We are two months away from the 24th General Conference, which will be held in Medellín, Colombia, from February 6-9, 2025. That means we are less than two months away from the 24th General Conference session, where delegates (representatives) from all the Reform Movement Units around the world will gather at the Colombian Union headquarters from January 20-February 3, 2025, to prayerfully discuss certain topics, as well as for the reorganization of our church’s leadership.
Why do we have a delegation session?
The purpose of a General Conference session is not merely to elect new officers, evaluate methods of labor, formulate rules for the organizational structure of the church, and make sure we are in a strong financial basis so that we can enter into new countries. The main reason for calling delegates from all parts of the world field is to make sure that our doctrines are founded upon a strong scriptural basis. The very first record of a General Conference session is found in Acts chapter 15. As important as such sessions may be, Inspiration did not see the need to record the election of officers or its guidelines on how the organizational structure will operate. There were doctrinal issues that were causing unnecessary divisions in the church, and the purpose of this meeting was to find a consensus consistent with biblical teachings under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.¹
When doctrines are causing divisions, it is not a time to polarize ourselves one from another and to form factions as did the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes. The purpose of church leadership is to guide the members into a oneness that is miraculous from the standpoint of this world. (ibid.)
Sometimes people have a wrong idea of what it means to be a delegate. Since we are elected to represent certain areas, we feel that we must vote according to what we are told by our constituents. If that were the case, we would not even need to spend all the money and time to go to a session. All we would need to do is send out a ballot to the various units, and they could simply vote without having everyone come together. But that would defeat the real purpose of a delegation session. We come together not only to express our views on a subject but also to listen to the opposing view. By listening we sometimes change our mind and accept what we were not prepared to accept before we came together. And sometimes, we may even conclude that neither side was correct and, as a result, come to a completely different conclusion. (ibid.)
[U]nity can only come when we surrender our will to the written will of God. “If the professed followers of Christ would accept God’s standard, it would bring them into unity; but so long as human wisdom is exalted above His Holy Word, there will be divisions and dissension.”9 This is why there is no room for personal opinions or preferences or even the traditions of the church. The reason we discuss doctrinal issues at a General Conference session, even some issues coming up again and again, is so that we can be very clear that our beliefs are clearly based on the Word of God, and the Word of God alone. (ibid.)
Who is present?
All General Conference officers are present at the delegation session, as well as delegates from the different Units. During the session, many volunteers work hard as translators and support staff to oversee meals, cleaning, laundry, media, audio, voting systems, etc.
You will be able to keep up with news and behind the scenes on our Instagram, so make sure to follow along.
What is decided?
During the session, new officers are elected, new resolutions are written, or previous ones are modified. A bulletin summarizing that day’s highlights will be published on sdarm.org at the end of every day.
What is the General Conference event?
At the end of the delegation session, there is a spiritual conference. This is a highly anticipated and special event that attracts brethren from around the world to gather with their global Reform Movement family.
On this occasion, the outgoing officers share highlights from their terms, and the incoming officers are introduced. Throughout the weekend, uplifting spiritual messages are shared, and the atmosphere is truly special.
The international choir and orchestra performances, as well as the children’s presentation, are highlights. This year, the youth will have the chance to go on outings to explore the beautiful places surrounding Medellín.
Who can attend?
The General Conference only happens every five years, and it brings an opportunity to visit a new country, fellowship with our global family, and partake of spiritual refreshment. Everyone is invited to participate—members and friends alike. You can register for the event here. If you cannot attend in-person this time, subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow us on Facebook. The conference program will be livestreamed, so you can watch from home or host a viewing at your local church!
When the General Conference is over, it’s time to start planning for the next! Confirm that your travel documents are in order, start saving for the trip, and look forward to the next spiritual gathering.
For now, we hope to see you in Colombia!
References
“The Doctrines of the Faith” Peter D. Lausevic, Reformation Herald vol. 56., No. 5 (2015)
