Leadership

Office of the President

The Office of the President exists to glorify God through providing servant leadership for the EFCA movement, preserving EFCA values, and enhancing interdependence within the movement and the broader Church.

EFCA President William J. Hamel

The Office of the President is a leadership ministry of The Evangelical Free Church of America.

Under the direction of the president of the EFCA, Dr. William J. Hamel, this office provides visionary servant leadership to our movement, preserves EFCA values, and promotes interdependence within the EFCA and beyond.

Providing Visionary Servant Leadership

Direction and Vision
Working with the various national boards, the Directional Team and the National Ministry Team, Dr. Hamel is responsible for the clarification and direction of the EFCA national ministries. We are committed to being a movement that lives by its core values, has a clearly-defined mission and a picture of its preferred future. Dr. Hamel and the Directional Team make these issues one of their highest priorities.

Promoting Interdependence Within the EFCA And Beyond

Coordination of Ministry

The Evangelical Free Church of America includes over 1,400 churches, 18 districts, two universities and a national office comprised of three primary ministries. Coordinating these ministries and leaders for common vision and direction is a key function of the president. The president chairs an important leadership group called the National Ministry Team (NMT) which includes senior leaders at the national office, our senior district superintendents, and the presidents of our two universities. This group seeks to bring a unified ministry focus to the EFCA. We also seek to partner with like-minded movements outside of the EFCA which contribute to the EFCA mission of "glorifying God by multiplying healthy churches among all peoples."

Preserving EFCA Values

Credentialing of Pastors
The Office of the President is responsible for upholding the doctrinal standards of the EFCA and the distinctives of our movement. While the EFCA grants liberty in many non-essentials of the faith, it is unbending on the twelve Articles of Faith which define its doctrine. All pastors and ministry personnel seeking a license or ordination in the EFCA must undergo a local licensing or ordination council, and the results of this council are forwarded to the Office of the President for review.

Discipline and Restoration of Pastors
Pastors who encounter moral difficulties, who exhibit questionable lifestyle issues or who move away from the theological position of the EFCA may face the revocation of their license, discipline and, where possible, restoration to ministry. Working with the Board of Ministerial Standing, the Office of the President oversees this process.

Board of Directors

Members of the EFCA Board of Directors are elected on a rotating annual basis by voting delegates at the annual EFCA National Leadership Conference. They serve as the governing body for the EFCA and all affiliated and related ministries.