Secretariat Leadership
The work of Secretariat is carried out by the following individuals:
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY
The General Conference Secretary is one of three executive officers of the world church. He cares for or assigns general items to members of Secretariat. "The secretary, in the performance of the executive responsibilities, shall report to the Executive Committee after consultation with the president. The secretary shall be responsible for keeping the minutes of the proceedings of the General Conference sessions and meetings of the Executive Committee, for maintaining correspondence with church organizations, and for the performance of such other duties as usually pertain to such office." –General Conference Working Policy, Article VIII--Officers and Their Duties, Sec. 5.)
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY | G T NG
Dr. Ng serves the Seventh-day Adventist World Church as its executive secretary, a position he has held since the 2010 General Conference Session. Previously, Ng worked as an associate secretary for the world church, where he oversaw the church’s Northern Asia-Pacific, Southern Asia, and Trans-European divisions. A native of Singapore, Ng started his pastoral ministry in war-torn Cambodia. Click here to download full biography
Undersecretary
The undersecretary assists the secretary with his responsibilities and acts for him in his absence. He serves as agenda secretary for the General Conference Session, Annual Council, Spring Meeting, and officers' meetings. The undersecretary is specifically responsible for the agenda program and the General Conference Working Policy. In consultation with the secretary he provides oversight to administrative and personnel matters within the office of the Secretariat. He also serves as secretary or member of various standing committees as well as the liaison for one of the world divisions.
UNDERSECRETARY | MYRON A ISEMINGER
Iseminger serves the Seventh-day Adventist World Church as its undersecretary and oversees the Northern Asia-Pacific Divison and the Institute of World Mission, a position he has held since the end of 2011. Iseminger and his wife, Candace, have served in various parts of the world, most recently at the Southern Asia-Pacific Division offices in the Philippines. The Isemingers also served the Northwest for several years in the Montana Conference. Click here to download full biography
Associate Secretaries
The associate secretaries assist the secretary with his responsibilities through various assignments. There are six associate secretaries. Five serve as General Conference liaisons with twelve of the thirteen world divisions. As liaisons to the various world divisions, they, in part, aid in the selection, appointment and support of interdivision personnel for all calls between divisions. One of the six associates is assigned the responsibility of being the Director of the General Conference Adventist Volunteer Center which covers the world field. All associate secretaries carry the responsibility of promoting and enhancing the mission work of the church as well as serving as members and/or secretary of certain standing committees.
ASSOCIATE SECRETARy | ROSA T BANKS
Dr. Banks serves as the Liaison to East-Central Africa Division, Southern Africa Division, West-Central Africa Division, and the Adventist University of Africa. She is also the Missionary Care Program Director. Click here to download full biography
ASSOCIATE SECRETARY | G ALEXANDER BRYANT
Bryant serves as both an associate secretary of the Seventh-day Adventist World Church and as secretary of the Adventist Church in North America. He lead the Central States Conference, part of the Adventist Church in Mid-America, for 11 years before coming to the World headquarters in 2008. Click here to download full biography
ASSOCIATE SECRETARY | Agustin Galicia
Galicia serves as an associate secretary for the Seventh-day Adventist World Church with oversight of the Euro-Asia, Inter-America, South American, and Southern Asia Divisions. He is also the liason for overseas denominational employees serving in North America. Click here to download full biography
ASSOCIATE SECRETARY | Gary D Krause
Krause serves as an associate secretary and the director of Adventist Mission for the Seventh-day Adventist World Church. In these roles he oversees the Global Mission initiative, the Global Mision study centers, and mission promotion. Prior to joining the World Church leadership, Krause was the creative director for the South Pacific Media Centre in Australia. Krause was born to Australian missionary parents in Fiji. Click here to download full biography
ASSOCIATE SECRETARY | john H thomas
Thomas serves as an associate secretary as liason to the South Pacific Division and is the director of Adventist Volunteer Service for the Seventh-day Adventist World Church. Previously, he was the Director of the International Rescue and Relief program at Union College in Nebraska. Before that he was principal of Maxwell Adventist Academy in Kenya. Click here to download full biography
ASSOCIATE SECRETARY | harald wollan
Wollan serves as an associate secretary for the Seventh-day Adventist World Church, overseeing the Euro-Africa, Southern Asia-Pacific, and Trans-European Divisions, Greater Middle East Union, and Israel Mission. Previously, Wollan was the executive secretary of the Trans-European Division. Wollan was born to Norwegian missionary parents in Eritrea. Click here to download full biography
ASSistant SECRETARY
The assistant secretary directs the Office of Interdivision Personnel Records (OIPR) and is responsible for the Central File of Secretariat. This individual assists the secretary with office responsibilities as assigned and serves as the secretary of the Appointees Committee. The assistant secretary is also responsible for the following: Maintaining up-to-date files of individuals who have shown an interest in interdivision service, supervising the computer listing of prospects’ names and skills, and for providing information critical to the work of the Interdivision Employee Budget Oversight Committee which reviews the budgets for placing interdivision employees.
assistant secretary | KAREN J PORTER
Porter is assistant secretary of the Seventh-day Adventist World Church. She has served in four world divisions; North American, Southern Asia-Pacific, Euro-Asia, and Trans-European. Click here to download full biography
