Members of the General Conference Executive Committee (GC EXCOM) voted to recommend the merger of the North German Union Conference (NGU) and the South German Union Conference (SGU) into a single German Union Conference. The vote took place on the first day of the 2026 Spring Meeting of the body at the Seventh-day Adventist Church headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States, April 14.
This is “something that I don’t remember having done in at least 40 years,” Tom Lemon, a vice president of the General Conference (GC), acknowledged in introducing the agenda item. “It is a vote to merge two unions rather than bifurcate them.”
A Response to Current Realities
Lemon said that the move is a response to “ongoing missional, administrative, and organizational considerations,” and that this reorganization “reflects a shared commitment to strengthening gospel outreach, enhancing administrative efficiency, and steward resources responsibly within the territory of Germany.” He added that “the merger builds on several years of increasing collaboration between the two unions, including the alignment of departmental functions, shared strategic planning, and the consolidation of administrative operations.” He explained, “These developments have demonstrated the benefits of unified leadership and coordinated mission strategy while reducing duplication and complexity.”
Likewise GC associate secretary Karen Porter explained that establishing a single German Union Conference “will provide a clearer organizational structure, improve the ability to respond to demographic and societal changes, and support a more agile and mission-focused use of human and financial resources.” She added, “This reorganization is intended to position the church in Germany for sustainable growth, effective witness, and faithful fulfillment of its mission in the years ahead.”
A Historical Review
GC EXCOM members and invitees then watched a short video giving the history and rationale for this proposed merger. “This context explains why we have worked consistently for nearly 40 years to provide a lean structure to a highly overorganized church,” explained the video narrator at the beginning of the presentation. “Our goal is to fulfill our mission more efficiently, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God to a society in secular Europe.”
The video explained how in 1984 the SGU initiated the examination of a potential merger, and in 1987 an expert group was commissioned to study the merger, which was officially recommended in 1989. “The historic fall of the iron curtain opened new possibilities for unity across Germany, and the political reunification of West and East Germany transformed the landscape for church organization,” it added.
From 1992 there were several failed attempts to merge, including a divided vote in 2002 when the NGU voted for the merger but the SGU voted against. But in 2013 both unions launched a process of increasingly close collaboration, laying the groundwork for unity. “Despite setbacks, the vision for unity was never abandoned,” and “cooperation became the bridge toward an eventual merger.”
Since 2014 these attempts included one chief financial officer and one secretary (vice president) serving both territories simultaneously, one budget, joint departments, and joint governance. “Rather than waiting for a formal merger vote, the two unions began functioning as one in practice—building trust, aligning systems, and demonstrating that unity was already possible. This period produced tangible, lasting integration across every dimension of the church.”
In November 2022 the Inter-European Division, which includes Germany, unanimously approved the merger.
Support From Current Facts and Data
Some facts and data that support the case for a merger include a declining membership (from 35,195 baptized members in 2010 to 34,494 in 2024) but a relative financial strength, as tithes have increased from €39 million (US$43 million) in 2015 to €51 million (US$57 million) in 2025. “The church remains financially healthy and mission-ready,” the video narrator shared.
According to regional church leaders the merger will support strategy—giving the territory high agility in a rapidly changing society—and unity, as the church will speak with one voice in public. It will also provide greater efficiency (faster decisions, eliminating redundancies) and improved finances, as it will allow access to additional resources for mission.
“The merger is not merely a future plan—it is already a present reality in practice. Years of deliberate integration have yielded measurable results that demonstrate the model works,” the narrator said.
Reinvestment in Mission
Efficiency improvements and cost savings are already being reinvested in mission growth, regional church leaders said. “The organizational integration is not just about saving money; it is about redirecting every freed dollar toward the mission of the church.” These gains have already translated in US$580,000 for evangelism and small group series across Germany, $1.85 million for HopeTV, and $1.15 million for church-planting initiatives.
From the floor Alexander Ott, German-speaking associate secretary of the GC, celebrated the German leaders’ focus on mission. “We see two unions streamlining resources,” something that “will be a stepping stone toward being more effective for mission.”
The motion to recommend the merger to the next General Conference Session passed 170 to 4.
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