Norwegian-born Jan Paulsen was re-elected president of the world-wide Seventh-day Adventist Church during the church's World Session in Toronto, July 2000. He is an ordained minister and has served his church in many areas, beginning in the West Norwegian Conference. He has been a pastor, Bible teacher in Ghana, teacher and principal in Nigeria, teacher and principal of Newbold College in England, and general secretary and education director of the Trans-European Division, headquartered in England. In 1983, Paulsen became president of the Trans-European Division and was elected as general vice president of the General Conference in 1995, a position he held until elected president of the world church in 1999.

Following early education in Norway and Denmark, Paulsen earned a bachelor's degree from Andrews University, a master's degree from Washington Theological Seminary, and a bachelor of divinity degree from the Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews. He earned a doctor in theology degree from Tubingen University in Germany. In addition to numerous articles and papers, Dr. Paulsen is the author of the book entitled When the Spirit Descends.

Paulsen is married to Kari Trykkerud and the couple has three adult children: Laila Paulsen Becejac, Jan-Rune, and Rein Andre.