Press Release: Executive Officers Votes

Today, Michigan Conference delegates voted in the Constituency Session to re-elect two of its executive officers—Jim Micheff as president and Justin Ringstaff as executive secretary. Michael Bernard was voted in as the new treasurer.

Jim Micheff: Elder Micheff began his ministry pastoring in the Rocky Mountain Conference in 1994. He later accepted a call to work in Michigan where he served as a local pastor and later, youth department director. He served in that capacity for 7 years until accepting the call to serve as executive secretary in 2007. When former president Jay Gallimore retired in 2018, Micheff was voted to serve as president. Today, with a decisive majority vote, the Michigan Conference delegation asked him to continue serving in that role. Micheff expressed his desire to serve the Lord and move the church forward in missions and noted that it will require a greater degree of sacrificial giving to accomplish our evangelistic goals.

Justin Ringstaff: When Elder Ringstaff graduated from Southern Adventist University and Andrews Theological Seminary, he accepted a call to serve as a local church pastor in the Michigan Conference. He served in various churches around the state, worked as a district superintendent and as associate ministerial director before becoming the executive secretary in 2018, replacing Elder Micheff who became president. Justin Ringstaff was formally elected when the delegates asked him to continue serving the Lord in that capacity with well over the 2/3rd majority needed. Ringstaff recognizes the sacredness of God’s call on his life and looks forward to serving together to hasten Jesus’ return.

Michael Bernard: Today, the Michigan Conference welcomes a new addition to the team, Michael Bernard. Michael has been serving in the treasury department of the Michigan conference for the last 3 months. He comes to this position with a BA in accounting from Southern Adventist University and an extensive work experience as corporate director of accounting from both Arby’s and Mrs. Winners. After serving as CFO at Weimar College, he accepted the call to work in the treasury department of the Michigan Conference. Today, the delegates voted that he replace retiring treasurer, Leroy Bruch, as the new Michigan Conference treasurer.