On July 3, 2025, during the second day of the 62nd General Conference Session at the America’s Center Dome in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, approximately 2,800 delegates from around the world gathered to elect the new leadership of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
The delegates elected Erton C. Köhler as the 22nd President of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. He became the first president from South America in the history of the Church and one of its youngest top leaders, in his 50s. Köhler had served as Executive Secretary of the General Conference since April 2021 and previously led the South American Division (SAD), where he actively engaged in youth and young adult ministries, showcasing strong administrative skills and a clear mission-driven vision.
The nominating committee, comprising 277 members, convened in a separate location following the morning worship service on July 4. That afternoon, around 4 p.m., the committee reported its recommendation to the whole body. The delegates confirmed Köhler’s election by casting 1,721 votes in favor out of 1,909 valid ballots.
The General Conference issued an official statement, declaring, “Pastor Köhler’s election marks the beginning of his first term as the spiritual and administrative leader of a global Adventist movement with more than 23 million members across over 200 countries.”
In his acceptance speech, Köhler said, “Above all, I want to reaffirm my conviction in the Lord and His Church as we move forward.” Quoting Isaiah 41:10, he added, “We must trust in the Lord, who is the true owner of this Church, and move forward with faith.”
Photo: Tor Tjeransen/Adventist Media Exchange (CC BY 4.0)
The session also elected Richard E. McEdward as the new Executive Secretary of the General Conference. McEdward most recently served as President of the Middle East and North Africa Union (MENA), where he led with effectiveness in complex and mission-restricted environments. In his response, he committed to serving the Church “through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Photo: Nathaniel Reid/Adventist Media Exchange (CC BY 4.0)
The delegates also re-elected Paul H. Douglas as Treasurer of the General Conference. Since his first election in 2021, Douglas has strengthened financial transparency and accountability across the Church’s operations. He emphasized, “We must faithfully steward the resources God has entrusted us with to fulfill His mission.”
This newly elected leadership team embodies the global and diverse nature of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, representing a unified vision to lead the Church forward with purpose and faithfulness.