UPDATE September 12, 2022: The Oregon Conference Nominating Committee reconvened on Sunday, September 11, 2022 to consider nominees for Executive Secretary/VP for Administration after a previous nominee declined the nomination. Elder Kara Johnsson, current Oasis Adventist Church (Vancouver, Wash.) pastor, was recommended to the upcoming constituency. Johnsson is the first woman nominated to this position in Oregon. See below for more information.
On Sunday, August 28, 2022 the Oregon Conference Nominating Committee met to recommend officers to the upcoming constituency meeting on September 18, 2022. The meeting was chaired by North Pacific Union Conference President John Freedman.
The nominating committee report includes the following slate of officers to be presented at the constituency meeting:
Elder Dan Linrud has been Oregon Conference president since 2017. Before that, he served as Assistant to the President, focusing on pastoral placement. Before Oregon, Elder Linrud served as Executive Secretary in the Ontario Conference (Canada).
Elder Kara Johnsson is recommended to join the executive team. She has been a pastor in the Oregon Conference since 2016, including as pastor at Oasis Church and Executive Pastor at Sunnyside Church in Portland. Before that, she served in various roles such as pastor, chaplain, and high school teacher in her native Australia. She is the first woman nominated for the role of Executive Secretary in Oregon Conference history.
Brent Plubell has served as Treasurer/VP for Finance here in Oregon since 2019. He previously served as Undertreasurer in the Oregon Conference and has been a part of our treasury team since 2013.
Brandon O'Neal was recently selected as VP for Education by the executive committee and joint nominating committee. Now the nominating committee recommends him for a full five-year term in the role. Mr. O'Neal has vast experience as a teacher and administrator both in Oregon and in his home state of Texas.
Elder David Schwinghammer has spent the last four years in Oregon as Executive Secretary. Before that he filled the same role in Ontario Conference. Elder Schwinghammer also has experience as a pastor and department ministry leader.
The Nominating Committee is made up of 21 individuals including pastors, teachers, and volunteer church representatives. They were appointed to the task by the Oregon Conference Organization Committee in its meeting on August 14.
The 59th Constituency Session of the Oregon Conference will take place on Sunday, September 18, 2022 at Portland Adventist Academy in Portland, Oregon. The meeting is open to the public and will be livestreamed on Facebook, Youtube, and on our website, OregonAdventist.org. You can find more information about the constituency session at OregonAdventist.org/constituency.
