After 45 years of dedicated service as a pastor and administrator, John Freedman, North Pacific Union president, announced plans to retire.
Freedman shared his retirement plans with the NPUC executive committee on March 4, 2026 during a regularly scheduled meeting. He will remain in his role as president until the NPUC constituency session in August 2026.
“Every good thing comes to a close,” he said. “We poured our lives into every church, into Washington Conference and into NPUC. We are so grateful for the friends we’ve made and the ministry opportunities God has given to us.”
Freedman was elected NPUC president in September 2016. He worked closely with Northwest leaders and chaired key ministry boards, including NPUC executive committee, Walla Walla University and Adventist Health Corporate, while collaborating with North American Division on strategic initiatives.
NPUC serves more than 104,000 members through 508 churches and 115 schools across the six conferences of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Upper Columbia and Washington. NPUC is home to WWU — which Freedman calls “the crown jewel of the Pacific Northwest” — and provides educational support to Palau.
A Relational Approach to Leadership
When meeting someone for the first time, Freedman often offers a simple invitation: “Please call me John.” The phrase reflects the approachable leadership style that marked his ministry.
“I’m just a regular person called by God,” he said. “I have a title, yes, and people perceive that title in different ways. Yet we are here to work together to bring people to Christ with humility.”
John and his wife, Malinda, began their pastoral ministry with assignments in New Jersey, Rocky Mountain and Northern California conferences.
“I remember Malinda waiting up at night to hear how my Bible studies had gone that evening,” he said. “She saw our roles as following the Holy Spirit to love God and love people. We prayed together and loved seeing how God worked. I could not have had a successful 45 years in ministry without her by my side.”
Their sons — Jonathan, Jesse and Jared — also enjoyed being part of church life.
“Our churches were wonderful places for our sons to grow,” John recalled. “They loved being pastor’s kids, and I am grateful for the congregations that helped nurture and disciple them.”
The power of prayer cultivated through the years carried John, Malinda and their family through the profound loss of their son, Jonathan. In that season, John often spoke openly about grief, faith and the sustaining presence of God.
In retirement, John and Malinda plan to travel, enjoy a slower pace of life and spend more family time so he can hear “Grandpa” more frequently.
“I will want to continue offering Bible studies; teaching the gospel, which has changed my life so much; and sharing with people how to have a deeper walk with God through prayer,” he said.
Relational Leadership in Administration
John transitioned into administration when Washington Conference called him to serve as ministerial and evangelism director and later vice president for administration. In 2002, he was elected Washington Conference president, where he served for 14 years.
Even in administration, John saw the value of relational leadership.
“Leadership is relational at its core,” he said in reflection. “Spiritual leadership begins with a surrendered life before God and extends to seeing His image in every person. Humility is foundational. God calls us to rely on Him through prayer, scripture and anointing of the Holy Spirit.”
Prayer, reliance on the Holy Spirit, commitment to evangelism and the gospel of Jesus have been hallmarks of John’s ministry. He is known for inviting consensus and pausing for prayer with major decisions or milestones.
Investing in the Next Generation
Working alongside Northwest leaders, John made young adult engagement a priority during his presidency, appointing a dedicated leader, launching initiatives such as Growing Together and establishing a NextGen scholarship for incoming theology and education students at WWU.
“We saw how these investments, especially at WWU, increased the spiritual tenor on campus with more involvement in Bible studies and small groups,” he said. “We must keep investing in young leaders and nurturing spiritual health across our union.”
He continued, “A healthy union depends on leaders and members who love Jesus deeply and serve Him with humility. My prayer is that faithfulness to Christ will always define us — until the day we see Him in the clouds of heaven.”
Leadership development also included the placement of a new chief executive officer for Adventist Health Corporate, a new president for WWU and several conference presidents.
“Each leadership placement required prayerful discernment,” he said. “We spent time listening through conversations, focus groups and visioning sessions with boards, executive committees and nominating committees. We have a great team of leaders, and I am thankful for each one.”
With his involvement with the Adventist Health Corporate board, John came away from his experience with deep respect for the healthcare system. “My respect for Adventist Health multiplied as I saw firsthand how they are providing whole-person care for physical, mental, spiritual and social wellness,” he said. “I’ve been impressed with the mission, honesty and integrity of our healthcare network and how they live God's love.”
John’s relational approach to ministry led him to seek a deeper connection with the NPUC Presidents’ Council. “We intentionally made space for regular dialogue — asking what support was needed and how the union could add value,” he recalled. “We will always accomplish more together than alone.”
Together, these relationships strengthened the shared mission across the Pacific Northwest and helped prepare the way for the next chapter.
Next Steps
The process of selecting a new president is already underway. G. Alexander Bryant, NAD president, working with the NPUC nominating committee, will help guide the election of the next NPUC president.
A nominee could be recommended as early as May 2026. Delegates will vote at the NPUC constituency session on Aug. 23, 2026 in College Place, Washington, to elect a new president and additional executive leaders.
Members, leaders and friends who have shared in John and Malinda’s ministry are invited to send a brief note of gratitude or reflection to info@nwadventists.com by Aug. 1, 2026.
Throughout their ministry, John and Malinda Freedman partnered together and with God to serve His people for 45 years through pastoral and administrative roles.
