A Day in the Life of a GC Delegate
- Nicole Brown-Dominguez
- Jul 17
- 4 min read
This article is a part of a series exploring the General Conference Session in St. Louis, July 3-12, in order to inspire and inform members of the Illinois Conference about how the global church works.
GUEST AUTHOR:
Nicole Brown-Dominguez
Member, Hinsdale SDA Church
When the Lake Union asked Arlene Brown-Dominguez about serving as a delegate to the upcoming GC Session, she had to think about it. Arlene was no stranger to General Conference Sessions. Her father had been a delegate for every GC Session since 1966, and she had been attending the sessions since she was 17. However, she hesitated. After all, becoming a delegate would require days, sometimes weeks of preparation beforehand, reading documents about the changes in the church manual, learning about future candidates, and orientation on how each business meeting will be run.
Arlene would be in a unique position. She was neither a pastor nor an employee of the church, yet she had always been an active member of her local church in Hinsdale, Illinois. Arlene was an elder, led bible studies, and had served on executive committees and boards at a conference, union, and division level. Her role as a locally-involved lay member added an interesting voice in spaces filled with church employees.
After prayer and petition, she said “yes.” In the following weeks, she received all the relevant information to prepare her for the sessions, nestling in to pour over the documents. Proper education on the issues is critical for delegates. Each day, a new email containing documents about the potential changes to the church manual, orientation for the delegates, and election protocol. By the time she arrived in St. Louis, Arlene had been given all the tools necessary to begin her responsibilities as a delegate. On Thursday, one of the most critical decisions had to be made: Who would sit on the nominating committee?
By the end of the day, Arlene was not only a delegate but a member of the nominating committee. Suddenly, her responsibilities drastically shifted. At 7 AM, Arlene would get up, have a quick breakfast before heading to the America’s Convention Center. However, rather than join the other delegates on the floor for business meetings, she would head to the Nominating Committee room at 8 AM, where she would be sequestered with the rest of the committee. As she entered, her phone would be slipped into a green nylon pouch, leaving her completely cut off from the rest of the conference as the committee deliberated which candidate would be recommended for each position, from General Conference president to associate departmental leaders to division treasurers around the world. The names would be discussed before their choice is sent to the floor for the delegates to approve. The deliberations were top secret. No outside influence was allowed. Leaks were taken very seriously. The heavy responsibility to choose the leadership of the world church fell on the nominating committee and, ultimately, the delegates on the floor.
Choosing the right candidate for the right role isn’t easy. There are dozens of factors to consider, and the person on the page might not be the same as who they are in the flesh. This is where prayer is vital. Arlene has always been a strong advocate for prayer. Not asking God to rubber stamp our decisions, or as another task to complete, but an authentic surrendering to God. Each decision must be bathed in prayer, and as the research beforehand is a necessary preparation, so is the spiritual and mental preparation for becoming a delegate. This Illinois delegate knew that the decisions must never rely solely on church politics but leave room for the Holy Spirit to guide and direct.
This would be the rhythm of her days as the nominating committee member until all the positions are filled and her responsibilities are done. Finally, on the last sabbath of the GC Session, Arlene’s husband, Miguel, joined her on the delegate floor for the service. Serenaded by a lush choir and blessed by a beautiful sermon, the Illinois believer experienced her last day as a delegate. In her own words:
“It’s truly an honor to serve as a delegate for the 62nd General Conference Session of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It’s a humbling experience to be part of such a global gathering where prayerful decisions are made for the mission and future of our Church. The days are full and focused, but it’s deeply inspiring to see how God is leading His people from all corners of the world. I’m grateful for the opportunity to listen, learn, and contribute in this meaningful way.”
NEXT STEPS
Please send any news items of what God is doing around the Illinois Conference to communication@ilcsda.org.
