On July 6, 2025, during the 62nd General Conference (GC) Session in St. Louis, Missouri, delegates elected Karen J. Porter as an associate secretary of the Seventh-day Adventist Church for the 2025–2030 quinquennium.

Porter has served in this role since July 2014. She is the liaison officer to the Euro-Asia Division and the Ukrainian Union Conference. She also serves as co-director of International Personnel Resources and Services (IPRS), and as liaison for the Deferred Mission Appointment (DMA) program, which supports professionals in long-term cross-cultural service.

Porter holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park, Maryland. Her international service includes assignments in Cyprus, Russia, Sri Lanka, and the United States, equipping her with deep cross-cultural and organizational insight.

She is known for her commitment to supporting mission personnel and strengthening the global workforce of the church through efficient, compassionate administrative systems.

The election is part of the broader decision-making process of the GC Session, where global delegates gather every five years for worship, prayer, and organizational leadership decisions.

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