Order of Merit to Jan Paulsen
Former Seventh-day Adventist world church president, Jan Paulsen, has been appointed Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit. The announcement from the royal palace states that “H. M. The King has appointed Jan Paulsen Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit for meritorious work for the good of humanity.”
“I am totally surprised and very honored by this recognition coming from H. M. The King of Norway and his councilors,” said Paulsen. “It warms my heart that the accolade came with the recognition ‘Service for the good of humanity,’ for that is what the life of Christian service is all about,” he added.
The Royal Norwegian Order of Merit was founded by King Olav V in 1985 and is conferred upon foreign and Norwegian nationals as a reward for their outstanding service in the interest of Norway. The actual date when Paulsen will be presented with the insignia of the order has yet to be decided.
“It is a great honor for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Norway that the global service of Dr. Paulsen has been recognized in this way,” said Reidar J. Kvinge, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Norway.
Pastor Paulsen was the world leader of the Seventh-day Adventist Church from 1999 to 2010. He began his ministerial service in 1953 in Norway. His most recent book, Where Are We Going?, was published by Pacific Press Publishing Association in 2011. [Amended from Tor Tjeransen, communication director, Norwegian Union]
