Paulsen with La Sierra President Geraty

Riverside, Calif.,-- At its 79th annual conferring of degrees ceremony, La Sierra University bestowed the honorary Doctor of Divinity degree upon Jan Paulsen, president of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

Dr. Paulsen is the Seventh-day Adventist denomination's first world leader to come from so strongly academic a background. An alumnus of Washington Theological Seminary and Andrews University, he earned the Doctor of Theology degree in New Testament from Tübingen University. As a teacher of theology and an educational administrator he has served with distinction in Ghana, Nigeria and England, in addition to his native Norway and now in the United States. His academic training and experience have contributed to the characteristics of open-mindedness and balanced judgment that have marked his career in church leadership. Dr. Paulsen has been a consistent advocate of the denomination's theological maturation, and has worked to enhance formal participation for educators in the church's decision-making processes. As a result, in his well-recognized style of judicious balance, his quiet integrity, and his work for mutual respect among all of the church's diverse participants, he continues to set a tone that is influencing the positive direction of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

"Dr. Paulsen is the denomination's first president with an earned doctoral degree," said Dr. Lawrence T. Geraty, La Sierra University President, "and a Doctor of Theology from no less a university than Tübingen in Germany. It is because of his honest attempt to lead the church away from narrowness and rigidity and to the light of present truth, and in appreciation of his moves in the direction of inclusivity, collegiality, and trust, that I, on behalf of the trustees of LSU, confer on him the degree of Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa. We will work to make sure he can be rightly proud of his associations with us, and may God continue to lead him and use him to His glory."

At La Sierra's baccalaureate worship service in the University Church, Dr. Paulsen's homily challenged the graduates to "A Bit of Adventure." He said that life is often unfair, even for those who believe in God, but to do what one knows is right, to check one's basic attitude to people and love them, and to try to be creative and adventurous. "Don‚t get right into your career track," he cautioned. "Take a year and let God lead you into adventure and your personal discovery of the identity of Jesus. Not your parents‚ discovery. Yours. The Holy Spirit will reveal Jesus to you. With that discovery, we find freedom from the shame of the past. Jesus sets us free."

After the worship service, Dr. Paulsen greeted the congregation at the church doors, congratulated graduates personally, and posed for photographs with them.

Dr. Paulsen participated in several special events during graduation weekend at La Sierra, including the dedication of the Paul J. Landa Memorial Fountain, and a tree planting ceremony to honor the late Professor Vern Andress.

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