This is the moment of the major meeting of brothers in the faith, joint to deal with the important matters of the Church. It is very worthy of preparation, organization, and celebration. Preparation is a personal and collective spiritual surrender to God, in which each and all, together, seek God's blessing on decisions for the future of the Church. Organization is the necessary commitment so that order and efficiency maximize the meetings and their results to mission. Celebration, which starts from the desire to praise together, is an act of worship to God. All this is experienced in a General Conference Session.
The Session of the General Conference, as the highest administrative body of the church, is the gathering of all the members from around the world represented by delegates they have chosen. The Seventh-day Adventist Church was given this extraordinary blessing of being led through a representative system in which the church membership, local congregation and regional fields are represented and participate in the General Conference Session, which allows them to decide upon the documents and plans of the Church and appoint its officers, every five years. We do so in the belief that we do a service and exercise a ministry, trusting in God's blessing and protection over the Church.
This year’s Session, which is being held in St. Louis from June 6-11, presents great challenges, which, as always, open up enormous opportunities. It is a meeting that is taking place two years behind schedule because of the pandemic contingency. It has been organised in challenging circumstances, with a mixed attendance and voting system, given the inability of many to be physically present at the Session. It comes at a historic moment when threats to health, peace and the simple need for food are looming over the entire world. Each of these challenges is, of course, an opportunity. Delays generate the desire for a reunion and an embrace. Difficulty in organisation brings added care to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Global threats, in addition to strengthening the prophetic vision that has built us up, make practical action in favour of others even more necessary, and the proclamation of God's love and care more urgent than ever. For all this, the Church needs to seek direction and surrender herself completely into God’s arms.
Over the next few days, you will find, in this space, the EUD Perspective. The representatives of the departments of communication for the various EUD Unions and Institutions, as envoys to the General Conference, will share with you their vision of the General Conference from an up close and personal, involved perspective. All know and accept their responsibility and wish to share it with you. Because, all together, we are Church and we know, by heart, and trust the words of Jesus:
"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you." John 15:16
