“My wife, Pat, and I are excited to be returning to our ‘home union,’’’ said Denslow. “I look forward to working with the conferences of the Lake Union as we serve our Father God in building a community of faith prepared to meet Jesus.”

June 15, 2021

Ken Denslow named Lake Union president

On June 9, 2021, the Lake Union executive committee convened a special virtual session to elect a new president. The committee prayerfully considered several names and ultimately voted to elect Ken Denslow as president.

Denslow is assistant to the President of the North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Columbia, Maryland. He replaces Maurice Valentine who was elected in April to serve as a NAD vice president.

Lake Union General Vice President Carmelo Mercado who served as the recording secretary for the Lake Union executive committee said a list of leadership qualities expected in the new president was compiled and this was used in the careful selection of a candidate.

“We are thankful that Elder Denslow has accepted our invitation and we pray that God will bless and use him as he leads our union to fulfill the mission that God has given the Seventh-day Adventist church,” said Mercado.

Denslow has had a long association with the Lake Union. He received his bachelor’s and MDiv degrees from Andrews University and started his ministry as Boys Dean at Cedar Lake Academy. After pastoring for a few years in the Michigan Conference, he left to serve in the Chesapeake Conference. Denslow returned to the Lake Union area to assume the role of associate director of the North American Evangelism Institute (NADEI). He then moved on to the Illinois Conference and between 1993 to 2011 served in various roles including ministerial director, executive secretary and ultimately president, a position he held for nine years. He became assistant to the president of NAD in March 2011.

“My wife, Pat, and I are excited to be returning to our ‘home union,’’’ said Denslow. “I look forward to working with the conferences of the Lake Union as we serve our Father God in building a community of faith prepared to meet Jesus.”

Denslow’s wife is an educator, and they have two grown children: Michael and his family lives in Chicago and Kristin lives with her husband and daughter in Keene, Texas.

Debbie Michel, Lake Union Conference Communication director