Dr. Ángel Manuel Rodríguez, director of the Biblical Research Institute since 2002, stepped into semi-retirement at the end of June. Dr. Rodríguez began his denominational service as a church pastor in Puerto Rico. Prior to joining the Biblical Research Institute as an associate director in 1992, he had served as president of Antillean Adventist University in Puerto Rico and as academic vice president at Southwestern Adventist University in Keene, Texas. He is the author of over three hundred published articles and book reviews and more than a dozen books in Spanish and English, such as Future Glory, Jewelry in the Bible, Spanning the Abyss, and Esther: A Theological Approach. He is editor of the series “Studies in Adventist Ecclesiology” of which the first volume, Toward a Theology of the Remnant, was published in 2009. Since 1995 he has written a monthly column for the Adventist Review.

Many Significant Contributions

But his writing activity was only part of his work for BRI. As Adventism’s top theologian, his tremendous learning has blessed the world church through countless Bible conferences, ministers’ meetings and church seminars. He has taught intensive courses in many of our seminaries and universities around the world and has led many informative tours of the Middle East. Under Rodríguez’s leadership, the number of scholars at BRI increased from four to five, BRI began a quarterly newsletter, the Institute library tripled its holdings, and BRI published four substantial books, as well as several manuscript releases, and held in 2006 an international Bible conference in Turkey for the scholars and theologians of the church. Dr. Rodríguez was the biblical-theological voice in many committees, not afraid to speak up when needed, but always doing it in a gentle and polite way. He articulated the Church’s position within the Church as well as to many others, including adherents of other world religions. He also skillfully chaired the semiannual meetings of the Biblical Research Institute Committee (BRICOM), occasionally challenging the approximately 40 scholars and theologians including some administrators to think further and deeper.

In apologetics, Rodríguez’s aim went beyond the defense of truth. One of his greatest strengths was in attempting to foresee future developments and prepare the church for these challenges. He was intentional about the role and the activity of the Biblical Research Institute, understanding the needs of the church and its theological problem areas. He also realized that some Adventist doctrines needed further clarification and therefore research. He felt, for instance, that the topic of ecclesiology had to be addressed, especially, but not only, Adventist remnant theology. He foresaw a future leadership challenge and urged that a process of accountability be established. He saw the danger of congregationalism at various levels of the church and recognized that well-known topics such as creation and the Sabbath had to be readdressed. He was concerned with the training and supervision of pastors and addressed issues of abuse. He met and debated with liberal and ultra-conservative theologians and church members as well as with representatives of independent ministries. In various ways he contributed to the ongoing process of preserving and shaping the theology of the Adventist Church.

Theological Unity a Special Concern

A special concern of his was and is the theological unity of the Church. In order to foster this unity he challenged the leadership to establish Biblical Research Committees within several world divisions. These committees, with the Biblical Research Committee, work closely with BRI to further theological unity in a diverse worldwide church.

Under Rodríguez’s leadership, the number of scholars at BRI increased from four to five, BRI began a quarterly newsletter, and published four substantial books.

BRI will miss his preeminent voice, which always demonstrated concern for the wellbeing, mission, and message of the Church and a genuine love for the Church. We are consoled by the prospect that Dr. Rodríguez’s well-deserved retirement will include further scholarly activity as he will remain a member of the Institute on a half-time basis and will continue to support the Church and his colleagues here in various ways.