Adventist Church Yearbook Editor Retires After 18 Years

On June 29, 2020, the staff of the Office of Archives, Statistics, and Research (ASTR) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church gathered near the south entrance to the General Conference building in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States. Wearing masks and keeping healthy distance, they celebrated Rowena Moore’s almost two decades of managing the Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook.

As Moore put it on a Facebook post on the day of her retirement, “I was called to the office under pretenses for a meeting that seemed to have no purpose.” On her way out of the building, she was led to where everyone was waiting for her. 

ASTR director David Trim presented Moore with a copy of the 2020 Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook, one that she had not seen. It includes a full-page recognition of her almost 50 years of service to the Seventh-day Adventist Church. She also received a bouquet of flowers.

Through the process of all the digital proofs that the layout editor and the printer sent to Moore over the past several months, unbeknownst to her, ASTR staff had them exclude the tribute page so it could be a genuine surprise.

“Just before the physical yearbooks were ready to ship, we had them overnight us several copies,” Trim said. “We wanted to ensure that Rowena received the first copy of this important church publication that she has so carefully and successfully managed for 18 years.”

Moore recalled her experience.

“I was told to open the book, and when I did, my jaw dropped. I was overwhelmed to see a picture of myself and a full-page recognition of my service to the world church, the General Conference, and as editor,” she said. “This is the 18th book that I have compiled and edited about our organizational and institutional structure around the world. It’s nearly 900 pages long and has taken every amount of energy each year to get it out. How wonderful to be honored in such a way and to know that for as long as time lasts, when somebody picks up the 2020 Yearbook, they will see a tribute to me.”

In a letter, Trimm emphasized that the office he leads is very grateful for Moore’s contribution through the years.

“Thank you, Rowena! God bless you as you enjoy a well-deserved retirement from active duty,” he wrote. “You will be missed tremendously!”

About the Seventh-day Adventist Yearbook

Besides the annually published paper edition, the Adventist Yearbook is available online. Both editions contain information on the many Adventist Church’s official entities and organizations. People visiting the page can find information and data about General Conference divisions, unions, and conferences; educational institutions (excluding primary schools); food industries; and health-care institutions. It also provides information about Adventist media centers, publishing houses, and radio and TV stations.

The online edition does not include the preface and statistics, Adventist fundamental beliefs, the church’s constitution and bylaws, and division maps that readers can find in the print edition. It also does not include the Index of Institutional Employees and the Directory of Credentialed Employees.

Moore will stay on as associate editor until the end of July, as Maggy Neyra takes over as the new editor.