The Office for Regional Conference Ministries (ORCM) Board has voted to appoint Dr. Rashad Burden as Message Media Editor & Content Creator. He begins his new role on January 1, 2027.
In this role, Burden will provide editorial leadership for Message magazine and Message Media content, storytelling across print, digital, video and audio platforms.
A pastor and storyteller
Burden comes to ORCM from the Southeastern California Conference, where he serves as senior pastor of the historic 31st Street Seventh-day Adventist Church in San Diego, California. He is the youngest senior pastor to lead the congregation in its more than 100-year history. Earlier in his ministry he pastored the Shiloh Seventh-day Adventist Church in Ozark, Alabama, and the Mt. Olive Seventh-day Adventist Church in Dothan, Alabama.
He is no stranger to Message. Burden has written for the magazine for more than a decade, including Bible study features for its readers.
Beyond the local church, he has served as board chair of In Good Company, a nonprofit organization, and has been sought out as a speaker and presenter on spiritual life and organizational culture.
Education
Burden is a graduate of Pine Forge Academy in Pine Forge, Pennsylvania. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees at Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama, and a PhD in organizational leadership from Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida, where his research focused on creative leadership and multigenerational dynamics.
In his words
“I'm so happy to be a part of the continuing mission of Message and to follow in the footsteps of those who have come before to make Message matter to real people living real life.”
“Dr. Burden's impact on Message will be a tremendous asset in moving the mission and culture of ORCM to the next level. We are excited to welcome him to the team.”
Burden and his wife, Stephany, have two children.
The Office for Regional Conference Ministries serves the nine Regional Conferences of the North American Division as their hub for research, innovation, development and agency.