The Northern Australian Conference held its constituency meeting from September 14 to 15 and saw president Pastor Simon Gigliotti re-elected and two new officers appointed. Pastor Matthew Pearce was elected as secretary, and Dr Tawanda Mutandwa will serve as the new Chief Financial Officer.
Pastor Pearce, who has been in ministry since 2013, moved to Mackay in 2022, where he currently pastors the Mackay Central and North Mackay churches. Dr Mutandwa, based in Adelaide, brings experience from various industries, including transport logistics, the public sector and manufacturing.
Commenting on the appointments, Australian Union Conference president Pastor Terry Johnson said, “I’m pleased for the NAC’s 40 organised churches and companies, comprising 3000+ members, with the quality of officers that they’ve selected and elected. Their nominating committee prayerfully considered who should be selected for each role, and I think that on behalf of their conference, the committee listened to the leading of the Holy Spirit.”
Over the two days, 117 delegates focused on prayer while voting in the Conference officers, an executive committee, an appointments committee, and a nominating committee. They also discussed the church’s work over the past four years and approved a strategic plan moving forward.
The plan focuses on five main areas: church revitalisation, church planting, expanding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ministries (ATSIM), supporting ministries, Adventist education and financial health.
Pastor Gigliotti encouraged members to “focus on mission, work together and pray as God leads the church to take new ground for His kingdom across Northern Australia.”
