Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual 21st Edition (Revised 2025)

The Church Manual describes the operation and functions of local churches and their relationship to denominational structures in which they hold membership. The Church Manual also expresses the Church’s understanding of Christian life, church governance, and discipline based on biblical principles and the authority of duly assembled General Conference Sessions. “God has ordained that the representatives of His church from all parts of the earth, when assembled in a General Conference, shall have authority.”—9T 261.

The Church Manual is divided into two types of material. The content of each chapter is of worldwide value and applies to every church organization, congregation, and member. Recognizing the need for variations in some sections, additional explanatory material, presented as guidance and examples, appears as notes at the end of the Church Manual.

This is the 21st edition, revised in 2025.