When the first session of General Conference was held in May 1863, 20 delegates gathered in a small wooden church in Battle Creek, Michigan.
The delegates represented several thousand Sabbath-observant Advent believers, mostly from the Northeast and Midwest regions of the United States.
Today, however, the 61st session of General Conference, originally scheduled for 2020 but postponed twice because of the pandemic, is being held in a much larger venue than the small wooden church in Battle Creek!
In 2022, there are about 2,680 delegates representing more than 22 million members from more than 200 countries! In fact, a small portion, 682 members, are remotely connected, so it will also be the first "hybrid" assembly, in-person and online.
What a big difference between 1863 and 2022 and I am proud to be able to participate in such an important meeting for our church organization.
Delegates are asked to change some aspects of the Church constitution, what Adventists call the Church Manual.
During worldwide Adventist Church sessions there is a need to make updates to the Church Manual.
The Adventist Church Manual has been in existence since way back in 1932 and expresses the Church's view on leadership and discipline, based on biblical principles.
To think that we are continually discussing and updating a handbook that is based on the needs of the Church so many years ago, this also makes me realize the solid foundation of our Church.
There are several items on the agenda, 37 to be exact: some are just highlights, clarifications, to better express concepts already in the church manual.
For example, we have the role of the Church―an update to emphasize the missionary purpose of the denomination.
Administrative items include the possibility of having the Assembly both in-person and virtual.
Also, for the role of the pastor, a few introductory paragraphs have been added to highlight the importance of the pastor as a trainer of the church for mission fulfillment.
In addition, there are not only updates in the sense of modification to the current content but also the possibility of including new concepts such as the new ministry called 'Ministry for Equal Possibilities,' which aims to inspire, train, and mobilize people with disabilities.
To reiterate, each of these recommendations is only meant to facilitate the work of the Church in fulfilling its mission.
Proposals for updating the handbook are presented during the work between a spiritual moment and the reports of the outgoing leaders to show all that has been accomplished in the previous five years, and thus it becomes "light" for the delegates to participate in work that is mostly administrative.
May the Lord always watch over His church on this earth so that, even through its good organization, the Message can be more easily spread.
