The Seventh-day Adventist Church has entered a new phase in which intentional, long-range planning is essential, says Dr. Michael Ryan, newly appointed assistant to the church president for stragetic planning.  Ryan, who will also continue to serve in his current role as director of the church’s Global Mission initiative, was appointed August 29 by the Administrative Committee of the world church.

“With more than 11 million members in 205 countries, the size of our church family means that it’s more important than ever that we anticipate and prepare for challenges,” says Ryan. “The incredible diversity of our church is something from which we can draw a great deal of strength.”

Ryan says that one of the biggest challenges facing the Adventist Church in the 21st century will be “creating processes and a church culture that keeps us unified as a world church.”  He points to the recent growth of the Adventist Church in the so-called 10/40 window-an imaginary rectangle that encompasses much of Asia, northern Africa and the Middle East.  In these places, says Ryan, there is a lack of “programs of stability”-such as church schools, Sabbath Schools, and other programs-that are taken for granted in areas where the Adventist Church has been established longer.

“We need to be constantly thinking ahead of the curve, or else we’ll find ourselves behind it,” says Ryan.  He adds that strategic planning can “keep us moving together as a world church, making decisions together, considering and anticipating the different needs of our brothers and sisters around the world.”

Ryan, a general field secretary of the church’s General Conference, has been director of Global Mission since 1991. The General Conference Strategic Planning Committee will be chaired by Pastor Gerry Karst, a general vice president of the world church.