Reto Mayer, resigning President of the Swiss Bible Society© Photo: private Reto Mayer, President of the Swiss Bible Society, resigns Basel/Switzerland | 27.05.2019 | APD | Switzerland In 2003, the Swiss Bible Society sent a newsletter to all member institutions asking if anyone would like to join the board of the Swiss Bible Society. This letter also reached the Swiss Union of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, which has been a member of the Swiss Bible Society since 1994. Reto Mayer, Adventist pastor and financial expert, who works in the European Church Administration of the Seventh-day Adventist Church (Inter-European Division EUD) in Bern/Switzerland, submitted his curricu
The Adventist Church in Austria elected two new officers Vienna/Austria | 25.05.2018 | International Pastor Christian Grassl (51), President of the Austrian Union from 2013 to 2018, was not available for re-election. Pastor Reinhard Schwab (40) was elected as his successor. He had previously led the youth department of the Adventist Church in Austria. Christian Gerer (54), Chief Financial Officer from 1995 to 2018, will be succeeded in autumn by Stefan Giuliani (27), who has a Master's Degree in Business Administration and is currently working for a bank. Pastor Oliver Fichtberger (49) was ree
ADRA Health Vaccinator Killed in South Sudan Milton Freewater, Oregon/USA | 01.05.2018 | ADRA According to an ADRA press release, the aid worker was traveling back from the country’s capital, Juba, after visiting his wife who was in hospital due to labor complications. “Our ADRA family around the world is deeply saddened by the senseless killing of our colleague. During this terrible tragedy, we lift in prayer his family, in particular his wife, and express our heartfelt condolences,” said Jonathan Duffy, president of ADRA International. “Each day, our colleague worked tirelessly in
“Contours of European Adventism” Symposium Held in Germany Milton Freewater, Oregon/USA | 30.04.2018 | International Report by Kerstin Maiwald, School of Theology Research Associate at Friedensau Adventist University, Germany, published by AdventistToday. Is there such a thing as European Adventism? If so, what distinguishes it past and present? What problems did the Adventist pioneers in Europe experience and what are the present day struggles of European Adventists? In the opening lecture, Denis Fortin, professor of historical theology at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan, addressed thes
4,762 Seventh-day Adventists in Switzerland donated USD 13.3 million Zürich/Schweiz | 15.02.2018 | International 4,762 Seventh-day Adventists lived at the end of December 2017 in Switzerland. The number of members has increased by 110 people in one year. Adventists in Switzerland celebrate in 54 congregations and six groups the divine service on Saturday (Sabbath), the biblical day of rest. According to the communications department of the Adventist Church in Switzerland church members donated USD 13,3 million, an average of USD 2,800 per person, for the Adventist church worldwide and nationally. This amount does not include donations for the needs and tasks of the local churches.
The Audacity of Peacemaking - Statement of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Germany on the end of the first World War in 1918 Ostfildern near Stuttgart/Germany | 02.02.2018 | International The declaration begins with the experience: "When a war ends it does not mean that peace begins". This is a lesson learned from the First World War, which was only the prelude to modern warfare. With cyber war, drone attacks, autonomous weapon systems, threats from NBC weapons and global terrorism the way in which wars are waged today has once again changed dramatically. The lines of conflict and warring parties are often no longer clearly discernible. No just war In remembrance of th
Adventists in German-speaking Switzerland elected a new church leader Zurich/Switzerland | 14.03.2017 | Switzerland The 145 delegates from 32 churches together with the pastors elected Dr Stephan Sigg as Head of the German-Swiss Conference (DSV) of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church for the next four years. Due to his commitments as head of the youth department for the Western- and Southern-European church organisation (Inter-European Division EUD), Sigg will only take up his new position after the international youth congress in Valencia / Spain has taken place, anticipated in the autumn of 2017. In the
Germany: Adventist church leaders condemn ax-attack in regional train Munich and Ostfildern/Germany | 19.07.2016 | International The news of the ax-attack on innocent people in a regional train near Würzburg/Germany by a 17-year old refugee from Afghanistan has “really affected me”, said Pastor Wolfgang Dorn, president of the regional church (conference) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Bavaria, Munich/Germany. “We condemn violence of any kind. It has evolved into unimaginable proportions," said Pastor Jochen Streit, Executive Secretary of the Adventist church in Southern Germany (Union), Ostfildern near Stuttga
In Cuba, Adventist Church remains hopeful for positive change after U.S. Presidential Visit Havana/Cuba, 30.03.2016 | 30.03.2016 | International Church Leaders hope the Country’s current political condition will continue to be favorable to the Church U.S. President Barack Obama's historic visit to Cuba March 21-22 inspired hope in the Seventh-day Adventist Church on the island. The church believes that a thaw in U.S. - Cuba relations could mean greater opportunities for evangelism and the growth of the church. Aldo Perez, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Cuba, was one of only 20 religious leaders selected by the Cu
Adventist Conference in Germany publishes declaration regarding ordination of women Hamburg/Germany | 10.12.2015 | International With this declaration the Hansa-Conference wants to express a clear standpoint towards their own local churches, said Pastor Jan Kozak, vice-president of the Hansa-Conference. The declaration makes it clear that “the gospel does not discriminate against persons (Acts 10:34), this is equally true for office“. „There are already indications that the decision of San Antonio may alienate many of our youth, our women and other members of our church. Our proclamation of the gospel already takes pla
President-elect of Fiji is an Adventist Christian Suva/Fiji | 21.10.2015 | International For the first time, a Seventh-day Adventist has been nominated president of the south pacific nation of Fiji. Major General Jioji Konousi Konrote, better known as George Konrote, has most recently been serving as Minister for Employment, Labour Relations and Productivity but will need to leave this position in order to take up the presidency, a mostly ceremonial role analogous to that of governor-general in other Commonwealth countries. In an official announcement of the nomination, Fiji
Adventists in Germany publish statement on the current refugee situation Hannover and Ostfildern/Germany | 13.10.2015 | International „According to the Mission Statement of the worldwide Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Seventh-day Adventists in Germany assume their Christian responsibility of ‚ministering to individuals and populations most affected by poverty, tragedy, hopelessness, and disease.’ This applies to all people without exception, regardless of their ethnic origin, gender, religion or worldview, disabilities, age or sexual identity“, stated the Adventist Church in the declaration. The document makes it clear that
Generational Change in Adventist Publishing House Switzerland Zürich/Switzerland | 21.09.2015 | Switzerland Managing Director (CEO): Dominik Maurer On 1st October, the former Sales Manager of Adventist Publishing House in Switzerland, Dominik Maurer (33) will take over as Managing Director. Maurer, a former bricklayer, completed a four-year pastoral training and worked as pastor’s assistant. He then worked as Sales Manager of the Adventist Publishing House for two years. Maurer sees the 23 Book Consultants (Colporters), who go from door-to-door presenting the products of the publishing house,
Statement on the Tragic Shooting in Charleston, South Carolina Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 19.06.2015 | International The president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America, Daniel R. Jackson, issued the following statement on June 18, 2015 in response to shooting death of nine people at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Charleston, South, Carolina: “The Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America is heartbroken by the senseless killing of the Reverend Clementa Pinckney and eight other worshipers during Wednesday evening service in their church. We are saddened by the hea
USA: Tornado Rips Through Train Carrying "Adventist World" - The Kansas storm delays shipment of 50,000 copies to four U.S. states. Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 21.05.2015 | International Thousands of "Adventist World" magazine subscribers will have to wait a few weeks longer to receive their next issue after a tornado tore through a freight train carrying the magazines to the U.S. West. The tornado struck the train loaded with 50,000 copies of the Adventist World’s North American Division edition as it passed through the U.S. state of Kansas last weekend, associate publisher Claude Richli said. No injuries were reported, but the tornado derailed about 100 train cars on the
Seventh-day Adventists in North America Call for Peace in West Baltimore Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 28.04.2015 | International In response to the growing number of demonstrations following the funeral of Freddy Gray who died tragically in Baltimore, Maryland, the Administration of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America, issued the following statement on April 28, 2015: «The Seventh-day Adventist church in North America is deeply saddened by the tragic death of Freddy Gray and the heartache it has caused his family and the Baltimore community. We extend our deepest condolences and continue to pray for his f
Adventists Rush to Help After Deadly Quake Rocks Nepal Kathmandu/Nepal | 26.04.2015 | International Seventh-day Adventist doctors and ADRA workers sprang to work in Nepal after a powerful earthquake killed more than 1,800 people on April 25. The Adventist Scheer Memorial Hospital in Banepa, 15 kilometers east of Nepal’s capital, Kathmandu, was overflowing with patients injured by the 7.8 magnitude earthquake, which struck around midday about 80 kilometers from Kathmandu. The quake, which lasted about 10 minutes, flattened entire neighborhoods in Kathmandu, but the Scheer Memorial Hospita
Francis is the first pope to visit a Waldensian Church Vienna/Austria | 26.03.2015 | Ecumenism According to the two-day program of Pope Francis' visit to the Piedmont from 21 to 22 June, he will be the first pope to visit a church of the Waldenses in Turin/Italy, according to a media release by Kathpress. It is envisaged that first thing on Monday morning, the second day of his trip, Pope Francis will meet Waldensian dignitaries in the Protestant church in the city center of Turin for 90 minutes and they will pray together the Lord's Prayer. "This is a gesture of brotherhood in a new e
Adventist Church Offers Condolences After Plane Crash in France Berne/Switzerland | 25.03.2015 | International A Germanwings Airbus A320 plane carrying 150 people crashed March 24 in the foothills near Digne-les-Bains, in the Alpes de Haute Provence in southeastern France, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls told reporters. Valls said he fears those aboard the flight from Barcelona (Spain), to Dusseldorf (Germany) may be dead. French President Francois Hollande also said no survivors were expected. „The conditions of the accident are not yet clear but lead us to believe there will be no survivors," H
Adventist Church Offers Condolences After Terrorist Attack in Paris Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 09.01.2015 | International The church also thanks France for protecting religious freedom. The Seventh-day Adventist Church has sent condolences to France and praised its government for supporting religious freedom after an apparent militant Islamist attack on a satirical magazine killed 12 people in Paris. “On behalf of the Seventh-day Adventist world church and its president, allow me to convey to you our deepest sympathy in connection with the terrorist attack on the Charlie Hebdo office in Paris on Jan. 7,” the
News Agency APD Switzerland celebrates 40-year anniversary Basel/Switzerland | 04.12.2014 | Media End of November the congregational Adventist News Agency of Switzerland (Adventist Press Service / German: Adventistischer Pressedienst - APD) celebrated its 40th anniversary. The agency was founded in 1974 on the initiative of the journalist Christian B. Schaeffler in Basel/Switzerland. APD appeals with its services primarily to secular media (print and online media, radio, television), the ecclesiastical press and other institutions of public information. In 2004 APD Switzerland was reorganise
Adventist Pastor in Ukraine released after 20 days of detention Silver Spring, Maryland/USA | 17.10.2014 | International Sergei Litovchenko, pastor of the Horlivka Seventh-day Adventist Church in eastern Ukraine, has been released and is being reunited with his family after 20 days of detention. Local Adventist Church and family members would like to thank Adventists and others who have prayed for his freedom throughout the ordeal. “We are very happy to know that Pastor Litovchenko is in good health” said Garrett Caldwell, spokesman for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. “We must continue to work and pray fo
Reto Mayer, resigning President of the Swiss Bible SocietyReto Mayer, resigning President of the Swiss Bible SocietyReto Mayer, resigning President of the Swiss Bible Society
