After a tenure of more than nine years marked by creativity, collaboration, innovation, and dedication to mission, Christian Record Services (CRS) president Diane J. Thurber announced a late July 2025 retirement during the organization’s Board of Directors meeting on Monday, March 17.
Under Thurber’s leadership, CRS achieved significant milestones, including the following:
- Implementing Board-directed restructuring and relocating to new headquarters in Lincoln, Nebraska.
- Formalizing agreements with Church and industry-leading publishers to increase the availability of materials to be converted into accessible resources for people who are blind or have low vision.
- Acquiring and integrating PhoneFaith, a telephone outreach for the blind and low-vision community, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Reimagining National Camps for Blind Children by offering collaborative partnerships with Adventist camps and retreat centers.
- Guiding the organization’s 14-member team to provide consistent services to members in North America, utilizing new communication technologies and distribution processes.
Thurber’s guidance proved essential in stabilizing and driving the organization forward, creating opportunities for lasting impact on the blind and low-vision community.
“Our president gave the Board quite a shock in announcing her plans to retire early. The Board regrettably accepted her resignation after extending great appreciation and gratitude for her remarkable and exemplary leadership,” said G. Alexander Bryant, NAD president and CRS Board chairman. “Diane has taken this ministry from a point of almost closing to thriving today. Under God, we owe her a debt of gratitude.”
Upon receiving Thurber’s announcement, the organization’s Board of Directors voted to engage the services of Faith Search Partners to assist in locating a new president for the 126-year-old ministry. Additionally, it appointed Board members to serve on a search committee to bring a recommendation for its consideration in the coming months.
For more information about Christian Record Services, Inc., a 501(c)(3) ministry of the North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, providing free accessible services and programs to people living with blindness or low vision, visit www.christianrecord.org or call 402.488.0981.
