Adventist Leaders Seek to Better Align Membership Systems With Mission Across the IAD

Secretaries council emphasizes retention, discipleship, and mission-focused administration across the territory.

January 28, 2026 | Cancún, Quintana Roo, Mexico | Libna Stevens, Inter-American Division News

Seventh-day Adventist administrators and their assistants from across the Inter-American Division (IAD) gathered Jan. 19–22 for a territory-wide Secretaries Council, launching a new quinquennium with a renewed call to transform secretariat systems into engines for mission and discipleship.

Sessions emphasized the secretariat’s role as a strategic partner in advancing the church’s mission, rather than simply maintaining records.

Pastor Pierre Caporal, executive secretary of the IAD and main organizer of the council, said the primary goal was to reposition the secretariat as an agency that actively supports evangelism, retention, and pastoral care.

“We want to move from seeing the secretariat as a record-keeping department to a mission-mobilizing agency,” said Caporal. “Every number is a soul, and every record is a disciple.”

From Statistics to Mission Strategy

Caporal explained that leaders were encouraged to use reports and membership data as tools for decision-making, helping identify trends in attendance, migration, retention, and small-group participation so that unions and local fields can respond more effectively.

“We are shifting from statistics to mission indicators,” he said, urging secretaries to turn reports into action plans that strengthen discipleship and support church planting and new territories.

He also emphasized that local church clerks should be viewed as frontline partners in mission.

Throughout the council, sessions addressed planning, documentation, monitoring, coordination, and communication, with the goal of ensuring that every administrative function contributes to unity, efficiency, and mission advancement across the territory.

Mission, Sacrifice, and Integration

Pastor Rick McEdward, executive secretary of the General Conference, thanked IAD leaders for their contribution to global mission, noting that several missionaries from the division have been serving in the Middle East and North Africa in recent years.

While acknowledging challenging mission fields such as the 10/40 Window, post-Christian regions, and major urban centers, McEdward challenged leaders to view personal commitment as the true mission frontier.

“The last frontier of mission is not external—it’s internal,” he said. “The last frontier of mission is sacrifice.”

He also urged stronger integration across church departments and ministries. “Integration is about combining what we do into one purpose, and that reflects God’s own character of unity and diversity,” McEdward said.

McEdward reminded participants that mission must balance public evangelism with compassionate service. He added that every member and every spiritual gift must be valued in advancing the church’s mission.

“Everybody has a seat at the table,” McEdward said. “Our role as leaders is to encourage, equip, and train, not to be solo leaders.”

Retention and Reclaiming a Priority

As part of secretariat priorities for the new quinquennium, leaders were also challenged to strengthen efforts to reclaim former members and improve long-term retention.

McEdward said the global church must care not only about reaching new people but also about nurturing those already within the fellowship.

“We need to pay attention to who we already have just as much as we pay attention to those we don’t yet have,” he said.

Participants also reviewed plans to improve administrative systems and digital processes, including the responsible use of technology to reduce time spent on paperwork and increase focus on ministry.

“If technology can make us more efficient, then our time can be spent more on mission and less on paperwork,” McEdward said.

Renewed Commitment in Secretariat

Caporal said the council marked the beginning of a renewed commitment to strengthening secretariat leadership across the division during the new quinquennium.

“The secretariat has been called to be an agency of mission, not just to prepare reports,” he said. “Each administrative function should contribute directly to the unity, efficiency, and advancement of the mission of the church.”

Organizers said additional training and follow-up initiatives will continue throughout the quinquennium to support union and local field secretaries as they implement mission-focused strategies.

Strengthening Systems and Best Practices

Beyond the mission-focused vision, the council also addressed practical systems that support daily administrative work across the territory, with several sessions dedicated to records, compliance, and data management.

Dr. David Trim, director of the Office of Archives, Statistics, and Research at the General Conference, emphasized the importance of accurate and well-interpreted statistics for stewardship and strategic planning.

“Data must always be analyzed in context and over time,” Trim said, noting that trends help leaders allocate resources and identify areas needing additional support.

Leaders also reviewed a redemptive membership review process aimed at improving record accuracy and strengthening pastoral follow-up.

Pastor Gerson Santos, associate secretary of the General Conference, reminded participants that accurate records are part of ministry, not just administration. “Good administration is a form of ministry,” he said, urging leaders to follow Church Manual procedures that protect the church and support pastoral care.

Pastor Hensley Mooreoven, undersecretary of the General Conference addressed leadership challenges in the 21st century, highlighting declining trust in authority and the need for transparency and humility to maintain credibility and effective policy implementation.

Leaders reviewed global service programs such as Vivid Faith and procedures for supporting international service employees and volunteers. Sessions also addressed best practices for meeting minutes and maintaining accurate Employee Service Records (ERS) for benefits, legal compliance, and accountability.

Preparing for the Future

Looking ahead, leaders were invited to help shape the next phase of secretariat training through the proposed Secretary Academy, an educational program designed to equip secretaries and assistants with mission-focused administrative skills.

Participants worked in groups to review curriculum modules and identify common challenges in records management, reporting systems, and committee documentation.

Organizers said the collaborative process reflects the council’s broader goal of strengthening both leadership capacity and mission alignment as the IAD begins the new quinquennium.