Stephen S. Lee Elected New Jersey Conference President

The New Jersey Conference Executive Committee recently elected Stephen S. Lee to serve as president. Lee, who previously served as the conference's executive secretary, fills the vacancy left by Jorge Aguero, who served as president since 2017 and retired Jan. 1, 2024. 

Upon learning of Aguero’s intention to retire, the executive committee met in November 2023 and embarked on a presidential search process chaired by Dave Weigley, Columbia Union Conference president. Conference employees and executive committee members submitted names of candidates to be considered for the position. Through a prayerful process facilitated by Weigley, with support from Celeste Ryan Blyden, Columbia Union executive secretary, the committee made this important decision. 

“I am truly humbled and honored by the invitation extended to me to serve in this capacity,” says Lee, an ordained minister who has been serving as executive secretary since 2022. “As I reviewed the qualifications expected of the ideal candidate, a sense of inadequacy pervaded my thoughts. Nevertheless, I am sincerely and genuinely appreciative of the committee's gracious invitation for me to undertake this responsibility. I am looking forward to following God’s guidance and serving with the great team we have in the New Jersey Conference.”

Weigley shares that Lee is a "gifted leader who will bring a wonderful fresh approach to the execution of mission. ... He loves people. He loves the Lord. And he wants to enrich his own experience of how to be an effective leader."

Lee holds a bachelor's degree from La Sierra University (Calif.), a master's degree in Theology from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary (Mich.), and is currently working on a doctorate in leadership from Andrews University (Mich.).  

Weigley says that the New Jersey Conference Executive Committee will work soon to start the process of selecting a new executive secretary.