Behind every baptism recorded, congregation organized, worker assigned and institution operated is an administrative system tasked with preserving an accurate account of the church’s mission.
Recognizing that responsibility, the newly organized East Central Philippine Union Conference (ECPUC) brought together executive secretaries and administrative assistants from missions, conferences and health care institutions for its first Secretariat Advisory and Records Management Enhancement Seminar, from Aug. 5-6 at the ECPUC headquarters in Cebu City.
The gathering marked an early effort by the new union to strengthen the administrative systems that support ministry across its territory. Twenty-five participants attended the two-day seminar, which focused on records management, policy, secretariat development and the growing role of technology in church administration.
Under the theme, “Serving with Excellence, Advancing God’s Mission,” organizers emphasized that effective administration extends beyond maintaining files and processing reports. Accurate records help church leaders understand where the church is growing, preserve institutional history, maintain accountability and make informed decisions about mission.
“The seminar aimed to review the current status of secretariats across various fields, share best practices, and lay down a strategic framework for future administration,” said Jomar Compuesto, ECPUC executive secretary. “Core sessions focused on secretariat development and enhancement of records management.”
The seminar comes as ECPUC continues developing its organizational systems following its establishment as a new union conference. Bringing secretariat personnel together provided an opportunity to align administrative practices across missions, conferences and institutions while establishing common standards for the years ahead.
Evin Villaruben, associate treasurer for the Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD), discussed updates to church working policy and their implications for administrators. Kerry Estrebilla, SSD associate secretary, addressed secretariat development and the role administrative personnel play in supporting the church’s organizational mission.
Sessions also explored emerging opportunities for technology, including artificial intelligence, to improve administrative and records-management processes.
“I was so blessed with the lectures,” said Belce Glicere Baquilabat, an ECPUC administrative secretary. “I realized how great the possibilities of administrative and records management enhancement are through artificial intelligence.”
Baquilabat said the discussions also reinforced the importance of continued improvement. “Refinement needs dedication, and so do possibilities and improvement.”
For participants returning to their respective fields, organizers said the challenge is to translate those possibilities into administrative practices built on accuracy, integrity and accountability. Those principles become particularly important as church organizations manage membership information, institutional records and other data that document the development of the Adventist Church across the territory.
Eliezer “Joer” Barlizo Jr., ECPUC president, said the work performed by secretariat personnel provides essential support for the church’s wider mission.
“We deeply appreciate the hard work and dedication of our secretariat team, who serve as the backbone of our daily operations,” Barlizo said. “Your commitment to excellence and accuracy ensures that our missions and institutions can advance God’s work smoothly and effectively.”
ECPUC leaders said additional capacity-building initiatives are planned as the union continues strengthening administrative standards throughout its territory.
For the newly organized union, the seminar underscored a principle that often remains unseen in the everyday work of the church: Mission is carried forward by those preaching, teaching, healing and serving in communities, but it is also supported by people who carefully document that work, preserve its history and help ensure the church remains organized for its next opportunity to serve.
The original article was published in the East Central Philippine Union Conference website.