Pastoral Council of the Central Brazil Union
A unique seminar took place in the Central Brazil Union in August 2010. The Union had invited various employees of the church for a conference in which among other things theological and biblical topics were presented. The audience consisted largely of administrators and some workers of schools and universities, hospitals, the publishing house, the media center, etc. This is a group often neglected. While pastors receive continuing education, these workers are frequently left out. Here
Read MoreInter-American Division administrators, theology teachers, pastors and lay evangelists traveled to Egypt, Jordan and Israel
From February 15-March 1, 2010, more than 200 administrators, theology teachers, pastors, and lay evangelists from the Inter-American Division, accompanied by four scholars of the Biblical Research Institute, journeyed from Cairo, Egypt, to Mt. Sinai to experience a sunrise on top of Mt. Sinai and visit the famous St. Catherine’s monastery at the foot of Mt Sinai. From
Read MoreClass on “Issues in SDA Theology” Taught at the Theological Seminary in Cernica, Romania
During March 2010, twenty-six MA students from the Theological Seminary in Cernica , Romania, attended the class “Issues in SDA Theology” taught by Dr. Gerhard Pfandl, associate director of the Biblical Research Institute of the General Conference. Topics dealt with in this class included the Trinity in Adventism, Creation, Independent Ministries, Hermeneutics, and the Remnant Church.
Read MoreBible-week Retreat for Ministers and Church Members Taught at Seminar Schloss Bogenhofen in Austria
In July 2010, Seminar Schloss Bogenhofen near Braunau in Austria held its yearly “Bibelwoche” (Bible-week), a week-long retreat for ministers and church members. About 60 attendees spent a week listening and discussing various topics. Among the presenters were Ekkehardt Mueller who spoke on the Doctrine of God and Gerhard Pfandl who presented a series of lectures on Messianic Prophecies.
Read MoreBible Symposia in India
In September 2010 two Bible Symposia took place, one in the north of the country, i.e., in Jaipur, the other one in the very south, namely in Kanyakumari. They were designed for pastors and provided in English without translation into local languages. Under the topic “Growing to Serve,” Dr. Jiri Moskala from Andrews University and Dr. Ekkehardt Mueller from BRI presented a number of lectures dealing to a large extent with Adventist identity and the Church’s message and mission as
Read MoreAlberta Conference Ministerial Retreat
Early in January 2010 the Alberta Conference held its ministerial retreat at their Foothills Campground. Among the speakers was Gerhard Pfandl, associate director of the Biblical Research Institute, who spoke on Current Issues in SDA theology, such as “The Lunar Sabbath Theory” and “Do Christians Need to Keep the Old Testament Feasts?”
Read MoreZambia Union
The Zambia Union with 600,000 members is the largest union in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. From the 4th to the 10th of January, 2009, Gerhard Pfandl was invited to be the main speaker at the ministers’ meeting of the Central Zambian Conference. He presented a variety of topics ranging from “Independent Ministries” to “Sunday and the Mark
Read MoreGeneral Conference treasury team and world divisions treasurers traveled to Israel
The treasury team of the General Conference and the treasurers of the world divisions of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and their wives were joined by Elders G. T. Ng and Homer Trecartin of the General Conference Secretariat and their wives for an eight-day journey through Israel. Gerhard Pfandl and Clinton Wahlen, associate directors of the
Read MoreDoctrine of God and Homosexuality Meetings Held in San Salvador, El Salvador
In February 2011, a number of meetings focusing on the Doctrine of God, especially the Trinity, and on the topic of homosexuality took place in and around San Salvador, El Salvador to which Dr. Ekkehardt Mueller had been invited. Some of the meetings were held for pastors and/or other leaders of local churches. Some meetings
Read More“Celebration of Creation” held at Pacific Adventist University in Papua New Guinea and at Avondale College in Australia
“Celebration of Creation” was the topic of a joined program of the Biblical Research Institute and the Geoscience Research Institute held at Pacific Adventist University in Papua New Guinea and at Avondale College in Australia. Delbert Baker, Vice President of the General Conference, Gerhard Pfandl of the Biblical Research Institute and Jim Gibson, Raul Esperante, and Timothy Standish of the Geoscience Research Institute,
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