Hundreds of leaders for the Seventh-day Adventist Church are preparing to consider budgets, make appropriations, conduct official church business, and discuss ways to move the Church forward in mission during the Church’s annual meeting of its Executive Committee, the second-highest governing body of the denomination.
The 2015 Annual Council will take place October 7-13 in the headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Silver Spring, Maryland. This will be the first meeting of the Executive Committee after a General Conference Session, which is the Church’s highest governing body and largest business meeting that takes place every five years.
Members of the Executive Committee include General Conference officers, department directors, officers from the 13 world divisions and other attached fields, union presidents, presidents of General Conference institutions, three lay members from each division, one pastor from each division, one additional pastor, teacher or evangelist for every 500,000 members or major portions thereof, and 30 members at large.
The meetings will begin with the LEAD (Leadership Education And Development) Conference, which will focus on cross-cultural ministry, followed by the Council on Evangelism and Witness. The official business meetings will begin on Sunday, October 11.
With many elected leaders still orienting to new positions for the Church, this year’s Annual Council will serve as a way for General Conference leaders to reinforce the Church’s strategic plan, “Reach the World.” The five-year plan outlines how the denomination aims to intentionally spread the gospel, based on global research.
Members of the Executive Committee will also elect or appoint remaining ministry leadership positions that weren’t filled during Session in July.
Elected positions include: field secretaries, who work under the direction of the Executive Committee and the Church's president for special projects or responsibilities, treasurer of the Southern Asia Division, director and two associate directors of Planned Giving and Trust Services, director and two associate directors of Stewardship Ministries.
Appointed positions include: three honorary associate and assistant directors of Health Ministries, director of Archives, Statistics and Research, director and associate directors of the Biblical Research Institute, senior staff of the Adventist Review/Adventist World, editor and associates of Dialogue Magazine, editor and associates of Elder’s Digest Magazine, editor and associates of the Adult Bible Study Guide, editor of the Collegiate Quarterly Bible Study Guide, editor of Cornerstone Connections, editor of Powerpoints Bible Study Guide, editor of Beginners, Kindergarten, and Primary Sabbath School Bible Study Guides, editor and associates of the Journal of Adventist Education, and the editor of the Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists.
Committee members will also consider whether to reappoint members of the board of directors for the following: International Board of Education, International Board of Ministerial and Theological Education, Accrediting Association of Seventh-day Adventist Schools, Colleges, and Universities, and International Health and Temperance Association Executive Council.
