Serving as an associate secretary of the General Conference from 1970 to 1979, Bradford was surprised to be asked in the spring of 1978 to be president of the Pennsylvania Conference, an historically “white” conference with few ethnic minorities. He quickly declined. During the Annual Council in October, 1978, President Robert H. Pierson announced his retirement due to medical problems. Neal C. Wilson, GC vice president for North America, was elected the next day