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Two Seventh-day Adventist headquarters—the Southern Luzon Mission (SLM) in the Bicol region and the Mountain Provinces Mission (MPM) in Baguio City, recently underwent the Secretariat Development Program, formerly known as the Secretariat Evaluation, facilitated by the Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD), the regional headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Southeast Asia. While a collective score was not provided, both missions’ secretariat departments received ratings ranging from very good to excellent across various areas, indicating a commendable overall performance.

Secretariat Development Program
The goal of the Development Program is to ensure the Secretariat Department in our mission fields performs at its best and follows the right standards. The assessment focuses on two primary areas: the Executive Secretary and his performance in various capacities, and the secretariat facility and functions. The Executive Secretary was assessed as a communicator, team player, church administrator, professional, and church leader. Pastor Wendell Mandolang, SSD Executive Secretary, and lead facilitator of the evaluation process, emphasized that the purpose of the evaluation is to help the executive secretary and the department grow and achieve more in the ministry. 

The Secretariat Department oversees four key areas within the church organization: mission, human resources, church policies, and administrative operations. Its responsibilities include providing support, promotion, and strategic input for the church's mission program. Additionally, it manages various aspects of human resources, ensuring efficient management and development. The department is also tasked with developing, executing, and interpreting policies to ensure they are in line with the church's objectives. Moreover, it handles administrative tasks such as recording, coordinating, and archiving minutes for committees, as well as maintaining records of employee credentials and licenses.

Unlike previous secretariat visits, this year’s evaluation transitioned from the traditional pen-and-paper methods to online questionnaires to streamline the process, allowing for prompt result generation. External evaluators, including church clerks, laymen, and pastors, as well as internal evaluators—fellow officers, directors, and office personnel were invited to participate and provide feedback. The process also involved the retrieval and review of records, meeting minutes, manuals, and policies for comprehensive assessment.

Results of the Evaluation
Pastor Renante Bareja, Executive Secretary of SLM, received an outstanding overall competency rating despite his relatively short tenure of two years. He consistently demonstrated reliability and dependability in fulfilling his duties, always prioritizing the mission’s benefit and success. Additionally, the department was commended for establishing a functional, fireproof Records Center to safeguard SLM’s vital records. 

MPM also yielded promising results. Pastor Valentine Aplod, who was elected in November 2023, is still acclimating to his role, having served as executive secretary for only one month. Nonetheless, he has shown open-mindedness and readiness for new ideas and perspectives. It’s worth noting that he scored himself lower than his evaluators, a trait interpreted as a display of humility and acknowledgment of his limited experience in his current capacity. Particularly, he received the highest rating in church leadership, likely attributed to his extensive experience as a ministerial secretary. MPM is also commended for the regular conduct of membership redemptive reviews every six months.

Susan Maño, SLM, and Marissa Almocera, MPM, administrative assistants, were also affirmed for their diligent work in preparing exhibits and ensuring documentation and processes were in order.

Expressing satisfaction with the evaluation process, Pastor Joven Hitosis, President of SLM, noted that the last assessment occurred in 2012. He emphasized the importance of such evaluations for organizational growth.

In closing, Pastor Mandolang provided encouragement and affirmation to the team at the Secretariat. He highlighted both areas of growth and those requiring further attention. The team is optimistic that the Development Program will facilitate the MPM and SLM Secretariat Departments in meeting the necessary standards and processes for the mission and overall church operations. Additionally, the results suggest promising opportunities for executive secretaries to improve efficiency and effectiveness in their roles.

The assessment team consisted of members from the SSD Secretariat, led by Pastor Wendell Mandolang, Executive Secretary, Mamerto Guingguing, Associate Secretary, and Necy Tabelisma, Assistant Secretary, along with the NPUC Secretariat team led by Pastor Jose V. Zabat, Jr., Executive Secretary. Additionally, Pastor Neptale Fofue from Mindoro Island Mission and Pastor Rex Mangiliman from Cavite Mission, both serving as executive secretaries, contributed to the development program.

Melo Anadem Adap-Ong, NPUC Communication Department