The North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists (NAD) held the 2023 Leadership Summit at its headquarters in Columbia, Maryland, on November 12. The theme of the day-long event was “Developing Effective Teams.”

Debbie Rivera, associate pastor of the Elliott City Seventh-day Adventist Church in Maryland, and John Rengifo, Ministerial Association director for the Chesapeake Conference, served as cohosts for the summit. In establishing the essence of the event, Rengifo said, “The North American Division has as its mission to reach North America and the world with the Christ-centered, distinctive Seventh-day Adventist message of hope and wholeness, and part of that is … growing people's leadership [skills].” He and Rivera indicated that people from more than 80 nations, spanning practically every continent, registered for the hybrid program.

To extend the reference to the global scope of the summit, Paulo Macena, director for leadership for the NAD, shared that about 200 people attended in person, while about 700 attended virtually. More than 1,500 viewers have since watched the event on platforms such as Facebook and YouTube.

Though this year marks the inauguration of the leadership summit at the division level, at the start of the event Macena gave a brief history of its local beginnings in 2013, when he served as Youth Ministries director for the New Jersey Conference. Additionally, he stated, “Attending a leadership summit is crucial for leaders to learn, network, and gain inspiration. These events provide valuable insights, connections, and motivation to enhance leadership skills and drive positive change.”

Macena also highlighted the upcoming NAD Leadership Certification Program, set to launch in 2024. [More information is available at the program’s website.]

G. Alexander Bryant, NAD president, soon followed Macena with his presentation on “The Right Use of Power in Team Building.” He stressed the cruciality of following Christ’s example, citing Mark 10:42-45: the Lord’s countercultural template for servant-leadership. Bryant concisely articulated the backbone of his presentation: “The leader is to be the greatest servant on the team. … The leader doesn’t accumulate power but gives it away.”

Other morning presenters included Barry Black, chaplain of the United States Senate, who discussed “The Importance of Team Building,” and Novella Smith, pastor of the Beacon Light Seventh-day Adventist Church in Annapolis, Maryland, who discussed “Mobilizing Teams for Service — Cultivating a Service-Oriented Culture.”

Rivera and Rengifo welcomed the attendees back to the afternoon session after intermission. Moments later, Alayne Thorpe, dean of the College of Education & International Services at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan, spoke on “Common Causes and Strategies for Resolving Conflict.” A fundamental premise of her presentation was that “the study of history is the study of power struggles; it’s the study of conflict,” emphasizing the reality of the human condition in a sinful world.

Thorpe established that the bedrock of effective conflict resolution is adopting a spiritual perspective: seeing people the way God sees them. She incorporated many valuable biblical principles and also referenced a poignant quote from Martin Luther King Jr.: “Man must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love.”

Other afternoon presenters included Mike Speegle, senior pastor of the New Hope Sevneth-day Adventist Church in Fulton, Maryland, who discussed “Building Team Trust,” and Celeste Ryan Blyden, executive secretary of the Columbia Union, who discussed “How Effective Teams Deal with Crisis.”

The content that set the foundation for the summit, described by viewers as “substantive and relevant,” was enhanced by periods of message reflection and small group discussions, which offered an opportunity for networking and fostered a sense of fellowship for those in attendance. The event was also flavored by music woven throughout the program. Additionally, ice breakers kicked off both the morning and afternoon sessions; they comprised amusing yet thought-provoking questions that further promoted connectivity among the attendees.

To learn more about the event, including the vast list of presenters who shared their expertise, visit the 2023 NAD Leadership Summit website. Visit the division’s YouTube channel to view the sessions. Prospective attendees can circle November 17, 2024, on their calendars for the next summit.

— John Simon writes from Berrien Springs, Michigan.