Bryant Taylor, D.Min.
Bryant Taylor, D.Min.
Bryant Taylor, D.Min.
As the new Southeastern Conference administrative officers — Gregory Mack, president; Michael Owusu, executive secretary; and Robert Patterson, chief financial officer — began their tenure, it was pertinent for the new team to review the vision, mission, core values, and priorities of the Conference, as well as to share a high-level overview of the roles, expectations, and accountabilities that each team member would be responsible to fulfill. To this end, an orientation was held July 16-20, 2016, in St. Petersburg, Fla., under the theme, “Together Everyone Achieves More,” another way of expressing the necessity of “TEAM” work. Participants also included the newly elected executive committee members, departmental directors, and office personnel.
The orientation was guided by Paul Brantley, Ph.D., North American Division (NAD) general vice president for strategic planning and assessment, and his team: John Grys, pastoral development specialist, NAD Ministerial Department; Rohann Wellington, strategy and communication director at Greater New York Conference; and Lenore Brantley, Ed.D., Adventist University of Health Sciences psychology professor. The Conference administrators and executive committee members received invaluable, detailed, and state-of-the-art information vital to fulfilling their fiduciary responsibilities. The leaders were challenged to create a culture of excellence by reviewing the organization’s strategic plans, taking action to fulfill the plans, and reviewing the results to ensure progress.
The departmental directors were oriented and committed themselves to fulfilling their roles, duties, and responsibilities to the constituency of the Conference. Additionally, Brantley led discussions with the administrators and directors on TEAM visioning for the Southeastern Conference. The leaders reviewed strategies for recognizing and correcting for “mission drift,” and transforming Southeastern to a mission-driven conference of excellence.
Edith Fraser, Ph.D., former Oakwood University Social Work Department chair, guided the training of the office staff with relevant topics, including confidentiality, time management, positive attitude, personal/professional work-life balance, interpersonal communication, self-management, and how to build the best “YOU.”
Mack, along with his fellow administrators, outlined the expectations for accountability and stewardship of the departmental directors and office personnel. One-on-one consultations were held to review job descriptions and other expectations.
It is the intent of the new administration, with the help of God, to transform the Conference to become a mission-driven and Spirit-led institution that will be evidenced in the culture and ministry of churches, schools, and the Conference office. Southeastern seeks to be known as a conference of excellence, integrity, accountability, unity, and stewardship, that will receive God’s seal of approval.
This training was well received and appreciated as indicated by the overwhelming satisfactory remarks on the post-session surveys. The confidence of the Conference’s leadership team is well placed since God has already promised victory. News from Heaven indicates that God is “…able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think….,” Ephesians 3:20.
The new leadership team seeks the prayers of the wider Seventh-day Adventist Church community as it strives to reach every corner of the Southeastern Conference with the Advent message of hope and wholeness!
Southeastern | December 2016
Comments are closed.