Story by Benia Jennings
William T. Cox Sr., Allegheny West Conference president, has accepted the call to serve as the Executive Director for the Regional Conference Retirement Plan Board. Elder Cox began his ministry in the Seventh-day Adventist church 41 years ago, and has served as Allegheny West Conference president since January 8, 2012.
Cox will continue his present role through July 31, 2020.In accordance with Allegheny West Conference regulations, the Conference Executive Committee convened and began the process of finding new leadership; Columbia Union Conference President Dave Weigley chaired these meetings, and on Sunday, July 26, 2020, members of the Committee voted Marvin C Brown III as interim President of the Allegheny West Conference, serving out the remainder of this presidency term until Constituency 2021.
“William Cox has placed Allegheny West with a strong foundation in a number of areas. He’s really focused on mission—very evangelistic,” says Dave Weigley, Columbia Union Conference president.
Marvin Brown has served as executive vice president and stewardship director of the Allegheny West Conference for the past seven years, where he strengthened relationships within the constituency and renewed the emphasis on stewardship throughout the territory.
“He is a good listener. He’s passionate about the mission, soul winning and also knows the conference, as he’s worked there for decades,” says Dave Weigley, Columbia Union Conference president and chair of the search committee.
Brown is married to Grace, his wife of 35 years, a certified registered nurse anesthetist of Zambia, Africa. He is the father of 2 sons, Marvin Christopher Brown, a Graduate of YaleUniversity and a Corporate Attorney in Cleveland Ohio and Marsalis Christian Brown, a resident in Orthopedic Surgery at University Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio.
The committee also voted Joel Johnson, as the new executive vice president of the Allegheny West Conference. Johnson has served as Director of Youth, Campground Superintendent, and most recently pastor of The Beacon of Hope Church in Columbus, Ohio. Johnson spent nineteen years of his ministry at Pine Forge Academy, where he wore many hats as Boy’s Dean, Chairman of the Religion Department, Religion Instructor, Academy Chaplain, and Founder of the Pine Forge Academy Creative Arts Drama Ministry. Pastor Johnson has been married to his wife Alicia for 41years. They have four sons: Joel II, Auldwin, Erik and Kyel.