The Lake Region Conference of Seventh-day Adventists today announced that Conference President, Elder Garth Gabriel, has announced his plans to resign effective January 2, 2026.
Elder Gabriel shared that his decision came after “careful prayer and reflection with my family,” expressing deep gratitude for the opportunity to have served and lead the Conference in fulfilling its mission to share the gospel across the Lake Region Conference.
During his tenure, Elder Gabriel provided steady leadership and a deep commitment to advancing evangelism and unity within the body of Christ. The Lake Region Conference extends its heartfelt appreciation for his years of dedicated service and spiritual guidance. Doris Gothard, a member of the Lake Region Conference Executive Committee, says, “Elder Gabriel’s service to Lake Region Conference has been an inspiration, particularly through his leadership in promoting baptisms and fostering total member involvement.”
In accordance with the Conference constitution and bylaws, Dr. Abraham Henry, the current executive secretary, will begin serving as interim president of the Lake Region Conference, effective January 3, 2026. Elder Gabriel shared his full confidence in Dr. Henry’s ability to lead during this transition, stating: “Dr. Henry is a highly capable and spiritually grounded leader who has served this Conference faithfully. He knows all aspects of the operations of this Conference, from youth ministry on up, and I am confident that, under God’s guidance and Dr. Henry’s leadership, the Lake Region Conference will continue to thrive and fulfill its divine mission.”
As per Lake Region Conference practices, the news of Elder Gabriel’s impending resignation has been shared with the conference administrative team, executive committee, employees and now with church members across the Lake Region Conference. The Lake Region Conference invites continued prayers and support from members of Conference churches, friends and all people of faith as the Conference moves forward, grounded in faith and committed to the mission of Christ.
For official updates, please visit www.lrcsda.com.
Media Contact:
JeNean Lendor
Director of Communication
Lake Region Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
Email: jlendor@lrcsda.com | Phone: 773-846-2661
About the Lake Region Conference
The Lake Region Conference of Seventh-day Adventists serves a diverse community of more than 31,000 members across 109 congregations throughout the Great Lakes region. The Conference also operates five accredited schools, offering Christian education from pre-kindergarten through high school. As one of six conferences within the Lake Union Conference, the Lake Region Conference is part of the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist Church, a global Protestant denomination with more than 22 million members. For more information, visit www.lrcsda.com or follow the Conference on social media @LakeRegionSDA.
