Cartagena, Colombia…[Abraham Guerrero/IAD]
More than 300 church leaders from the different regions of the Inter-American Division gathered in Colombia from September 19 to 22 to exchange ideas and plan new responsibilities of the field secretaries. The intent was to allow more leadership sharing as well as promote more active participation among laypeople.
During the meetings, Pastor Israel Leito, president of the church in Inter-America, encouraged the executive secretaries from the various conferences and missions to continue their vision with effectiveness, and to delegate responsibilities and privileges to local pastors.
Pastor Jose de Gracia, president of the church in the East Panama Conference, who was present at the meetings and whose field has experimented with the new program, says, “The [new] program of field secretaries allows local pastors to be more involved and gives them more power in the administrative decision-making.” He adds that the successful results in soul-winning and finances are directly attributed to the implementing of the new program.
The meetings included special music, devotionals, reports and seminars. Pastor Lowell C. Cooper, World Church vice president, was a guest speaker at the summit.
“The life of the church is not kept because of its structure,” he says. “The structure is necessary, but it is not because of it that the church will grow. If the church needs to grow, if the church needs to develop, it will do so in the life of the laypeople,” he adds.
Among other leaders of the Inter-American Division headquarters included Pastor Juan O. Perla, executive secretary; Filiberto Verduzco, treasurer and vice presidents Elie Henry, Ramon Maury, Leon B. Wellington, as well as Carlyle Bayne, Sabbath School and Personal Ministries director.
