News | Seventh-day Adventist Church

General Conference Delegates Approve Church Manual Amendment on Ordination of Elders

General Conference Session. Image by Tor Tjeransen Adventist Media Exchange

Story by Marcos Paseggi, Adventist Review

At the 2022 General Conference Session in St. Louis, Missouri, one of the amendments proposed for the Church Manual on the June 6 evening business session resulted in an extended discussion from the floor and required the delegates to take several related votes during the space of 75 minutes. General Conference (GC) associate secretary Gerson Santos introduced Church Manual item 409-22, which, he said, sought “to clarify some aspects of the church’s business meeting.”

Late Evening Discussion Points to Clarification on Ordination of Elders and Deaconesses

Image of delegates at the 2022 General Conference Session. Image by Tor Tjeransen Adventist Media Exchange

Story by Wilona Karimabadi / Adventist Review

Tuesday’s first late-evening General Conference business session addressed two items on the clarification of election and ordination for elders who are female and deaconesses. The discussion, which lasted almost until the close of the meeting, was filled with numerous questions and comments from assembled delegates, both in person and via Zoom videoconferencing.

Andersson and Valentine join new General Vice President Team

Willingboro Church Hosts Veteran’s Luncheon

Willingboro member Terrina Williams, Pastor Bruce A. Banner, Congressman Andy Kim and member Beulah Williams attend the veteran’s luncheon.

Story by Benia Jennings

The mission at New Jersey Conference's Willingboro church is “[to serve] the community with love and compassion.” On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, they were able to do just that.

Southeast Church Spotlights Innovative Sabbath School

Story by Cecily Bryant

Barry Brooks, Sabbath School superintendent of Allegheny West Conference's Southeast church in Cleveland, and his team represent success that grew out of adversity. The COVID-19 pandemic led this group to lean on Jesus and think outside of the box. Their combined efforts and dedication produced a creative and spiritually vibrant online Sabbath School.

The team consists of Brooks, his wife, Denise, their daughter, Brittni, and fellow church members Janviere Lavender, Elva Battle, Charity White and Reuel White. Whether their efforts involve planning, teaching or enhancing the online experience or hand-delivering Sabbath School lessons, other members say the result of their teamwork is excellence.

Paul Douglas Elected as Treasurer of the Seventh-day Adventist Church

Story by ANN Staff / Image by Tor Tjeransen/ Adventist Media Exchange

Paul Douglas has been re-elected as the Treasurer of the General Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists (GC). Douglas was first elected to the position during the 2021 Spring Meetings, in Silver Spring, Maryland, after Juan Prestol-Puesán retired.

Mission a Strong Focus of Secretariat’s Report at GC Session

GC Secretary Erton Köhler and his wife Adriene Marques. Image by Bryant Taylor/ Southern Union

Story by Maryellen Hacko/ANN

On Tuesday morning at just about 9:30 am at the 61st General Conference Session, GC Secretary Erton Köhler, accompanied by Undersecretary Hensley Moorooven, GC associate secretaries Claude Richli, Gerson Santos, Karen Porter, Gary Krause and Elbert Kuhn, alongside Director of the office of Archives, Statistics and Research (ASTR) David Trim, and VividFaith manager Fylvia Kline, presented the Secretariat Report, which celebrated the mission work executed across the global Adventist Church over the past seven years.

Serving the Community Reaps Large Dividends

Jorge Quintiana, pastor of the Virginia Beach (Va.) church

Story by Debra Anderson

It is not uncommon to find church leaders struggling to find ways to go beyond the premises of the church to minister. In the Potomac Conference, however, pastors, principals, teachers and office workers are being challenged to do just that—to extend themselves “Beyond the Walls.” For the last year, congregations around the conference have been intentional in living the gospel of Jesus by reaching out to help those in their local communities.

World Church President Delivers Ministry Highlights and Significant Achievements Over Past Seven Years

Ted N. C. Wilson, President, General Conference (GC) giving the President´s Report at the morning business session on Monday, June 6, 2022. The 61st General Conference Session of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, America’s Center Convention Complex, St. Louis, Missouri, USA, June 6-11, 2022. | Image by Tor Tjeransen, GC

Story by Maryellen Hacko, ANN

Teen Leadership Training Participants Enjoy Retreat

Story by LaTasha Hewitt

The conference’s Pathfinder Ministries Department recently hosted a Teen Leadership Training (TLT) retreat at the Mt. Aetna Retreat Center in Hagerstown, Md. More than 30 TLT trainees, 14 TLT mentors and nine staff members gathered for a weekend of training and activities that included a bonfire vespers, indoor and outdoor games and team challenges.

Participants left inspired and equipped. “The program has encouraged me to adjust how I view myself and how I can be a part of spreading the three angels’ messages,” shares TLT trainee Zora Wills from Genesis church’s Jaguars club.