Annual Council 2025 Confirms Appointments Across Editorial, Research, and Field Leadership

Delegates confirm appointments across editorial, research, ministry, and field leadership.

October 14, 2025 | Silver Spring, Maryland, United States | Angelica Sanchez, ANN

On October 12, 2025, the General Conference (GC) Executive Committee approved a series of appointments to editorial and research roles across the global Seventh-day Adventist Church, along with those of field secretaries who will assist global leadership in mission and governance.

“When we recommend these names, we take into consideration two elements: representation and ability,” said Erton Köhler, GC president. “We are trying to maintain this international flavor in our team. We also look for people with the skills that each role requires.”

Elias Brasil de Souza was appointed director of the Biblical Research Institute (BRI), with Daniel Bediako, Frank M. Hasel, Clinton Wahlen, and Keldie Paroschi named associate directors. BRI serves the world church by conducting biblical-theological research, responding to doctrinal questions, and providing resources and seminars for the global field. 

In publishing appointments, Justin Kim was named editor of Adventist Review, with Shawn Boonstra and Shiku Dako confirmed as associate editors. Adventist Review is the flagship journal of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, founded in 1849 and now comprising a monthly print magazine and a comprehensive digital platform. 

The committee also affirmed editorial leadership for several specialist journals. Lisa M. Beardsley-Hardy was appointed editor-in-chief of Dialogue, with Juvenal Balisasa and Richard A. Sabuin serving as editors; Dialogue is an international journal of faith, thought, and action aimed at university students and young professionals, published in cooperation with the church’s 13 world divisions. 

For the Journal of Adventist Education (JAE), Faith-Ann A. McGarrell was confirmed as editor and Anneris Coria-Navia as associate editor. JAE is an award-winning, double-anonymized, peer-reviewed journal serving Adventist educators from early childhood through higher education worldwide. 

In ministerial publishing, Jongimpi Papu was appointed editor of Ministry magazine, with Jeffrey O. Brown as associate editor. Ministry has been published since 1928 and serves Seventh-day Adventist pastors while also reaching tens of thousands of ministers of other denominations. 

For Sabbath School publications, Clifford Goldstein was appointed adult editor of the Sabbath School Bible Study Guide, with Soraya Scheidweiler as associate editor; Joseph Reeves was named InVerse editor; Rosanne Peach was appointed Junior/Earliteen/Youth editor; and Nina Atcheson was confirmed as Children’s editor. The Adult Bible Study Guide is prepared under the General Conference and links the world church in a coordinated quarterly study; InVerse is designed for young adults; and the children’s and junior/earliteen curricula (including AliveinJesus, GraceLink, and Junior PowerPoints) provide age-appropriate, Bible-based lessons for home and Sabbath School use. 

David Trim was confirmed both as editor of the Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists (ESDA) and director of the Office of Archives, Statistics, and Research (ASTR). ESDA is the church’s online reference work covering Adventist history globally, while ASTR serves as the world church’s official archives and research office, producing the Annual Statistical Report and the Yearbook. 

Anthony R. Kent was appointed editor of Elder’s Digest, a quarterly magazine of the General Conference Ministerial Association that equips local church elders and leaders worldwide. 

Ronald Nalin was confirmed as director of the Geoscience Research Institute (GRI), with Benjamin Clausen, Lance Pompe, Raul Esperante, and Timothy Standish serving as research scientists. GRI explores the natural world and shares understandings consistent with the church’s biblical teaching on creation through research, education, and resource development. 

The Executive Committee also listed the following field secretaries, who, in addition to their primary portfolios, assist the General Conference officers in assignments that require frequent interaction with global church leadership:

• Elias Brasil de Souza as director of the Biblical Research Institute

• Merlin Burt as director of the Ellen G. White Estate

• James Howard as president of Adventist World Radio

• Vyacheslav Demyan as president of Hope Channel International

• Paulo Lopes as president of Adventist Development and Relief Agency

• Ronald Nalin as director of the Geoscience Research Institute

• Magiel Perez Shultz as assistant to the President

• James Winegardner as president of Adventist Risk Management

Under the church’s constitutional provisions, a General Conference field secretary works under the direction of the president or a designated officer to support world-level initiatives. 

These appointments strengthen the church’s scholarship, editorial voice, pastoral support, educational resources, scientific engagement, and historical research—key platforms that resource local congregations and leaders around the world.