Hi, I’m Björn Karlman, AT exec director, and I’ll be providing live updates for day eight of the 62nd General Conference (GC) Session. Thanks for joining us!

MOST RECENT UPDATES APPEAR FIRST:

UPDATE: As the afternoon session is dedicated to regional caucus meetings away from the main stage, we are ending our live updates here.

[11:35 AM CDT] Mark Finley urges delegates to break into groups and discuss the above question. Hunger wins out for many delegates as they stream toward the exit.

[11:10 AM CDT] We’ve changed gears and  have moved on to “I Will Go” mission promotion. Elias Brasil de Souza, PhD, director of the Biblical Research Institute, is preaching on the importance of unity in the church.

[11:00 AM CDT] Delegates approved Agenda Item 423, amending the church manual to allow local churches to hold business meetings virtually under certain conditions. The revision permits electronic participation when all participants can communicate and are recognized as present.

GOOD NEWS: the church manual discussions are OVER for #GCSession2025!

[10:55 AM CDT] Karnik Doukmetzian, General Conference legal counsel, explained the legal implications of proposed changes to the church manual in Agenda Item 422, which focuses on strengthening the church board’s disciple-making and accountability responsibilities. Delegates then voted to end debate and approved the final paragraph of Agenda Item 422, officially updating the church manual.

[10:55 AM CDT] A delegate asks why suggested language to protect churches against sexual abuse was omitted from the suggested church manual amendment. The answer from GC legal says that other church resources such as working policy and church manual supplements handle such matters.

[10:44 AM CDT] We are running out of GC Session time, and Chair Audrey Andersson urges delegates to stop suggesting amendments.

[10:39 AM CDT] “Madame Chair, thank you for pronouncing my name so well TODAY,” quips a delegate. Andersson thanks him for being gracious🤣.

[10:23 AM CDT] Gerson Santos moved to split Agenda Item 422 into two votes, separating one paragraph for individual consideration. The item proposes an amendment to the church manual, Chapter 11, focusing on disciple-making, evangelism, and reclaiming ministries as core priorities for church boards. The paragraph set aside addresses the church board’s responsibilities for protecting, safeguarding, and caring for all attendees, upholding standards, and overseeing church operations.

[10:15 AM CDT] Delegates at GC Session 2025 tackled Agenda Item 412, which proposed amending the church manual to emphasize offerings as acts of worship and to clarify the Church’s three approved offering plans. After receiving a revised agenda with committee changes clearly marked in bold, delegates moved and seconded the item, then voted to cease debate and proceed to a vote. The motion carried, officially updating the church manual to reflect the new language and structure for offerings.

[10:00 AM CDT] Delegates at GC Session 2025 finally put Agenda Item 411 to bed—after revisiting GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) anxieties and data privacy debates, they voted to approve revisions to the church manual’s section on tithe. The update affirms the importance of faithful tithing for the Church’s global mission, with the added thrill of knowing your data is (allegedly) safe. Discussion was lively, motions were seconded, and in the end, the item carried.

[9:40 AM CDT] Welcome back, everyone! At the start of GC Session day 8, delegates focused on the need for stronger global and cultural representation in the church manual. Several participants expressed appreciation for the leadership, chair, and nominating committee. One delegate also addressed the importance of adding an associate to Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries (ACM) to help advance ACM’s mission.

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