Thursday afternoon, October 31, the North American Division began its 2019 Year-End Meeting, “Pursuing His Promises”, with 172 registered delegates. The opening session was chaired by NAD President Dan Jackson, with his usual joviality, and included full reports from the Ministrial Association and the Adventist Learning Community. Recruitment of women and youth for ministry featured prominently in the comments and presentations.
Elder Jackson opened the meeting leading “There’s Something About That Name” (“Jesus, Jesus, Jesus...”) then read from Philippians 1:3-6. Asserting “there are no friends in board rooms” he encouraged each delegate to think and act independently of the one who brought them to the meeting. He asked that all speak with dignity when at the microphones.
Right on cue, a man wearing a red hat entered the room. Dave Weigley, Columbia Union President, so eager to watch the World Series after Annual Council, was triumphant over the Washington Nationals World Series victory. He welcomed the NAD YEM delegates, then gave tribute to “every woman leader champion” in the Columbia Union. President Rick Remmers of Chesapeake Conference added his welcome.
NAD Secretary Alexander Bryant called the session to order, with 172 of 340 delegates present. The NAD Mission Statement of “hope and wholeness” in the context of Revelation 14:6-12 was read.
Elder Jackson mentioned the General Conference representatives who would be in attendance, then called General Conference Vice President Ella Simmons up front to answer questions about delegates in other divisions. She recalled two with close to 340, like the NAD, but most have less, much less, than 200. NAD has increased its NAD YEM delegates in recent years by adding representatives from groups such as Adventist Intercollegiate Association, or AIA. These delegates were introduced next.
As usual, Jackson asked for male and female “prayer interveners” who would stop the proceedings for prayer if “more light than heat” were generated. Prayer in twos followed.
Arnie Nielsen, NAD Vice President for Education, introduced new personnel. The department has hired Stephen Brawley, from Kentucky-Tennessee Conference, as Director for Secondary Education and Accreditation. Evelyn Sullivan, of Columbia Union Conference, was hired as Director of Early Childhood Education.
Ivan Williams, Ministerial Association Director, introduced his team and gave the report for Ministerial, claiming God’s promises to Call, Equip and Multiply, through church planting as per Matthew 4:19. He welcomed Associate Director for Spouses Donna Jackson back for the first time since her recent broken arm. Donna coordinates spouse meetings during NAD YEM.
Pastor Brenda Billingy, coordinator for women in pastoral ministry, mentioned her collaboration with nine NAD undergraduate schools. Esther Knott, Director of the Master of Arts for Pastoral Ministry at Andrews University, described her work with the “M Div, the gold standard for pastors” and exulted in the 436 students currently in the program. Sixteen percent of these are women, 116 sponsored by their conferences or unions, 176 international. “We are equipping pastors around the world,” she said.
Pastor Dave Gemmell told of the app Ministerial uses to connect pastoral applicants with mentors as they prepare for ministry… “and for ordination.” Knott added that more than 35 years ago, NAD created the MA for Pastoral Ministry as a second career option. Most of these students are over 35 years old and this is a second career for them. The English track has 265 pastors, the Hispanic has 220.
Billingy noted that with “time and place and culture and technology always changing,” the NAD has developed the Adventist Learning Community to help pastors stay effective via online resources. The quinquennial pastors’ convention also serves that aim: Next year, pastors are invited to the “Called” convention in Lexington, KY, from June 21-24, just prior to General Conference 2020.
Gemmell outlined NAD’s challenge as baby boomer pastors reach retirement age. In 2013, 450 pastors were eligible to retire; in 2018 it was 750. “We need to prepare for another generation of pastors,” Gemmell concluded. What is the solution? The NextGen Pastoral Initiative, recently launched at the Osh Kosh Pathfinder Camporee.
Oshkosh Camporee
Read carefully and you may see familiar names. The NextGen Pastor Initiative Team includes NAD departmental leaders, union and conference presidents, pastors, Seminary and Religion professors from Andrews University and ministry trendsetters of recent years.
Jose Cortez, Associate Director for Evangelism and Church Planting, explained that Ministerial is collaborating with this large team to accomplish their goal of 2500 new NAD pastors in the next 10 years. They will start early, with kids and youth, “while they are saying, ‘I want to be a fireman.’” At Osh Kosh, NAD began recruiting in earnest from among the 50,000 youth present. They gave 20,000 pins to kids who could pass the Pathfinder quiz, including this question: “Does Adventist Church policy allow for women to serve as pastors?”
Most kids got the question wrong, answering “No,” Gemmell explained, because “there is a false narrative out there.” These kids were instructed and retested until they got a perfect score, thereby earning the NAD Ministerial pin. Ministerial staff asked the Pathfinders whether they had ever considered being a pastor, nudging kids to “hear God’s call” to serve as NextGen pastors when they grow up. These children are being groomed by the NAD feminist agenda.
It is also noteworthy that the featured speaker for the 2019 Oshkosh Camporee (Damian Chandler) was a One Project Speaker in San Diego 2017. The NAD has chosen One Project speakers to headline the last two Pathfinder Camporees (Sam Leonor and Damian Chandler in 2014 & 2019).
Cortez told the story of his 12-year-old son, Joel Benjamin, who pulled him aside during Camporee to confide, “Papa, I want to be a pastor.” Cortez is now mentoring him, using the NextGen app, having him lead family worship, etc. The boy was introduced, to a round of applause. “What will you tell the young person who tells you they want to be a pastor?” Cortez asked.
Church planting still features prominently in NAD. Guam Micronesia Mission recently applied for its first church plant funding. Many states continue church planting initiatives. Next week, NAD Ministerial will hold a Church Planters Boot Camp at Pine Springs Ranch in Southeastern California Conference. As Ministerial concluded its report, the initiative to make 2022 the “Year to Multiply” was voted and passed.
NAD relies on technology to stay current with younger generations, who often find church methods archaic and irrelevant. The Adventist Learning Community is the venue for passing the torch, and the details, to GenZ and millennials. Dr. Adam Fenner, youthful ALC Director, presented the ALC website and its features--resources for students, teachers, pastors, even many non-SDA viewers. He shared ALC’s new video on revitalizing stagnant churches, titled, “The Book of Joshua.”
Due to an area tornado watch, NAD YEM ended early today. Nominating Committee met immediately after adjournment. Follow the schedule and tune in for daily meetings through the weekend, concluding on Tuesday, November 5. NAD YEM is on Eastern Time.
Tomorrow’s presentations will include reports from President Dan Jackson, Secretary Alexander Bryant, Treasurer Randy Robinson, and from Immigrant Ministries and Adventist Chaplaincy. Expect discussion on the recent tithe parity vote during the General Conference Executive Committee earlier this month. NAD voted to request a rapid parity process during NAD YEM 2018.
As NAD Communication Director Julio Munoz explained, NAD must answer the question, “What kind of division do we want to be?” and that includes how we grow and how we involve young adults. He asked AIA President Bob Honest, a first-time delegate, for his reaction to today’s meeting. “It was amazing, everybody is so accommodating, so kind,” Honest enthused. He said AIA is “here to do what we can to help the church move forward.” He has noticed many friends and agemates who are “just gone” from church, and wants to encourage young adults to stay and participate instead.
Watch the video of today’s opening NAD YEM session and pray for God’s leading as these important Division meetings continue.
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