Firsts in 2021

Chaplain Wanda Acevedo – first Hispanic Seventh-day Adventist woman to be promoted to lieutenant colonel in United States Army Reserve, Puerto Rico. She is also the first Seventh-day Adventist woman to serve as chaplain in a combat war zone in Iraq.

Pastor Kimberly Bulgin – first woman ordained in Mid-America Union as senior pastor of New Beginnings Church, Wichita, Kansas.

Pastor Elina Camarena – first Hispanic woman globally ordained and pastoring at Paradise Valley Hispanic Church, Spring Valley, California.

Pastor Melissa Cooke – first women elected as Executive Secretary of Maritime Conference in New Brunswick, Canada.

Pastor Darriel Hoy – first communication director of the Office of Regional Conference Ministries and the Regional Conference Retirement Plan (ORCM/RCRP) in Huntsville, Alabama.

Dr. Paula Olivier – first woman Youth Director of Northeastern Conference, New York.

Dr. Edyta Jankiewicz - first woman appointed Associate Ministerial Secretary for women in ministry in the South Pacific Division.

Pastor Lola Moore-Johnston – first woman lead pastor at Restoration Praise Center in Bowie Maryland, Potomac Conference, Virginia.

Dr. Paula Olivier – first woman Youth Director of Northeastern Conference, New York.

Pastor Ana Patterson – first woman and first Latina to serve as Southwestern University’s 26th president, Keene, Texas.

Pastor Lyndelle Peterson – first woman appointed as part-time Ministerial Association associate secretary in Australian Union Conference, South Pacific Division.

Sandra E. Roberts – first woman elected to serve as executive secretary in the administration of Pacific Union Conference, California, as well as in the North American Division.

Celeste Ryan Blyden – first woman elected to serve as executive secretary in the administration of Columbia Union Conference, Maryland .

Karen Senecal – first woman vice-president for finance for Potomac Conference, Virginia.

TEAM is aware that there are more firsts that are not listed, and we congratulate all these women as well!