Vice President for Administration
As we move together in God’s Mission, this office exists to serve the people and institutions within our Conference, aligned with its mission and vision, by providing administrative and corporate operational governance in the following areas: Organization of Congregations and Churches, Ministerial Credentials and Licenses, Church Policies, Conference Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation, Statistical Data and Reports, Religious Liberty, Staff Development for Human Relations and Resources (HR), Information Systems and Technology, Service Travel Requests, Continuing Education, Advanced Degrees, Sabbatical Requests, Child Protection Program, and any other responsibilities assigned by the office of the president.
In addition, this office also provides support for the following volunteer-led ministries: Prison Ministries, Adventist Community Services and Disaster Response, and Special Needs Ministry.
Dr. Amilcar “AJ” Gröschel, Jr. is an Ordained Pastor, Professor, Attorney, and Administrator born in Brazil to German and Jewish-Italian immigrant families, sharing the privileges and responsibilities of a 5th generation of Seventh-day Adventist Christian Missionary Workers, Preachers, and Teachers. He is married to Mrs. Camila Gröschel and has two young-adult children, Amanda and Michael, who are in college at his alma mater the Adventist University of São Paulo, Brazil.
Dr. Gröschel has over 25 years of experience serving and leading for-profit and not-for-profit educational, religious and legal institutions, consolidated by an extensive experience in operational & strategic executive positions both in Brazil and in the USA, with a combined international practice in 30+ countries, in all inhabited continents, in different capacities, holding advanced degrees in Theology, Philosophy, Corporate Governance & Law.
Having served from 15-member companies to 1,500-member churches, both in rural and metropolitan areas in Brazil, in 2019, Pastor Gröschel was called by the Potomac Conference, where he’s pastored nearly all churches in Southwest Virginia and the Waynesboro Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Since 2026 he’s been serving as the Vice President for Administration, while sitting on various Church, School, and Conference Boards and Committees. He also teaches classes in Philosophy, Theology & Law at Washington Adventist University (formerly Columbia Union College).
Camila & Pastor AJ love spending time with family and friends, exploring nature, and traveling. They consider their higher calling and greatest privilege to serve their Father and King, and all of His most beloved children wherever He might lead them.
Amilcar Gröschel, Jr.
Vice President for Administration
Office Ext. 1207
Denise Hevener joined the Potomac Conference in August, 2005. She worked part-time, assisting in Administration and Treasury. In July, 2007, she joined the team full-time as Administrative Assistant to the vice president for administration. She and her husband Dickie live in Buena Vista, VA. They have two children: Tiffany and Richie.
Live in such a way that those who know you but don’t know God will come to know God because they know you!–Author Unknown
Denise Hevener
Executive Assistant
Office Ext. 1207
Statistical and data/membership records are updated and maintained for our churches, companies, and groups.
We want to help local church clerks work as effectively as possible to maintain accurate and up-to-date records for their congregations.
Church clerk training is offered to better manage our churches.