LIVE: GC Session 2025 – Day 1 Kicks Off in St. Louis

LIVE: GC Session 2025 – Day 1 Kicks Off in St. Louis

Welcome to Adventist Today’s live updates from the 62nd General Conference Session in St. Louis, Missouri, as this historic event unfolds.

Business wraps with a prayer. Everyone is hungry.

[5:31 PM CDT] – A list of 277 nominating committee names was quickly scrolled on the screen. The list is voted through with strong support.

[5:30 PM CDT] – The delegates clearly want to go to dinner, they vote overwhelmingly to accept the agenda for GC Session.

[5:06 PM CDT]  – The motion to amend the agenda to include a review of the 2015 GC Administrative Committee’s statement on immunization has been voted down by a huge majority. The issue of immunization will not be added to the session agenda.

[4:55 PM CDT] – Wilson pushes back hard on what he calls conspiracy theories that the GC is “under the thumb” of the United Nations. He is speaking in relation to the church’s statement on vaccination.

[4:50 PM CDT] In discussing the church’s position on vaccination, Ted Wilson stresses that vaccination was never mandated by General Conference, it was always a personal choice. He also reminds everyone that scientific, peer-reviewed science is not considered by Adventists to be on the same level as the Bible and Ellen White’s writings.

[4:32 PM CDT] Immunization Topic Proposed for Agenda: Yuliyan Filipov (NAD) has moved to amend the current agenda, seeking to include a discussion on immunization, specifically in relation to the General Conference’s 2015 statement on the issue.

[4:07 PM CDT] Agendas Moved for Adoption, Delegates Line Up to Speak: Köhler has now moved to adopt the presented agendas (General, Constitution & Bylaws, Nominating, and Church Manual Agendas). A number of delegates are already approaching the microphones to offer comments on the proposed agendas.

[3:45 PM CDT] Motion to Limit Speeches Sparks Debate: The motion to limit speeches for the 2025 General Conference Session to two minutes (three minutes with interpretation) is generating plenty of discussion among delegates on the floor.

[3:26 PM CDT] GC Exec Secretary Erton Köhler has confirmed that the opening procedures for #GCSession2025 comply with Article V, Section 1 of the General Conference Constitution. We are off to the races.

[3:05 PM CDT] Official Opening Begins; Worship Concludes: The 62nd General Conference Session has officially moved into its Official Opening following a Session Opening Worship. During the worship, Pastor Mark Finley delivered an impassioned  message, stating that “The well-oiled machinery of church administration has its limitations,” emphasizing the need for spiritual power beyond organizational structures. Earlier proceedings included Opening Remarks from GC Officers and a voting device Calibration Vote.

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