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The four elected executive officers are president, executive secretary (VP for Administration), treasurer (VP for Finance), and superintendent of schools (VP for Education). The administrative team also includes three assistants to the president.
The team exists to serve the needs of the Oregon Conference constituency in various ways:
Through their service, administration seeks to empower leaders throughout the conference to fulfill their ministry potential in sharing the good news of Jesus Christ in their own territories.
View information about the Oregon Conference mission and It's All About Jesus
Pastor Dan Linrud was born and raised in Northwest Washington state. At a young age, he sensed God's call to pastoral ministry. He attended Canadian Union College (now Burman University) where he earned a Bachelor of Theology. During this time he met and married his college sweetheart, Verlaine Corkum. Upon completion of his Bachelor degree, Pastor Dan was hired by the Manitoba-Saskatchewan Conference in Canada and sponsored to seminary to earn his Master of Divinity at Andrews University. While at seminary, Pastor Dan transferred to the Washington Conference where he served as a pastor from 1988 – 1998 in the greater Seattle area.
In 1998, Pastor Dan accepted a call to serve in the Ontario Conference in Canada, first as lead pastor of a large church, and then as founding pastor of a new church plant based on small groups, that God blessed with growth from 16 to nearly 200. In 2005 Pastor Dan earned a Doctor of Ministry with an emphasis on discipleship in small group ministry. In 2009 Pastor Dan was called to serve as Executive Secretary (VP for Administration) for the Ontario Conference. And in 2013 Pastor Dan accepted the invitation to return to the Northwest to serve as Assistant to the President in the Oregon Conference.
Family is dear to Pastor Dan and he and Verlaine enjoy many activities with their two grown daughters. Favorite interests include outdoor activities, travel, reading, sports, good food and fellowship.
Pastor Dan's personal mission statement is: "To engage in authentic relationship with God and others, that I may know, love and serve Him and them, helping others reach their highest potential in Christ for His glory."
View information on Oregon Conference membership and record keeping
Dr. Kara Johnsson has served the Seventh-day Adventist Church in various roles over the past 20 years, including teaching, chaplaincy, and pastoral ministry. She holds degrees in both education and theology, and a doctorate in leadership from George Fox University.
Born in Australia, Kara was raised in a family committed to serving God wherever He called. Her childhood included many years in Papua New Guinea where her parents served as missionaries. She grew up with a strong sense of God’s calling on her life, and an appreciation for diverse cultures.
A lover of God and people, Kara is passionate about building communities who experience God’s Kingdom now: sharing life together and being a blessing in the wider community. She is married to Dr. Terry Johnsson and they love the adventure of a life journeyed with God.
Learn more about Stewardship and Treasury
Eric has devoted his entire professional career to serving the Lord and doing His work. Formerly the association treasurer of the Oregon Conference, associate treasurer for the Washington Conference and a General Conference auditor, he has developed a wide breadth of experience dealing with business-related matters in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. In 2023, Eric gladly accepted the Oregon Conference’s call to become Vice President for Finance.
Eric is also a complete product of Adventist education, from kindergarten through post-graduate studies. He received a Batchelor’s degree in Accounting and a Master’s degree in Financial Management from Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, Tennessee. He is also a certified public accountant (licensed, not currently practicing). In his spare time, Eric enjoys spending time with his wife, Ashley and son, Theo. He also enjoys playing bluegrass music and road cycling.
Learn more about Education in the Oregon Conference
Brandon O'Neal's personal motto is "All Means All." To him, this means seeing all people as God sees them. He knows how much God values his children, ALL of his children, and believes we should always recognize that value no matter a person's circumstance. For over 20 years, Brandon has brought this philosophy into education as a teacher, principal, and superintendent. He's convinced that Adventist schools are one of the most significant ministries of the church and exist not only to educate our children but to serve and minister to our communities.
Before becoming Vice President for Education, Brandon most recently served as Principal at Portland Adventist Elementary School. Over the course of his career, he has developed expertise in special education and curriculum development. He holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from Southwestern Adventist University and an M.A. in Education Administration from University of Phoenix.
Brandon is an avid cyclist and loves spending time hiking and enjoying the outdoors in the Pacific Northwest. He's married to Karla, who teaches at Riverside Christian School in Washougal. They have two daughters. Journey, who attends Southwestern Adventist University, and Story, who attends Portland Adventist Academy.
Learn more about Communication
Pastor Jonathan Russell believes that stories bring people together. That's why he loves telling the stories of God's leading in the lives of Oregon Conference members. He has the privilege of working with the conference communication team to enhance the ministry of local churches by providing timely, meaningful communication that inspires people and supports local ministry.
Before serving at the Oregon Conference, Pastor Jonathan served as a pastor in Oregon for over a decade.
He currently lives in Vancouver with his wife Jaclyn, three children, and a collection of family pets. When they're not serving the church community, they can be found reading books together, appreciating good music, playing in the yard or exploring the outdoor
Dr. Dave Schwinghammer currently serves as Assistant to the President for Church Ministries & Revitalization for the Oregon Conference. After serving as VP for Administration for more than five (5) years, Pastor Dave felt a calling to follow his passion for building up the body of Christ. He has experienced firsthand what God can do to both strengthen churches and turn around plateaued and declining churches. He has earned a Doctor of Ministry degree in the area of discipleship and worship renewal. Pastor Dave uses music and the spoken Word to lead individuals to experience a deep awareness of God’s presence and His transforming power. He enjoys life with his family, music, and restoring classic automobiles.
Contact Administration at (503) 850-3500
Church clerks in the Oregon Conference can access their church membership records using the eAdventist website.
They can also have the ability to update their church's organization information—which is displayed on our Find a Church section—as well as their member and nonmember records. Visit the eAdventist website.
Church secretaries in the Oregon Conference can have access to their church membership records using the eAdventist website.
They can also have the ability to update their church's organization information—which is displayed on our Find a Church page—as well as their member and nonmember records. Visit the links below to learn more. Visit the eAdventist website
Membership Basics (PDF)
Member/Non-member Records (PDF)
Pastors in the Oregon Conference receive church and membership information from their church's clerk and/or secretary.
However, they can also have access to their church membership records using the eAdventist website which allows them to view and print reports for their congregation(s), enter weekly attendance for Sabbath School and Worship Services, etc.
Membership Basics (PDF)
Member/Non-member Records (PDF)
