During its year-end meeting today, the Mid-America Union Conference Executive Committee voted unanimously to invite Dr. Hubert J. Morel Jr. to serve as vice president for administration, following the retirement of Elder Gil F. Webb on Dec. 31, 2020, after eight years of faithful service.
The MAUC search committee’s process included gathering over a dozen names and resumes, checking references, and interviewing the top candidates.
“Conference presidential experience was something we were looking for,” said MAUC president Gary Thurber. “Elder Hubert Morel has served our church with distinction as a pastor, departmental director, conference secretary and as a conference president. He brings many years of understanding and wisdom to our union. He is known for his gracious and thoughtful nature and I am excited for this part of God’s vineyard to be exposed to his passion and love of the Lord and His church.”
Morel will officially begin his work as vice president of administration in January 2021.
A strong foundation
Dr. Hubert Morel Jr. grew up in New York City and received his elementary and high school education at Brooklyn Temple Seventh-day Adventist Elementary School and Northeastern Academy. He is a graduate of Oakwood University in Alabama with a bachelor’s degree in theology, a master of divinity degree from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary in Berrien Springs, Michigan. In addition, Morel holds a D.Min. in biblical counseling from Trinity Theological Seminary in Newburg, Indiana.
Morel began his pastoral service in the Southeastern Conference in 1981. Over the years he has ministered to 12 congregations in Florida and two in Georgia. His administrative experience includes serving as Church Ministries director, and executive secretary for the Southeastern Conference headquartered in Mount Dora, Florida. In April 2008, Dr. Morel was elected president of Southeastern Conference, making him the fifth president in the history of the conference. He served with distinction as president until 2016 (two terms as allowed by the conference’s bylaws).
Since then he has served as senior pastor of the Maranatha Seventh-day Adventist Church in Apopka, Florida, and the Bethel Seventh-day Adventist Church in Orlando, Florida. Morel is passionate about evangelism, Pathfinders, Adventist education and Millennials in church leadership roles.
Pastor Morel loves people and seeks to serve the Lord Jesus Christ in every aspect of his life. “Being called to serve as vice president of administration for the Mid-America Union is an opportunity to serve the church on a wider level to help advance the soon return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,” said Morel. “It is an opportunity to stand with a team of workers who are eager to grow the kingdom of God.”
Morel is married to Raquel (Howell) of New Haven, Connecticut. She is a graduate of Columbia Union College (now Washington Adventist University) with a Bachelor of Science in nursing. She holds a Masters of Nursing Education from the University of Central Florida in Orlando.
Together they have two grown sons, Hubert J. Morel, III (Trey), of Orlando and Harrison J. Morel of Denver. They also have one granddaughter, Melodie Jordyn Morel, who will celebrate her first birthday in January.
Photos courtesy of Hubert J. Morel Jr.
