HFU outlines in-depth plans to expand and train local church leaders

Dr. David Siguelnitzky, president of Herbert Fletcher University presents the plans for the online institution in the coming months. The board meeting took place on Nov. 2, 2015, during Inter-America’s year-end business meetings in Miami, Florida. Images by Libna Stevens/IAD

November 10, 2015 | Miami, Florida, United States | Libna Stevens/IAD

Herbert Fletcher University, Inter-America’s Seventh-day Adventist online distance learning educational institution, revealed its comprehensive plans to provide certification training to church leaders while final academic recognition is pending. The plans were outlined during the institution’s first board meeting of the new quinquennium, which was held Nov. 2, 2015, in Miami, Florida.

HFU has been affiliated with Griggs University and Andrews University, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees since 2012, and will complete that affiliation in May of 2016. While it waits for a visit and inspection from the Adventist Accrediting Association (AAA), HFU plans to begin training thousands of church members early in 2016, explained Dr. David Siguelnitzky, president of HFU.

HFU President Dr. David Siguelnitzky (left) presents his report next to chairman of the HFU Board IAD President Pastor Israel Leito.

“We are very happy to report that HFU has been able to provide across Inter-America and expect much more training starting in January,” said Siguelnitzky.

So far, union treasurers from across the Inter-American Division have received eight-months of training in courses on managing resources, financing the treasury of the church, stewardship and personal finances, as part of a larger program set out by the IAD administration, he added.

“The next step is to go to the local level and train all church treasurers,” said Siguelnitzky. “We are looking at reaching more than 12,000 treasurers managing church funds across the IAD,” he said. In addition, local church treasurers and local church stewardship directors would take courses on stewardship and personal finances, as well.

HFU will then extend the same training program to local administrators, pastors and church elders, starting in April 2016, reported the HFU president.

Plans are also underway to begin a comprehensive certification program for Sabbath School teachers throughout the IAD territory starting in October 2016, he added.

IAD President Pastor Israel Leito thanked HFU leaders for their support for the membership.

“HFU was not established to provide these certification programs, it was established to grant academic degrees, but while the approval from the government of Puerto Rico to grant these degrees are pending, we are happy that HFU is enriching the church and strengthening our congregations,” said Pastor Leito. The online institution will continue to provide non-formal education to church leaders, affirmed Pastor Leito.

Board members re-elected David Siguelnitzky to continue serving as HFU president for the next five years, approved a new director for its virtual library, and approved its budget for 2016.

Siguelnitzky said a search for a property to build HFU offices has been ongoing. HFU has been stationed in five offices for its seven-employee staff at the Puerto Rico Union office, located in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. There are over 20 additional employees working outside of the island, he added.

HFU is an online Seventh-day Adventist institution located in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. It is operated by the Inter-American Division and offers online graduate degrees in English and Spanish. Courses to be offered as of June 2016 include master’s degrees in Church Administration and Leadership and Online Instruction Design.

HFU is established to provide educational solutions based on the philosophical principles and values of the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) educational system.

To learn more about Inter-America’s Herbert Fletcher University, go to hfuniversity.org