On Sunday, August 23, 2026, delegates to the North Pacific Union Conference’s 30th constituency session at Walla Walla University Church in College Place, Washington, approved a motion on ordination recommendations by a 62.6 percent margin. The action followed extended discussion focused heavily on women’s eligibility for pastoral ordination.
The approved motion states:
“The North Pacific Union Conference recognizes the right and responsibility of each local conference to prepare and recommend names for ordination and will consider all candidates recommended for ordination as submitted by the respective local conference Executive Committees.”
Though the wording does not explicitly mention gender, the preceding debate centered on whether women should be recommended and considered for full ordination rather than commissioning.
This comes after the NPUC Executive Committee earlier in 2026 requested that the General Conference reconsider women’s ordination for the 2030 Session agenda, following the decisive 2015 GC vote against allowing divisions to set their own policies. Several other North American unions have previously authorized ordination without regard to gender, creating tension with world church policy, and tremendous disillusionment among Seventh-day Adventist members around the world.
While local conferences may now more freely recommend candidates of either gender, this step risks further fragmenting Adventist unity.
The Bible is Clear
Scripture presents clear patterns of male spiritual headship in the home and church (1 Timothy 2:11-14; 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9). The biblical model reserves the ordination of elders and pastors for men, reflecting the complementary roles designed by the Creator, rather than fleeting cultural passions.
Delegates spent significant time debating the issue before praying and voting. Yet regional actions that effectively bypass the world church’s settled position undermine the global fellowship Adventists have long valued. Faithful adherence to biblical qualifications for church office, rather than progressive reinterpretations, best preserves doctrinal integrity and organizational cohesion as the denomination approaches the 2030 General Conference Session.
What the Union (NPUC) is doing is formally pre-approving the ordination of women, by giving conferences a free pass to violate the decisions of the world church. There are now two layers of protection over rebellious conferences, enabling them to demonstrate defiance towards the Bible and GC policy without any fear of resprisal. These two layers are the NAD and defiant Unions.
Ted Wilson made a lot of noise about creating a Compliance Committee and a document to address this rebellion, but when push came to shove, he went silent, rising only to speak when someone questioned the GC’s relationship with the mostly corrupt United Nations, and the GC’s blind support for vaccination and mandates during the Covid debacle.
The church needed leadership, and we didn’t get it. We probably won’t get it from Erton Kohler, either. What can we do?
Stand up against these things as committed members, and daily order your life with the Word of God, “which liveth and abideth forever.” No help will be coming from Silver Springs, but it will come from the hills of the Creator God (Psalm 121:1-2).
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I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth (Psalm 121:1-2).
