MEET THE DIRECTORS

Ron and Karen Flowers

Karen M. Flowers and Ronald M. Flowers are co-directors of the Department of Family Ministries of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. They have worked in this specialized field at the church world headquarters since 1980. Karen’s background is in teaching and Ron’s is in pastoral ministry. The Flowers both carry the designation of Certified Family Life Educator with the National Council on Family Relations and with Andrews University. Ron holds an M.Div. from Andrews University and a D.Min from Denver Seminary with an emphasis in marriage and family counseling. Karen has an M.A. from Andrews University and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Religious Education with an emphasis in family life education from Andrews. They have authored or co-authored numerous articles and more than 30 major books, manuals and resources on family ministries including Understanding Families (AdventSource, 2001). They have presented family life seminars on marriage, parenting and family living in seventy countries. The Flowers have two adult sons: Jeff, who is married and works with the Adventist Development and Relief Agency in Azerbijan, and Jon, who is enrolled in doctoral study at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego, California.

Responsibilities:

The Department of Family Ministries director(s) and associates will:

1. View Family Ministries from a world perspective, staying informed regarding changing family demographics and continually assessing the widely varied needs of families and the family needs of singles.

2. Develop and maintain a significant level of expertise in the various content areas within the Family Ministries leadership training curriculum.

3. Prepare and distribute core materials related to the Family Ministries curriculum which are suitable for adaptation throughout the world field.

4. Monitor and evaluate Family Ministries materials and resources adapted or developed in the world divisions, and coordinate an appropriate sharing of these resources among divisions.

5. Keep current with regard to trends and methods in family life education, enrichment and counseling and maintain significant levels of knowledge and expertise especially in the primary methodologies of family life education and enrichment.

6. Develop and maintain relationships with Adventist family professionals and, where possible, form liaisons with non-Adventist family professionals and organizations.

7. Working primarily with the divisions and with unions by request of the divisions, they will provide consultation, training and resourcing for Family Ministries personnel worldwide.

8. Serve as advisors and consultants for General Conference administration and other departments on family matters.