 p.m. on the Main Stage
* Schedule subject to be updated
Session History
Rooted in history dating back to 1863 in Battle Creek, Michigan, GC Session has grown from modest annual church meetings to large-scale events held in major stadiums with sufficient local infrastructure. Delegates include laypeople, pastors, teachers and non-administrative employees from around the world, reflecting the church’s global diversity.
Held every five years, GC Session mirrors the church’s expansion, with significant representation from Africa and South America.
Service Project Opportunities
Young adults have a unique chance to serve during the Session through community-based mission projects organized by Impact! St. Louis.
Through hands-on mission projects like book distribution, park clean-up, community garden maintenance, Little Library construction and shelter support, you’ll make a real difference while putting your faith into action during Session week, July 7–12, 2025. Some tasks may require bending, squatting, lifting up to 50 pounds and using basic tools.
Stay Connected During the Session
Every journey to a GC Session is one-of-a-kind. Whether it’s your first time or you’ve been before, we want to hear what moved you — and what perspective you’ll carry home.
You’re invited to share your real-time Northwest stories, photos or short video reflections (60 seconds or less) via nwadventists.com/contribute or by emailing info@nwadventists.com.
For members in the Northwest and beyond who can’t attend the GC Session in person, there are great ways to stay connected and informed throughout the event through:
Our Northwest Adventist communications team is joining the efforts of the global communication team and will also provide daily Northwest e-newsletters and social media updates featuring highlights and behind-the-scenes stories to help you remain part of the conversation and mission, even from home.
If you aren’t already subscribed, sign up for NW Adventist emails, plus follow @NWAdventists on Facebook and Instagram.
Subscribe for NW Adventists e-updates
Download the GC Session App
The official mobile application for the 62nd General Conference Session is available for download. The app will provide the full schedule, exhibition details, election results, and other essential resources.
Let’s Tell the Story — Together!
As Northwest members, we have a front-row seat to both the worship and the work of the global church. Whether you're watching online, reading daily updates or serving on-site in St. Louis, your prayers and participation matter.
Let’s experience this moment with open hearts, a spirit of unity and a commitment to telling the ongoing story of what God is doing through His people around the world.
