For more than five decades, Elder Jan Paulsen has served his church – as pastor, teacher, missionary, college president, theologian, church administrator, and, ultimately, as leader of the Seventh-day Adventist world church. As General Conference president from 1999 to 2010, he led the church through an era of unprecedented growth and unique challenges. Among the hallmarks of his administration were his commitment to worldwide church unity, his ongoing conversations with the youth and young adults of the church, and his efforts to expand the church’s mission reach and community presence around the world.

Elder Paulsen has written numerous articles and scholarly works, including three books, When the Spirit Descends, Let Your Light So Shine, and Where Are We Going? He and his wife, Kari, have three children and three grandchildren.