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Theodore Norman Clair "Ted N. C." Wilson (born May 10, 1950) is an ordained minister of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and currently serves as the President of the General Conference, the governing organization of the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church. He was first elected for the period 2010-2015,[1][2] and was reelected for the period 2015-2020.[3] During the 61st General Conference Session, on June 6, 2022, he was once again elected as president a term that would extend until the year 2025 (up to the next General Conference Session).[4] He was chosen as one of the General Vice Presidents of the Adventist Church in 2000 during the General Conference Session in Toronto.[5] His 36 years of denominational service include administrative and executive roles in the Mid-Atlantic United States, Africa, and Russia. Wilson is the son of former General Conference President Neal C. Wilson, who served in the position from 1979 to 1990.[5]

Family and Education

Wilson was born in Takoma Park, Maryland, on May 10, 1950, to Neal C. Wilson (GC president: 1979–1990) and Elinor E. Wilson. He and his wife, Nancy Louise Vollmer Wilson, have three daughters (Emile Louise, Elizabeth Esther, and Catherine Anne) and eleven grandchildren.[6]

Wilson's education includes his receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree (religion and business administration) from Columbia Union College (now Washington Adventist University); a Master of Science degree (public health) from Loma Linda University; a Master of Divinity degree from Andrews University, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree (religious education) from New York University.[6][7]

Career

An ordained minister, Wilson began his church career in 1974 as a pastor in the Greater New York Conference and later as assistant director and director of Metropolitan Ministries there (1976–1981). He then worked in the Africa-Indian Ocean Division of the SDA Church (Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire) until 1990, serving as a departmental director and later as executive secretary. After a two-year term as an associate secretary of the General Conference in Silver Spring, Maryland, Wilson became president of the Euro-Asia Division (Moscow, Russia), 1992–1996. After serving as president of the church's Review and Herald Publishing Association in Hagerstown, Maryland, he was elected a GC vice president in 2000.[8]

At the 59th General Conference Session (2010) in Atlanta, Georgia, Wilson was elected to replace Jan Paulsen as president of the General Conference[6][8] and was relected at the 60th General Conference Session (July 3, 2015) in San Antonio, Texas.[9] Due to Covid-restrictions, the 61st General Conference Session (scheduled for 2020) was postponed until 6–11 June 2022 and held in St. Louis, Missouri, where Wilson was again reelected for another five-year term ending in 2025.[10]

During his presidency of the General Conference, Wilson has been engaged in various denominational controversies over biblical, theological, political, and life-style issues, including the writings of Ellen White,[11] creation-evolution,[12] spiritual formation,[12] last generation theology,[13] the ordination of women in pastoral ministry,[14] and human sexuality.[15]

Ted Wilson during the Big Sabbath in Lusaka, Zambia.

Ted Wilson's Tour of Zambia

In February 2023, President Ted Wilson embarked on a transformative nine-day tour of Zambia, leaving an indelible mark on the historical landscape of the region.[16] This tour held profound significance, aiming to forge stronger connections between the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the Zambian government, all while paying tribute to pivotal historical moments.[17] The pinnacle of the tour unfolded at the National Heroes Stadium on February 4, a grand gathering resonating with unity and shared values. President Hichilema graced the event as a distinguished guest of honor, epitomizing the harmonious partnership between the Adventist Church and the Zambian government.[18]

Personal life

Wilson is married to Nancy Louise Wilson Vollmer, a physiotherapist, and they have three daughters.[5][19]

See also

References

  1. ^ "19CN: Ted N. C. Wilson Elected General Conference President | Adventist Review". adventistreview.org. 2010-06-29. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
  2. ^ Kellner, Ansel Oliver and Mark (2010-06-25). "Wilson elected president of Seventh-day Adventist world church". Adventist News Network. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
  3. ^ "Ted N. C. Wilson Reelected as General Conference President | Adventist Review". adventistreview.org. 2022-06-06. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
  4. ^ Sangronis, Maria (2022-06-07). "Ted N.C. Wilson Re-Elected as President of the General Conference". Echo Magazine. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
  5. ^ a b c "TED N. C. WILSON WAS ELECTED AS PRESIDENT OF THE SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST WORLD CHURCH IN JULY 2010 DURING THE GENERAL CONFERENCE SESSION IN ATLANTA". pastortedwilson.org.
  6. ^ a b c "Ted N. C. Wilson Was Elected As President of the Seventh-day Adventist World Church in July 2010 During the General Conference Session in Atlanta". Seventh-day Adventist Church - About. Retrieved 25 Nov 2022.
  7. ^ "WAU's Alumni Weekend Speaker Ted Wilson to be Inducted into the Business Wall of Fame". Washington Adventist University. April 4, 2017. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  8. ^ a b Oliver, Ansel; Kellner, Mark A. "Ted N. C. Wilson Elected General Conference President". Adventist Review, Online Edition. Archived from the original on October 18, 2011. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
  9. ^ McChesney, Andrew (5 Jul 2015). "Ted N. C. Wilson Reelected GC President in Resounding Vote". Adventist Review. 192: 3–4.
  10. ^ Paseggi, Marcos (Jun 2022). "Ted N. C. Wilson Reelected As General Conference President". Adventist Review. 199 (GC Bulletin 3): 3–4.
  11. ^ "Sermon Transcript of Elder Ted Wilson "No Turning Back"". Stewardship Ministries. May 2017. Retrieved 25 Nov 2022.
  12. ^ a b "Ted Wilson: No room for evolution in Adventist schools". ADvindicate. 20 August 2014. Retrieved 2021-10-25.
  13. ^ "What Do You Think of "Last Generation Theology"?". Seventh-day Adventist Church - PastorTedWilson.org. Retrieved 25 Nov 2022.
  14. ^ Quartey, Matthew (18 Oct 2017). "Ted Wilson's Overreach". Spectrum. Retrieved 25 Nov 2022.
  15. ^ Williams, Alisa (18 Dec 2017). "President Ted Wilson Issues Statement on "Homosexuality and the Church"". Spectrum. Retrieved 25 Nov 2022.
  16. ^ "Zambia : Put God first in order to achieve positive results - President Hichilema". 2023-02-04. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
  17. ^ "Ted Wilson Proclaimed that "God is Working through President Hichilema" after Hichilema Said that all Denominations are One in the Body of Christ | Advent Messenger". 2023-02-05. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
  18. ^ Tembo, Chanesa (January 22, 2023). "SDA Leader To Visit Zambia". ZNBC.
  19. ^ "About Ted N. C. Wilson". adventistbookcenter.com. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
Preceded by President of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
2010-
Succeeded by
Incumbent
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