Adventist Leaders Challenged To Model Servant Leadership at SeLD Conference

Over 250 church leaders across the Inter-American Division gathered for this year’s Segment Leadership Development Conference in Miami, Florida, United States, July 25-27, 2022. The opening night of the event saw more than 1,700 registered delegates connected online during the hybrid format three-day program. [Photo: Libna Stevens/IAD]

The Inter-American Division’s Segment Leadership Development (SeLD) Conference kicked off last night in Miami, Florida, The United States, with 250 church administrators, department directors, pastors, educators, church elders and laypersons attending in-person and more than 1,700 connected online.

The SeLD Conference is intended “to motivate elected leaders to achieve greater effectiveness in executing their responsibilities, seek to influence leaders to continue emphasizing servant leadership principles of Christ for the fulfillment of the mission and encourage greater collaboration among leaders in fulfilling the strategic vision of the organizations,” said Pastor Balvin Braham, vice president of the IAD in charge of leadership development.

The theme for this year’s conference is Inclusive Leadership.

Pastor Elie Henry, president of the Inter-American Division addressed SeLD Conference delegates during the opening ceremony program on July 25, 2022. [Photo: Libna Stevens/IAD]

It’s all about seeking to enhance, improve and empower leaders to be the best in their leadership responsibilities, added Braham. “We come together at such a time as this when COVID-19 continues to be a reality.”

IAD President Pastor Elie Henry encouraged leaders to turn their eyes upon Christ as the leader-in-chief who did not just come to reveal the plan of redemption by offering His life, but who came to vindicate the character of God before the world.

“As leaders, we have the privilege to vindicate the character of God in our relations with one another, and with people in our church,” said Pastor Henry. “We are commissioned to help leaders just as Christ achieved His goal of bringing salvation to the world.”

SeLD delegates from Central America listen in during plenary sessions on Jul. 25, 2022. [Photo: Libna Stevens/IAD]

“Jesus was sure of the mission He had to accomplish, so must we as Seventh-day Adventist leaders understand what God expects and is looking for in us to carry out the mission still to needed to be accomplished on earth.”

Pastor Artur Stele, vice president of the Adventist World Church, greeted SeLD delegates and congratulated IAD leaders for running the best leadership development program around the world church for the last several years.

Dr. Lowell Cooper, former vice president of the General Conference leads the first of two SeLD Conference plenary sessions, Jul. 25, 2022. [Photo: Libna Stevens/IAD]

Dr. Lowell Cooper, former vice president of the church’s General Conference, led the first plenary session examining altruistic versus egotistical attitudes in organizational leadership. The session sought to teach leaders how to recognize motivational patterns in their own leadership styles and align their practices more with a Christ-like attitude of service.

“Leadership is often a blend between the two extremes, egotism and altruism, for there is not a clear specific boundary line,” said Cooper. “We must look at Jesus as a model of leadership, empowering leaders, being focused on others, and equipping leadership that creates community.”

As Cooper encouraged SeLD delegates to model Jesus’s leadership because “leadership is as much a matter of how to be as it is a matter of how to do. Great leadership results in empowering more than in the exercise of power.”

Dr. Delbert Baker speaks on the Self Awareness and the Adventist Leader during SeLD opening night, Jul. 25, 2022. [Photo: Libna Stevens/IAD]

During the closing plenary session, Dr. Delbert Baker, director of research and development of the Office of Regional Conference Ministries based in the United States, expanded on self awareness as an Adventist leader. “The greatest thing we can have as leaders is the realization that we need to make changes,” he said. He challenged leaders to jot down three or four things they would like to change in their lives and “make it a matter of prayer so that it can benefit your ministry.”

A leadership that asks God for answers and turns to God for solutions will prove very beneficial, he said. “God is going to use you if you are willing to be used.”

Inter-America’s SeLD Conference is scheduled to continue with dozens of seminars and plenary sessions through July 27, 2022.

For updates on this conference, visit us at interamerica.org