FAQ

At a Constituency Session, the British Union Conference (BUC) delegates make key decisions that shape the direction and leadership of the Union. During a regular session, the delegates elect the BUC officers, including the president, secretary, and treasurer, as well as other elected members of the Executive Committee, and Departmental Directors. They also receive and review reports from the president, secretary, treasurer and, departmental directors, additionally, the delegates endorse, approve, and help develop strategic plans for how the BUC will carry out its mission in harmony with the policies of the World Wide Church.

Delegates are selected as either regular delegates or delegates at large. Regular delegates are appointed by the executive committees of each Member Unit (the local conferences and missions who receive names through local churches). . Each Member Unit automatically receives three delegates and additional delegates are allocated in proportion to their church membership. These delegates must be members in regular standing and must represent a mix of laity, pastors, front line employees, with at least 70% being non‑employees.

Delegates at large include the current members of the BUC Executive Committee, selected staff of the BUC or its institutions (up to 5% of the total delegates), and members from the General Conference or Trans‑European Division executive committees (up to 2% of the total). All delegates must be members in regular standing of the Seventh‑day Adventist Church.

Delegate representation is set out by the current Constitution voted at the 2021 British Union Conference Session.

Delegates vote by being physically present at the session or, if authorised, by participating electronically through a communication system that allows all delegates to hear each other in real time. Proxy voting is not permitted. Each delegate has one vote, and voting is normally done by viva voce (voice vote). However, the chair may call for ballots, including secret ballots, or other methods such as raising cards whenever appropriate or when delegates vote to do so. Votes cast remotely hold the same validity as those cast onsite.

Delegates at a Constituency Session elect all BUC officers, including the president, secretary, and treasurer. They also elect any non‑ex officio members of the BUC Executive Committee. The session may also elect departmental directors, associate directors, associate secretaries, and associate treasurers, unless these appointments are delegated to the Executive Committee. In addition, the session elects officers of local missions within the BUC territory, unless such elections occur between sessions. The session may also elect leaders or board members of Union institutions when required by those institutions’ constitutions.

The Recommendations Committee is a temporary committee established before each Constituency Session to prepare essential items of business for the delegates. It is composed of representatives from across the British Union territory: thirteen from the South England Conference, seven from the North England Conference, two from each Mission, one representative from each Union-operated institution, and the president of the Trans‑European Division (or their designee), who serves as the chair.

The committee members are appointed by their respective delegate groups either at or prior to the Constituency Session. Its primary role is to nominate the standing committees that the Session requires in order to function—specifically the Nominating Committee, the Constitution Committee, and any other committees needed. These nominations are then brought to the full constituency for election where required.

The Nominating Committee is a group appointed at the Constituency Session to recommend individuals for elected positions within the BUC. It consists of 17 to 21 members and is chaired by the president of the Trans‑European Division or their designee. Members must be duly appointed delegates who are present at the session. The committee is intentionally balanced between denominational employees and laypersons to reflect the diversity of work across the territory.

The Nominating Committee recommends individuals for BUC officer positions, members of the Executive Committee, departmental directors and board members of Union institutions whose governance documents require election by the constituency. It only nominates individuals for positions that have budgetary approval. The president is elected first and joins the Nominating Committee to offer recommendations on all the other nominations, which the committee may choose to accept or reject.

Between sessions, the BUC Executive Committee manages the affairs of the Union. The Executive Committee has the authority to act on behalf of the constituency, which includes overseeing administration, implementing voted plans and policies, filling vacancies, and appointing personnel as necessary. It may remove officers or members for cause and may fill any resulting vacancies for the remainder of the term. The Executive Committee also grants and withdraws credentials and licences for employees and manages property and legal matters on behalf of the BUC.

BUC News and Stanborough Press will be covering the event online, and with articles and interviews onsite. 

A constitution is the foundational governing document of an organisation. It sets out the organisation’s identity, purpose, structure, and the rules by which it operates. For the British Union Conference, the constitution defines who the organisation is, how it relates to the wider Seventh‑day Adventist Church, what its mission is, and how decisions are made.