F. Lynn Mallery, president of the Southeastern California Conference (SECC) since 1992, has announced plans to retire on Nov. 7 at the end of his current term of office. First elected to the post in 1992, he is the longest serving president in the conference's 88-year history. With more than 64,000 members, the conference is the largest in North America.

"Having worked in this conference for 25 years, I can say that the last 10 have been the smoothest," said Gerald Penick, conference executive secretary. "This officer group has worked together as a team. We don't always agree, but we respect each other. It's hard to think of the team breaking up."

"Lynn Mallery led us into a different era, one of stability and productivity," added Charles McKinstry, superintendent of education. "We have faced major problems, but we have worked through them together. Under his leadership we were actually able to do the work of the Church."

Prior to becoming SECC executive secretary in 1992 and ministerial director from 1987-1992, Mallery chaired the Church and Ministry Department of Loma Linda University/La Sierra Campus from 1973-1980. He then served as senior pastor of the La Sierra University Church from 1980-1987. In 1973, he earned a doctor of ministry degree at the San Francisco Theological Seminary, and, in 1979, a doctor of the science of theology degree from the Graduate Theological Union.

New Leadership Style

Hyveth Williams, senior pastor of the Campus Hill Church in Loma Linda, credits Mallery with fostering a new leadership style in Adventist church administration. "Pastors here are allowed to dream dreams and have visions, and to minister creatively," says Williams. "Other conferences don't work this way. In some places I would tremble to see administrators sitting in my congregation. Here, I know they have not come to spy but to support."

"Pastors are treated as professionals," added Ed Johnson, a pastor for 30 years before becoming assistant to SECC administration in 1998. "Lynn Mallery is well educated. He has studied principles of good management, and he puts them into practice. Agendas for pastors' meetings are not based on 'This is what the conference wants you to do,' but rather, 'What do you need from us so that you can do better ministry?'"

Process is a hallmark of Mallery's leadership. "'No' is never his first response to an idea," remarked Brian Neal, director of commitment and a long-time member of the SECC youth department. "He usually says, 'Let's talk about it.'"

Neal recalled that the youth department had, over time, been reduced from six staff members to two. "Rudy Carrillo and I couldn't do the job alone," Neal said. "After we presented our case, Lynn met with us 20 times, each time bringing in other key people for input." As a result, the department has been restructured and revived. Today, SECC's youth ministry is on the cutting edge.

According to Mario Perez, vice president for Hispanic Ministries, Mallery's successful style can be summed up in one word: accessibility. "He responds. If you want to see the president, it usually happens in a day or two."

Inclusiveness and Respect

Colleagues admire Mallery for being open and inclusive. "Getting all points of view on the table takes time. Group discussion takes time. But the decisions are better in the end," commented Penny Miller, nursing professor at Loma Linda University, long-time member of the SECC executive committee, and chair of the Gender Inclusiveness Commission since 1989. "Lynn Mallery is committed to the idea that the Church belongs to the people."

Respect shapes his style. "He doesn't write you off if you disagree with him. He listens. He's patient. He isn't controlling or punitive," commented Ernie Furness, SECC ministerial director. "He does object to being blindsided. But he won't blindside you, either."

"Lynn assumes you are competent. He trusts you to take your job and run with it. He doesn't micro-manage. He empowers," explained Audray Johnson, director of Religious Liberty, Family, Health, and Women's Ministries. Encouraged by the president, she regularly informs pastors, teachers and church boards about child abuse and related issues, California laws and the Church's responsibility to protect children and to report violations.

Tough Issues

Although the past 12 years have been stable, they have not been easy. "Lynn tackles heavy issues," Perez emphasized.

Several hot topics in Southeastern could have erupted like volcanoes elsewhere. Strong opinions swirled around churches that adopted contemporary music and worship styles, a request to establish a Black conference, the debate on women's ordination, and selling San Pasqual Academy, the conference's only boarding school.

Solutions—arrived at through a process of inclusiveness and discussion—are a blend of compromise and creativity. "They don't satisfy everybody, but they have not split the church," one administrator pointed out.

Today, a broad spectrum of worship styles coexist in SECC. Men and women pastors carry the same credential, identifying them as "ordained-commissioned." The conference executive committee voted to support churches that preferred to become a Black conference (though the proposal was later rejected by the Pacific Union Conference as a whole). And several million dollars from the San Pasqual sale have been turned into endowments that will benefit schools for decades to come.

Same Style, Other Roles

The president not only leads the Southeastern California Conference but, by virtue of position, serves in other roles. For example, Mallery is a trustee of La Sierra University.

"In his service as a member of our board, he is a man of integrity and strength," stated Ella Simmons, provost and vice-president for academic administration. "He studies the issues carefully, attends meetings consistently, acts on principle, and sets aside his personal perspective for the good of the university."

President Larry Geraty declared, "In the last decade, no trustee has been more loyal, supportive and even courageous. Although his wife, son, and daughter-in-law are all current faculty members, he was very careful of conflicts of interest. He was unfailingly wise and he will be sorely missed."

Personal Touch

"Some see inclusiveness, diversity and the group process as signs of a weak, indecisive leader," remarked one colleague. "Those of us who have worked with Lynn believe these are great strengths. Instead of trying to control us, he inspires us."

People are important to him, emphasized Halcyon Wilson, assistant to the president for women pastors and a former associate of Mallery's at the La Sierra University Church. "He cares deeply about pastors."

"On personnel committee I've seen him choke up as we make difficult decisions. His goal is to preserve a person's ministry," commented Hyveth Williams.

As Randy Roberts, senior pastor of the Loma Linda University Church summarized it, "He leaves large footprints which will be a challenge to follow. God bless you, Lynn, in the coming years."