Bill McClendon, North Pacific Union vice president for administration, will complete eight years of elected leadership in August 2026, marking a planned transition and opening a new chapter in continued ministry service.
“My desire in this transition is simple: I want to finish well,” he said in his announcement to the NPUC office team. “We still have important work ahead — meetings, constituency sessions and ongoing responsibilities. I intend to remain fully engaged through that time.”
McClendon’s eight years of service at NPUC are marked by his support of union and conference leadership teams. He continually encouraged leadership teams to track relevant membership data and to find ways to provide meaningful pastoral care.
A common saying of his is, “What you track, grows,” which fits his evangelistic philosophy of ministry and his commitment to church growth and church revitalization.
McClendon started his career as a computer software and consulting business owner before God called him to help plant an Adventist church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with five other families in 2000.
After two years, he sold his business and focused on being a full-time pastor. In the first five years, South Tulsa Adventist Fellowship baptized more than 300 people and grew exponentially.
While continuing as pastor there, McClendon served as Oklahoma Conference assistant to the president for pastoral development and church growth from 2005 to 2008 and then as vice president for church growth from 2008 to 2010.
Washington Conference called McClendon to join their team in 2010 as ministerial and evangelism director, a role he held through 2012 when he became the conference vice president for church growth.
In 2014, McClendon once again followed his pastor’s passion to serve as senior pastor for Ellicott City Church in Baltimore, Maryland.
Since coming to NPUC in 2018, McClendon has found multiple ways to support local conferences in church growth efforts. Alongside areas of church structure, process and policy, he has frequently accepted invitations to host evangelism series for local churches and to help local churches engage or re-engage in mission outreach.
McClendon seeks to continue investing in the local church with his leadership transition. “I do plan to transition into something different, though likely not full-time ministry,” he said. “It may involve a local church setting — I’m not yet certain, but I have always tried to remain available to whatever God leads.”
North American Division is already working with the NPUC executive and nominating committees to nominate a new president with the upcoming retirement of John Freedman, NPUC president, and now will also work with the nomination of a new vice president for administration.
Moving forward, McClendon shared this invitation: “Above all, let’s continue to focus on mission. The future is in God’s hands, and nothing about transitions should distract us from what He is calling us to do.”
Friends and colleagues are invited to share words of appreciation and encouragement with Bill and Shirlene McClendon by emailing info@nwadventists.com.
Bill McClendon, NPUC vice president for administration
