Donna Barrett Announces Retirement as General Secretary

SPRINGFIELD, Missouri — Donna L. Barrett has announced her retirement as general secretary of The General Council of the Assemblies of God. Her retirement will be effective by the end of 2025.

In late 2023, Barrett was surprised with a diagnosis of a fast-moving cancer. In her statement, Barrett said, “My battle with cancer gave me a new perspective on life and time. I’m grateful for my health and healing from the Lord. It’s also a reminder to me that life is precious. I’ve worked hard all my entire career and I’m now beyond retirement age and feel it’s time to embrace this next chapter.”

In her retirement announcement, Barrett noted she felt God’s assurance the “time was right” to retire. “I’m proud to say I’ve completed the major projects and assignments I felt called to finish,” she said. “I didn’t want to leave things undone, and now I can step away knowing those assignments have been fulfilled.”

Barrett made history in 2018 as she became the first woman to serve as an executive officer for the General Council. The Assemblies of God has ordained women for ministry since its founding in 1914 and women currently serve in levels of local, district, and executive leadership throughout the Assemblies of God.

“Donna Barrett has been a pathfinder to women ministers,” says Melissa Alfaro, Ordained Female executive presbyter. “She arduously charted paths in areas of high-level leadership and inspired women, through her example and leadership, to steward their voice around the decision-making table and their influence around the Fellowship with great clarity and precision.” Alfaro praised Barrett’s service as a “spiritual elder always diligent with process and leading with a pastoral heart and power of prayer.”

Prior to becoming general secretary, Barrett’s ministry included service on the Executive Presbytery of the Ohio Ministry Network and on the General Presbytery of the Assemblies of God.

Barrett was saved and baptized in the Spirit in 1975. After serving as a paralegal, she lived out the call of God on her life to serve in full-time ministry. She became an Assemblies of God minister in 1988. Serving 10 years as youth pastor in Youngstown, Ohio, she then served seven years as associate pastor in Cleveland before planting Rockside Church (Cleveland) in 2002.

AG General Superintendent Doug Clay says, “Donna’s ministry experiences combined with her God-given gifts have given her great effectiveness as general secretary.”

The responsibilities of the general secretary include: keeping a record of all ministers and churches; keeping minutes of meetings of the Executive Presbytery, General Presbytery, and the General Council; and signing all legal documents of the General Council. The General Secretary provides leadership to the Influence magazine, Called to Serve newsletter, Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center, Legal Counsel, Statistics, Office of Ethnic Relations, Office of Hispanic Relations, Network of Women Ministers and numerous boards and committees.

“I have great respect for Donna and the way she has taken the role of general secretary to the next level,” says former General Secretary James T. Bradford. “She walks closely to the Lord while bringing both legal and administrative acumen to the responsibilities of her office. Donna also has been very much in demand as a speaker and mentor. She will be missed!”

General Council bylaws assign the responsibility of filling midterm vacancies to the Executive Presbytery. Barrett plans to retire after providing time for a smooth transition in leadership.

Barrett described her tenure of more than seven years as general secretary as “the privilege of a lifetime” and pledged her “ongoing prayers for the Assemblies of God.”

“The Assemblies of God family is deeply grateful for Donna’s ministry and leadership,” Clay says. “Her spiritual maturity and technical skills have been a great blessing to our Fellowship. I pray God’s continued blessing on her in this next season.”

Mark Forrester

Mark Forrester is chief communications officer for the General Council of the Assemblies of God. He is a graduate of Lee University and the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. He is general editor of Trending Up: Social Media Strategies for Today's Church. Mark and his wife, Janine, have two children and live in Springfield, Missouri.