Ministerial Association

The ministerial department’s primary mission is to enhance the ministry of pastors in the Pacific Union by coordinating, equipping, supporting, and empowering local conference ministerial directors in their professional and personal lives as they, in turn, care for the pastors in their individual conferences.

Each minister of the gospel can recount that moment when the divine invitation came to her or him with unequivocal clarity. The Pacific Union Conference is blessed to have over 700 clergy serving in districts, solo pastorates, or as part of a multi-staff congregation. In addition, we are blessed by the ministry of chaplains across our territory who serve the Lord in hospitals, prisons, and other locations.

As a support for the pastoral team of the union and the ministerial secretaries of the conferences, it is our aim to serve in an educational, inspirational, and consultative capacity for pastors, churches, chaplains, and pastoral families. Unionwide events and initiatives, coordinated with the local conference ministerial departments, are designed to contribute to this work.

Annual senior theology interviews connect our conference leaders with the outstanding graduating theology majors from the H.M.S. Divinity School of La Sierra University and the department of theology of Pacific Union College. The goal is to match these young ministerial graduates with local church job opportunities. We are always thankful for the support of local conferences in affirming the call of these men and women

Ellen G. White declared, “The greatest work, the noblest effort, in which men can engage, is to point sinners to the Lamb of God. True ministers are co-laborers with the Lord in the accomplishment of His purposes” (Gospel Workers, p. 18).