CARU Executive Committee Completes List of Leaders for the Quinquennium
Top Seventh-day Adventist leaders from the CARU institutions and fields met virtually, and confirmed the selection of leaders to head several ministries and boards of institutions.
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On October 4, 2022, the Caribbean Union Conference (CARU) convened the first executive committee meeting of the new quinquennium. Top Seventh-day Adventist leaders from the CARU institutions and fields met virtually and confirmed the selection of leaders to head several ministries and boards of institutions.
The CARU administrators welcomed everyone, took time to greet those attending this meeting for the first time, and identified individuals who were serving the committee in a different capacity – these included Pastor Anthony Hall who was elected, in August 2022, to serve as president of the East Caribbean Conference.
Dr. Kern Tobias, the CARU President, addressed the leaders: “With all administration being installed, Caribbean Union Conference, East Caribbean Conference, North Caribbean Conference and the four missions (Tobago, Suriname, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and St. Lucia), we are now ready for business. We give God thanks for His goodness and His blessing upon us.”
The executive committee voted to accept the names presented by the nominating committee appointed at the committee meeting, and this action completed the list of leaders who will serve the Caribbean Union Conference for the rest of the quinquennium. Dr. Tobias added, “Every name, every position was analyzed carefully, and we are happy to have you as collaborators. We pray that you will be instruments in God’s hands for the progress of the Church in the Caribbean Union”.
Most leaders were asked to serve in positions they previously held. In addition, the committee sought to give focus to conservation and discipleship by appointing Dr. Claudius Morgan to head that ministry.
“This is a very important moment in the life of the Church in Caribbean Union”, said Pastor Johnson Frederick, the CARU Executive Secretary. “We must change the course of our actions and consider a new way of reaching, discipling and retaining members”. Members anticipate that this theme will be given due consideration when the committee convenes the quinquennium’s first in-person meeting in November 2022, on the island of Barbados.
The executive committee also reviewed plans for concluding the 100-year anniversary celebration of the Church in the Inter-American Division (IAD). Sister Debra Henry, the CARU Women and Children’s Ministries Director, was assigned the responsibility of leading this CARU sub-committee as the previous leader, Pastor Anthony Hall, had been asked to serve the East Caribbean Conference as President. The Caribbean Union will be part of the great celebration streamed throughout the IAD on October 29, 2022.
The executive committee was informed that some leaders, in the Caribbean Union Conference, had expressed their desire to transition from active denominational service, within the quinquennium. Dr. Tobias thanked the leaders for their dedication and service, as some were moving on to other activities, and emphasized the union’s debt of gratitude to those who expressed their desire to retire. He stated, “We appreciate all that you have done, the time you worked at the Caribbean Union and we value your service. We believe that the Lord will give you the joy to see all your efforts bring forth wonderful fruits to God’s glory”. He acknowledged the contribution of Education Director Dr. Hilary Bowman who indicated his desire to retire from active service. The Committee voted his retirement to commencing January 1, 2023. Both Dr. Bowman and Mrs.Jessica Cunningham will serve in their current capacity until December 31, 2022. In the meantime, the process to appoint a new Director of Education will be effected.
The following individuals will lead the established departments and ministry positions at the Caribbean Union Office until the quinquennium ends in 2026:
- Dr. Kern Tobias President
- Pastor Johnson Frederick Executive Secretary
- Pastor Bertie Henry Treasurer
- Dr. Clive Dottin Field Secretary/Director of Missions/Spirit of Prophecy/ PARL
- Dr. Claudius Morgan Asst. to the President for Evangelism/Director of Evangelism, Discipleship &Training
- Joel Hazelwood Associate Treasurer/Director of CURF
- Pastor Ashton O’Neil Director of Personal Ministries/ Community Services/ Publishing Ministries
- Pastor Gandalal Samlalsingh Director of Stewardship/ Planned Giving/Trust/ ASI
- Pastor Marvyn Smith Director of Youth, Chaplaincy and Public/Campus Ministries
- Pastor Ammaran Williams Ministerial Secretary/ Family Ministries Director
- Debra Felix Director of Human Resources/ Sabbath School
- Debra Henry Director of Women, Children and Adolescent Ministries/Possibility Ministries
- Royston Philbert Director of Communications
- Alexander Isaacs Health Ministries Director/ ADRA
- Linda Tobias Associate Ministerial Secretary
- Dr.Hilary Bowman Director of Education
- Jessica Cunningham Asst. Director of Education
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