Delegates Elect First
Female Vice President

BY SANDRA BLACKMER, NEWS EDITOR, ADVENTIST REVIEW

his is one of those historic events that you might want to tell your children and grandchildren about-that you were there when it was voted," said Delbert Baker, secretary of the General Conference session's Nominating Committee.

As the stadium quieted, Baker placed in nomination the name of Dr. Ella Simmons as the first female vice president of the General Conference in the church's 142-year history.

"I've been asked for a long time in many settings, 'Is there no room in the most senior level of leadership of our church for the gifted, well-qualified, professionally talented women of our church?' " world church president Jan Paulsen told the delegates after Simmons' nomination was announced. Paulsen explained that even though many women in the church are "both gifted of the spirit and professionally very qualified," they have been able to serve in leadership positions only in a limited sense because "many of the leadership positions of the church are presupposed as [requiring] ordination to the ministry."

"We need to be able to match a job assignment that is precisely defined with the professional skills of the person who comes with the skills, experience, and talent to do this," Paulsen added. "In Dr. Ella Simmons we have such a person. I feel very good about the fact that we will have a woman to assist us in that level of leadership."

When called to vote on the historic nomination, the session delegates voted unanimously to elect Simmons as a vice president.

"This is truly a historic moment for our church," Dr. Simmons said after being introduced to the delegates. "I believe I hear bells tolling in the courts of heaven announcing a transition in Christ for God's church today. I am very mindful of the fact, however, that those bells toll not for Ella Simmons but for His church. I simply pray and ask you to pray for me that I will never be caught up in the moment, that I will never be caught up in the position, that I will never see self or seek for self but will be used as a humble vessel for Christ and Christ alone. Thank you for your trust."

Simmons holds a doctorate in education from the University of Louisville and comes to her new role with a deep background in both church and public administration.

She served as provost and vice president for Academic Administration at La Sierra University in Riverside, California, from 2000 to 2004, and before that was vice president for academic affairs at Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama. She has also worked as associate dean of the University of Louisville School of Education in Kentucky, and chair of the Department of Education of the College of Applied Sciences at Kentucky State University.

Dr. Simmons has served the Adventist Church as a member of the Executive Committee of the General Conference, the NAD Children's Curriculum Committee, and the Review and Herald Publishing Association Board of Directors.

Simmons is married to Nord Simmons, a retired high school teacher. The Simmonses have two adult sons, Darryl and Christopher, both of whom are educators, one in public special education and the other in corporate training, and two grandchildren.

A Personal Glimpse of the New Vice President In what ways do you see your new role affecting the almost two thirds of Adventist Church membership that is female? I hope it will help women to see their own potential for service, and that my election will encourage them not to let barriers hinder them from fulfilling the roles to which the Holy Spirit has called them. I would tell women to be open to the Lord's calling. Don't necessarily aspire to a particular job, or position, or title-just be prepared to serve when the Holy Spirit calls. Your background is deep in Adventist education. What would you say to parents about the cost of higher education and whether Adventist institutions are the place their children should be? I know that the cost of Adventist education is high, but I firmly believe in its importance. I would like all parents to embrace Christian education and encourage their children to attend our schools. I don't have all the answers, but we as a church body also have a responsibility to make sure that every one of our children, and especially the children of new members, has an opportunity to attend Adventist schools. I have always viewed our education work as a wing of evangelism, and I will seek to work closely with my colleagues to draw on that notion as we endeavor to enhance opportunities in Christian education. Many individuals point to mentors who have helped to bring them to the roles and positions in which they serve. Whom would you name as your mentors? My great-grandmother and my mother, who frequently told me I could do anything the Lord called me to do. Because of their encouragement and training, even though I am not ignorant of danger, I am not fearful of doing what the Lord has called me to do. One of the most important lessons I learned from my great-grandmother is the lesson of God's unconditional love for me. Because of her I know what unconditional loves feels like. I also credit my second-grade teacher, Rosa Wise, as well as many male role models I've had in my life. How does your family feel about your election to this office? My husband is very supportive, and he is sensitive to the issues and the church's needs. He is a career educator and has made one of his lifelong goals the promotion of others. My children are also supportive. They understand this is what I do.

Nine Vice Presidents Elected

BY ADVENTIST REVIEW STAFF

Delegates underscored their interest in continuity by returning six incumbent general vice presidents of the church to their positions for another five-year term. Three new vice presidents were also elected to office, including Dr. Ella Simmons, the church's first female vice president.

Reelected were Michael L. Ryan, who has served since 2003; Lowell C. Cooper (1998); Eugene Hsu (2000); Gerald D. Karst (2000); Armando Miranda (2000); and Ted N. C. Wilson (2000).

Harold Baptiste, who has served as a general vice president since 2002 and was previously secretary of the North American Division (1990-2002), announced his retirement.

Elected as new vice presidents were Pardon Kandanga Mwansa, who has been president of the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division since 2003. Mwansa previously worked as an associate director of the General Conference Stewardship Department from 1995-2003.

Well-known evangelist Mark Finley was also elected a general vice president with special responsibilities for global evangelism. Finley has worked for the last year as a field secretary for the church and was previously director/speaker of It Is Written.

General vice presidents of the Seventh-day Adventist Church serve at the direction of the church's world president and assist with the general administrative work of the denomination. They carry many responsibilities, which include serving as chairs of major institutional boards, coordinating special initiatives, and heading up task forces.