What Changed in the Church Manual and Bylaws? at the 2025 GC Session

Church Manual Changes

1. Pastoral Credentials and Licenses

• Revised in the section for pastors and other employees to remove redundant language.YouTube+12Adventist Review+12Northwest Adventists+12

2. Division Supplements

• Changed wording to indicate that each church division may—rather than should—prepare its own regional supplement to the Church Manual, recasting it as a suggestion.Adventist Review+1

3. Nominating Committee Guidelines

• Clarified that the nominating committee recommends individuals to the church but does not elect them. Also, the pastor or committee chair and the treasurer help ensure nominee eligibility.Adventist Review+2General Conference Session+2

4. School Board Secretarial Role

• Specifies that the school principal is generally appointed as the secretary of the school board.Adventist Review+2interamerica.org+2

5. Membership Management

• Added a new section on Membership Record, distinct from Transferring Members, to emphasize regular membership reviews.

• Revised the Transferring Members section to:

  • Remove language requiring oversight by pastor, first elder, or board.

  • Encourage church clerks to invite regular attendees to transfer membership.

  • Add that both the sending and receiving churches should ensure members adhere to church teachings.Adventist Review+6Adventist Review+6interamerica.org+6

6. Procedures for Members Who Move Without Reporting

• Made an editorial wording update for consistency.Adventist Review+3Adventist Review+3interamerica.org+3

7. Stewardship and Offerings

• Inserted language highlighting that voluntary offerings and tithes constitute the church’s revenue.

• Emphasized stewardship as integral to faith—our responsible handling of God’s blessings leads to significant spiritual growth.Adventist Review+2interamerica.org+2

8. Sabbath School and Discipleship

• Affirmed active disciple-making as a core Sabbath School responsibility, adding clarity to the role of the Sabbath School secretary.Adventist Review+1

9. Communion and Poor-Box Offering

• Stated that an offering for the poor may be taken as the congregation exits Communion, as an addition to other offerings.YouTube+11Adventist Review+11gc.adventist.org+11

10. Confidentiality of Giving

• Reinforced that:

  • The treasurer should not comment on members’ giving.

  • Giving records should not be disclosed, except with the giver’s consent or if required by law.General Conference Session+5Adventist Review+5General Conference Session+5

11. Editorial and Process Notes

• Approved nonsubstantive editorial updates and confirmed the procedural flow: proposed updates go to the Annual Council, unless deemed substantive by a one-third vote—then they return to General Conference Session. A new Church Manual edition is published post-session.Trans-European Division+6Adventist Review+6interamerica.org+6

Bylaws & Constitutional Matters

1. Delegate Allotment Timing

• Proposed to shift the reference period for calculating delegate quotas from the second to the third year before the session—giving divisions more preparation time amid visa delays. Referred to the Constitution & Bylaws Committee.Adventist Review+1

2. Spring Meeting Authority

• Considered allowing significant decisions to occur at the Spring Meeting (often attended virtually), instead of only at the in-person Autumn Annual Council—this item was sent back to the Policy & Bylaws Committee.Adventist Review+2Adventist Today+2

3. Adventist Review Changes

• Acknowledged the phasing out of Adventist World magazine, to be replaced by a world edition of Adventist Review starting August 2025.

• Officially renamed Adventist Review Ministries to Adventist Review. Both motions passed.Adventist Review+2interamerica.org+2

This summary is based on reports published by the Adventist Review and Adventist News Network during the 2025 General Conference Session.

• “Source: Adventist Review coverage of the 62nd General Conference Session, July 202