Erton Köhler Elected GC President

By Jarrod Stackelroth

Adventist Review

Erton Köhler has been elected the twenty-first president of the General Conference (GC) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

The Nominating Committee of the sixty-second General Conference Session, held in St. Louis, Missouri, United States, recommended the name, which was passed by delegates with a vote of 1,721 to 188 on July 4 during the afternoon session.

Köhler is the first South American president, as well as the second president to be born in the Southern Hemisphere. He replaces Ted N. C. Wilson, who has served as GC president since his election at the General Conference Session in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2010. Wilson has had a strong focus on mission, including initiatives such as Global Total Member Involvement, Revival and Reformation, I Will Go, Mission to the Cities, and comprehensive health evangelism. 

Köhler made a short speech when accepting the nomination. “You can imagine how challenging this moment is. No one is prepared for [this]. I’m speechless now. But before any other work, I’d like to tell you that I’ll move forward, renewing my confidence in the Lord and in His church.”

He highlighted a verse his family often uses for Friday evening family worship: Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”

Köhler used his acceptance speech to express his gratitude to the church, including those who “express different opinions.” 

“You are part of the family, and we appreciate you, as well,” he said. 

Köhler thanked Wilson for his leadership. “Deep gratitude to Pastor Ted and Nancy Wilson, who together led this church for the past 15 years. He’s someone that I learned how to appreciate, how to recognize the integrity of a leader—someone that gives the best of his life to the church. Thank you very much for your leadership, and may God guide your next steps.” 

Köhler has served as secretary of the GC since 2021, when his predecessor, G. T. Ng, retired. When originally elected to the secretary role, he vowed to be available, serving with a heart “completely focused” on the mission of the church. “I will be open to [listen] and to learn,” he said. “My job is to build bridges, not walls.”

At the time of his election to the GC, Köhler was serving as president of the South American Division (SAD), a role he had held since 2007. During his time at SAD, Köhler was the driving force behind much of the media growth and the success of Novo Tempo, a 24-hour broadcast on satellite and cable networks in South America. He was the youngest division president to head the SAD at the age of 38. 

“We are a global church with a global mission,” GC secretary Köhler said during the GC Secretary’s Report at the 2022 Annual Council. “We cannot focus only on our local needs; we need to look at our global challenges to finally preach the gospel of the kingdom to all the world.” And he added, “At Secretariat we are working focused on that commitment.”

Köhler spearheaded the Mission Refocus initiative, a strategic plan for the GC Secretariat between 2022 and 2025. Included was a focus on reclaiming missing members, disciple-making, and streamlining the international call process.

Köhler was born in southern Brazil and grew up with a desire to follow in the footsteps of his father, who served as an Adventist pastor. He completed a bachelor’s degree in theology at the Adventist Teaching Institute (now BrazilAdventist University) in 1989 and graduated from the same school in 2008 with a master’s degree in pastoral theology. Currently he is pursuing a Doctor of Ministry degree from Andrews University.

From 1990 to 1994 Köhler served as a local church pastor in São Paulo. He was then elected Youth Ministries director of the Rio Grande do Sul Conference in 1995, and in 1998 became the Youth Ministries director of the Northeast Brazil Union. In July 2002 Köhler returned to the Rio Grande do Sul Conference to serve as secretary. The following year he was elected Youth Ministries director for the eight countries comprising the South American Division. After serving for four years as Youth Ministries director, he became the South American Division president in 2007.

Köhler is married to Adriene Marques, a nurse, and they have two adult children.

Jarrod Stackelroth, managing editor of Adventist Record and Signs of the Times AUNZ. During this 62nd GC Session, he is working as a correspondent for Adventist Review. This story was originally published by the Adventist Review and can be seen at https://session.adventistreview.org/kohler-elected-gc-president/.