Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries

Staff

Lorena Martinez

Administrative Professional II

Presidential

Our mission

As the ecclesiastical endorsing body within the North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, we support ministers in the chaplaincy field to excel in personal and professional growth as they bring hope and wholeness to the communities we serve.

Vision:

Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries serves North America and the world, collaborating with local Unions and Conferences, through ecclesiastical endorsement, professional training, and advocacy, to build strong bonds with our chaplains, bringing the spirit of Jesus Christ wherever we serve.

How we serve

Facilitate the ecclesiastical endorsement process across the six disciplines of chaplaincy.
Mentor prospective chaplains.
Serve as a liaison to denominational leadership at the union and conference levels, government and professional agencies, healthcare, and educational institutions.
Assist chaplains on the ordination track in collaboration with union and conference leadership.
Advise chaplains on current policies, regulations, and emerging chaplaincy issues.
National Service Organization/ NSO Assist Seventh-day Adventists in the armed forces with religious accommodation issues.
Provide pastoral care for chaplains and their families.

Resources

Seminars/workshops

Provide annual professional development training for chaplains and their spouses.
Proactively communicate guidance on current and emerging chaplaincy issues and regulations.

Contact Us

(443) 391 7249

North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries
9705 Patuxent Woods Drive
Columbia, MD 21046-1565, USA

www.nadchaplains.org

Most Popular Stories

The Blessings of a Delay

James Edson White, the son of Adventist pioneers James and Ellen White, is credited with taking the gospel to African Americans in the southern United States — after having departed from the Adventist faith for approximately 30 years. What may have seemed like a delayed answer to Ellen White’s prayers over the years that Edson was absent from the faith turned out to be God’s perfect timing for the gospel to be shared with former slaves and their children.

The 2023 PELC Celebrates Chaplains’ Work as Ministers in a Pluralistic Setting

“In 1976, when I became a chaplain, it was said that I was leaving the ministry,” said Rear Admiral (Ret.) Barry Black, the guest speaker for a special chaplains’ Sabbath at Oakwood University Church on December 2, 2023. He continued, “I was looked upon as leaving the ministry because providing spiritual nourishment in a pluralistic setting of religious diversity was not valued by the church.” The irony of this statement was not lost on the hundreds of chaplains and other guests attending the service launching the chaplains’ track of the Pastoral Evangelism and Leadership Council. “Mercy!” “Wow!” and “My Lord!” echoed through the sanctuary.

Gilda Roddy, Associate Director for Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries, North American Division, Commissioned as U.S. Army Reserve Chaplain

On April 17, 2023, M. Gilda Dholah-Roddy, associate director of the North American Division Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries (NAD ACM), was commissioned as a U.S. Army Reserve chaplain in a ceremony held at the NAD headquarters in Columbia, Maryland. In the U.S. Army Reserve, Chaplain (Captain) Dholah-Roddy will offer spiritual and pastoral support to the 55th sustainment brigade based in Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

The Star of Hope

The North Star serves a fixed compass in the night sky, guiding the pathway to the dawning of a new day. The history of African American Seventh-day Adventists is filled with numerous “north stars” who have contributed to the betterment of society for all people. Fortunately, this growing list continues into the twenty-first century.

The North American Division Welcomes New Director and Associate Director of Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries

Two key positions, director and associate director, on the NAD Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries team have been filled with familiar names. On April 7, the NAD committee voted the name of assistant director Washington Johnson II to serve as director; and assistant director Gilda Roddy was promoted to associate director.