Furman Fordham, II
President
Furman F. Fordham II—affectionately known as “Puck”—was born in Kansas City, Missouri, the middle of three children born to Walter and Shirley (Sain) Fordham. A product of Seventh-day Adventist Christian education, he graduated from Pine Forge Academy, Oakwood University, and Andrews University, earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Management, a Bachelor of Arts in Theology, and a Master of Divinity. He is currently pursuing a PhD in Religion at Andrews University.
Professionally, Pastor Fordham has served as a Youth Pastor in Melbourne, Australia; as an Assistant Pastor in Chicago, Illinois; as Pastor of two three-church districts in Kansas and Missouri; as Pastor of the Allon Chapel Seventh-day Adventist Church in Lincoln, Nebraska, near Union College (now Union Adventist University); and for fourteen years as Senior Pastor of the Riverside Chapel Seventh-day Adventist Church in Nashville, Tennessee. In 2021, he began serving as Director of the South Central Conference’s Church Ministries & Mission Development Department, and on September 14, 2025, he was elected South Central Conference President, effective January 1, 2026.
He has been joyfully married for 29 years to the former Jennifer Gill, a dedicated kindergarten teacher at F. H. Jenkins Preparatory in Nashville, TN. God has blessed their union with three sons—Furman III (nicknamed PACE), a pastor in Cleveland, OH, married to Taelyn; Irvin Gill (nicknamed PAX), a communications assistant on Capitol Hill; and Jennings Walter (nicknamed PRICE), a senior at Oakwood University.
Furman’s personal purpose statement is to be a growing Christian, an adoring husband, an exceptional father, and an excellent pastoral leader—simultaneously.
My Vision
My vision for South Central is about making the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church—“Make disciples of Jesus Christ who live as His loving witnesses and proclaim to all people the everlasting gospel of the Three Angels’ Messages in preparation for His soon return”—our primary driver in all decisionmaking and asset allocation. It is about making Mission First.
- Mission First means raising the mission to such a level of preeminence that it dictates and determines everything we do, and detects and determines those things we should not do.
- Mission First means making the conscious and courageous choice to prioritize the mission over the preservation of institution and tradition.
- Mission First means restructuring in the most efficient and mission-effective manner so as to “Make disciples of Jesus Christ who live as His loving witnesses and proclaim to all people the everlasting gospel of the Three Angels’ Messages in preparation for His soon return.”