In a historic vote today Seventh-day Adventists elected a woman as general vice president of the world church. Dr. Ella Louise Smith Simmons, an African American, is the first woman to fill this position. Until recently she served as provost/vice president at La Sierra University, in California. Before that she was vice president of academic affairs at Oakwood College in Alabama. Both schools are operated by the Adventist Church. Simmons has a doctorate in education from the University of Louisville.

Her election came on the heels of a presentation by newly re-elected church President Jan Paulsen on characteristics essential to Adventist leadership where he fielded questions from members of the delegation, one of which concerned the promotion of women to top levels of church leadership.

In another development Pastor Pardon Kandanga Mwansa, president of the church’s Southern-Africa Indian Ocean region, was also elected as a general vice president of the world church.

Evangelist Mark Finley was also elected as vice president for Global Evangelism.

Incumbents were returned to other general vice presidential offices: Lowell C. Cooper, King-Yi Eugene Hsu, Gerry D. Karst, Armando Miranda, Michael L. Ryan and Ted N. C. Wilson.

The session also elected 13 regional presidents: Geoffrey G. Mbwana, East-Central Africa; Ulrich W. Frikart, Euro-Africa; Artur A. Stele, Euro-Asia; , Israel Leito, Inter-America; Don C. Schneider, North America; Jairyong Lee, Northern Asia-Pacific; Ruy H. Nagel, South America; Laurie J. Evans, South Pacific; Paul S. Ratsara, Southern Africa-Indian Ocean; D. Ronald Watts, Southern Asia; Alberto C. Gulfan Jr., Southern Asia-Pacific; Bertil A. Wiklander, Trans-European Division,  and Luka T. Daniel, West-Central Africa.