Breaking News: Adventist Church Elects African-American Woman Vice President of Adventist Church

July 3, 2005 St. Louis, Missouri, United States …. [ANN Staff]

In a historic vote today Seventh-day Adventists elected a woman as general vice president of the world church. Dr. Ella Louise Smith Simmons is the first woman and first African-American to fill this position. Until recently she served as provost/vice president at La Sierra University, in California. Before that she was vice president of academic affairs at Oakwood College in Alabama. Both schools are operated by the Adventist Church. Simmons has a doctorate in education from the University of Louisville.

Her election came on the heels of a presentation by newly re-elected church President Jan Paulsen characteristics essential to Adventist leadership where he fielded questions from members of the delegation.

In another development Pastor Pardon Kandanga Mwansa, president of the church’s Southern-Africa Indian Ocean region, was also elected as a general vice president of the world church.

Evangelist Mark Finley was also elected as vice president for Global Evangelism.

Incumbents were returned to other general vice presidential offices: Lowell C. Cooper,
King-Yi Eugene Hsu, Gerry D. Karst, Armando Miranda
Michael L. Ryan and Ted N. C. Wilson.

The session also elected 13 regional presidents: East-Central Africa, Geoffrey G. Mbwana;
Euro-Africa, Ulrich W. Frikart, Euro-Asian Division, Artur A. Stele; Inter-American Division, Israel Leito; North American, Don C. Schneider; Northern Asia-Pacific, Jairyong Lee; South America, Ruy H. Nagel
South Pacific, Laurie J. Evans; Southern Africa-Indian Ocean, Paul S. Ratsara; Southern Asia, D. Ronald Watts
Southern Asia-Pacific, Alberto C. Gulfan Jr.;
Trans-European Division, Bertil A. Wiklanderl and
West-Central Africa Division, Luka T. Daniel.