Look, we’re all watching. We’ve seen the leadership change at the General Conference, and we’ve heard all the buzz about a new era. The question on every Adventist’s mind, whether they’ll admit it or not, is this: Will Erton Köhler change the church for the better?
The real answer is a lot more complicated than a simple “yes” or “no.”
Here’s the breakdown.
The “New Hope” Argument: Yes, He Could.
The believers in this corner are feeling a bit of fresh air. They’re pinning their hopes on a few key things:
- He’s a “Mission” Man. Köhler’s background in the South American Division and as a youth leader means his focus is on getting out there and doing something, not just debating things endlessly in committee meetings. This could mean a shift away from the doctrinal infighting that’s been exhausting everyone for years.
- He’s a Communicator. He talks about using modern media and reaching young people. In a church that still treats PowerPoint like a new invention, this is a huge deal. A leader who speaks the language of the next generation might just be able to keep them from walking out the door.
- He’s Not Ted Wilson. For some, the simple fact that he’s not the same guy who’s been at the helm for over a decade is enough. A change in personality, even if it’s not a radical shift in policy, can reset the tone and make things feel less rigid and more open to new ideas.
The “Nothing Will Change” Argument: No, He Won’t.
Then there are the realists (or cynics, depending on your perspective). They’ve seen this movie before, and they’re not buying the sequel. They’ll tell you that change from the top is a myth in a bureaucracy as large as the Adventist Church.
- He’s a Part of the System. Köhler was the General Conference Secretary under Wilson. He’s not an outsider swooping in to shake things up. He’s an insider who helped run the machine. The idea that he’s going to dismantle it or fundamentally alter its direction is, to them, naïve.
- The Power Is Decentralized. The General Conference President is not a pope. They can’t just snap their fingers and change things. The real power is spread out across divisions, unions and local conferences, and they all have their own agendas. Any major shift requires a global consensus that simply isn’t there on the big issues.
- The Unspoken Issues Remain. Things like women’s ordination and LGBTQ+ inclusion are still off the table. Köhler has already made it clear that he will uphold the established positions on these topics. For many young, progressive Adventists, this is a dealbreaker. No matter how much he talks about “mission,” if these issues aren’t addressed, nothing will truly change for the better.
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The BarelyAdventist Takeaway: It Doesn’t Matter.
Here’s the truth we don’t like to admit: our spiritual health doesn’t hinge on who’s in the big chair.
We can spend all our energy debating whether the new guy is a progressive hope or a conservative roadblock, but that’s just a distraction. The real work of faith—caring for the poor, loving our neighbors, and wrestling with our own doubts—happens on the ground, in our local churches, and in our personal lives.
So, will Erton Köhler change the church for the better? Maybe. Maybe not. But the more important question is: What are we going to do to change the church ourselves?
