For Immediate Release
For more information, contact:
Savannah Carlson
Communication Director
Minnesota Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
763.424.8923
scarlson@mnsda.com
Spring Lake Park, MN (March 1, 2023) – On Tuesday, February 28, 2023, Conference leadership learned that Pastor Jeff Scoggins accepted the call to serve as President of the Minnesota Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. The Conference Board of Trustees and Conference Nominating Committee met on Sunday, February 26, led by Mid-America Union President Gary Thurber, to find an administrator for the Conference. “We are excited to have Jeff Scoggins returning to the Mid-America Union as the Minnesota Conference President,” said Thurber. “He brings with him a global perspective that will aid in reaching our diverse population and a connection to the Midwest that will allow him to reach those who have called Minnesota home for generations.”
Jeff Scoggins, who currently serves as the planning director for Global Mission at the General Conference, said of the call, “We have been surprised by the invitation and humbled by the trust being placed in us by the people of Minnesota. We are looking forward to coming back and ask for everyone’s patience and prayers as we try to wrap up our work here and make this complicated transition over the coming months.” Scoggins will officially start as president on June 1, 2023, with his physical transition to take place sometime in the weeks following that.
Currently, Scoggins oversees strategic planning for Global Mission initiatives around the world. Prior to his current assignment, he served as a pastor for twelve years right here in Minnesota. During that time, he earned his M.A. in Pastoral Ministry from Andrews University. He is the author of several books to help ordinary people with their Bible study. Jeff is married to Rebecca (Lane) Scoggins. They have two boys, David (19) and Erik (16).
We are so thankful for the Lord’s leading in this process, and thank each of you for your time, dedication and prayers in this matter. Please pray for Elder Scoggins and his family, and for the Conference, as we look forward to this next chapter.
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The Minnesota Conference of Seventh-day Adventists is the headquarters for a network of Seventh-day Adventist churches and school in Minnesota as part of a global church network of Seventh-day Adventists. The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a mainstream Protestant church with approximately 19 million members worldwide, including more than one million members in North America. The Adventist Church operates 173 hospitals and sanitariums and more than 7,500 schools around the world. Here in Minnesota, our mission is to help people realize they are accepted in Jesus Christ, and come to know, love, serve, and share Him. Our headquarters, located in Spring Lake Park, Minn., employs approximately 40 pastors and Bible workers for more than 110 churches, companies and groups throughout the state. With eleven elementary schools and one boarding academy, we are passionate about helping our young people meet Christ. We also operate North Star Camp, a summer camp for children, young people and families. The Adventist Church in Minnesota offers a variety of community programs, including crisis response, healthy living resources, and spiritual life resources. For more information about the Minnesota Conference, explore www.mnsda.com or call us at 763.424.8923.
