ARTICLE UPDATED 7/2/24
As most of you realize, one of the most significant aspects of resolving the Conference's financial challenges has been working through restructuring our pastoral workforce. It’s "significant" because of the financial savings that will come to the Oregon Conference, but also because we understand the significant human impact on those affected. Please know that none of the difficult redistricting decisions were made lightly, but through a thoughtful and prayerful process. Now that the process is complete, we want to share background about how these decisions were made.
One core goal in the restructuring was to be as fair as possible to all congregations. That meant developing a statistical framework that considered tithe, attendance and overall membership. To the fullest extent possible, we aimed to equalize workload of pastors and financial sustainability. In addition, we’ve been able to shift funding for six full-time positions from the Gladstone office to the pastoral workforce to help increase pastoral coverage to our churches.
In the process, we’re pursuing some new-to-us ways of providing pastoral support to smaller churches.
Generations ago, Seventh-day Adventists in our country utilized “circuit-riding preachers” that would travel from town to town, serving many churches. For this time, we’ve resurrected that idea. Pastor Dan George will serve six smaller congregations as their traveling preacher. In the coming months, we’ll check in regularly and document the journey to refine plans for how we can support other small congregations that otherwise may not be able to receive an assigned pastor.
In another place, we’re pursuing how two pastors can work together as a team in a larger multi-church district. Pastors Harold Altamirano and Sam Moreno will co-pastor the new Echo/Remix/Revive/Gather & Scatter district that includes a ministry dedicated to Salem-area Hispanic youth. Together, they’ll support each other and these congregations in effective pastoral ministry.
Another approach we are taking asks the question: Can a well-functioning team of pastors in a large church be an additional blessing to surrounding smaller churches? We’ll be working with Pastor Seth Pierce and the Sunnyside pastoral team to find out. Together, they will serve Sunnyside as well as two smaller churches, Healing Hope and The Village.
In every situation, we’ve sought to be fair to all congregations and care for each community, within our obvious financial constraints. Our hopeful prayer is that these approaches will help us identify effective ways to provide pastoral support to our conference churches and help keep the work of Adventism strong for generations to come.
As our leadership team continues to move forward and make the additional difficult decisions necessary to restore our Conference to sound financial footing, we ask for your support. By God’s grace, let’s pull together to keep the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church moving forward.
If you have any questions about the redistricting process, please direct them to Assistant to the President, Jonathan Russell.
May God continue to richly bless each of you – and all of us, as the Oregon Conference family.
Below is a full list of our pastors and the districts they are now connected to. You will notice some blank slots. Those areas that are still being confirmed, with announcements on their leadership coming soon. A note of N/C in the “Effective Date” column shows no change in that district’s current structure.
