REFLECTIONS ON THE 62nd GC SESSION: A FIRST-TIME OBSERVER’S HONEST TAKE

Attending the 62nd General Conference Session (GC Session) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in St. Louis, Missouri in 2025 was a deeply personal and spiritual experience for me. It was my very first time witnessing the global body of the church come together under one roof, a moment I had not predicted. And yet, amidst the sense of awe and wonder, I left with mixed feelings—some uplifting, some sobering, and others genuinely concerning.

The Good: Unity in Diversity

Let me begin with what was truly inspiring:

• Seeing the global Adventist family, delegates and observers from every continent, come together in prayer, praise, and purpose was powerful. In a world increasingly fragmented, this diverse unity stood out.
• The mission reports from across the world were heartening. Stories of evangelism, service, and faith from far-flung corners reaffirmed our shared commitment to “go into all the world.”
• I must particularly commend Dr. David Trim’s statistical report—a rare moment of analytical honesty that grounded our discussions in data, not assumptions. His presentation highlighted both progress and concerns in membership retention and engagement.

This GC Session reminded me of how vast and vibrant our movement is and why our shared mission still matters.

The Bad: A Conference Without Real Conversation

But not all was well.

Despite the beauty of the gathering, I couldn’t shake off a certain emptiness in the agendas. As Reinder Bruinsma rightly noted in his powerful open letter to President Köhler, the Session felt administratively cautious—as if maintaining the status quo was an achievement in itself. No major theological or policy shifts. No bold moves on pressing issues like gender equality, hermeneutics, etc. No deep or intense debates that reflect the real questions facing today’s Adventist Church.

Instead, the spotlight was mostly on electing leaders. This was, admittedly, important—but also disappointing. Leadership matters, but so does direction. And that was missing.

The Ugly: A Few Glaring Oversights

There were also some aspects of the session that left me frankly bewildered:

• Some of the field reporting was underwhelming, even chaotic—more show than substance. Given the resources at our disposal, we can and must do better at representing our global family’s stories.
• I’m left wondering: Was there any serious discussion about our ecumenical mission approach? In today’s complex, pluralistic world, the church’s witness must go beyond internal affirmation to genuine external engagement. Did we address the mission strategy for secular, urban societies, or talk meaningfully about collaboration in a globalized spiritual landscape? (I admit there were reports, but I am asking for discussion, research, AND reports).

If we truly believe in the Three Angels’ Message as a global calling, why does it feel like we sometimes retreat into administrative formalism, instead of bold, contextual mission?

Where Do We Go from Here? A Hopeful Plea

Reinder Bruinsma’s letter is interesting. Its appealing not criticizing. It speaks not just for one individual, but for a large segment of our church—those of us who long for dialogue, diversity, and inclusion without compromising on biblical integrity. Elder Köhler now stands at a significant crossroads.

Will he simply manage the church, or will he lead it toward transformation?

Can this new era become a turning point—a moment to give voice to progressive Adventists, to re-evaluate how we manage women’s ordination, sexuality, and the interpretation of Ellen White’s writings, all while staying grounded in Scripture and mission?

I sincerely hope so. I pray that the spirit of “Jesus is Coming, I Will Go” becomes not just a slogan, but a movement of dialogue and direction, of listening and loving, of faithfulness and forward-thinking leadership.

As I pause

This was my first GC Session, and I am grateful I witnessed it. But I do not want future sessions to feel like a formality or seen by the future generation as a venue for election and selection only. I long for a church brave enough to listen to its younger generations, to its scholars, to its global margins—and yes, to those who still believe but struggle to belong.

Elder Köhler, the world church is watching—not for perfection, but for progress. Please, give us space to grow.

“We must move forward on this issue.” — Bruinsma’s plea resonates with many. Let’s not lose this moment.

A Servant of Christ,
Santosh Kumar