The Rev. Duane Hardy is the newly elected president of the Henrico Ministers Conference, it has been announced.

The 44-year-old pastor at Seven Pines Baptist Church in Sandston will lead the organization that represents more than 35 African- American churches, said the Rev. Zynora D. Manson, associate pastor at Seven Pines.

Rev. Hardy succeeds the Rev. Deborah Simmons, who is the associate minister at Mount Olive Baptist Church in Glen Allen. The conference’s theme this year: “Together Is Better.”

Rev. Hardy began his duties with the conference in January after being elected in December.

A native of Philadelphia, he earned his master’s of divinity degree from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University. He is pursuing his doctorate in theology at Virginia University of Lynchburg.

The conference was established in 1960. Dr. Andrew Mosley, pastor of Quioccasin Baptist Church in Henrico County, is one of the original founders.

The conference is scheduled to meet 9:30 a.m. Feb. 21 at Seven Pines Baptist Church, 516 E. Williamsburg Road.