Released by: Rick Kajiura Phone: +31-30-955-324 (June 29-July 8) or +301-680-6300 Written by: Max Torkelsen FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 2, 1995 ADVENTISTS ELECT SIX VICE PRESIDENTS OF THE WORLD CHURCH Utrecht, The Netherlands... Six vice presidents for the 8.5-million-member Seventh-day Adventist Church were elected on July 2 at the Jaarbeurs Convention Center in Utrecht, The Netherlands. Approximately 2,500 delegates from 205 countries participated in the election held during a morning business session at the 56th World Congress. The six vice presidents are: Matthew Bediako, 53, originally from Ghana; Philip Follett, 63, from U.S.A.; Robert Kloosterhuis, 62, from U.S.A.; Jan Paulsen, 60, originally from Norway; Leo Ranzolin, 61, originally from Brazil; and Calvin Rock, 65, from U.S.A. All of the vice presidents have previously served in their positions except Paulsen who has been president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church's Trans-European Division with headquarters in St. Albans, England. Paulsen holds a Doctor of Theology degree from Tubingen University, Germany (1972). He is married to the former Kari Trykkerud, and they have one daughter, Laila, and two sons, Rein and Runne. Paulsen served as Bible teacher at Bekwai Teacher Training College in Ghana, 1962-1964; as chair of the Religion Department and later as president of the Adventist Seminary of West Africa, Nigeria, 1964-1968; as chair of the Religion Department and later president of Newbold College, England, from 1968 to 1980. Since 1983 he has been president of the Trans-European Division of the Church which oversees Adventist work in 25 countries, most of which are in northwestern Europe. Matthew Bediako has served as a general vice president of the Adventist Church since 1990. He holds a Master's degree from Andrews University, U.S.A. (1971); and a Master of Science and Public Health (M.S.P.H.) degree from Loma Linda University, U.S.A. (1973). Bediako began his service to the Church as a Bible teacher in Ghana from 1967 to 1970. He was a departmental director for the West African Adventist Union in Accra, Ghana, from 1972 to 1975. Later he served as president of the Adventist's Ghana Conference and its West African Union. Bediako is married to the former Elizabeth Coffie, and they have four daughters: Doris, Patricia, Janice and Matilda. Phillip Follett has served as a general vice-president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church since 1992. He has a Master's degree from Andrews University, U.S.A. Follett served as a pastor, departmental director, and president of various church entities in the North American Division of the Church. Before joining the General Conference administration Follett was president of the Atlantic Union Conference of the Church located in South Lancaster, Massachusetts, from 1986 to 1992,. Follett has two children, David and Lorraine. Robert Kloosterhuis has been a general vice-president of the General Conference since 1985. He holds a Master's degree from Andrews University, U.S.A., (1965). He has served the Church in the Franco-Haitian Union, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, from 1960 to 1964, and from 1976 to 1980. He was president, from 1980 to 1985, of the Africa-Indian Ocean Division of the Church with headquarters in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Kloosterhuis is married to the former Ruth Schoun, and they have two sons, David and John. Leo Ranzolin has served at the world headquarters of the Church since 1970. He was associated with the Church's Youth Department from 1970 to 1985; has been associate world secretary from 1986 to 1990; and has been a general vice president since 1990. His early ministry was as a youth leader in Brazil. Ranzolin holds a Master's degree from Potomac University, U.S.A. (1960). He also is a trustee of the Ellen G. White Estate. The White Estate oversees the translation and distribution of the voluminous writings of Ellen White, one of the founders of the Adventist Church, throughout the world. Ranzolin is married to the former Lucila Braun Rabello, and they have three sons: Leo, Luis and Larry. Calvin Rock holds a Doctor of Ministry (1979) and Doctor of Philosophy (1984) degrees in religious ethics from Vanderbilt University, U.S.A. He has served the Church as a pastor/evangelist from 1952 to 1967. He was president of Oakwood College, U.S.A. from 1971 to 1985. He has been a general vice-president of the Church since 1985. Rock is married to the former Clara Peterson, and they have three daughters: Cheryl, Celia and Connie. Delegates to the 56th World Congress of the Adventist Church are continuing to deliberate on various constitution and by-law proposals which are designed to increase world representation and accountability of leadership. -end-