Communication

The MAUC Communication Department works to strengthen our local conferences and institutions by providing a steady flow of leadership, communication, mentoring and training.  We strive to create a compelling and comprehensive awareness of how members, leaders and institutions are fulfilling the gospel calling of the Seventh-day Adventist Church throughout our nine-state territory. The goal of this communication is to build on the sense of ownership among our constituents that inspires personal commitment and enthusiastic participation.

OUTLOOK magazine is the signature product of Mid-America’s Communication Department. Besides reporting news, OUTLOOK shares inspiration through editorials and stories from leaders and members who are making a difference. Our digital edition, OUTLOOK Online, features exclusive content including photos, videos, podcasts, articles and blogs. Our product suite also includes myOUTLOOK newsletter, a weekly email update on happenings in our territory and beyond.

In addition, we focus on strengthening the reputation of the Seventh-day Adventist Church among members and communities in the Mid-America region, and offer support and encouragement to conferences and local congregations in maximizing their potential for sharing the vision of their leadership, building community among members, and optimizing opportunities with their local media. Exciting opportunities for digital outreach continue to emerge as we further develop online tools.

Education

Adventist education seeks to develop a life of faith in God and respect for the dignity of all human beings; to build character akin to that of the Creator; to nurture thinkers rather than mere reflectors of others’ thoughts; to promote loving service rather than selfish ambition; to ensure maximum development of each individual’s potential; and to embrace all that is true, good, and beautiful. (Journey to Excellence 2.0)

The Mid-America Office of Education supports the six local conferences in enabling learners to develop a life of faith in God, and to use their knowledge, skills, and understandings to serve God and humanity. We work with the North American Division Office of Education in developing resources that assist educators and work with Mid-America conferences and schools in implementing the vision.

The vision is also supported by serving as the teacher certification agent for the North American Division. Our certification registrar maintains records for each teacher in the Mid-America Union and issues denominational teacher certificates based on the requirements in the North America Division PK-12 Educators’ Certification Manual. Each of the teachers and administrators in Mid-America are required to hold denominational certification.

The Office of Education also works closely with the North American Division Commission on Accreditation to ensure that all Mid-America schools are accredited to operate as Adventist schools. This process holds a school accountable for its own objectives, assures the church and constituency that the school offers programs of quality, and provides professional personnel. This process is the basis for continuous school improvement, evaluation, and accreditation.

The ultimate goal of the Mid-America Office of Education is to work with the local conferences and division  in providing “something better” to our learners.

LouAnn Howard is the director of education and serves as the associate for early childhood and elementary education. Gerard Ban serves as the associate director for secondary education. Kristi Griffith is the teacher certification registrar, and Barb Engquist is the office administrative assistant.

Education Resources

NAD Resources

• Adventist Education Website
• NAD Elementary Textbook List
• NAD Secondary Textbook List
• TDEC Website

MAUC Education Code and Supplements

Education Code

• MAUC Education Code 2022

Education Code Supplements

• Acceleration Request Elementary
• Acceptable Use Policy (SAMPLE)
• Alternative Textbook Approval Request
• Consent to Treatment (SAMPLE)
• Education Fund Budget (SAMPLE)
• Field Trip Permission Form (SAMPLE)
• Out-of-division Field Trip Permission Form
• Incident Report Form (SAMPLE)
• Local K-10 School Budget (SAMPLE)
• Medication Authorization and Administration Form (SAMPLE)
• Over-the-Counter Medication Permission to Administer Form (SAMPLE)
• Photo Release Form (SAMPLE)
• Release of Student Records (SAMPLE)
• Retention Request – Elementary
• School Board Meeting Agenda (SAMPLE)
• School Board Meeting Minutes (SAMPLE)
• School Constitution (SAMPLE)
• Student Sexual Harassment (Model Policy & Guidelines)

MAUC Education Dakota Conference Math Inservice (January 2013)

Downloads

• Education Statistics
• School Board Member Handbook
• 3-Year Calendar of Events

Teacher Certification

• PK-12 Educators’ Certification Manual
• Application for Educators’ Certification
• Application for Designated Subjects/Services Certificate
• Application for Non-academic Certification Renewal Credit
• Professional Growth Reading

Forms

• Annual Board Report
• Application to Open an Elementary School
  • Sample

Subsidy

• Subsidy for New Elementary Schools
• New Convert Subsidy
• Academy Instructional Equipment Subsidy

Junior Academies

• Junior Academy Application to Teach Secondary Subjects
• Junior Academy Report
• Jr. Academy Secondary Course Audit Form

Hispanic Ministries

We will all remember 2020, not only for the cancelations but also the many miracles God did during the pandemic as we kept spreading Jesus’ love in our communities—but virtually.

During a year when the majority of the churches were closed, from the Hispanic Ministries Department we helped coordinate:

• A/V classes to help pastors improve lighting, audio and video to better serve congregations
• Union-wide seminars for lay members on how to be missionaries on social media
• Many evangelistic series by pastors and lay members together (21 baptized on one Sabbath)
• Small groups being formed or revitalized
• An increase in tithe and offerings
• The planting of a new company
• An online program with all Hispanic coordinators, hearing members’ testimonies from all five conferences and praising the Lord together with a renewed spirit of joy and humbleness and assurance of the Lord’s leading.

Even though the future is still unknown, we know God takes care of His people.

Human Resources

The MAUC Human Resources Department affirms its commitment to the Gospel Commission and Strengthening God’s work by providing professional services to administrators and staff. A high priority of MAUC HR is to assist in creating effective policies, practices and a mutually acceptable alliance between the Mid-America Union Conference and those who work within the organization. We also strive to be a resource to our Conferences.

Ministerial

The ministerial department’s primary mission is to enhance the ministry of pastors in Mid-America by coordinating, equipping, supporting, and empowering local conference ministerial directors in their professional and personal lives as they, in turn, care for the pastors in their individual conferences.

Among the services we make available:

• Host a collegial information sharing network for ministerial directors of our six constituent conferences.
• Provide or highlight resources to local conference ministerial directors that enable pastoral professional growth and spiritual activity
• Plan and host pastors conventions in Mid-America
• Accept speaking appointments for pastors’ meetings, camp meetings, special church weekends, and church worship services
• Assistance in strategic planning and creating functional structures for congregations upon request
• Encourage participation in field-based education programs such as the Master of Pastoral Ministry program from Andrews University to refine and hone the skills of our pastoral ranks and establish professional parity across our field
• Conduct continuing education opportunities around the union as requested by MAUC and local conference administrations
• Provide pastoral leadership coaching upon request
• Plan and host retreats and workshops for specific pastoral groups as requested by MAUC and local conference administrations

Religious Liberty

On average, 15 Seventh-day Adventists in North America lose their jobs each week for choosing to keep the Sabbath. Led by attorney Darrel Huenergardt, the Mid-America Union religious liberty service is working hard to support local pastors and conference religious liberty leaders in defending the rights of Sabbath keepers in the workplace. Huenergardt also supports members with other issues that concern religious freedom while maintaining friendships with those not of our faith who share a common commitment to religious liberty.

Treasury

The Mid-America Union Treasury department serves the conferences of the Mid-America Union in regard to finances and stewardship. The department ensures that funds entrusted to the care of the Mid-America Union Conference are processed according to the highest professional and spiritual standards stipulated by denominational policies and governmental requirements, as certified by independent auditors.
During the Spring 2021 Executive committee meeting the following report was given by the Treasury department:

2020 was a year of contrast. We had major unknowns starting in the first quarter of the year with the outbreak of COVID-19. Our largest unknown from a treasury standpoint was where tithe would end up. Some throughout the NAD were thinking we could be as far down as 25% for the year in tithe. Then we had our office needing to comply with local COVID-19 requirements for a few months back in April and May, which meant employees working remotely if they could. Many programs had to be postponed or canceled out right and travel basically came to a stop. We learned what it meant to attend meetings remotely.

The contrast to those major unknowns turned out to be that the members of MAUC local churches were incredibly faithful in finding a way to continue to support their church. The final tithe figure in December 2020 was a tithe gain of 0.05%. That is nothing short of a miracle. Even with the union giving back to the local conferences $584,730 (the equivalent of 1% of their gross 2019 tithe) the union ended the year with a $157,183 gain.

The reason for this gain, even with the COVID-19 relief money the union was able to send back, is based in a large part on the fact that
we budgeted conservatively at 95%, actual tithe came in at 100% of the previous year, and with meetings being canceled there comes related travel expense savings. Medical ended the year positive, although not by a huge amount, and we had several open positions for parts of the year that helped save salary cost.

We have been able to allocate money for all the projects we as a committee had voted to do. There are some new programs we will need to start saving for, such as GC and related outreach programs, Pathfinder camporee, and several NAD wide meetings coming to our territory in the next few years.
The bottom line is: God is good, and still in control even when we can’t see the end from where we sit.

Women’s Ministries

Women’s Ministries is about supporting women both in the church and in the community. When COVID really became a problem, it made us realize we had to do things in a new way. Our retreats were just around the corner and how to manage getting together for spiritual renewal and fellowship was upper most in our mind. Every conference managed some very special events, we had retreats, Bible studies, classes, and special surprises.

We just finished participating in the MAUC Ministries Convention, where we had a variety of seminars on prayer, depression, scamming, preparedness, mentoring, grief, and surrender. We offered seminars in both Spanish and English.

COVID has been a challenge and yet we acknowledge it has also been a blessing. We know that we can adapt and serve Jesus in a whole new way. Zoom has made it easy to be connected with women we have never connected with before. We are thankful to serve in a new way.