Polity of the Seventh-day Adventist Church

The governance (polity) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is based on democratic representation, and therefore resembles the Presbyterian system of church organization. The organizational structure of the church consists of the following levels:

Each level of organization holds a "general session" at certain intervals, when elected representatives gather to vote on general decisions and church business. The president of the General Conference, for instance, is elected at the General Conference Session every five years.

At the local churches, decisions are made by elected committees through vote of members. The day-to-day running of churches is governed by a church board formed by members of that church, together with the pastor of that congregation.

In contrast to congregational polity, the conference corporation owns church property, employs and pays ministers, and receives tithes from members. In contrast to episcopal polity, the ministers or pastors are a single level of ordained clergy and there are no bishops; elders and deacons are lay ministries. Moreover, it incorporates a hierarchical polity.

A 2002 survey of Adventists worldwide showed three quarters "affirm the structure, polity, and financial policies of the church."

A President is elected at the General Conference Session every 5 years and presides over the Executive Committee.

There are a number of church offices that are elected by the church body as specified by the Church Manual. Positions must be filled by baptised members who attend regularly and the position is held for a 12-month term, except in special circumstances where the church chooses to elect offices once every 24 months. Offices are never elected permanently, although persons may be reelected.

The most prominent church office is that of the pastor or minister. Adventists believe that pastors are divinely called to ministry and they are ordained by the church for their ministry. The position of church pastor is not elected by the local church, but rather appointed by a local conference. When the minister transfers to the local church for pastoralship he also transfers his membership to that local congregation. Adventist believe in clerical marriage and not a celibate priesthood. In the majority of cases the pastor works with the head elder of the church and is responsible for guiding the church's spiritual direction, chairing the church board and leading out in services.

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