Oregon Conference President Dan Linrud, after much prayer, initiated an executive committee meeting in which he offered his resignation today, Thursday, May 23, 2024. This action was accepted by the Oregon Conference Executive Committee.

The resignation is effective immediately and will initiate a four-month sabbatical for Elder Linrud. He is eligible to be considered for employment within the Oregon Conference, anywhere else in the NPUC, or abroad in the future.

The search for a new Oregon Conference president will begin immediately, a process that will be facilitated by NPUC President Elder John Freedman.

In the interim, Oregon Conference Vice President for Administration, Kara Johnsson, will serve as the ranking leader in the absence of a president.  All other conference personnel will maintain their current roles.

The Oregon Conference is grateful to Elder Linrud for his hard work and contributions to our ministry during his tenure here. Below is a message from Elder Linrud to our conference family:

“It has been a humble privilege, and a great joy to serve the Lord Jesus in the roles he called me to in Oregon Conference administration, as assistant to the president, and as president since 2016. I am grateful for the opportunity to keep the mission before our field that It’s All About Jesus. I step away from the role of president praying for God’s abundant blessings on our whole field as we look forward to Jesus’ return.

These past years as president have included celebrating God’s faithfulness in leading an impactful mission and vision for the conference.

I’ve had the pleasure of recruiting and building highly capable teams of very gifted persons, recognized across the NAD as being among the best.

It’s been a joy to be able to support women in ministry, hiring many and celebrating God’s fruits in their leadership, including the first female VP in Oregon Conference.

It was a blessing to lead in securing in the executive committee bylaws voting membership for Hispanic Ministries director and regional affairs director, and to add to our diversity in the field and office teams.

I’ve had the joy of focusing our team on providing quality encouragement and equipping for churches across our field to be their best for Jesus.

There have also been periods of deep difficulties the past four years.

Navigating the two years of the global pandemic was fraught with challenges, yet I’m incredibly proud of the way our team led through that season.

It was a privilege for me to stand in support of our pastors and members experiencing racial unrest, and while some people disagreed with that, a large multitude expressed deep appreciation for that, especially our younger generations who expressed new hope in church leadership.

And now we have faced the need for significant budget reductions impacting conference-wide operations and personnel. Many beloved colleagues from the field and office will no longer be with us. Again, I’m grateful for the way our team has done our best to navigate this difficult season with care.

In the highs and in the challenges, I have sensed God’s faithful presence with our team, our whole field, and with me personally. I will always be grateful for his abundant faithfulness.

In our current circumstances, I have never wavered in my confidence that God will see the conference through this very difficult season. I trust in his promises to walk with our conference.

Throughout the past several months, I have felt the strong responsibility to see the conference through the full process of budget reductions, operational and personnel reductions, redistricting and pastoral assignments. Difficult as it was, it was a privilege to meet with the pastors and members of each region to humbly listen to their concerns and answer questions to the best of my ability. We completed this two weeks ago. I also felt responsible to explore the Lord’s leading toward providing good candidates for the vacant VP for Finance position, which I believe he has.

I have earnestly prayed for God’s guidance throughout the entire process and seeking his leading for the future of the conference. And I am confident and at peace that this decision is best for the conference to be able to turn the page to the next chapter.”

Please join us in lifting up Elder Linrud and his family in prayer, and for wisdom and knowledge for those who are leading the search for our next leader.