GC President Calls Seventh-day Adventists to Move Forward Together

Erton Köhler appeals to focus on mission in an integrated way, “leaving no one behind.”

October 11, 2025 | Silver Spring, Maryland, United States | Marcos Paseggi, Adventist Review

On October 11 Erton Köhler, General Conference (GC) president, called on members of the General Conference Executive Committee (GC EXCOM) to move past their differences and choose unity for mission instead. In his first address during the 2025 Annual Council in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States, Köhler celebrated the richness of the Adventist worldwide family and emphasized that the church is stronger when it moves forward together.

A Worldwide Family

“Every year, when we meet for Annual Council, we represent the beauty of our worldwide church family,” Köhler said in welcoming the hundreds of GC EXCOM members present at the church headquarters and those following the worship service online on October 11. “We are a family of more than 24 million brothers and sisters. . . . This morning you represent each one of our brothers and sisters around the world.”

Erton C. Köhler, General Conference president, preaches to members of the GC Executive Committee on Sabbath, October 11, 2025, during Annual Council, which is held in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States. [Photo: Thaise Snider]

Unity Despite Our Differences

According to Köhler, the great challenge as a church is to keep a strong family spirit, “treating one another with love, patience, and the spirit of Christ,” despite our differences. The key, he emphasized, is to focus “far more on what unites us than on what divides us,” because “our calling is not to magnify our difficulties but to embrace every opportunity the Lord gives us.” He added, “Let’s be a family that moves forward grounded in the Bible and focused on the mission. Always together, always integrated. Not competing with one another, but completing one another.”

There’s a mission-driven reason for this, Köhler explained. “If we move forward alone, we double our efforts but achieve only half the results. But united and integrated, we can do much more for God’s cause.”

Rick McEdward, General Conference secretary, introduces the speaker for the church service on Sabbath, October 11, 2025, during the Annual Council meetings. [Photo: Thaise Snider]

Leaving No One Behind

Based on Moses’ words to Pharaoh in Exodus 10:9, “We will go with our young and our old; with our sons and our daughters,” Köhler called to move forward together. He appealed to include even those from “the mixed multitude,” who are different from us. “Today the mixed multitude is a call for mission,” he said. And our mission is “to seek and save the same people that Jesus came to seek and save. We need to look at people with a redemptive vision. Being distinct without being distant,” he emphasized, “leaving no one behind.”

Accordingly, Köhler called to go not only “with those who see things as we do.” He then listed many of the groups that should be part of our moving forward to heaven, including “the elderly and young people,” “all those with disabilities,” and “those who think differently but are also faithful to the Word of God.”

He also mentioned volunteers and workers, teachers and pastors, and all health professionals. Editors and colporteurs, medica centers, and hosts and influencers were also included. Supporting ministries, missionaries, and those who serve as tentmakers and in remote areas were included as well. “Despite polarization. Despite individualism. Despite nationalism. Despite other ideologies and extremist attitudes in the name of religion. Let’s all go together!”

Erton C. Köhler, General Conference president, shares during his sermon how church entities and ministries should work together for mission. [Photo: Thaise Snider]

According to Köhler, “we cannot accept the belief that, in a time of polarization, our unity will happen only after political alignment. . . . We cannot allow political issues to be stronger than the power of the Word of God. Our challenge is not to choose sides, but to unite all sides.” He added, “More than ever, we need to pray for unity, work for unity, and open our hearts to have a spirit of unity. We need to go together, united.”

He explained that “Jesus not only is preparing a place for us but is preparing our hearts to be ready for that place.” So “we need to move forward together. And with the same focus. This will keep us strong.”

An Integrated Way

Köhler emphasized that if we wish to reach the Promised Land together and bring others with us, we must keep the Bible as our foundation and the mission as our priority. And then “move forward in an integrated way.” He explained: “Together, in an integrated way, we can do more and do it better, and open the door to the work of the Holy Spirit.”

He acknowledged that integration and unity come at a price. “Putting aside personal plans and regional projects comes at a price. But it is the only way to move forward as one body and impact the world.” This will require conscious efforts, high costs, and flexibility, Köhler emphasized. “Integration and unity always come at a price, but they also offer tremendous rewards.”

Unity in Christ

At the same time, Köhler emphasized that unity that does not depend on us or our ability, but comes from our unity with Christ. “No matter how good our intentions and plans may be, if the Lord is not at the forefront of them we will not be able to move forward together,” he said. “It is only He who can remove selfish love, which seeks a church in my image and likeness, and replace it with selfless love, which cares for others and opens the door to an integrated and united movement. Let’s all go together! And if we go together, we can expect great miracles from God.”