Jan Paulsen
Encyclopedia
Dr. Jan Paulsen was elected President of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists on March 1, 1999, at the age of 64. The election
occurred as part of a special meeting of the General Conference
Executive Committee.
, Canada
in 2000. During this term Paulsen's office was responsible for the initiation of such programs as Go One Million, Faith & Science Dialogues, and Sow One Billion. Paulsen has also taken the initiative to open dialogue between the youth of the church through his Let's Talk campaign.
On July 1, 2005, Paulsen was again reelected to the office during the 58th General Conference Session in St. Louis
, Missouri
. His term ended on June 25, 2010 when Ted N. C. Wilson
was elected the President during the 59th General Conference Session in Atlanta, Georgia
.
Paulsen was vice-president of the General Conference from 1995 until his appointment as president. Prior to that he was president of the Trans-European Division
from 1983 to 1995. He has also been a pastor, a departmental leader, a teacher
, college
president, and has authored two books.
, Norway
to Adventist parents. Baptised at the age of 14, Paulsen attended Vejlefjord high school in Denmark
and graduated in 1954. On July 1 of 1955, Paulsen married Kari Trykkerud, with whom he has had three children: Laila (1961), Jan-Rune (1963) and Rein Andre (1970).
Paulsen studied theology in Denmark
before obtaining a Bachelor of Theology from Andrews University
. He would then go on to obtain his master's degree from Potomac University. Paulsen also has a Bachelor of Divinity from the Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University. Paulsen is also the first Adventist Church world president to hold a doctorate degree, which he obtained from the University of Tübingen.
A native of Norway
, Paulsen is the third non-American president of the world Church
.
In February 2008, Paulsen was the first Adventist church president to be interviewed on a major international television network – by Mike Schneider on "Night Talk", Bloomberg Television
.
He has outlined "three people in particular... who have helped me along the way" – his mother, schoolteacher O. K. Naerland, and "mentor" theologian Ted Heppenstall
.
Election
An election is a formal decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy operates since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the...
occurred as part of a special meeting of the General Conference
General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
The General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists is the governing organization of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. It is located in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States, where it moved in 1989...
Executive Committee.
Presidential Service
Paulsen was reelected to the office of President at the 57th General Conference Session in TorontoToronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in 2000. During this term Paulsen's office was responsible for the initiation of such programs as Go One Million, Faith & Science Dialogues, and Sow One Billion. Paulsen has also taken the initiative to open dialogue between the youth of the church through his Let's Talk campaign.
On July 1, 2005, Paulsen was again reelected to the office during the 58th General Conference Session in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. His term ended on June 25, 2010 when Ted N. C. Wilson
Ted N. C. Wilson
Ted N. C. Wilson, is the current President of the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church as of his naming to that position in June, 2010...
was elected the President during the 59th General Conference Session in Atlanta, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
.
Previous Roles
PastorPastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
Paulsen was vice-president of the General Conference from 1995 until his appointment as president. Prior to that he was president of the Trans-European Division
Trans-European Division of Seventh-day Adventists
The Trans-European Division of Seventh-day Adventists is a sub-entity of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. Its headquarters are in St Albans, United Kingdom....
from 1983 to 1995. He has also been a pastor, a departmental leader, a teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
, college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
president, and has authored two books.
Biographical Notes
Paulsen was born on January 5, 1935 in NarvikNarvik
is the third largest city and municipality in Nordland county, Norway by population. Narvik is located on the shores of the Narvik Fjord . The municipality is part of the Ofoten traditional region of North Norway, inside the arctic circle...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
to Adventist parents. Baptised at the age of 14, Paulsen attended Vejlefjord high school in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
and graduated in 1954. On July 1 of 1955, Paulsen married Kari Trykkerud, with whom he has had three children: Laila (1961), Jan-Rune (1963) and Rein Andre (1970).
Paulsen studied theology in Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
before obtaining a Bachelor of Theology from Andrews University
Andrews University
Andrews University is a Seventh-day Adventist university in Berrien Springs, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1874 as Battle Creek College in Battle Creek, Michigan, it was the first higher education facility started by Seventh-day Adventists, and is the flagship university of the Seventh-day...
. He would then go on to obtain his master's degree from Potomac University. Paulsen also has a Bachelor of Divinity from the Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University. Paulsen is also the first Adventist Church world president to hold a doctorate degree, which he obtained from the University of Tübingen.
A native of Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, Paulsen is the third non-American president of the world Church
Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
.
In February 2008, Paulsen was the first Adventist church president to be interviewed on a major international television network – by Mike Schneider on "Night Talk", Bloomberg Television
Bloomberg Television
Bloomberg Television is a 24-hour global network broadcasting business and financial news. It is distributed globally, reaching over 200 million homes worldwide. It is owned and operated by Bloomberg L.P...
.
He has outlined "three people in particular... who have helped me along the way" – his mother, schoolteacher O. K. Naerland, and "mentor" theologian Ted Heppenstall
Edward Heppenstall
Edward E. Heppenstall was a leading Bible scholar and theologian of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. A 1985 questionnaire of North American Adventist lecturers revealed Heppenstall was the Adventist writer who had most influenced them.- Biography :Heppenstall was born in 1901 at Rotherham,...
.
Publications
- When the Spirit Descends (Review & Herald, 2001) - ISBN 0-8280-1448-5
- Let Your Life So Shine (Pacific Press, 2003) - ISBN 0-8163-1948-0
External links
- The Jan Paulsen Bloomberg TV Interview
- Articles by Paulsen as cataloged in the Seventh-day Adventist Periodical Index (SDAPI)