18 May 2026 | St Albans, UK [Joe Philpott]
The Trans-European Division (TED) Executive Committee meets twice a year, once in the spring and again in the autumn. On 18 May, the Executive Committee met for its Spring Meeting at the TED office in St Albans, UK, to review the Division’s audited accounts, receive updates on digital mission and OneVoice27, and reflect on the importance of unity in mission.
The day-long meeting brought together field presidents, TED elected leaders, lay members and other representatives. Robbie Berghan, Vice President for Hope Channel International, also attended as guest speaker and the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists (GC) OneVoice27 liaison for the TED. Opening the meeting with worship, Berghan reflected on John 17, where Jesus prays for Himself, His disciples, and all who would come to faith through their witness.
Berghan said the unity Jesus prayed for should shape how the Church works together. “When we work together, across departments, entities and organisations, we reflect the unity and togetherness seen and experienced between the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit,” he said.
He added that disunity is not merely an organisational weakness. “We are not just being inefficient. We are structuring ourselves in a way that contradicts the nature of God.”
Drawing attention to Jesus’ prayer “that they all may be one” in John 17:21, Berghan said unity strengthens mission because it helps the world see the togetherness reflected in the Godhead.
TED Finances Remain Strong
Nenad Jepuranovic, TED Treasurer, presented the Division’s financial position, reporting healthy levels of working capital and liquidity, both exceeding the minimum required by policy. Jepuranovic noted that working capital and liquidity are expected to decrease following the distribution of the “Excess Working Capital” voted at the May 2025 Spring Meeting. The £4 million allocation was designated to support four areas: Alive in Jesus, media initiatives, church planting projects and Mission Refocus. A further £1 million was allocated to TED fields, divided into 12 equal parts, with 11 shares going to unions and unions of churches, and one share shared equally among the three attached fields.
The report highlighted the continued importance of tithe sharing and appropriations between the General Conference and the TED, as well as between the unions, attached fields and the Division. The TED receives substantial appropriations from the General Conference, which continue to support the mission of the Adventist Church across the Division’s territory.
Additional funds are also expected to be distributed to support OneVoice27 initiatives, as the TED works with its fields to strengthen media evangelism.
The TED Audit Committee, chaired by Eglan Brooks, British Union Conference President, presented a positive report. The committee, consisting of individuals independent of the TED, reported that the administration and treasury team were following policy and best practice, with no concerns flagged by the auditors.
The Compliance Report stated that “nothing came to our attention that caused us to believe that the Organisation failed to comply with the Working Policy of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, Trans-European Division insofar as it relates to those policies designated as ‘core’ policies.”
Reflecting on the report, Daniel Duda, TED President, said the audit outcome pointed beyond financial management to the wider mission of the Church.
“A clean audit is more than a financial achievement; it is a testimony to faithful stewardship, shared responsibility and trust,” Duda said. “Together with the encouraging progress of planning for the OneVoice27 initiative, it reminds us that when mission, accountability and vision walk together, the Church is strengthened for greater impact across our territory.”
Supporting Students at Newbold
Kayle de Waal, TED Education Director, reported on the Division’s support for students preparing for ministry and service at Newbold College of Higher Education. For the 2026/2027 academic year, the sponsorship programme includes seven students from the British Union Conference, one from Finland and two from the Netherlands on the MA Theology programme.
The report also noted continued support for pastors engaged in continuing education, as well as individuals participating in the One Year in Mission programme. The update highlighted the TED’s ongoing commitment to investing in people who are preparing to serve the Church across the Division.
Digital Mission Calls for Clearer Discipleship Pathways
Vanesa Pizzuto and Joe Philpott, Director and Associate Director for the TED Communication and Media Department, presented an analysis of digital mission across the Division.
Their report followed months of interviews and consultations with union and conference communication and media directors, local church communication leaders, and individuals leading independent digital ministries.
The presentation highlighted both the opportunities and challenges of digital mission, including the need for unions, conferences and missions to develop clear digital evangelism strategies.
“Digital mission is already happening,” Philpott said. “The question now is, how does it become a clear pathway into discipleship and belonging?”
They also focused on the need to bridge the gap between online engagement and local church communities. While many Adventist entities are already creating and publishing content online, the report noted that more can be done to help viewers move from the digital world to belonging to an in-person church.
OneVoice27 Public Name Announced
Berghan also presented updates on OneVoice27. He explained that the public-facing name for the initiative will be All Things New: Hope Starts Here, based on Revelation 21:5. OneVoice27 will remain the internal project name used within the Adventist Church, while All Things New: Hope Starts Here will be used for the public evangelistic initiatives. The launch date is set for 5 September 2026, beginning a 12-month build-up towards the initiative’s focus month in September 2027.
Berghan also shared case studies from other parts of the world church, including using content creators and social media influencers to connect viewers with the gospel and the Adventist Church. The updates encouraged the TED leaders to consider how digital evangelism and local church engagement can work together to help people encounter hope in Christ.
Several union presidents also shared plans that are being developed in their territories as part of OneVoice27. The updates were intended to inspire other fields and offer practical ideas for how they might shape their own approaches to this initiative.
Lay Member Representative
The Executive Committee voted Ieva Lauka as a new lay member representative during the Spring Meeting. Lauka, who holds a master’s degree in law and is a qualified lawyer, brings experience from Latvia’s district administrative court and State Probation Service, where she worked with children and young people aged 11 to 25, including in complex and sensitive cases. She has also been active in church ministry for many years, serving as a delegate to the Latvian Conference and Baltic Union sessions, supporting adventurer and pathfinder ministries, leading youth and training workshops, translating ministry resources, and serving in her local church in Sabbath School and music departments.
What is the TED Spring Meeting? The May Spring Meeting is one of the Trans-European Division Executive Committee’s twice-yearly business sessions, where leaders meet in person to ensure the organisation’s financial stewardship and operational health. In contrast, the November Annual Council, formerly Year-End Meeting, serves a different purpose, with its agenda focused on mission, governance and policy.
[Photos: Vanesa Pizzuto & Joe Philpott]
