Organisational structure
A framework for mission and ministry
The Seventh-day Adventist Church operates within a representative form of governance, meaning authority originates from the members of local churches. Executive responsibilities are delegated to representative bodies and officers at various levels.
The Church is organised into four levels, connecting individual believers to the global Church. This structure ensures the Church’s mission is carried out effectively while respecting the unique characteristics and needs of each region, such as language and culture. Jesus is the head and heart of the Church, which is made up of its members.
Four levels of church structure
Conference
South England Conference (SEC)
Headquarters: Watford
Union
British Union Conference (BUC)
Headquarters: Watford
General Conference
Headquarters: General Conference (GC) - Silver Spring, USA; Regional Office: Trans-European Division (TED) of the General Conference - St Albans, UK
1. Local Church
A congregation composed of individual members and believers who form the foundation of the Church.
Members elect their own officers and church boards through majority voting.
2. Local Conference or Field/Mission
A group of local churches within a region, such as a territory (e.g., Southern England) or a country (e.g., Scotland or Wales), are organised into a conference which helps provide administrative support and representation to churches in their respective regions.
Delegates from local churches attend a Session, which is a constituency meeting held at set intervals to elect leaders, review reports, and make decisions. In the South England Conference (SEC), these Sessions are held every four years.
Between Sessions, executive authority is exercised by the Conference Executive Committee and its officers (President, Secretary, and Treasurer), all of whom are elected during the Session.
3. Union
Conferences within a larger territory, such as multiple regions or borders of a country, are organised into union conferences.
In the United Kingdom, the SEC is part of the British Union Conference (BUC).
Delegates from Local Conferences attend Union Sessions, held at set intervals, to elect officers and committees, review reports, and set policies. The BUC holds its Sessions every five years.
4. General Conference
The worldwide organisation that represents all unions and entities globally.
Divisions of the General Conference manage specific geographical areas. In the UK, the Church is part of the Trans-European Division (TED), which oversees this region alongside others in Europe.
Delegates from Unions participate in General Conference Sessions, held every five years, where officers and committees are elected, reports are reviewed, and global policies are set.
The General Conference is the highest authority within the Church. If disputes arise within or between organisations, appeals can be made to higher levels, culminating in the General Conference Session or its Executive Committee.