Council on Ministry

Actively advancing God’s Kingdom through healthy leaders and healthy expressions of faith (XF).

The SDB Council on Ministry consists of five members (5-year staggered terms) elected at our yearly Conference Session. The work of the Council on Ministry is divided into two primary areas: Pastoral/XF Services and XF Development and they serve as an advisory board to the Director of Church Development & Pastoral Services.

Purpose of the Council on Ministry

The purpose of the SDB Council on Ministry is to develop healthy leaders and healthy expressions of faith (XF) for the SDB General Conference. It will do that through connecting and resourcing XF leaders and expressions of faith for the work of actively advancing God’s Kingdom.

Pastoral/XF Services Purposes

  1. Provide encouragement and guidance for men and women who are considering expression of faith (XF) leadership.
  2. Provide for camaraderie, knowledge-sharing, mentoring, and mutual support among XF leaders.
  3. Consult with and for expressions of faith without pastoral leaders and pastoral leaders desiring to serve expressions of faith.
  4. Assist expressions of faith and XF leaders in the licensing, ordination, accreditation, and endorsement processes.
  5. Provide programs and resources that result in healthy leaders and healthy expressions of faith.

Church Development Purposes

  1. Counsel with XF leaders and expressions of faith in conflict or crisis.
  2. Encourage our expressions of faith to examine themselves for health.
  3. Encourage our existing expressions of faith to participate in the work of starting new expressions of faith.
  4. Provide new contacts with information about SDBs.
  5. Assist expressions of faith that wish to identify as SDB with tools and resources to affiliate or join the Conference.
  6. Provide resources to expressions of faith and/or XF leaders who wish to start or revitalize SDB expressions of faith.

You may contact the Director of Church Development & Pastoral Services if you have questions or feedback concerning this area of SDB General Conference ministry. 

 

Meet the Director: Rev. John Pethtel

Rev. John Pethtel currently serves in multiple roles for the SDB General Conference. His titles include Director of Church Development, Director of Pastoral Services, Conferences Coordinator, and Crisis Management Officer.

Pastor John has served in pastoral ministry for 20+ years with service in WV, MD, MI, GA, CO, ON, and WI as well as trips to Brazil, Jamaica, and Ethiopia.

He is a graduate of Salem International University (formerly Salem College) in Salem, WV with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Management of Not-for-Profit Organizations (and multiple minors); Capital Bible Seminary (now part of Lancaster Bible College) in Greenbelt, MD with a Graduate Certificate in Theology; Denver Seminary in Littleton, CO with a Master of Divinity degree (emphasis in Philosophy of Religion & Theology); and is currently ABD in his pursuit of a Doctor of Ministry from Denver Seminary in Executive Leadership of Church and Parachurch Organizations.

John lives in Janesville, WI. He and his wife Tabatha have two children.

Rev. John Pethtel