Transforming the leadership potential within the Seventh-day Adventist Church into a pool of well-trained, committed leaders will be the focus of a new initiative voted September 29 by members of Annual Council. Dr. Donald Sahly, who was elected to head up the Global Leadership Training office, describes the new initiative as one that will facilitate “culturally, socially, and economically appropriate” training for leadership at every level of the world church.   

“There is no way that one person at the General Conference can reach out, into every part of the world church, and do this kind of training,” says Sahly, who explains that the unit will coordinate with existing programs at Adventist universities and colleges to produce curricula and training programs that are culturally and socially contextualized. The new initiative will also develop local training programs and equip local leadership trainers in every region of the world church. Sahly says that the initiative will be a cooperative effort, developed and implemented in consultation with each of the 12 world divisions.

Sahly says that Adventist leaders must have more than just professional qualifications; they also need sound administrative skills and an understanding of the mission of the Adventist Church worldwide.

In his address to Annual Council on September 26, Pastor Jan Paulsen, president of the Adventist Church, identified leadership training as a priority area due, in part, to the unprecedented growth in the number of church members in the past decade.

Sahly, who has more than 35 years experience in both education and administration in Canada, southeastern Asia, and the United States, says he is looking forward to his new role. Since 1999, Sahly has served as an associate secretary of the Adventist Church worldwide, and from 1986 to 1997 was president of Southern Adventist University located in Tennessee.

Annual Council also voted to establish a Leadership Advisory Board that will oversee the Global Leadership Training initiative.