Delegates of the 60th General Conference (GC) Session elected several new general vice presidents of the GC today, including Thomas L. Lemon, president of the Mid-America Union, in the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists.
In the previous quinquennium nine vice presidents were elected. The current election reduced that number to six, due in part to transfer of several institutions from GC oversight that will result in reduced workloads, explained President Wilson. Four vice presidents retired: Lowell Cooper, Armanda Miranda, Michael Ryan and Benjamin Schoun.
Other general vice presidents elected today were Guillermo E. Biaggi, president of Euro-Asia Division and Abner De Los Santos, vice president of the Inter-American Division. Those re-elected were Ella Simmons, Artur Stele and Geoffrey Mbwana.
Lemon, who has served as president of the Mid-America Union Conference since 2010, graduated from Southwestern Adventist University with a theology degree, and from the Adventist Theological Seminary with a Master’s of Divinity.
He also served as president of the Minnesota Conference, assistant to the president in Rocky Mountain Conference, and ministerial director of the Oregon Conference, subsequent to pastoring in Texas and Chesapeake conferences.
“I was taken by surprise at the request of Elder Wilson and the vote of the delegates to assume the role of general vice president of the General Conference,” said Lemon. “It has been our great joy to serve the Mid-America Union Conference these past years. Thank you for your prayers as both we and the MAUC move forward as we anticipate with eagerness the return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Elder Lemon is married to the former Jan Elmendorf, a career educator. They are the parents of two adult children and have four grandchildren.
