The 62nd General Conference Session officially kicked off today in St. Louis, Missouri, marking the beginning of a significant 10-day event where global Seventh-day Adventist leaders and lay members gather to make crucial decisions about the church’s leadership, structure, and mission. Delegates from around the world came together this afternoon for the first steps of a process that will shape the future of the church for the next five years.
One of the first major tasks was the election of members to the Nominating Committee, which plays a pivotal role in selecting key church leaders. Delegates from North America caucused to choose their representatives (as each division does), and two individuals from the Mid-America Union were selected to serve: Gary Thurber, president of the Mid-America Union, and Charo Felix from the Iowa-Missouri Conference, who has long been active in church leadership.
Gary Thurber commented on the process, saying,
“Today, the delegates from North America caucused to choose our members of the Nominating Committee. We have 21 names from among our delegates for this committee, who will work with the other members from around the globe to fill the seats to be elected—277 total. Tomorrow, we will focus on electing our GC president, who will serve throughout the next quinquennium. Please pray for us as we begin our work tomorrow.”
The Nominating Committee will continue its work over the next few days, beginning with the election of the GC president. This election is a critical step, as it will determine the leadership for the next five years. The process will involve not only the election of the president but also other key leaders, including the GC secretary, treasurer, vice presidents and department directors.
For those unable to attend, the General Conference Session is being broadcast live. The session’s official website, www.gcsession.org, provides access to live streams, the full agenda, and other information.
