The Seventh-day Adventist world church is busy getting ready for its 58th General Conference (G.C.) session, convening in St. Louis, Missouri, June 30 to July 9. Official delegates number about 2,000, representing each of the 13 world church divisions. Thousands more will come for fellowship and inspiration, and to see the world church in business session.

Our early church pioneers would rejoice to see how God has taken the little group of Adventist believers to 203 countries around the world with 14 million members. What a contrast the 58th G.C. session will be to the first one held in Battle Creek, Michigan, in 1863. Twenty delegates were in attendance—ten from Michigan, four from New York, two from Ohio, one from Wisconsin, two from Iowa, and one from Minnesota. At that first G.C. session a constitution, consisting of nine articles establishing the church organizational structure and representative form of government, was adopted.

The Adventist form of church government is congregational in its emphasis on local church authority; Presbyterian in its provision for government by elected representatives; and Methodist in its conferences as organizational units, which assign ministers to the local churches.

The foundation of the organization is the local church, where individual membership is held. Membership is granted by virtue of baptism or profession of faith and follows an individual through a transfer process to any Adventist church in the world.

Local churches are organized into conferences. The Michigan Conference, organized in 1861, was the very first conference. Conferences are organized into union conferences, and unions make up divisions. The General Conference is made up of 13 divisions, 94 union and mission conferences, and 516 conferences and missions.

One of the highlights of G.C. session is the Sabbath afternoon Parade of Nations. Representatives from the world divisions, dressed in colorful native costumes, parade through the assembly carrying their national flags.

The delegates, persons who have been selected to vote in G.C. business sessions, are comprised of delegates at large—all members of the General Conference Executive Committee and those selected by that committee (760), and regular delegates—representatives of the conferences, missions, and unions (1,240). All sessions are open for public observation.

The Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis seats 70,000 people and is expected to be filled both weekends. Those who attend will experience music, preaching, and fellowship unique to the G.C. sessions.

Fellowship with your church family is a vital part of your Christian growth. So if you can’t make it to St. Louis for the big family reunion this summer, check for daily news coverage at www.adventistreview.org and watch the session on Adventist satellite stations like the Hope Channel and 3ABN. And be sure to make plans to attend your local conference family reunion, camp meeting, this summer.

Ann Fisher writes from Walla Walla, Washington.