The Oregon Conference Executive Committee met in Gladstone on Thursday, April 17 to receive reports and conduct the regular business of the church. After a time of devotion and prayer, the business commenced.  

President’s Report

Dr. McVay reported on a variety of activities and focal points of administration.

• Columbia Adventist Academy students were recently on the Gladstone Park grounds to assemble the benches that will fill the Gladstone Pavilion. In just over 3 hours of work, students worked with conference directors and administrators to bolt together the seating for over 1500 people.
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• More than 200 pastors and local leaders participated in one of two Elders Trainings, which took place in both Gladstone and Roseburg. Conference leaders and pastors taught practical spiritual and leadership skills throughout the full-day event.
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• The conference administrative team is focused on stabilizing conference work through close attention to the budget. In addition, leaders are focused on connecting with and listening to pastors and members in Oregon. As the strategic plan develops, a cornerstone is valuing and prioritizing the well-being of pastors and congregations.
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• Camp meeting fundraising is almost complete, with $385,000 of the $390,000 goal already in hand. Thanks to the faithfulness of donors, we can all look forward to the blessings of Gladstone Camp Meeting, happening July 22-26.

Finance Report

Vice President for Finance Eric Davis, shared a report on how the 2024 calendar year concluded financially for the conference.  

• The unaudited financial statement showed a loss of $2.2 million for the year. This is more than the planned-for $1.1 million loss, but also better than the projections that leaders shared at the November town halls.  
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• In 2025, tithe remains steady and close to the budget plan. This is encouraging and something for which we can all be grateful.
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• Some great news: Currently, the Oregon Conference owes $0 on the revolving fund cash flow loan that was required for operations in 2024. While Treasury projects that more borrowing on the credit line will be necessary as we go through the summer months, it is an unexpected blessing to have a $0 balance at this point in the year.

Education Report

The Oregon Conference Education Department was pleased to report a notably high retention rate among its dedicated teaching staff for the 2025-2026 school year. This stability has reduced the number of open positions across our schools, allowing for greater consistency in classrooms and the continuation of quality Adventist education for our students.

“We’re incredibly thankful for the commitment of our educators who continue to pour their hearts into our schools year after year,” said Ron Jacaban, vice president for education. “Their faith-driven leadership and mentorship are essential to our mission of nurturing students for both service and eternity.”

While this high retention is a blessing, the conference also acknowledges a pressing challenge facing Adventist education locally and nationwide. A significant portion of our teaching workforce is approaching retirement, and the number of graduating Adventist teachers entering the profession is not keeping pace.

“Our schools continue to grow and thrive, but we are experiencing a critical need for passionate, qualified Adventist teachers to step into these roles,” Jacaban added. “Now more than ever, we need individuals who feel called to ministry through education.”

Please prayerfully consider careers in Adventist education and support young people pursuing teaching degrees at Adventist universities and colleges. Together, we can ensure the future of Adventist education remains strong.

If you’re interested in learning more about teaching opportunities within the Oregon Conference and the North American Division visit jobs.adventisteducation.org

New Member Elected to Executive Committee

In addition to receiving reports, the executive committee elected a new committee member to replace Pastor Brian Simmons, who resigned the committee when he took a call to the Central California Conference to serve at Camp Wawona. In his place, the executive committee elected Pastor Kessia Reyne Bennett, lead pastor of the Pleasant Valley Adventist Church to complete the term of committee service.