Jul. 19, 2010 Oshawa, Ontario, Canada

Crystal Steeves/ANN staff

The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada today elected Mark Johnson as president of the global Protestant denomination's national headquarters.

Johnson's appointment fills a vacancy left when the region's former president, Dan Jackson, last month accepted his election as president of the church in North America.

Johnson, who holds dual citizenship in the United States and Cananda, has served the church in Canada for 15 years, most recently as president of the Alberta Conference. Previously, Johnson acted as vice president of the British Columbia Conference and held other administrative and pastoral positions in British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario.

Accepting his election, Johnson, 59, said he and his wife, Becky, felt humbled and honored by the decision.

"I am excited about the possibilities of the church in Canada," Johnson later said, citing the region's "diversity" and "opportunities for ministry."

Jackson, still transitioning to his new position, chaired the board of directors meeting during which his successor was named.

"[Mark] will serve the church in Canada very capably and with the Lord's leading," Jackson said afterward.

More than 60,000 members of the Adventist Church worship in almost 400 congregations across Canada.

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