At the 64th Session of the North England Conference (NEC), delegates voted for a new President to lead the church at the NEC for the next four years. The three-day session, which took place from 11 -13 September at the Leonardo Hotel in Hinckley, Leicester, concluded with some changes in the leadership. We bring you a profile of the newly elected President, Pastor Dr Steve Palmer.
Pastor Dr Steve Palmer was born in Kingston, Jamaica, to a Cuban mother and a Jamaican father. He emigrated to England in 1978 to join the rest of his family, who had migrated in 1965. He was baptised in the Seventh-day Adventist Church at the age of 16 in Jamaica, one week before he left Jamaica.
He joined the Handsworth Seventh-day Adventist church in Birmingham and credits his faith stability to the church because of the nurture he received in that congregation. He is the only Adventist in his immediate family. On becoming a Seventh-day Adventist, he felt the call to pastoral ministry. Before entering the ministry, he gained valuable life experiences by working in various roles, including as a kitchen porter and a gardener.
In his pursuit of pastoral ministry, Palmer embarked on a diverse academic journey. He began his training at Newbold College in 1985, where he received a diploma and a Bachelor of Arts in Theology. His academic pursuits continued at Andrews University, where he completed a Master of Arts in Systematic Theology and Old Testament. Palmer's academic journey also includes a double Masters in Theology and Ministry from the University of Sheffield in Youth and Inter-Generational Tension, a Master of Ministry degree from the University of Derby in Youth Identity Conflict and Stages in Faith, and a Master of Philosophy degree in Cross-Cultural Leadership from the University of Birmingham.
He has a Doctor of Ministry degree from Andrews University in Pastoral Expectations in a Multicultural Congregation i.e. Cultural Intelligence. He has two certificates in teaching and training adults and holds a certificate in workplace chaplaincy.
Palmer has been in full-time pastoral ministry for over 32 years, during which time he has ministered in 25 churches. This includes pastoring the Nottingham, Manchester, Merseyside, Coventry, Wolverhampton, West Bromwich, and Birmingham churches.
He served as the Youth Director and Student Chaplain of the North England Conference for eight years and as coordinator of the Ministerial Fraternity in Areas 5 and 6. He is a visiting lecturer at Northern Caribbean University in Jamaica and has also lectured at Newbold College.
Palmer has served as one of the governors on the Harper Bell Seventh-day Adventist School Board and the Parent Teacher Association Chair. He was a chaplain at the Women's Hospital in Birmingham. Palmer says he enjoys preaching and teaching and has had the privilege of preaching in the USA, Jamaica, Canada, Bermuda, Ghana, Holland, Barbados, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Croatia, Cyprus, Norway, and the British Isles. He sometimes preaches in the Baptist Church. He founded the Youth Prayer Conference and Schools of the Prophets in the UK.
He is married to the former Andrea Williams, a registered nurse. They have two beautiful daughters, Zoë-Maria Mae (17) and Aryanne Precious (13). He enjoys reading, travelling, studying, playing cricket, football, athletics, and socialising.
He aims to use his acquired skills to serve the church and his community. He loves God's church and His people and firmly believes in the Adventist message. Palmer strongly believes that we should all give something back to our church to add value and make a difference. The primary purpose is to accomplish the Three Angels' Messages: God's Kingdom can continue to be built and progress, and the unsaved can be reached and prepared for the second coming of Jesus.
We extend our congratulations and God's blessings to Pastor Dr Steve Palmer as he begins leading the North England Conference for the next quadrennium.
For more on the NEC Session, click here.