CALLED CONVENTION GENERAL SESSIONS

CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES FROM CALLED CONVENTION GROWING TOWARD EXCELLENCE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT by Ivan L. Williams, Sr.

have never heard a pastor say, “I don’t want to grow!” Everyone really I wants to grow in some way, form or facet. Growth is a natural part of God’s creative process. In their book, Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go, Beverly Kaye & Julie Giulioni say, “Study after study confirms that career development is the single most powerful tool managers have for driving retention, engagement, productivity, and results.”However, not all growth happens naturally or by osmosis. People want to grow professionally but most growth occurs only with time, effort and intentionality. The role of professional clergy, like most professions requires constant growth. Our world is chaotic, troubled, and always changing. We too must be intentional about our profession. At the North American Ministerial Department our 4th Quarter 2015 huge assumption is that every minister desires to be the best they can be. EDITORIAL We believe to grow professionally means to grow the whole person; because growing professionally impacts one physically, spiritually, mentally and so- PUBLISHER Ivan Williams cially. We also believe God desires us to be excellent in all we do for Him. EDITORS Dave Gemmell, He also desires us to be the head and not the tail. Deut. 28:13, Psalms 8:1-3, Adam Fenner, Sharon Aka Acts 17:6. MANAGING EDITOR Henry Juarez So what do we mean when we say professional development? Sharon

ADVISORS Aka, associate director of the Adventist Learning Community has defined Brenda Billingy, Jose Cortes Jr, it well. She writes, “Professional development is one of several components Roger Hernandez, Donna Jackson, of maintaining currency within a profession, and the advancement of skills Esther Knott or expertise to succeed in a particular profession... As society shifts, the profession of ministry must keep up with best practices and professional ADVERTISING ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Brad Forbes strategies to meet current needs. At its core, professional development is considered to be a process of personal growth through programs, services, DESIGN and activities designed to enable professionals, individually and collectively, DESIGNER Aisha Ricketts to enhance expert practice and conduct.” Consider this special edition of CALLED a portal for you to enter the

NADMINISTERIAL world of pastoral professional development. As you enter the world you are not alone. You have support from your leaders. You will discover how to set 12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring, MD 20904 up your continuing education account, how to register for credit, as well 301-680-6418 as actually take some online courses without ever leaving this magazine! Many of the presentations given at the CALLED convention have been de- DISCLAIMER veloped into continuing education courses. Opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of NAD Ministerial. Advertisers may have compensated Finally, continuing education is a huge part of professional develop- NAD Ministerial for ad placement. ment and may include “courses through academic institutions, professional COPYRIGHTS conventions, seminars, specialist certificate courses, books, articles, videos, CALLED, copyright 2015, North American Division etc....”Our goal is to increase competency and proficiency in a way so as Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists, All rights reserved. to encourage life long learning in pastoral ministry. This also helps you stay current on the ministry battlefield as you serve in many and varied NAD MINISTERIAL MISSION Empowering the ministerial community in leading churches capacities. The better-equipped and supported you are professionally; the to reach their world for Christ with hope & wholeness. more excellence will become our standard of measurement. After all, we are

told God designed that we should be constantly improving, daily reaching NAD MINISTERIAL VISION a higher point in the scale of excellence . . . Our hope of happiness in two Throughout the NAD the ministerial community is valued, connected effectively supported and equipped with training worlds depends upon our improvement in one . . . {Adventist Home p. 301} and state of the art resources. Every church exudes hope and wholeness with significant spiritual and numerical growth. YOUR CONGREGATION WANTS TO CHANGE THE WORLD. it

BAEGLINLS WITH YOU Each gift in ADRA’s Really Useful Gift Catalog brings real change to people in need.

Put the POWER TO CHANGE THE WORLD into your congregation’s hands. Call to request a free Change the World KIT that includes copies of the gift catalog and other promotional materials.

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15-041|08/15 FREE CHANGE THE WORLD 1.800.424.ADRA (2372) CALLED Convention GENERAL SESSION PRESENTATIONS

From June 28 to July 1, 2015, thousands of pastors from the North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church gathered in Austin Texas for their inaugural pastors convention. A highlight for many was experiencing the worship and presentations during the pastors’ general session. Here a rich variety of speakers brought out their best in concise relevant talks. CALLED magazine in collaboration with the Adventist Learning Community is delight- ed to share these presentations with you. Feel free to scroll through the following pages and select the speaker that you would like to hear. With a wifi connection the video recording will play for you directly from within the magazine. The presentations are arranged in the order they were given, with each page giving access to the talks given in each general session. Each session focuses in on one of the Core Quali- ties of effective pastors in the NAD. General Session Presentations SUNDAY EVENING

1 of 6 Wintley Phipps The Call to Godly Character Pastor, Palm Bay Seventh-day Adventist Church

General Sessions Pt. 1.1 (34:57)

Wintley Augustus Phipps was born in Trinidad, West Indies and raised in , Que- bec, . He attended and Oakwood College in Huntsville, Ala., where he received a Bachelor of Arts in theology; and earned a Master of Divinity from in Berrien Springs, Michigan. Mr. Phipps also holds honorary doctorate degrees from Waynesburg University, , and Wheelock College. He is a vocal artist, pastor, motivational speaker, and education activist. He is the founder, president, and chief executive officer of the U.S. Dream Academy, Inc., a non-profit, national after-school program that provides mentoring and tutoring around the country to children of incarcerated parents and children falling behind in school. Phipps is the author of The Power of A Dream (1996) and his soon-to-be released book is entitled The Best Me I Can Be. He currently serves as the senior pastor of the Palm Bay Seventh-day Adventist Church in Palm Bay, Florida. Mr. Phipps is married to the lovely Linda Diane Galloway Phipps (an RN) and they have been blessed with three fine sons: Wintley Augustus, II, Winston Adriel, and Wade Alexander. General Session Presentations SUNDAY EVENING

2 of 6 Dick Durerkson The Call to Tell the Story Itinerant Pollinator of Grace, Storyteller

General Sessions Pt. 1.2 (24:35)

Dick Duerksen is an itinerant pollinator of grace, a storyteller whose presentations help listen- ers experience Scripture personally. During 45 years as a Seventh-day Adventist preacher, pastor, and administrator he has carried the good news of grace around the world, using narrative-style presentations that bring hope to many hearts. Dick’s wife Brenda is a registered nurse and an alto musician. Their three children, Jeremy, Julene, and Joy, are married and living in Colorado, New Zealand, and California. Their two grandchildren, Griffyn and Gwendolyn, live “too far away” in New Zealand. Dick is also a professional photographer whose images help bring calm, peace, and healing into many hospitals and clinical offices. His presentations this week focus on how stories, permeated with “Divine Velcro,” help the gospel “catch” the hearts of those who hear. General Session Presentations SUNDAY EVENING

3 of 6 Wesley Knight The Call to the Cross, Why We Worship! Senior Pastor, Mt. Olive SDA Church

General Sessions Pt. 1.3 (24:34)

Dr. C. Wesley Knight pastors the Mt. Olive SDA Church in Metro Atlanta. He is a preacher, speaker, leader, writer, and community activist. He is sought after to speak at conferences, univer- sity campuses, and conventions worldwide. He attended Oakwood University where he received a B.A. in Theology. He earned a Master in Divinity with an emphasis in preaching from Andrews University. He also earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, Illinois. Wesley is featured as an outstanding preacher and contributor in the book, Preaching with Power II. In April 2012, he was inducted into the prestigious Martin Luther King Board of Preachers and Scholars at Morehouse College. He is happily married to the former Steph- anie Johnson and they have two wonderful children. General Session Presentations SUNDAY EVENING

4 of 6 Ivan Williams and Panel Questions on Worship and Character

General Sessions Pt. 1.4 (9:51)

How in the world can we worship together when we have so many dividing issues? How does one deal with their own character flaws? How do we worship when we have segregationist issues. What can we do with the barriers that we put up to keep people from coming to church? Ivan Williams, NAD Ministerial leads a panel discussion with Wintley Phipps, Wesley Knight, and Dick Deurkson. General Session Presentations SUNDAY EVENING

5 of 6 Daniel Jackson The Call to Mission President, North American Division

General Sessions Pt. 1.5 (21:36)

Daniel R. Jackson, president of the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists, was elected June 28, 2010, by delegates of the world church at their business session in Atlanta, Ga. He is a native Canadian and, with the exception of five years of service in the Southern Division, has lived and ministered in Canada. He is a graduate of Canadian Union College (now Canadian University College) and Andrews University, from which he holds an M.A. in Religion in System- atic Theology. During his career, Dan has served the church as a pastor, teacher, and administrator. Dan and his wife Donna enjoy the three children and four grandchildren the Lord has given them. General Session Presentations SUNDAY EVENING

6 of 6 Ted Wilson President of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

General Sessions Pt. 1.6 (6:31)

Ted N. C. Wilson began his church career as a pastor in 1974 in the Greater New York Con- ference, served in West , Euro Asia, Review and Herald Publishing and Vice President of the General Conference and then General Conference President. Wilson was re-elected for a second term to serve as president of the Seventh-day Adventist world church in July 2015 during the Gen- eral Conference Session in San Antonio. An ordained minister, Pastor Wilson holds a doctor of philosophy degree in religious education from New York University, a master of divinity degree from Andrews University, and a master of science degree in public health from the Loma Linda University School of Public Health. In addi- tion to English, he speaks French and some Russian. Ted and his wife Nancy have ten wonderful grandchildren. General Session Presentations MONDAY MORNING

1 of 2 Gary Hamel Innovative Leadership & Strategic Planning American Management Expert on Innovation

General Sessions Pt. 1.3 (23:01)

The Wall Street Journal once ranked Gary Hamel as the world’s most influential business thinker, and Fortune magazine has called him “ the world’s leading expert on business strategy.” Hamel’s landmark books, which have been translated into more than 20 languages, include Com- peting for the Future, Leading the Revolution, and The Future of Management (selected by Ama- zon.com as the best business book of the year). His latest book, What Matters Now, was published in 2012. General Session Presentations MONDAY MORNING

2 of 2 Marquis Johns Leading, Keeping, and Engaging Millennials Associate Pastor, Metropolitan SDA Church

General Sessions Pt. 1.5 (24:18)

Before receiving God’s call to ministry, Marquis D. Johns was living without hope. He had dropped out of school, spent time in jail, and even dabbled in the occult. In 2002, through the power of prayer and the ministry of a friend, Johns accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior and committed himself to literature evangelism and work. He graduated from the Center of Evangelism and also earned a Bachelor of Science in Church Leadership from Oakwood University. In addition to his pastoral duties at Metropolitan, Pastor Johns serves on the NAD’s Young Adult Advisory Committee and hosts Dare to Dream/3ABN television network’s “ The New Journey,” a program that chronicles the lives of people who have abandoned destructive behaviors and are now on a new journey with Christ. Pastor Johns’ love for ministry is fueled by his life motto — “memento mori” — remember you must die. General Session Presentations MONDAY EVENING

1 of 4 Rebecca Pippert Reaching the Secular Mind Co-founder, Salt Shaker Ministries

General Sessions Pt. 2.1 (26:51)

Rebecca Pippert is an internationally recognized evangelist, author, and speaker. She and her husband, Dick, founded Salt Shaker Ministries, a global evangelism training ministry. Becky is the author of 12 books, including the modern classic, Out of the Salt Shaker, which was named by Today as one of the books that has most influenced Christian thought in the past 50 years. Becky is the senioradvisor for global evangelism for the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelism and she was an advisory board member for the Center in Wheaton, Ill. She has received an honorary doctorate and holds a B.A. and M.A. with high honors in English literature from the University of Illinois. For the past five years Becky and Dick have lived in the U.K. They now divide their time between the U.S. and . They have four adult children and one granddaughter. General Session Presentations MONDAY EVENING

2 of 4 Alejandro Bullón Discipling People in Jesus Evangelist, Ministério Bullón

General Sessions Pt. 2.2 (21:25)

Alejandro Bullón was born in Jauja, Peru and is a graduate of the Peruvian Union Theolog- ical Seminary.He is presently an evangelist of “LaVozdela Esperanza” (TheVoice of Hope),a radio ministry of the North American Division. Prior to his retirement in 2014, he was the ministerial secretary and evangelist for the South American Division. He is a preacher whose main message highlights the need to know Jesus as the solution to all human problems. Pastor Bullón is the author of several books: “Conocer a Jesús es Todo” (To Know Jesus is Everything), “La Crisis Existencial” (The Existential Crisis), “Tu Eres Mi Vida” (You Are My Life), and “Vuelvea Casa Hijo” (Come Back Home Son). He is married to Sara Orfilia; they are the parents of four sons: Jose, Ruben, Samuel, and Moacyr. General Session Presentations MONDAY EVENING

3 of 4 Carlton Byrd Why and How to Make a Sermonic Appeal Speaker/Director, Breath of Life Ministries Senior Pastor, Oakwood University Church

General Sessions Pt. 2.3 (28:22)

Dr. Carlton P. Byrd is senior pastor of the Oakwood University Seventh-day Adventist Church in Huntsville, Ala., and the speaker/director of the Breath of Life Television Broadcast ministry in North America. During his 16 years of pastoral leadership, Dr. Byrd has baptized more than 2,500 people and served as a guest minister on the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN). The recipient of numerous honors and achievements, Dr. Byrd received the coveted “Chosen Pastor Award” for Atlanta’s Gospel Choice Awards (2007), was selected as the Oakwood University Alumnus of the Year (2008), and was also inducted into the Martin Luther King Board of Preachers at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Ga. (2008). He is happily married to the former Danielle Mounter, and they are the proud parents of two girls, Christyn and Caileigh. General Session Presentations MONDAY EVENING

4 of 4 Ivan Williams and Panel Questions on Evangelism

General Sessions Pt. 2.4 (20:21)

What does Evangelism mean to you? Is Evangelism only for those who can preach or teach? How can a church be fully engaged in Evangelism if they have limited resources? What can we do to make our wonderful message a gift from God rather than a checklist to have a relationship with the Lord? Ivan Williams and José Cortes, Jr., NAD Ministerial, lead a panel discussion with Elizabeth Talbot, Mike and Gayle Tucker, Carlton Byrd, John Bradshaw, Calvin Watkins, Shawn Boonstra, Chris Holland, , Roger Hernandez. General Session Presentations TUESDAY MORNING

1 of 3 Neil Nedley Stress and Emotional Health President, Weimar Institute

General Sessions Pt. 3.3 (23:56)

Dr. Neil Nedley is the president of Weimar Institute and a full-time practicing physician in Internal Medicine, with emphasis in gastroenterology, mental health, lifestyle medicine, and the difficult-to- diagnose patient. Dr. Nedley is the author of Proof Positive, Depression: The Way Out, and The Lost Art of Thinking. He is also the founder and author of the widely acclaimed Nedley Depression & Anxiety Recovery Program. He has lectured and taught extensively around the globe on nutrition and lifestyle. Dr. Nedley and his wife, Erica, have four sons: Joel, Allen, Nathan, and Justin. General Session Presentations TUESDAY MORNING

2 of 3 Henry Wright Managing Ministry in the Local Church Senior Pastor, Takoma Park Seventh-day Adventist Church

General Sessions Pt. 3.2 (27:30)

Pastor Henry Monroe Wright is a minister, professor, and family counselor. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in religion from Oakwood College, a Master of Systematic Theology from An- drews Univer- sity, and a Master of Divinity from Methodist Theological Seminary in Ohio. He is frequently sought as a guest speaker and evangelist at many events, both in the United States and abroad. He isthe former senior pastor of the Community Praise Center Seventh-day Adventist Church, locatedin Alexandria, Virginia. He currently serves as the senior pastor for the Takoma Park Seventh-day Adventist Church and he also teaches homiletics and church administration at Washington Adven- tist University. Elder Wright has been married to Carol Lindsey Wright, CPA, since 1966. They have three sons, Henry Monroe Wright II, Harold Michael Wright (deceased), and Herbert Marcel Wright. The Wrights also have three grandchildren. Pastor Wright thanks God for nearly 50 years of ministry! General Session Presentations TUESDAY MORNING

3 of 3 Ivan Williams and Panel Questions on Health

General Sessions Pt. 3.4 (9:27)

As we think about all of the stressful issues that a pastor is faced with, how can they live better balanced lives? What can Jesus’ followers do in this area of stressful living? How can Weimar be of service to pastors to help relieve stress? Ivan Williams, NAD Ministerial leads a panel discussion with Neil Nedley, David Sedlacek, Katia Reinert, César De León, Richard James, Juliet Santos. General Session Presentations TUESDAY EVENING

1 of 5 Elizabeth Talbot The Importance of Study Speaker/Director, Jesus 101 Biblical Institute

General Sessions Pt. 4.1 (19:08)

Elizabeth Talbot, most recently the associate speaker for the , is now the speaker/ director for the Jesus101 Biblical Institute, a new media ministry of the North American Division. She travels throughout the U.S. and internationally as a lecturer and revival/motivational speaker. She is regularly featured on the (Jesus101), LLBN (CrossTalk), 3ABNLati- no (Jesus es TODO) and Esperanza TV (Cántico Nuevo). Elizabeth has authored several booklets and articles, including “Matthew: Prophecy Fulfilled”,“John: God Became Flesh”, “Luke: Salvation for All”, “Mark: Good News”, and “Surprised by Love” published by Pacific Press. She is married to Patrick Talbot, a marriage and family therapist. Her main identity is her passion about the good news of Jesus Christ: “It’s like fire in my bones,” she says. And she means it! General Session Presentations TUESDAY EVENING

2 of 5 Adam Fenner & Sharon Aka The Adventist Learning Community

Director Assoc. Director General Sessions Pt. 4.2 (24:53)

Adam calls himself “a product of Adventist Education” and thoroughly believes in the value of his uniquely Adventist educational experience. Having attended Adventist schools from first grade through college, he has seen the true and lasting value an Adventist education can provide, and is committed to strengthening the system that gave him the spiritual foundation and values he has today. Adam holds degrees from American University, Stanford University, and Andrews Univer- sity and specialized in U.S. foreign policy and history during his doctoral studies. He has a passion for the university classroom and enjoys adjunct teaching at Andrews University for the History and Political Science Department and the Honors Department. General Session Presentations TUESDAY EVENING

3 of 5 Adam Fenner & Sharon Aka The Adventist Learning Community

Director Assoc. Director General Sessions Pt. 4.2 (24:53)

Sharon Aka is the associate director of the Adventist Learning Community. In her current role as a professional development specialist, she creates professional development resources for pas- tors. Sharon holds Bachelor of Science degrees from Andrews University and D’Youville College, anda Master of Science in nursing from D’Youville College. She spent the first part of her career as an acute surgical unit registered nurse and surgical nurse educator at The Scarborough Hospital in Toronto, Ontario. The second part of her career was in postsecondary education in Toronto. Sharon taught nursing for three years at Centennial College and then transitioned to a professor position at Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning. Sharon is married to Timothy Aka, associate treasurer and investment portfolio manager for the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. They have three children: Maxwell, Danielle, and Rachel. General Session Presentations TUESDAY EVENING

4 of 5 Dwight Nelson Continuing to Grow as a Pastor Lead Pastor, Pioneer Memorial Church

General Sessions Pt. 4.3 (26:43)

Since 1983, Dwight has served as pastor of the Pioneer Memorial Church on the campus of Andrews University. He preaches on the “New Perceptions” telecast and has written several books, including The Chosen. He and his wife Karen are blessed with two children, two children-in-law, and a one-year-old granddaughter. General Session Presentations TUESDAY EVENING

5 of 5 Ivan Williams and Panel Questions on Scholarship

General Sessions Pt. 4.4 (10:14)

Why are we starting continuing education now when Jesus is about to come? What do you say to someone who is suspicious of a pastor studying while pastoring? What do you say to someone who says that ‘God has called me, I don’t need to go to school’? Ivan Williams, NAD Ministerial leads a panel discussion with John McVay, George Knight, Jiri Moskala, Skip Bell, Leslie Pollack, Nikolaus Satelmajers. General Session Presentations WEDNESDAY MORNING

1 of 3 Calvin Preston Relating to the Congregation Senior Pastor, West End Seventh-day Adventist Church, West End Family Life & Community Center

General Sessions Pt. 5.1 (26:12)

Calvin B. Preston is the senior pastor of the West End Seventh-day Adventist Church in At- lanta, Georgia, where for the past seven years he has delivered the Word of God with great zeal and eloquence. He has served in gospel ministry for 38 years and it is his desire to take this gospel of the Kingdom into all the world as commissioned in Matthew 24:14. Since being assigned to West End, the Lord has used Pastor Preston to add more than 100 souls to the church each year through baptism. And most recently, because of his vision, the church was blessed to purchase a former Sal- vation Army Boys & Girls Club building, now known as the West End Family Life & Community Center, which is primarily used for community outreach. Pastor Preston and his wife Wynona have three adult children. General Session Presentations WEDNESDAY MORNING

2 of 3 Tony Evans Relating to the Community Senior Pastor, Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship President, The Urban Alternative

General Sessions Pt. 5.2 (29:48)

Dr. Tony Evans is one of the country’s most respected evangelical leaders. He has served as the senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship for more than 36 years, witnessing its growth from ten people in 1976 to now more than 8,500 congregants with 100 plus ministries. Dr. Evans also serves as president of The Urban Alternative, a national ministry that seeks to transform lives through the proclamation and application of the Word of God. His daily radio broadcast, “The Alternative with Dr. Tony Evans,” can be heard on nearly 1,000 radio outlets throughout the United States and in more than 130 countries. Dr. Tony Evans is married to Lois, his wife and ministry partner of more than 40 years. They are the proud parents of four children and have 11 grandchildren. General Session Presentations WEDNESDAY MORNING

3 of 3 Randy & Anita Roberts Relating to Each Other Senior Pastor, Loma Linda University Church & Clergy Spouse Supporter SECC

General Sessions Pt. 5.3 (22:34)

Randy and Anita Roberts were both born in and come from missionary fam- ilies. They have lived in the Loma Linda, California area for almost 30 years. During that time, Randyhas worked as a chaplain, professor, pastor, and counselor and currently serves as senior pastorat the Loma Linda University Church. He also teaches religion at Loma Linda University. Anita has managed a travel agency, worked as an at-home mother, and now works in the area of clergy spouse support and prayer ministries for the Southeastern California Conference of Sev- enth-day Adventists. Randy holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary, and is also a California-licensed marriage and family therapist. Anita is working toward a Master of Arts degree in pastoral ministry from Andrews University. Randy and Anita have two children: Austin and Miranda.

Continued Education NEW PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLATFORM

At the 2015 CALLED convention for pastors, NAD Ministerial in partnership with the Adventist Learning Community launched a brand new platform for continuing education for the pastors of the NAD. This new resource allows pastors to record their approved learn- ing activities as well as take online professional development coursework. For many years NAD policy required that every pastor take at least two units of continuing education per year and finally there is a division wide mechanism to record and deliver continuing educa- tion. You may have questions about how you can receive this new benefit. We’ve tried to anticipate some of those questions in the next few articles. Be sure to read:

What is Pastoral Professional Development? How can I enroll? What is a professional development course? How can I measure and track my continuing education units? What kind of learning activities qualify for a continuing education unit? What are the Core Qualities of effective ministry? New Professional Development Platform WHAT IS PASTORAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT?

by Adam Fenner and Sharon Aka

astors have one of the most challenging jobs; training for outreach, balancing budgets, car- P ing for the sick, and guiding people to Christ in a world where truth and reality have no standard. You’re asked to minister to multiple generations simultaneously, with extreme diversity present, and through so many different mediums. Perhaps at no time, in the history of humanity, has the profession of ministry been more challenging. This is where professional development comes in. Professional development is all about being the absolute best you can be at your job. It helps you maintain your expert status throughout your career, even decades after formal education. For pastors, professional development is learning that takes place after graduation from a for- mal academic institution or entry into the profession, and is evidenced by continual professional growth until retirement and beyond. Regardless of institutional ranking or the significance of your diploma, it’s shortsighted and even arrogant to think that after receiving your degree you have learned everything there is to know about your area of study. Professional development provides opportunities for specialists to hone their craft throughout their lifetimes, and it fills the learning gap the cessation of formal education leaves. Professional development is both Biblical and foundational for our Church, and therefore, should be a core component of Seventh-day Adventist ministry. According to the Bible the true measure of a professional is the eagerness to continually im- prove. Biblical support for life-long learning is unmistakable. Proverbs 1:5 states, “Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance.” Speaking directly to ministers, 2 Peter 1:8 states, “for if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” In both of these texts, the Bible speaks to the necessity of continually seeking knowledge and self-improvement. In Acts of the Apostles, Ellen White expands on the Biblical principle by writing: “Those who are chosen by God for the work of the ministry will…by every possible means seek to develop into able workmen.” Sister White went a step further and made the matter of continuing education for pastors plain when she wrote, “the gospel is not properly taught and represented…by men who have ceased to be students.” Pastors are not alone in this endeavor of life-long learning. Sister White writes that as min- isters “manifest earnestness in improving the talents entrusted to them, the Church should help them judiciously.” Professional development should be intentional. It should be specifically and strategically tar- geted to address identified areas of needed growth. Pastors may be experts and even foremost authorities in certain aspects of the Core Qualities, but no one can truly know it all. The Core Qualities offer pastors a roadmap for how best to advance their ministries, and will help keep relevancy and effectiveness at the vanguard of lifelong continual growth. As the Church aims to support pastors throughout their careers with professional develop- ment, Church leaders have made it a goal for this support to ALWAYS be: AVAILABLE: Learning that is always accessible regardless of a learner’s knowledge and skill level, location, or demographic.

PREDICTABLE: Pastors should never be surprised about they need to learn to enhance their ministries and meet the requirements of their profession.

TRANSPARENT: Pastors should understand how professional develop works on the philosophi- cal, policy, technological, and practical levels.

EQUITABLE: Pastors across the Division should receive the same amount of continuing ed- ucation credit for the same learning activities.

CONSTRUCTIVE: Pastors and conference administrators should always have the best interests of pastors in mind and work to build professional capacity.

It is our Church’s responsibility to ensure pastors be trained and equipped with the skills and resources to effectively deliver the Gospel in the 21st century. Everyone wants to be good at his or her job, and life-long continuous learning can make pastors the absolute best they can be for Christ. New Professional Development Platform HOW CAN I ENROLL?

o begin taking advantage of the new professional development initiative, you will need to T log into the Adventist Learning Community (ALC) website. On the ALC, you’ll be able to access thousands of ministerial resources, find continuing education courses directly related to your ministry, and apply for continuing education credit from your ministerial director. ALC will even help you keep track of your professional development progress on your own personalized electronic portfolio. If your conference is enrolled in the pastoral professional development system, you should have received an email from the Adventist Learning Community. This email, most likely was sent to you in June or July of 2015, and included a username and password for you to login to your new professional development account. Please search your email inbox and junk mail for an email from the “ALC”. However, if your conference is not enrolled in the pastoral professional development system, or if you cannot find the aforementioned email, please email Dr. Adam Fenner, Director of the Adventist Learning Community at: [email protected].

STEP 1

When you have your username and password, please visit adventistlearningcommunity.com STEP 2

Go to the login tab at the top right of the screen and enter your username and password as solicited. You’re ready to get started earning and tracking your continuing education. New Professional Development Platform WHAT IS A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSE?

o begin taking advantage of the new professional development initiative, you will need to T log into the Adventist Learning Community (ALC) website. On the ALC, you’ll be able to access thousands of ministerial resources, find continuing education courses directly related to your ministry, and apply for continuing education credit from your ministerial director. ALC will even help you keep track of your professional development progress on your own personalized electronic portfolio. To make information about pastoral professional development and the North American Divi- sion’s vision for supporting pastors as accessible as possible, there is a free online course available to anyone and everyone wanting to enroll in it. This course is specifically designed for pastors and ministerial directors to understand the philosophies behind pastoral professional development and how the process of continuing education for pastors works. As long as you have an Internet connection, the course is available anywhere and anytime for free. Use it as a reference resource, as a “how to,” a training tool, or any other way that you so choose.

This course is worth 0.2 CEUs, and once completed will count towards a pastor’s continuing education annual requirements. To earn the CEU credit, you must watch all the vid- eos, and successfully complete the accompanying quizzes for each video with 100% mastery.

BY THE END OF THIS COURSE THE LEARNER WILL BE ABLE TO:

1. Understand the rational for Pastoral professional development within the North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

2. Comprehend the details of the program of professional development as it applies to Pastors.

3. Implement the reporting and recording of CEU credits within the ALC platform.

4. Analyze the benefits of professional development as it relates to the profession of ministry.

START COURSE New Professional Development Platform HOW CAN I MEASURE AND TRACK MY CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS?

CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS, referred to as CEUs, are the most frequently used term for measuring professional development content. The North American professional standard is 1 CEU = 10 HOURS of learning time.

Pastoral CEUs can be acquired in two ways; ON and OFF the Adventist Learning Community.

The Adventist Learning Community Professional development will have ever expanding professional activities not hosted on the development resources for pastors Adventist Learning Community and other Church employees. Each but still available for continuing course and resource delivered on education credit will include but the Adventist Learning Community are not limited to conferences, will have a predetermined CEU value books, certificate courses, for learners upon completion of all academic courses, videos, and associated requirements. CEU courses.

Activities available for continuing It’s your professional responsibility to education credit on the Adventist autonomously self-report your annual Learning Community will include 1-4 professional development activities to hour mini-courses, 5-10 hour full your ministerial director. This will be courses, certificate programs, video done electronically on the Adventist resources, and book reviews. Learning Community.

The NAD Ministerial department and Conference Ministerial directors have designated CEU value to all kinds of professional development resources and activities. You can use the designated value of professional development activ- ities on the chart entitled “Standardized Continuing Education Values for Pastors and Administrators” to help guide your annual professional development deci- REFLECTIVE sion-making. THINKING One of the best ways to ensure that professional development becomes meaningful is through personal reflection about it. That is, deliberately thinking about how the book, course, convention, lecture, sermon, documentary, or article applies to you and your ministry. The What? What kind of professional Critically thinking about how professional development activity did you take part impacts how you will perform your occupation is called in? Describe it. What were reflective practice. the activities’ goals? What was covered? Reflective practice on the Adventist Learning Community follows an established and respected 3-step process: what, so what, and now what. The beauty and value of reflective practice is in its simplicity. The So What? When you do a professional development activity that’s How did the activity you not on the Adventist Learning Community, you can apply took part in add to your for continuing education credit by answering three short existing knowledge and reflective practice questions on the continuing education understanding? Did it credit application: change your perspective? How did it do so, and why?

And, the Now What? How will what you learned change your professional practice in the future? Identify what needs to change to make a positive difference, and explain how you’re going to do it.

You can submit your answers to your ministerial director or supervisor for review. If your application for credit is accepted it will be recorded on your Adventist Learning Community ePortfolio. New Professional Development Platform TABLE OF CEU VALUES

RESOURCES AVAILABLE ON THE ADVENTIST LEARNING COMMUNITY JUST A MOMENT for information

0 hours 0 CEU Content resources viewed for the purposes of “in the moment” professional need to complete a professional skill or ability. BOOKS

2 hours .2 CEU Watching a video review of a book on ALC, reading the professionally appropriate book (100 pages), taking the multiple-choice book quiz on ALC, and completing a Reflection.

4 hours .4 CEU Watching a video review of a book on ALC, reading the professionally appropriate book (200 pages), taking the multiple-choice book quiz on ALC, and completing a Reflection.

6 hours .6 CEU Watching a video review of a book on ALC, reading the professionally appropriate book (300 pages), taking the multiple-choice book quiz on ALC, and completing a Reflection.

8 hours .8 CEU Watching a video review of a book on ALC, reading the professionally appropriate book (400 pages), taking the multiple-choice book quiz on ALC, and completing a Reflection. COURSES

1-4 hours .1 - .4 CEU Mini-Course Completion of an ALC Certificate Mini-course including completed Reflection and Certificate.

5-10 hours .5 - 1 CEU Regular Course Completion of an ALC Certificate Regular course including completed Reflection and Certificate. CREATING COURSES

5 - 20 hours .5 - 2.0 CEU Content creation and presentation for the ALC for Mini-courses, Regular courses, ALC resources, etc. To be arranged with ALC and departmental administration.

10 - 20 hours 1 - 2 CEU Completing an ALC discipline specific (teacher, pastor, administrator, ministry) training course on ALC, including completion of all formative or summative assessments. This course may include a Reflection requirement (see CEU value table for specific professions). ACADEMIC CREDIT COURSES

10-30 hours 1-3 Taking an academic course (hosted on ALC) for credit CEU towards a certificate, endorsement, or degree. CEU credit will be available upon successful completion of the course. RESOURCES AVAILABLE OUTSIDE OF THE ADVENTIST LEARNING COMMUNITY CONVENTION

3 hours .3 CEU Attending and participating in a 1-day professional convention.

6 hours .6 CEU Attending and participation in a 2-day professional convention

10 hours 1 CEU Attending and participation in a 3-day professional convention. PRESENTING

5 - 20 hours .5 - 2.0 CEU Designing and presenting at a professional convention – must provide evidence of participation, which may include: a PPT, video, prezi, photo of name on program, handout, etc. (First time presentations—not repeat presentations). WRITING

6 - 20 hours .6 - 2.0 CEU Writing an academic article (15 or more resources) published in a peer reviewed professional journal – must provide e copy of article.

3 - 5 hours .3 - .5 CEU Writing an article (15 or more resources) published in a professional journal – must provide e copy of article. (Example: Ministry, CALLED).

2 hours .3 - .5 CEU Writing an anecdotal experiential/event based article published in a SDA church journal or local publication – must provide e copy of article. (Example: Best Practices, , Adventist World, or Union paper) PROFESSIONAL TRAINING

3-5 hours .3 -.5 CEU Completion of a 1-day professional training course that results in a specialist certificate or extended qualification relevant to the pastoral profession.

6-12 hours .6 -1.2 CEU Completion of a 2-day professional training course that results in a specialist certificate or extended qualification relevant to the pastoral profession.

13-18 hours 1.3 -1.8 CEU Completion of a 3-day professional training course that results in a specialist certificate or extended qualification relevant to the pastoral the profession. BOOKS – READING

4 hours .2 CEU Reading a professionally appropriate book (100 pages) – must document title and author of book and complete a Reflection.

6 hours .4 CEU Reading a professionally appropriate book (200 pages) – must document title and author of book and complete a Reflection.

8 hours .6 CEU Reading a professional appropriate book (300 pages) – must document title and author of book and complete a Reflection. ACADEMIC CREDIT

2-3 credit 2 - 3 CEU Taking an academic course (from an accredited academic hours (quarter institution) for credit towards a certificate, endorsement, or semester) or degree. CEU credit will be available with successful completion of the course.

2-20 hours .2 - 2.0 CEU Unique professional development projects or activities that do not fall within the generic measurement criteria but are beyond the regular expected activities and requirements of the profession. To be arranged with the Ministerial Director. Examples of possible activities: Professional exchange program, mission trip, organizing travel tour event, writing course content for professional development purposes, etc.

5-20 hours .5 - 2 Develop a presentation for ministry related groups.

Write a book. (Hours to be determined in connection with the Ministerial Director). of the Effective Pastor

by Dave Gemmell here are two days in a congregation where we as pastors can make everyone happy. T For some, it is the day we arrive, for others it is the day we leave. Pastoring should be easy. Right? The congregation needs a pastor. I am a pastor. End of story. The challenge is that everyone in the congregation, including me, has a different defini- tion of the word ‘pastor’. The result is that we never entirely live up to everyone’s expectations; consequently we have great difficulty in becoming effective pastors. It gets worse. Young people spend ten years of their lives training to be a ‘pastor’ and flame out when they discover their definition doesn’t match up with what conferences are looking for. College professors pour their pastoral ideals into students but conferences may be looking for other qualities. Seminary students coming from a variety of colleges repeat some of the exact same courses they had at undergrad while missing out on vital learning. It gets still worse. Interns preparing for ordination don’t know how to prepare because but each conference has different ideas of what qualities they are looking for in a pastor. And just when you think you’ve got it figured out, you’re suddenly moved to another congregation and have to start all over again, or move to another conference and have to learn their definition of ‘pastor’. It is amazing that any of us are effective in ministry! Some of us have figured it out; per- haps on our own, through reading, going to conferences, good mentoring, or maybe we just got lucky enough to pick up the essential qualities along the way. Some didn’t figure it out, and dropped out leaving wrecked congregations, careers, and families behind. But all of us, whether we have figured it out a little or a lot, still struggle with the question of what makes for an effective pastor? Does there exist a standard of qualities that if a pastor possesses, gives him/her a high likelihood of success? Is there, or could there be, a profession- al standard for pastors? Or are we all just playing a guessing game? It doesn’t have to be this way. Other professions have discovered standard qualities that make for effectiveness in their vocations. Physicians have a set of core qualities that define what makes an effective doctor. Teachers have a set of core qualities that describe an effective teacher. Even plumbers have benchmarks as to what qualities make for an effective plumber. What if we could find out what core qualities make for an effective pastor? And if we could, would it be helpful? After more than two years of research and tens of thousands of pieces of survey data, the North American Division Ministerial department identified an initial set of seven core qualities of truly effective pastors. We then asked to find out who were the most effective pastors in the conference and rated their qualities against the average pastor in the conference. What do you suppose we discovered? --That the most effective pastors in the conference were the ones that possessed these core qualities. These seven core qualities are the foundation of the pastoral profession. Not only do they provide a framework of occupational expectations, but also identifying these seven core qualities allows the Church to promote ministerial excellence and most importantly essential skills for the winning of souls for Christ. There are six core qualities all built on the foundation of the quality of Character.

Character, the foundational quality, allowing the character of Christ to be formed in us and modeled through personal integrity that aligns with biblical ideals.

Evangelism, skilled and passionate about making disciples, helping people accept, internalize, and share in a vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ the Seventh-day Adventist message.

Leadership, building a Church vision and equipping members to learn, grow, and serve.

Worship, facilitating an enriching corporate worship experience that brings people into the presence of God.

Management, executing responsibilities in a timely and well-orga- nized fashion.

Scholarship, diligently and carefully studying the Bible and profession- al resources for continuous personal growth in Christ.

Relationship, relating well to others regardless of faith, age, ethnicity, personality, or gender.

So now, at long last, we have a starting definition of an effective pastor. It is no longer just anyone’s definition. It will soon be everyone’s definition. We all can draw toward a unifying definition, so when you say the word ‘pastor’, when a church member says the word ‘pas- tor’, when a conference president says the word ‘pastor’, when a young person says the word ‘pastor’, when the college or seminary professor says the word ‘pastor’, when the ministerial secretary says the word ‘pastor’, we all are thinking the same thing. Despite our differences in age, personality, language, gender, or ethnicity, we all share these same core qualities

Guesswork. Can you see what a powerful concept this is? As we move to a common definition you don’t have to be guessing what qualities you have to possess to be an effective pastor! And you know what the next congregation is looking for, and what the next conference is looking for. You know where you need to grow professionally instead of having to guess. But most of all, it gives us the power to reach our potential as effective pastors. Courses from Called Convention GET CREDIT FOR TAKING THESE ONLINE COURSES

The courses on the next few pages of this magazine have been constructed from strategi- cally chosen CALLED convention presentations. Each course has learning outcomes, video presentations, and quizzes. In addition, each course is labeled with a CORE quality, and given a designated CEU value. Finally, within each course, books mentioned by the present- er have been listed and links provided to amazon where these books can be purchased (not 100% of the books mentioned are available for purchase). There are some courses with more then 20 recently published recommended books! If you haven’t signed up for an Adventist Learning Account or Pcertification please read the other articles in this magazine to learn how you can get up to speed on this outstanding professional development benefit. Management LEGAL AFFAIRS 0.7 CEUs

This course presents numerous difficult issues facing the Seventh-day Adventist church today. These issues can easily become legal matters if not managed wisely. Learn how to survive a lawsuit. Develop a better understanding of how to address issues of copyright, and effective church board meetings. Gain insight into the complex issues of homosexuality, marriage, the Bible, and church. Lastly, learn to recognize and manage allegations of sexual misconduct. COURSE SUMMARY

A collection of seminars from the 2015 CALLED Convention focusing on legal matters effecting the church.

What Do I Need to Know? View presentations from Bob Burrow, Greg King, Nicholas Miller, and Karnik Doukmetzian, then answer a short quiz at the end of each module.

What Will I Learn In This Course? By the end of this course you should gain a better understanding of various legal matters that are important to the church.

START COURSE Leadership ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP 0.4 CEUs

This leadership course deals specifically with organizational principles necessary to max- imize your leadership. By the end of this course you will have a better understanding about different leadership styles, the organizational power of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, how to deal with conflict, and how to be impactful as an agent of change.

COURSE SUMMARY

A collection of seminars from the 2015 CALLED Convention focusing on organizational principles.

What Do I Need to Know? View presentations from Stan Patterson, Skip Bell, David Penno, and Brenda Billingsly, then answer a short quiz at the end of each module.

What Will I Learn In This Course? By the end of this course you should gain a better understanding of the structure and organization of both local churches and the world church.

START COURSE Evangelism REACHING YOUR COMMUNITY 0.4 CEUs

This Evangelism course deals with ministry to different populations within your commu- nities. By the end of this course, you will have a better understanding of the Acts model of evangelism, and the importance of a master evangelism strategy for churches and confer- ences. You will also learn how to reach your community members in innovative, creative ways.

COURSE SUMMARY

A collection of seminars from the 2015 CALLED Convention focusing on reaching your community through discipleship and evangelism.

What Do I Need to Know? View presentations from Mark Finley, John Bradshaw, Chris Holland, and Melvin Santos, then answer a short quiz at the end of each module.

What Will I Learn In This Course? By the end of this course you should gain a better understanding of how and when to use evangelism and discipleship to reach out to your community.

START COURSE Scholarship APOLOGETICS 0.5 CEUs

This Scholarship course deals with Apologetics. By the end of this course, you will have a better understanding about reaching people of other faiths – Atheists.

COURSE SUMMARY

A collection of seminars from the 2015 CALLED Convention focusing on apologetics.

What Do I Need to Know? View presentations from Ganoune Diop, Oliver Glanz, Ron Clouzet, and Subodh Pandit, then answer a short quiz at the end of each module.

What Will I Learn In This Course? By the end of this course you should gain a better understanding of sharing the Gospel with doubting audiences.

START COURSE Relationship MINISTERING TO FOCUSED COMMUNITIES 0.5 CEUs

This Relationship course deals with ministry to different populations within your commu- nities. By the end of this course, you will have a better understanding about how to reach persons in prison, victims of abuse, situations of high conflict, immigrants, and children.

COURSE SUMMARY

A collection of seminars from the 2015 CALLED Convention focusing on ministering to specific groups of people.

What Do I Need to Know? View presentations from Douglas Tilstra, Alexandria and Allan Martin, John Amoah, Cleveland Houser, and Washington Johnsons II, then answer a short quiz at the end of each module.

What Will I Learn In This Course? By the end of this course you should gain a better understanding of how to minister to immigrants, millennials, abuse victims and prisoners.

START COURSE Worship PREACHING 0.9 CEUs

This Worship course deals with multiple approaches to preaching God’s word. By the end of this course, you will have a better understanding of preaching, generational inclusion, story telling, and focused populations sermon application.

COURSE SUMMARY

A collection of seminars from the 2015 CALLED Convention focusing preaching.

What Do I Need to Know? View presentations from Dwight Nelson, Randy Roberts, Faith Hunter, Falvo Fowler, Elizabeth Talbot, Douglas Jacobs, Dick and Brenda Duerkson, and John McVay, then answer a short quiz at the end of each module.

What Will I Learn In This Course? By the end of this course you should gain a better understanding of various principles and techniques used in preaching.

START COURSE Scholarship CREATION AND EVOLUTION 0.3 CEUs

This Scholarship course deals with the Theory of Evolution, Darwinism, and Creation. By the end of this course, you will have a better understanding of Biblical Creation and Scientific proof that Darwinism (Evolution) is evil and not a valid theory.

COURSE SUMMARY

A collection of seminars from the 2015 CALLED Convention focusing on creation and evolution.

What Do I Need to Know? View presentations from Tim Standish, Jim Gibson, and Greg King, then answer a short quiz at the end of each module.

What Will I Learn In This Course? By the end of this course you should gain a better understanding of how creation and the theory of evolution relate to each other and the Bible.

START COURSE Relationship MENTAL HEALTH 1.0 CEUs

This Relationship course deals with stress, loss, and forgiveness. By the end of this course, you will have a better understanding about the process of loss, grief, recovery, forgiveness, and personal stress management. You will also have a beginning understanding of the process of referring someone to a professional counselor.

COURSE SUMMARY

A collection of seminars from the 2015 CALLED Convention focusing on mental health matters effecting the church.

What Do I Need to Know? View presentations from David Sedlacek, Michael Mupfawa, Susie Hill, Robert Peach, Craig Carr, Neil Nedley, Artur Stele, Gordon Botting, Vicki Griffin, and Darold Bigger, then answer a short quiz at the end of each module.

What Will I Learn In This Course? By the end of this course you should gain a better understanding of how to deal with various emotional and mental health issues.

START COURSE Leadership ADMINISTRATIVE LEADERSHIP 1.1 CEUs

This leadership course addresses multiple aspects of leadership within the church organization. By the end of this course, you will also have a rich reading list of current books on leadership that are influencing some of the best and brightest in our church organization.

COURSE SUMMARY

A collection of seminars from the 2015 CALLED Convention focusing on leadership for administrators.

What Do I Need to Know? View presentations from Gary Hamel, Calvin Rock, Leslie Pollard, G. Alexander Bryant, Barbara Davis, Gordon Bietz, Lowell Cooper, Paul Brantley, Richard Hart, Ella Simmons, Roscoe Howard III, and Ted Hamilton, then answer a short quiz at the end of each module.

What Will I Learn In This Course? By the end of this course you should gain a better understanding of various techniques and principles geared towards leaders in administration.

START COURSE Relevant articles Helpful resources Timely issues Thoughtful editorials

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