Jan Paulsen (born 1935 in Narvik, Norway) was elected President of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists on March 1, 1999, at the age of 65. 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, Hope in Crisis initiative 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 once again reelected to the office during the 58th General Conference Session in St. Louis, Missouri.

Previous Roles

Pastor Paulsen has been vice-president of the General Conference since 1995. Prior to that he was president of the Trans-European Division from 1983 to 1995. Pastor Paulsen

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, to whom he has had three children: Laila (1961), Jan-Rune (1963) and Kidney 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 Western Theological Seminary. Paulsen also has a Bachelor of Divinity from the Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University. Paulsen is also the first world president to hold a doctorate degree, which he obtained from the University of Tubingen.

A native of Norway, Paulsen is the third non-American president of the world Church.

Publications

• When the Spirit Descends (Review & Herald, 2001) - ISBN 0828014485
• Let Your Life So Shine (Pacific Press, 2003) - ISBN 0816319480