Southwestern Union Elects Elton DeMoraes as President

The Southwestern Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists elected Elton DeMoraes, D.Min., as its president during its 32nd constituency session, held Sunday, April 26, 2026, at the Keene Seventh-day Adventist Church. He succeeds Carlos Craig, who has led the union since 2021. In his first remarks from the platform, DeMoraes thanked Craig for his leadership and for the example he set for officers, staff and pastors across the union.

DeMoraes most recently served as president of the Texas Conference. He was born and raised in São Paulo, Brazil, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theology at Centro Universitário Adventista de São Paulo (UNASP). He also holds a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry from Andrews University, and he is fluent in Portuguese, English and Spanish. He joined the Texas Conference in 1998 and pastored Houston Central Spanish, Houston Central English, Tyler English and Houston Northwest Seventh-day Adventist churches. He then spent eight years in the Texas Conference office, eventually as executive secretary. In 2018 he was elected vice president of the Southwestern Union, and three years later he returned to the Texas Conference as president. He and his wife, Alessandra, a nurse practitioner, have one daughter, Isabella.

Delegates also elected Tony Anobile, Ismael Castillo and Kisha Norris as vice presidents. Incumbents Stephen Brooks and John Page were re-elected as executive secretary and treasurer, respectively. Bo Just was elected undertreasurer, and Joel Wallace was elected human resources director. Election of the remaining department directors was referred to the Southwestern Union Executive Committee, which will appoint those leaders in the weeks ahead.

Delegates voted to adopt updates to the union’s constitution and bylaws. They also recognized the retirement of Osvaldo Rigacci, vice president for multicultural ministries, after nearly 44 years of denominational service, a record of faithful labor (Colossians 3:23).

The Southwestern Union Conference serves Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. Headquartered in Burleson, Texas, the union oversees five local conferences and Southwestern Adventist University. The constituency session is held every five years to elect officers and department directors, vote on the constitution and bylaws, and review the work of the union.

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