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RETIREMENT PLAN ELECTS NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Elder William Cox Executive Director Elect |
Elder Joseph McCoy Executive Director Retiring |
Elder Joseph W. McCoy has served as Executive Director of the Regional Conference Retirement Plan since March 2005. Earlier this year he announced his intention to end service in that position in December of 2020.
Accordingly, The Regional Conference Retirement Board is pleased to announce the election of the next Executive Director for The Plan located in Huntsville, Alabama. Elder, Pastor, Dr. William T. Cox currently serving as President of the Allegheny West Conference headquartered in Columbus Ohio, is the newly elected Executive Director of the Retirement Plan. This decision was made by the Retirement Board on July 2, 2020 in a Zoom Conference meeting. It was the culmination of activities designed to choose the new Director who will carry the title of Executive Director-Elect until Elder McCoy completes his service in December 2020.
Early in 2020 a Search Committee was commissioned to seek and nominate potential candidates to fill the Executive Director position. Despite the challenges of COVID-19 several names were considered. After multiple meetings and deliberations over a few months Elder Cox was selected over all the ladies and gentlemen considered. Elder Cox has served the Plan as Chairman of the Board since August 3, 2016 and will relinquish that responsibility upon assumption of his duties as Executive Director for The Plan.
Among many others, one thing that commends Elder Cox to the position is the fact of his vigorous research into the efficacy of the proposed Regional Conference Retirement Plan in late 1999. He gave support for its creation from his position as a pastor of a local congregation not as a conference administrator. This led to his conference, Allegheny West, successfully joining seven other conferences in its creation. One of the nine Regional Conferences declined to join the effort at that time.
From his position as pastor of the Ephesus SDA Church in Columbus, Ohio and understanding that the leadership in his conference and his union conference were both reluctant to take that life changing step, he pursued a complete understanding of the proposed new Regional Retirement Plan, rallied his pastoring colleagues for additional support, and by the Grace of God found success in getting his conference to join The Plan. This was also accomplished with the cooperation of the acting president of the conference, Elder Hector Mouzon, who joined the effort in the place of other sitting senior conference officers. Eventually that Acting President signed the documents that brought Allegheny West into The Plan as a cooperating, supporting, fully participating member of the new Defined Benefits Regional Conference Retirement Plan.
During his tenure as Retirement Plan Board Chair, Elder Cox has frequented pivotal meetings with the Executive Director, becoming familiar with both legal and investment portfolio managing personnel that help keep The Plan functioning properly. Elder Cox also enthusiastically supported innovative initiatives presented to the Board by the Executive Director that has led to millions of dollars in savings for The Plan.
As stated in the beginning of this announcement, we are pleased to announce the election of the next Executive Director of the Seventh-day Adventist Regional Conference Retirement Plan, Elder, Pastor, Dr. William T. Cox; “Hear ye him.”
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In an interview on 3ABN General Conference President Elder Ted Wilson announced that the 2020 General Conference Session is rescheduled for May 20-25, 2021 in the City of Indianapolis, Indiana.
Here is some additional information given by Elder Wilson in that March 20 3ABN interview:
According to the GC president, all of this is done, in part, because of the turbulence created across the world economy by the COVID-19 crisis impacting Visa qualification for travel to the United States, potential negative health impact on attendees, and the opportunity for the GC to modify the template for future Sessions that will reduce the cost of holding such large meetings.
It is the view of the Passport that these proceedings call for extreme vigilance by the leadership of the Regional Conferences, as they have done on critical issues in recent times, to ensure that the proposed changes do not negatively impact the mission of carrying the 3 Angels Messages to the communities we are charged to serve.
Here is some additional information given by Elder Wilson in that March 20 3ABN interview:
- That the GC session will be moved to a smaller facility, perhaps the Convention Center instead of the Lucas Oil arena.
- That the emphasis will be on business rather that a large gathering of the believers.
- There will be no special guests or groups except on a very limited basis
- There will not be any exhibits as customary in a special exhibit hall.
- That there will not be any special meetings leading up to the GC Session.
- It is anticipated that there will be not Church Manual or Policy changes
- It will encompass only one Sabbath.
- That proceedings will be aired by electronic media for viewing by the membership across the world.
According to the GC president, all of this is done, in part, because of the turbulence created across the world economy by the COVID-19 crisis impacting Visa qualification for travel to the United States, potential negative health impact on attendees, and the opportunity for the GC to modify the template for future Sessions that will reduce the cost of holding such large meetings.
It is the view of the Passport that these proceedings call for extreme vigilance by the leadership of the Regional Conferences, as they have done on critical issues in recent times, to ensure that the proposed changes do not negatively impact the mission of carrying the 3 Angels Messages to the communities we are charged to serve.
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RCRP CORONAVIRUS ANNOUNCEMENT
The Regional Conference Retirement Plan (RCRP) is modifying its operations in light of the current healthcare Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. All over this land and the world, governments, businesses, religious organizations, and sports organizations are making adjustments in their operations.
Our Retirement Plan is housed in the Office for Regional Conference Ministry (ORCM) in Huntsville, Alabama. RCRP serves as an operational arm for the ministries-in-common of the Regional Conferences in the North American Division (NAD) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Currently, our offices remain open during regular business hours and we are enthusiastically following the recommendations of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) which are designed to prevent the spread of this crippling threat. Fortunately, none of our employees have contracted COVID-19 and we are actively taking measures to ensure continued health and safety by observing the following:
1. Having our office deep cleaned
2. Promoting good respiratory hygiene in the workplace
3. Utilizing CDC's Best practices for keeping the workplace safe
*Practice good hygiene
*Be careful with meetings and travel
*Handle food carefully
*Staying home if...
Our Retirement Plan is housed in the Office for Regional Conference Ministry (ORCM) in Huntsville, Alabama. RCRP serves as an operational arm for the ministries-in-common of the Regional Conferences in the North American Division (NAD) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Currently, our offices remain open during regular business hours and we are enthusiastically following the recommendations of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) which are designed to prevent the spread of this crippling threat. Fortunately, none of our employees have contracted COVID-19 and we are actively taking measures to ensure continued health and safety by observing the following:
1. Having our office deep cleaned
2. Promoting good respiratory hygiene in the workplace
3. Utilizing CDC's Best practices for keeping the workplace safe
*Practice good hygiene
*Be careful with meetings and travel
*Handle food carefully
*Staying home if...
1. As of Thursday, March 19, 2020 our office is closed, however; we are accepting phone calls in lieu of office visits. We are accepting phone calls during our regular and customary business hours M-Th 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM at (256) 830-5002. We can be reached on our mobile phones through this number.
2. We plan to reopen Monday, April 6, 2020 unless there are new developments with COVID-19.
3. Once our office reopens, visitors will be required to follow our germ prevention practices including:
*Practicing Physical Distancing (staying 6 feet away from others)
*No hand shaking
*Wash hands or use hand sanitizer immediately upon entering the office
4. If anything else interrupts the normal flow of our business, you will be notified immediately on this website - www.regionalretirement.org. You may also call our office (256) 830-5002 for any further information.
2. We plan to reopen Monday, April 6, 2020 unless there are new developments with COVID-19.
3. Once our office reopens, visitors will be required to follow our germ prevention practices including:
*Practicing Physical Distancing (staying 6 feet away from others)
*No hand shaking
*Wash hands or use hand sanitizer immediately upon entering the office
4. If anything else interrupts the normal flow of our business, you will be notified immediately on this website - www.regionalretirement.org. You may also call our office (256) 830-5002 for any further information.
Thank you for cooperating with us as we work to minimize the damage that this virus can cause.
1. All North American Division meetings are canceled until after the General Conference Session. This includes the HR Conference and the Ministerial Conference scheduled for Indianapolis.
2. All NAD Travel has been canceled and they are working to facilitate employees working from home.
3. Allegheny East Conference has canceled all worship services until further notice.
4. Oakwood University has closed classes for the remainder of the Academic year.
5. Oakwood University Alumni Weekend has been canceled.
6. The Oakwood University UNCF Banquet has been canceled.
7. The 2020 General Conference Session in Indianapolis, Indiana in the USA has been postponed until May 20-25 of 2021.
2. All NAD Travel has been canceled and they are working to facilitate employees working from home.
3. Allegheny East Conference has canceled all worship services until further notice.
4. Oakwood University has closed classes for the remainder of the Academic year.
5. Oakwood University Alumni Weekend has been canceled.
6. The Oakwood University UNCF Banquet has been canceled.
7. The 2020 General Conference Session in Indianapolis, Indiana in the USA has been postponed until May 20-25 of 2021.