wfn.org | New Adventist Church President At Press Conference

["Christian B. Schäffler" <APD_Info_Schweiz@compuserve.com>]

March, 5, 1999
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland

New Church President Says Adventists Are a "Unique 
World-wide Family of God-Participants, Not Spectators"

Silver Spring, Maryland, USA, [APD/ANN] Pastor Jan 
Paulsen, newly elected president of the Seventh-day 
Adventist Church, answered questions during a press 
conference and at a specially broadcast edition of the 
Church's Adventist Communication Network (ACN) satellite 
television program "First Wednesday."

Asked what he saw as the greatest challenge for the 
Church, Paulsen referred to the rapid growth in 
membership and the need to preserve its sense as a 
unique world-wide family.

"The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a rapidly growing 
church," said Paulsen.  "The world membership is past the 
10 million mark baptised adult members.  If you add in 
children, we are a spiritual community of some 15 million 
around the world.  Ninety percent of that membership is 
outside North America and it is established in every part, 
every culture virtually of the world and growing strongly.  
And for that we praise the Lord and are happy to be part 
of the Lord's outreach to mankind.  

"It's the constant challenge that the Church faces 
everywhere-how to communicate the gospel attractively 
and how to demonstrate, both by what is being said and 
by what is being offered in services, how Christ's presence 
in one's life brings richness and fullness. 

"As I look at the Church internationally, the cultural and 
ethnic diversity of the Church is both a huge blessing and a 
gift to the Church, but it's also an enormous challenge.  
How do you hold such a large international community 
together as one?  I would see the task of maintaining the 
family as one, and supporting the family of believers in all 
cultures and ethnic communities to grow and to be strong.  
That, I think, is probably the biggest challenge that I 
would see ahead of us."

During the March 2 press conference, Paulsen was 
questioned about women's ordination and its place in the 
Church's agenda. Responding, Paulsen pointed to the 
contribution by women and youth in the dynamic growth of 
the Church.

"Solutions in matters such as those are arrived at on the 
basis of consultation," said Paulsen. "The church is a 
representative system of leadership whereby the Church 
from the local level through its national leadership select 
individuals who will be part of that larger international 
consultation and decision-making process.  

"As for the specific issue you have raised about women's 
ordination, the church has considered that over a long 
period and the fact of the matter is that women make up 
over half of the total membership of the Church.  But so do 
also youth.  Fifty percent of the membership of our Church 
is under 30 years of age.  Clearly, whether you are a 
young person or a woman, you are not a spectator in the 
Church.  The Church belongs to you.  You are the Church.  
And around the world, I see a strong, creative, 
participatory presence by both women and youth in the 
creative initiatives of the Church.  It has to move forward 
that way.  

"The Church also needs to ask and go on asking itself 
about issues that have to do with the practical identity of 
the Church around the world. Questions arise as to 
practice-can we do it the same way everywhere at the 
same time?  Are we ready for it?  And that's an important 
question that you have to ponder and we continue to do 
that."

Speaking about the relationship between the academic 
community and the world Church in general, Paulsen drew 
from his personal experience.

"I spent a number of years in the academic community as 
professor of theology and as college president," said 
Paulsen. "They were wonderful years.  I think that I 
understand how the academic community functions and 
some of their concerns that they have.  I will want to be 
open to the on-going, continuous dialogue, not just 
between this headquarters and the academic community, 
but between this headquarters and any and all institutions 
that we have as a Church.  Our institutions of higher 
learning, of which we have many, and our hospitals, of 
which we have many, I see them all as participants in the 
mission of the Church, and they need to be clear about 
their own identity and role in discharging that sacred 
function.  So, I am both very open to the needs of the 
educational institutions and will welcome opportunities to 
maintain an open dialogue with our academic community."

In response to a question about the conflict of interest 
issues leading to the former president's resignation, 
Paulsen emphasised the openness and integrity of the 
Church and its leadership.

"The Church leadership tries to maintain a good, cordial, 
open communication system," said Paulsen.  "The Church 
needs to look into the future, as indeed we do.  And we, 
the Church, also learn by things that may not have been 
done as effectively as one would have wished.  But as we 
go into the future, the challenges of such a large, dynamic 
community, as the one of which we are a part, is really an 
all-consuming focus.  And I will do my very best to make 
sure that as we move forward, both the openness and the 
integrity of the Church and its leadership remains strong."

As for his own future, Paulsen was non-committal past 
2000.  "I think that to begin to either guess or 
prognosticate as to what 2000 will bring, that really is far 
too premature.  Who knows, they may not want me a year 
and a half from now." 

As for his current status, Paulsen expressed his 
appreciation at being asked to serve as president. " I am 
very happy, I am honoured that the Church has asked me 
now to be president.  As you know, that is not a coronation 
of any royalty here.  We are talking about a servant who is 
chosen to give spiritual leadership and I am delighted to be 
able to do that.  I serve at the pleasure of the Church.  
When the Church wishes to look elsewhere for leading 
initiative, I shall be only too pleased to help the Church in 
that process."

Interviewed by Dan Matthews for ACN's "First Wednesday" 
program on March 3, Paulsen identified his assignment as 
"indescribably big." 

"To put your mind around this assignment, especially 
coming into it as suddenly as we did, is a huge task," said 
Paulsen. But he was positive and enthusiastic saying "I 
enjoy what I'm doing. I have worked for forty years in 
ministry, and they have been wonderful years."

As the first president elected who holds doctoral degrees, 
Paulsen affirmed that he placed much importance on 
education. "My years in education have helped me to 
understand what a wonderful privilege it is to create the 
mind of a preacher." But he was cautious in advising 
others to gain a doctoral degree in a non-church 
institution, saying that such a decision depended on the 
person's background and experience.

His top priority for the life and ministry of the Church was 
to hold together as a world family. "We are unique, a 
special people," said Paulsen. "We share the same faith 
and define our identity the same way around the world."

His plea for the Church was one of personal involvement. 
"It is important that each of us is clear about who we are 
and that we are part of one big movement, and that we 
make our contribution to that in every possible way-
resources, talents and time-that we do not see ourselves at 
any moment as spectators or observers."

Church administrators commenting on Paulsen's election 
have applauded his commitment to the Church and his 
administrative skills, which place value on discussion and 
consensus.

"Jan Paulsen is undoubtedly one of the Church leaders for 
whom I have the greatest respect," said Reinder Bruinsma, 
currently secretary for the Church's Trans-European 
Division who worked with Paulsen in that administration. "I 
regard him as a person with great integrity, having an 
analytical mind, but at the same time very compassionate. 
He is a man who has a great interest in people, and who 
takes his team seriously. I am very comfortable with Dr. 
Paulsen at the helm."

"Jan Paulsen is the right man for the job," said Calvin 
Rock, general vice-president for the Adventist World 
Church. "I regard him as not only a warm and caring 
person, but as a very perceptive and courageous 
individual. He will do us good."