Frequently Asked Questions

• Why does the Adventist Church hold a business session every 5 years? What is the purpose of the GC Session?

• Do you have to be a delegate to attend the GC? How many delegates are there? How are the delegates chosen? What is their job?

• How can members benefit from attending the session?

• Describe a typical day at GC Session from beginning to end.

• How does the process of electing church officers work? What offices are filled at a GC Session? At what point in the session is the GC president selected?

• How can church members get updates on the proceedings and voted actions at GC?

• Can I volunteer to help at the meetings?

Why does the Adventist Church hold a business session every 5 years? What is the purpose of the GC Session?

General Conference Session is a global spiritual gathering and a constitutionally required business meeting that has been held every five years since 1970. Its purpose is to vote on global leadership, set the direction of the Church for the next five years, and vote changes to the Constitution & Bylaws, Fundamental Beliefs and Church Manual.

Do you have to be a delegate to attend the GC? How many delegates are there? How are the delegates chosen? What is their job?

The GC Session is an open meeting; anyone can attend, but only delegates can speak and vote. For this 62nd GC Session, 2,809 voting delegates are expected to attend. Each union nominates delegates to represent its field, and delegates representing major church institutions are selected.

How can members benefit from attending the session?

While delegates can only participate in person, attendees worldwide can join us to better understand the world church and how it operates. Those unable to make the trip to St. Louis to attend in person are encouraged to participate online, as all the meetings will be live-streamed in multiple languages.

Describe a typical day at GC Session from beginning to end.

For those working behind the scenes, the day starts with a Steering Committee to determine the agenda items for the day. The first public meeting is morning worship, followed by a business session that lasts until lunch. There is another business session in the afternoon. In the evenings, world regions have a chance to showcase mission, challenges, and opportunities, all presented with the color and flair of national dress and music.

How does the process of electing church officers work? What offices are filled at a GC Session? At what point in the session is the GC president selected?

A nominating committee is formed to nominate General Conference officers, departmental directors and associate directors, and division officers. The president is elected first and joins the Nominating Committee to offer recommendations on all the other nominations, which the committee may choose to accept or reject.

How can church members get updates on the proceedings and voted actions at GC?

Adventist News Network and Adventist Review will be covering the event online, and with articles and interviews onsite. We encourage our World Church members to enroll to ANN and Adventist Review, and received instant news and official communications from this inspiring event.

Can I volunteer to help at the meetings?

We are no longer accepting volunteers to help during the 62nd GC Session.