Religious Leader
MEADE C VAN PUTTEN was born in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands and emigrated to the U.S. mainland in 1945. He attended Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama, and Emmanuel Missionary College (now Andrews University), in Berrien Springs, Michigan, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1951. Elder VanPutten was ordained to the Ministry in June 23, 1956, in Lake Region Conference. He worked in the Lake Region Conference of Seventh-day Adventist for 20 years; 11 years as a Pastor-Evangelist in Michigan and Indiana, and 9 years as Conference Secretary-Treasurer in Chicago, IL. In 1971, he transferred to Allegheny East Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in 1971 where he served as the conference treasurer for 7 years, conference executive secretary for 3 years and conference president for 8 years. Elder VanPutten was called to the Church World Headquarters in 1989, where he served the North American Division of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists as associate secretary and associate treasurer, respectively for 1989 thru 1995. He retired at the end of August 1995. He resides in Laurel, MD with his wife of 54 years, Daphne, a retired high school teacher. Elder VanPutten is still active with church activities and serves on the Board of the Columbia Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.