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.
On 11 November 2011, former Seventh-day Adventist world church President Jan Paulsen was named a Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit. The award was presented at Tyrifjord Videregående Skole on 2 June 2012.
Read more about this topic: Jan Paulsen
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