Potomac Conference Midterm Report 2023

2023 Midterm Report

moving beyond the walls

Together g

The Potomac Conference is

...growing healthy, disciple-making churches

And we do so by moving beyond the walls…

2

Together g

Potomac Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists

A Message From the President The mission of the Potomac Conference Corporation is to ‘Grow healthy, disciple-making churches.’

Over the past two years, this administration has taken proactive steps to expand on this idea. We have worked to ensure our constituency is knowledgeable on how our mission is manifested in their lives and in the life of the church.

We want to ‘Grow healthy, disciple-making churches’ for the purpose of expanding the kingdom of God by Moving Beyond the Walls. It’s a clarion call to move away from being content to simply have services within our walls to moving beyond those walls providing service to the communities where we minister and reside.

In the book Ministry of Healing, p. 143-144 Ellen White says the following:

“Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, ‘Follow Me.” Mrs White continues by saying, “Accompanied by the power of prayer, the power of the love of God, and the power of persuasion, this work will not, cannot, be without fruit.”

Charles A. Tapp 2023 Midterm Report

3

4

Potomac Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists

The Office of the

PRESIDENT

“...Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.”

Zachariah 4:6

Vision

The Office of the President of the Potomac Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists is a pivotal leadership role responsible for guiding and overseeing the collective ministry and mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church within the territory of the Potomac Conference. The President is crucial to guiding and nurturing the spiritual growth and mission of the constituents within the Potomac Conference territory. This is accomplished through visionary leadership, committee chairmanship, and departmental supervision.

In his leadership role, the president serves as chairman of the following committees: Executive Committee, Administrative Committee, and the Board of Education. He also chairs the boards of Shenandoah Valley and Takoma Academy.

2023 Midterm Report

5

GOAL SET: Recasting the mission.

GOAL MET: “Moving Beyond the Walls.”

GOAL SET:

Develop a means to recognize Potomac churches and its constituents by demonstrating the value of their efforts in finding creative ways to “Move Beyond the Walls.”

GOAL MET: Establishment of the Salt and Light Award.

GOAL SET: Hire a Director of Media to help cast the vision and mission of the Potomac Conference.

GOAL MET:

In January 2022, recruited and employed a full-time Director of Media. As a result, over 70 videos have been produced, and training provided to assist local communication directors in honing their skills to design, produce and implement best practices in videography, social media, and graphic design. Social media engagement has increased nearly 600% since this implimentation.

GOAL SET: Bring to final conclusion the official location of the headquarters for the Potomac Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists.

GOAL MET:

Resolved and voted not to relocate the administrative offices from Staunton, Virginia. The decision allows the administration to devote energy and resources to our mission.

GOAL SET:

Open an office in the Maryland, Northern Virginia, and DC areas to better serve our members, who make up 80% of our constituents.

GOAL MET:

Secured the building that formerly housed the Adventist School of Evangelism and Discipleship. The structure, located in Camp Springs, Maryland, now serves as the satellite office for the Potomac Conference Corporation.

6 Potomac Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists

GOAL SET: Assist churches in building their media infrastructure.

GOAL MET: Qualifying churches received $5,000 each to build or rebuild their media department.

GOAL SET:

To create a venue to allow Potomac Pastors to minister to each other by providing insightful and inspiring discussions on relevant topics designed to benefit them in their professional and personal lives.

GOAL MET:

Initiated by pastors, to reach ministers both inside and outside conference, the Potomac Pastor’s Podcast is produced for and by Potomac Pastors. The podcast is available on most major podcasting outlets.

GOAL SET:

Create an avenue to connect with the Staunton, Virginia community to Move Beyond the Walls of the office building.

GOAL MET:

Establishment of the We Care Committee to partner with local organizations and stakeholders in the Staunton, Waynesboro, and Augusta County areas in an effort to better understand and meet their needs. Under this vision, in 2021, 400 Thanksgiving pies were distributed throughout the local community as a goodwill gesture. In 2022, renovation was completed on a four-bedroom, three-bathroom safe house for women who are fleeing domestic violence and reclaiming their independence.

Left to right, Top Row: Richard Castillo (Director of Media), Sherilyn O’Ffill (Associate for Youth Ministry), Josant Barrientos (Youth Director), Charles Tapp (President), Ray Queen (Director, Camp Blue Ridge), Julie Minnick (Associate Director, Camp Blue Ridge), Left to right, Bottom Row: Nancy Crickenberger (Administrative Assistant), Debra Anderson (Communications Director, Special Assistant to the President), Maureen Tapp (Director for Ministerial Spouses), Denise Hevener (Executive Administrative Assistant to the President & VP for Administration)

2023 Midterm Report

7

GOAL SET: To share the Potomac Conference story with members of the local community and Union wide organizations.

GOAL MET:

Since 2021, more than 40 Potomac People stories have been published in the Columbia Union Visitor. Distributed approximately 36 editions of the Leader2Leader newsletter to constituents, stake holders, interested parties and employees.

GOAL SET: Create a written mid-quinquennial report as required by the Potomac Conference by-laws.

GOAL MET:

Produced and distributed to the constituents this mid-term report meant to inform and inspire its readers as we move forward in mission together.

GOAL SET: To create a conference wide community of support and safety for ministerial spouses and their families.

GOAL MET:

The ministerial spouse’s department has been revitalized to serve as the outlet for connecting and supporting ministry spouses located within the Potomac Conference territory. The spouses gathered in April 2023, under the theme, Firmly Rooted…Growing Together, to attend a conference wide spousal retreat. More than 100 spouses are divided into eleven SEED groups. SEED is a guiding acronym to Support, Encourage, and Empower each other as they Demonstrate God’s love to their families, congregants, and the broader community.

8

Potomac Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists

GOAL SET:

To encourage and equip the children, teens, youth, and young adults of the Potomac Conference through: Children’s Ministry, Adventurers, Pathfinders, Youth, Master Guides, Young Adults, and Public Campus Ministries.

Visual Graphic Stand Document Size: 38” x 97” (Includes Bleeds) @ 100 DPI recommended

GOAL MET:

Since 2021, a series of annual, quarterly, and monthly events have been held focusing on empowering the leaders of local churches to develop their leadership skills. Certificates were earned for Children’s ministry, Adventurers, Pathfinders & Youth Leadership, Sabbath School, Young Adults, Communication, and Growing Young.

Applicable Model #: VG83

POTOMAC 1” Bleed

Finished Size: 36” x 95”

GOAL MET:

The Potomac Conference has 71 Pathfinder Clubs, an increase of 20 in the past three years. They took the honor of having the largest representation with 20 clubs representing, and 509 members participating at the Columbia Union Camporee in August 2022.

Pathfinders File Specs: • CMYK • Convert all fonts to outlines • • Provide any critical PMS colors • 1” Bleed on each of 4 sides • Extend background to full bleed

Bleed Area Finished Size Safety Area

GOAL MET:

Potomac celebrated the 100th Anniversary of the Master Guide Ministry and launched the Master Guide Club Ministry in the local churches. There are more than 160 Master Guide candidates working on their certification.

Jose Vazquez

10 Potomac Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists

Vice President for

ADMINISTRATION “Let all things be done decently and in order” 1 Corinthians 14:40

Order

The Office of the Vice President for Administration works in collaboration with and in support of the Office of the President, to uphold the mission, vision, and values of the Potomac Conference. The main duties of the office are to gather and maintain administrative documents, reports, statistics, and data for the organization. Additionally, the vice-president for administration oversees and provides leadership to the following departments: Secretariat, Human Resources, Conference Clerk, Document Management Systems, IT, Prison Ministries, Community Services and Religious Liberty.

Over the past few years, in what has become a collaborative effort between several departments, much emphasis has been placed on all things digital as a means of updating computer systems.

2023 Midterm Report

11

SECRETARIAT

GOAL SET:

GOAL SET:

GOAL MET:

GOAL MET:

To maintain membership records, minutes of the conference constituency meetings and proceedings from the executive committee meetings.

To convert paper documents into an electronic format for safe and secure storage and data mining.

Regularly updates membership data, successfully helped organize Potomac’s virtual The implementation of Laserfiche - a digitized system that transfers paper documents constituency meeting in 2021, serves as the official recorder of the conference execu- into an electronic format allowing for improved security of essential records, simplified access and retrieval to all documents, and full recovery of the documents in the event tive meetings. of a disaster.

12 Potomac Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists

CONFERENCE CLERK GOAL SET:

To train and provide new clerks with the tools to successfully perform their duties.

GOAL MET:

In the last three years, 51 clerks have completed their training.

GOAL SET:

To maintain accurate records of church growth.

GOAL MET:

As of 2022, a net growth of 2.53% has been reported within a two year period of time.

HUMAN RESOURCES GOAL SET:

To upgrade the department’s software system to allow for a more feasible employee servicing experience.

GOAL SET:

To maintain accurate records of new church plants, companies, and newly organized churches.

GOAL MET:

Since 2020, the number of church plants has grown by 14, with five companies added, and five new churches recorded.

GOAL MET:

Purchased and installed the new software program BambooHR, an overall time-saving system that affords all employees, including new hires, a seamless process for completing and retrieving required documents.

GOAL SET:

To achieve 100% digitization of the department.

GOAL MET:

The department became the first in the Columbia Union to achieve this goal.

Whether remote or on-site, all employees now have direct access to critical documents in half the usual time.

GOAL SET:

To partner with the new Document Management Systems department to create a more effective and efficient employee form repository.

GOAL MET:

What once entailed signing off and completing close to two dozen forms can now be fully accomplished online – including full healthcare benefits enrollment, service records, benefits, I-9’s and many other forms, in collaboration with the Document Management Systems department.

Left to right: Vicky Fuentes (Conference Clerk and Hispanic Ministries Administrative Assistant), Laura Soto (HR Admin Assistant), Fred Warfield (HR Director), Jose Vazquez (VP for Administration), Tiffany Doss (Director for Document Management Systems), Claudya Barrientos (Conference Clerk), Denise Hevener (Executive Administrative Assistant to the President and VP for Administration), Adil Bach (IT Professional) 2023 Midterm Report

13

DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT GOAL SET:

To assist conference departments in moving into a paperless and more eco-friendly business environment by creating and maintaining online forms that are saved directly into a secure digital repository.

GOAL MET:

Adoption of Laserfiche, an enterprise content management service endorsed by the North American Division. Laserfiche is the leading global provider of intelligent content management and business process automation.

IT DEPARTMENT GOAL SET:

To provide technical support to all departments for meetings and conferences.

GOAL MET:

Assisted in the planning and execution of the Virtual Constituency meeting in 2021.

GOAL SET:

To provide productivity support for employees.

GOAL MET:

Acquired Office 365 to ensure a more efficient work productivity level.

GOAL SET:

To maintain the highest level of security for all records.

GOAL MET:

Updated the organization’s servers to protect system data information.

RELIGIOUS LIBERTY GOAL SET:

To continue advocacy for the rights of all people to worship freely.

GOAL MET:

All reported religious oppression cases within the Potomac conference are referred to the Columbia Union legal counsel for follow-up.

14

Potomac Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists

PRISON MINISTRIES GOAL SET:

To serve families of the incarcerated.

GOAL MET:

Participated in the Angel Tree Program, providing Christmas gifts to the children of the inmates.

GOAL MET:

Implemented a video conferencing program held at local churches, allowing live and direct communication between inmates and their families.

GOAL SET:

To share the gospel with the incarcerated.

GOAL MET:

Distribution of Bibles and other literature, prison visitation and letter writing,

GOAL SET:

To provide volunteer training.

GOAL MET:

Hosted a local Prison Ministry Convention in 2022 to provide information and training to volunteers.

ADVENTIST COMMUNITY SERVICES GOAL SET:

To find new ways of reaching the community by providing relief assistance.

GOAL MET:

Host food pantries for hundreds of families in their local communities, in churches throughout the Potomac Conference.

GOAL MET:

The Greater Washington Adventist Community Center, Danville Adventist Community Center, and the Peninsula Spanish Adventist Community Center serve as food distribution centers and offer other needed support to members in their local communities.

GOAL SET:

To provide monetary support to the operating centers.

GOAL MET:

Funds allocated from the North American Division were distributed to the centers to supplement their operational programs.

Karen Senecal 16 Potomac Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists

Vice President for

FINANCE

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matthew 6:19-21

Faithful

The Treasury Department serves the Potomac Conference Corporation membership through consistent and accurate accounting and financial management of all conference assets. The Treasury Department supports the Mission to “Grow Healthy, Disciple Making Churches” by assuring wise management of the tithes and offerings so generously given by our faithful members. The Treasury Department is responsible for processing the payroll for all schools and churches, which constitutes over 700 employees. In addition, the Treasury Department assures that all properties (churches and schools) are adequately insured against loss. All entities that make up the Potomac Conference Corporation are audited at least once every two years, depending on their respective size and/or need.

2023 Midterm Report

17

18

Potomac Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists

$6 . 5 0 $1 . 7 5

$9 . 0 0

$9 . 3 0

$1 2 . 0 0

$1 6 . 0 0

$2 0 . 2 5

$2 5 . 2 0 HOW THE TITHE DOLLAR IS SPENT

GOAL SET:

Implement new accounting software to increase productivity in the office and provide more timely and accurate information to local entities.

GOAL MET:

Installation of the new accounting software was completed in April 2023.

GOAL SET:

Perform a financial audit of each church and school at least once every two years.

GOAL MET:

2022: 72% 2021: 61% (A rebuilding year as the auditor retired in mid-year) 2020: 69%

GOAL SET:

Maintain financial working capital of the conference at or near mission optimizing levels (140%).

GOAL MET:

Working capital for 2021 and 2022 was above 140%.

GOAL SET:

Develop recruiting networks and an internship program to facilitate the hiring of qualified accounting personnel.

GOAL MET:

Recruited and hired a graduate of Southern University to serve as an accountant in May 2021, and successfully recruited qualified interns in 2022 and 2023.

Left to Right: Carlene Vigneron (Associate Treasurer), Monica Esperante (Assistant Treasurer), JC Brown (Assistant Treasurer), Melissa Leddy (Director for LivingWell), Bob Gainer (Director of Auditing), Karen Senecal (VP for Finance), Daryl Hevener (Associate Treasurer), Dale Borchers (Office Assistant), Eliezer Fajardo (Director for Maintenance & Facilities), Lauren Walker (Executive Administrative Assistant), Betsabe Cuevas (Associate Treasurer) 2023 Midterm Report

19

$40,000,000

$39,000,000

$38,000,000

Total Tithe: $36,635,926 $ Change from previous year: $1,212,253 % Change from previous year: 3.4%

$37,000,000

$36,000,000

Total Tithe: $35,423,673 $ Change from previous year: $315,425 % Change from previous year: 0.9% Total Tithe: $35,108,248 $ Change from previous year: $940,760 % Change from previous year: 2.8%

$35,000,000 2016 20

Potomac Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists

2017

2018

8

Total Tithe: $39,802,221 $ Change from previous year: $3,761,388 % Change from previous year: 10.4%

Total Tithe: $36,421,570 $ Change from previous year: ($214,356) % Change from previous year: -0.6%

Total Tithe: $36,040,833 $ Change from previous year: ($380,737) % Change from previous year: -1.0%

2019

2020

2021 2023 Midterm Report

21

Left to Right: Gerson Bonilla (Assistant Director for Hispanic Ministries), John Nixon (Associate for Pastoral Ministries, DMV), Steve Leddy (Associate for Evangelism & Church Planting), Rick Labate (Vice President for Pastoral Ministries), Rafael Soto (Director for Hispanic Ministries), Paul Graham (Assistant to VP for Pastoral Ministries for Revitalization), Heather Crews (Associate for Pastoral Ministries, Virginia) 22

Potomac Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists

Vice President for

PASTORAL MINISTRIES

Pastors, called by God, “prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up” (Ephesians 4:12­-13 NIV

Vicky Fuentes

Conference Clerk and Hispanic Ministries Administrative Assistant

Candy Seibert

Administrative Assistant

Service The Potomac Conference Corporation Pastoral Ministries Department provides resources to help our pastors and churches grow by emphasizing their mission, vision, and values. Everything rises and falls with leadership. The Potomac Conference Corporation seeks to create an environment where our pastors have the opportunity to gain experience as servant leaders, both spiritually and professionally.

The pastor trains and equips his members to faithfully use their spiritual gifts to minister and make disciples within their communities.

2023 Midterm Report

23

GOAL SET:

Provide leadership training for all full-time pastors.

GOALS MET:

Conducted training in Adaptive Leadership Skills to arm pastors with new ideas for leading differently and, thus, more effectively. Held twice yearly meetings in personal and professional support and development of pastors.

GOAL SET:

Continue the growth of healthy, disciple-making churches.

GOAL MET:

Maintained a strong focus on growth throughout the conference, resulting in an increase in the number of churches, companies, and mission groups from 182 to 193.

24 Potomac Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists

GOAL SET:

To make a determined effort to move Beyond the Walls and become more actively engaged with the surrounding communities.

GOAL BEING MET:

Breaking down walls based on prejudice, personal preferences, and politics while engaged in church ministry and church growth.

GOAL SET:

Planting healthy churches.

GOAL MET:

In keeping with the Spirit of Prophecy’s mandate to plant healthy churches, the ACTS Church Planting Support System (Assessment, Coaching, Training, Support), designed to offer rigorous, advanced training to pastors and lay leaders, was introduced. As of March 2023, fifty leaders have participated in the training. There was also a SEEDS Training Program by area churches in the Tidewater, Virginia region. As a result of these programs, there have been several new church plants. One is the DC campus of the Beltsville Church Group (MD) and the other is the lay-led Spanish company birthed by the New Market Church (VA).

GOAL SET: Evangelism, the heartbeat of God’s church.

GOAL MET:

The success in the spreading of the gospel during the height of the pandemic and since, is nothing short of a miracle performed by an “in spite of” God. The year 2020 ended with a boost in membership of 611 souls. Since then, there has been a rise in evangelistic efforts producing praiseworthy results. In 2022, there was a two-year increase in growth of over 46% which we hope to surpass exponentially by the end of 2025.

2023 Midterm Report

25

HISPANIC MINISTRIES

26

Potomac Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists

First Row, Left to Right: Prs. Carlo Duran (Alexandria District). Angel Barrios (Mount Rainier District), Manuel Melendez (Hyattsville District), Obed Rosette (Takoma Park District), Rafael Soto (Director of Hispanic Ministries), Ernesto (Henry) Schimpf (Falls Church District), Elvio Soto (Agape District), Joel Gonzalez (Virginia Beach district), Federico Revollo (Central DC District), Second Row, Left to Right: Prs. Cristian Barrera (Richmond District), Jose Menendez (Metro DC District), Marco Larumbe (Annandale District), Juan Moreno (Oxon Hill District), Omar Rodriguez (Dale City District), Roberto Moran (Manassas District), Gerson Bonilla (Assistant Director for Hispanic Ministries), Nelson Quijano (Silver Spring District), Willy Benzaquen (Capital District), Degly España (Herndon District), Marco Vigil (Fredericksburg District), Alejandro Sarria (Harrisonburg District), Olives Villamizar (Charlottesville District), Emilio Bonet (Bealton District),

GOAL SET:

Through leadership training geared towards our pastors and their families, it is the prayer that all 57 churches, 12 companies and nine mission groups will be equipped to share the gospel message in their local communities.

GOAL MET:

Events held to motivate and train members for the mission included the Hispanic Camp Meeting with a combined attendance of close to 7,000 in 2022 and 2023. Youth oriented programs such as the 2023 Youth Caravan led to the establishment of the first School of Discipleship to be conducted in English. Over the past several years, the Hispanic women have also been engaged in training programs to develop ministry leaders. More than 1,000 came together in 2022 for a Women’s Retreat held in Hampton, Virginia.

It is the ministerial team’s hope that in carrying out our duties within our churches and communities, we will indeed be answering the Master’s call to go in His name and make healthy disciples of all men. We do this with the assurance that the One who goes with us is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or think, according to the power with which He enables us. It is to Him that all glory belongs for what He will continue to perform in and through our surrendered lives, throughout all generations until He comes.

2023 Midterm Report

27

Left to Right: Gabriel Madrid (Associate Director for Northern District), Janet Armstrong (Associate Director for Southern District), Steve Laing (VP for Education), Juwel Watson (Associate Director for Special Education), Carla Simmons (Administrative Assistant)

28

Potomac Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists

Vice President for

EDUCATION

No work ever undertaken by man requires greater care and skill than the proper training and education of youth and children.

Fundamentals of Christian Education 57.1

Empower With the pandemic came the forced awareness that further strides must be made to ensure that the needs of our parents, our educators, and most importantly, our students, were being fully met. Of course, none of this could be accomplished without the support of our administration and the diligence of the entire education team.

2023 Midterm Report

29

GOALS SET:

In an effort to identify and meet the needs, it was determined to focus largely on three specific areas; mental, spiritual, and social wellbeing of Potomac’s students. These determinations resulted in concentrating on three goals, two of which have been successfully implemented. Progress toward the final goal is still in progress.

GOAL MET:

The implementation of a proven mental health program titled, Sources of Strength. The program is designed to provide positive support to children by trained staff and student peers.

For the students with more challenging issues, a professional counselor with expertise in the field was made available. The pilot program was established under the auspices of Shenandoah Valley Academy and led by the principal and two staff members. What was intended as a one semester program has been extended because of the significant increase for its need among students on various campuses.

GOAL MET:

The successful hiring of an Associate Director for Special Education. This office facilitates the implimentation of different styles of teaching to meet the needs of students who require specialized learning techniques. This is an opportunity to increase the student population, and to introduce Jesus Christ to those outside our walls.

GOAL YET TO BE MET:

We are working to properly address nomenclature appropriate for our school’s handbooks relative to sexual orientation and its subsequent conduct among our students, faculty, and staff members. To address this issue, a subcommittee of the Board of Education is working to frame suitable language that clearly defines the values and standards of our Christian beliefs pertaining to the sexual orientation and expected behavior of the students without causing offense. The committee continues its work on a final draft in conjunction with legal consultation to achieve this goal.

It is our prayer that within the walls and down each hall of our 16 schools and every early childhood center, a desire will be awakened in each student to reach God’s ideal of preparation for service to humanity, culminating in an education down celestial halls; an education that will continue on throughout eternity.

2023 Midterm Report

31

32

Potomac Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventists

GOAL SET:

Develop a unique avenue to share the Gospel with LivingWell’s non-Adventist clientele.

GOAL STILL TO BE MET:

In 2022, it was voted for a new church plant and pastor to be located at LivingWell in an effort to serve the spiritual needs of customers and staff.

GOAL SET:

To create a business incubator to develop the skills of young Adventists to become future management professionals and entrepreneurs.

Director Melissa Leddy

GOAL MET:

Multiple mentees have completed their training in retail management, leadership, and customer service at our location.

2023 Midterm Report

33

GOAL SET:

Reopen and revive a robust Family Camp following a 2 year closing due to COVID-19 and other required operational repairs.

GOAL MET:

The summer of 2023 was the second full season of operating since 2020, with 139 family campers, of which 60% were non-Adventist or Adventist with no home church and had not attended in many years.

GOAL SET:

Open a new state-of-the-art dining facility.

GOAL MET:

May 2023, Grand Opening held for the new $2.1 million cafeteria.

GOAL SET:

Renovate and modernize the West Village Cabins for family use.

GOAL MET:

Nine two-bedroom cabins have been updated, each with heating and air-conditioning units, new lighting, a kitchenette with a mini fridge, microwave and dining and living areas.

Julie Minnick (Associate Director, Camp Blue Ridge), Ray Queen (Director, Camp Blue Ridge) 2023 Midterm Report

35