Jan Paulsen

For the badminton player, see Jan Paulsen (badminton).

Jan Paulsen
President of the General Conference of Seventh day Adventists
In office March 1, 1999 – June 23, 2010
Preceded by	Robert S. Folkenberg
Succeeded by	Ted N. C. Wilson
Vice President of the General Conference of Seventh day Adventists
In office 1999–1995
President of the Trans-European Division of Seventh day Adventists
In office 1983–1995
Personal details
Born	January 5, 1935 (1935-01-05) Narvik, Norway
Spouse(s)	Kari Trykkerud
Alma mater	Andrews University, Adventist Theological Seminary, Potomac University, University of Tübingen
Profession	Pastor

Dr. Jan Paulsen (born January 5, 1935 in Narvik, Norway) 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.

Presidential Service

Paulsen was reelected to the office of President at the 57th General Conference Session in Toronto, 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.

Previous Roles

Pastor 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.

Biographical Notes

Paulsen was born on January 5, 1935 in Narvik, 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.

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)

Preceded by Robert S. Folkenberg

President of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists 1999 - 2010

Succeeded by Ted N. C. Wilson