04 July 2025

LIVE: Day 2 Updates from GC Session 2025 in St. Louis

News #GCSession2025, LIVE, updates

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

MOST RECENT UPDATES APPEAR FIRST:

[4:26 PM EDT] The independent auditor’s report is voted through. The delegates are heading to supper.

[4:15 PM EDT] – The independent auditor’s report is being discussed on the floor.

Köhler calls for unity as his family joins him on stage.

It’s confirmed! Erton Köhler is voted GC PRESIDENT

Erton Köhler, General Conference executive secretary, is nominated for Presidency. He’s set to lead with a centralized, strategic style from his South American Division days, prioritizing unified control. Praised for results but criticized as autocratic for curbing local autonomy, he’ll need to adapt to the global Seventh-day Adventist Church’s diverse needs if elected.

[3:40 PM EDT] The treasurer’s report was voted through with a strong majority.

[3:07 PM EDT] Questions and comments are being taken from the floor before voting on acceptance of the Treasury report

[2:50 PM EDT] OK, we’ve heard from a trusted source that the nominating committee is back and there is smoke. We’ll keep you updated!

The COVID years meant a hit to offerings.

Here’s how the GC spends money.

Here’s how GC finances have grown.

[2:25 PM CDT] World tithe is up about 16% over the last five years. World tithe is over $3 billion annually. Douglas says the financial position of the General Conference at the end of the last five-year period is strong.

[2:22 PM CDT] Douglas calls for leaders to “put the money where the mission is.”

[2:11 PM CDT] GC treasurer Paul Douglas starts the treasurer’s report by introducing treasurers for divisions around the world. They are getting applause. Doesn’t hurt to keep the money people happy!🤣

[1:57 PM CDT] – Kenneth Logan (whom we knew as K-Lo when I was at Andrews) plays some calming organ music for delegates right before business starts up for the afternoon session. They might need it, as the nominating committee’s recommendation for president is likely to come this afternoon.

[12:10 PM CDT] – An enthusiastic vote from delegates to accept the secretary’s report and go to lunch.

[11:52 AM CDT] As he wrapped up the secretary’s report, Köhler paid tribute to the late Kleyton Feitosa, a missionary whose remarkable life and work included serving as director of the General Conference Global Mission Centers from 2023 to 2024. Feitosa’s family received a standing ovation from delegates.

[11:43 AM CDT] – Erton Köhler focuses squarely on the need for a renewed focus on global mission. He calls on areas that previously received missionaries to send missionaries to challenging areas: “We are moving together in an integrated way.”

[10:15 AM CDT] GC undersecretary Hensley Moorooven speaks to the importance of policy and these mission slogans – never seen so much GC jargon on one page!

[11:00 AM CDT] Gary Krause from Global Mission shares the growing speed with which new Adventist churches are planted.

Someone becomes Adventist every 11.5 seconds.

[10:35 AM CDT] A man whose hair needs no introduction, GC statistician David Trim is up and delivering his portion of the report from Secretariat.

[10:21 AM CDT] GC exec secretary Erton Köhler starts his report. Will he be announced as GC president later today?

[10:06 AM CDT] The motion that would have brought back the immunization discussion for a second day FAILED conclusively.

[9:59 AM CDT] – The vaccination statement is BACK. This motion is on the floor.

Here’s the correct statement.

Here’s the old statement that was online for a decade:

[9:15 AM CDT] – Business hasn’t officially kicked off yet, but GC President Ted Wilson is addressing the delegates and is admitting that the statement on vaccination voted by GC ADCOM which he read from to the delegates yesterday has not been accurately reflected on the GC website for the last 10 years. An earlier unvoted version had mistakenly been updated and sat undetected for a decade. It has now been updated per the picture.

“Pastor Wilson, why didn’t you catch that for 10 years? That’s a good question; we just have to take responsibility.”

ALSO… Here’s the list of #GCSession2025 nominating committee members