Leaders of the Lake Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, a five-state Adventist church region, are assisting with developments in the Lake Region Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, a local church administrative area. A special constituency meeting was held July 24 at which Lake Union leaders helped explain to members and pastors decisions that led to major leadership and employment changes in the Lake Region.

"Please pray for your church, for the Lake Region Conference, and for all who are involved," said Pastors George C. Bryant, acting Lake Region president, and Walter L. Wright, president of the Lake Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, in a statement.

The meeting followed a call by 20 percent of the churches in the Lake Region Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. The special session, initially called to elect a new regional church president, came after an audit revealed irregularities in the Lake Region's operations.

Constitutional provisions prevented the election of a new president at the specially called constituency session. Constituents voted to have the constitution and bylaws committee review the process for electing a president and bring a recommendation back to delegates at a future session.

An internal investigation continues into alleged financial issues in the Lake Region Conference. Participants in the special constituency meeting heard administrative decisions made by the Conference's executive committee, a result of the initial investigation.

It was announced that the Lake Region Conference executive committee has relieved one officer, Pastor Hugo Gambetta, vice president and director of multilingual ministries, of his position, and removed him from his ministerial duties. Regional church treasurer Pastor Leroy B. Hampton resigned after he was placed on a leave of absence. Three other financial employees of the Lake Region Conference also left church employment.

Four local church pastors, Ciro Aviles, Jose Osmin Hernandex, William Rojas and Alfredo Solis, were each placed on a leave of absence, pending further action by church leaders.

Following the loss of these church employees, Pastor Carmelo Mercado, a general vice president of the parent Lake Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, was assigned to provide assistance to the Lake Region Conference.

It is the profound intent of church leadership to be transparent in the interest of all concerned, Pastors Wright and Bryant said.

The Lake Region Conference of Seventh-day Adventists was organized in 1945 and operates out of Chicago, Illinois. Its territory includes churches in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The office operates 109 churches, which are houses of worship for 27,541 members. It also operates eight schools and one youth camp. The conference administration provides local congregations with pastoral resources. In addition, it provides support for various ministry initiatives through departmental directors, assistants, and area coordinators. [Editor: Gary Burns for ANN/APD]

Full text of the statement of George C. Bryant, acting president, Lake Region Conference and Walter Wright, president of the Lake Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists:

A Message from Acting LRC President and Lake Union President

To Seventh-day Adventist Churches in the Lake Region Conference This message was to be read during the church service today, Sabbath, July 16, 2005, and is now posted for your information. This message follows in Spanish.

(As read by the pastor/head elder) I have been asked by the Lake Region Conference's leadership to read the following statement to this congregation. They want you to know that having to share the following information with you greatly saddens them, and that you will be in their prayers and thoughts.

Following a recent financial audit and continuing investigation, the administration regretfully found it necessary to take the following actions: Elder Leroy B. Hampton, the Lake Region Conference Treasurer; Elder Hugo Gambetta, Vice President for Multilingual Ministries; and four pastors were placed on administrative leave of absence. The four pastors are Ciro Aviles, Osmin Hernandez, William Rojas, and Alfredo Solis.

These men are to immediately discontinue their assigned responsibilities within the Lake Region Conference pending further action by the Lake Region Conference Executive Committee.

Pastor Carmelo Mercado, General Vice President for the Lake Union Conference, will be assisting the Lake Region Conference in guiding our Hispanic pastors and churches in this time of transition.

To protect the Church and the men involved with this action, members are humbly requested to refrain from speculation, passing along rumors, or making comments while the investigation continues. The Church is doing everything it can to conduct the investigation in a professional, fair, and Christ-like manner.

If you wish to be involved, please pray for your church, the Lake Region Conference, and all those who are involved. May God grant us His grace during this difficult time.

Elder George C. Bryant, acting president, Lake Region Conference
Elder Walter L Wright, president, Lake Union Conference

July 16, 2005