The Board of General Superintendents announced that General Superintendents Eugénio Duarte and David Graves will retire at the 30th General Assembly, to be held 9-16 June 2023. Both are term-limited per Manual paragraph 305.2, which states that a general superintendent cannot be reelected if he or she is 68 years of age or older.

“The church is very grateful to both of these general superintendents who have served the church well,” said BGS Chair Carla Sunberg. “Both of them will leave their imprint on the life of the church.”

Eugénio Duarte was elected at the 27th General Assembly in Orlando, Florida, in June of 2009. At the time of his selection, the Cabo Verde native was serving as the Africa regional director. He has also served as strategy coordinator for four fields on the Africa Region.

“Serving God and our beloved Church of the Nazarene in this role has been a humbling experience,” Duarte said. “One of the many blessings that come with the assignment is the perspective from which one gets to know the church.” 

“Maria Amélia and I have learned from so many brothers and sisters that we have had the privilege of serving and growing with, especially my colleagues on the Board of General Superintendents. Maria Amélia and I will greatly miss these people and privilege. Very grateful, our hearts look forward to the unfolding of God’s plans for our lives in the days ahead.” 

David Graves was also elected at the 27th General Assembly in Orlando, Florida. At the time of his election, he was the senior pastor of College Church of the Nazarene in Olathe, Kansas. Prior to pastoring College Church, he served as the director of Sunday School Ministries (now Nazarene Discipleship International) for the Church of the Nazarene. 

“It has been a real privilege to represent the Church of the Nazarene these last 14 years,” Graves said. “Sharon and I have seen first-hand the amazing things God is doing through the ministry of our brothers and sisters around the world.  I will never forget the humbling honor to ordain over 1,900 elders."