Shifts in PMC Pastoral Team

New titles and responsibilities for three current pastors

The pastoral team of Pioneer Memorial Church on the campus of Andrews University is undergoing a major shift. Jim Collins, in his mega-bestseller “Good to Great,” introduced the leadership metaphor of the bus—you must get the right people on the bus and then you must get them in the right seats. After much prayerful thought and consultation with the entire pastoral team and conference administration, three pastors are moving to “new seats on the bus,” according to Dwight Nelson, lead pastor.

Ben Martin, current youth pastor, will become the new pastor for children and family discipleship, giving special leadership and oversight to children from birth through early teens. Ben has long had a passion for discipling the youngest in the church.

His departure from youth ministry will be complete when a new youth pastor joins the Pioneer team. The new youth pastor will be a woman. The Michigan conference will be interviewing several woman pastor candidates, any of whom will serve the youth with passion and excellence.

José Bourget, currently associate campus chaplain, will become the executive pastor, a new position at PMC. He will oversee the vision/mission of Pioneer as it moves into its seventh decade as a campus congregation. Jose's task will be to lead the annual strategic planning process, reviewing the mission/vision and core values, developing key objectives and tactics and establishing 3–5-year goals for this campus congregation. He will continue as a campus chaplain until his replacement has been chosen.

Rodlie Ortiz will be providing new leadership for the GROW Groups discipleship ministry, along with the community outreach ministry he has already been leading. Brianna Martin will continue to assist him in this vital discipling. 

Nelson stated the following, “The children of God’s family are not only the future of His mission—they are our mission now.” Pioneer Memorial Church celebrated its 60th anniversary on February 16, 2019.