Dr. Ekkehardt Mueller retired from his position as associate director of the Biblical Research Institute (BRI) at the end of December 2020, after a long and very fruitful ministry.

Ekkehardt joined the BRI in 1997 and served as an associate director of the BRI until 2020. From 2011 to 2015 he also served as deputy director of the BRI. During his more than twenty-three years of service at the BRI, his work was blessed by the rich experience and expertise he brought to the task. Previously he had served as a pastor, and later as ministerial secretary, and director of the education department of the South German Union from 1993 to 1995, where he was responsible for the continuous education of pastors. He then served as ministerial secretary of the Inter-European Division (EUD, then Euro-Africa Division) in Berne, Switzerland, from 1995 to 1997, where he chaired the oldest Biblical Research Committee on the division level. Born in East Germany, Ekkehardt grew up in West Germany and earned two doctorates from Andrews University: a DMin in 1987 and a ThD in 1994 in New Testament studies with a dissertation focusing on the microstructural analysis of Revelation 4–11. Ekkehardt has been blessed with many outstanding abilities employed in his service for the Seventh-day Adventist Church and to God’s glory. What many may not know is that he is a talented artist and has painted many pictures. In addition, Ekkehardt is an accomplished musician who often accompanies his wife Geri, a music teacher, on the harpsicord or organ in concerts and in church settings.

With Ekkehardt’s retirement the BRI loses an exceptionally productive Adventist scholar. Over the course of his life, he has published more than 260 articles, some thirty book reviews, and authored some fifteen books that have been translated into many languages. He also edited six scholarly books, some of which will soon be available through the BRI. Ekkehardt also was the principal author of two Adult Bible Study Guides, on the book of Hebrews (2003) and the Johannine Epistles (2009). But his rich and prolific writing activities were only part of his work for the BRI. He also served as a guest lecturer at Zaoksky Theological Seminary (Russia), Samyook University (South Korea), Theologische Hochschule Friedensau (Germany), Washington Adventist University (United States), Seminar Bogenhofen (Austria), Saleve Adventist University (France), and Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies (Philippines), and was the speaker at many conventions and Bible conferences around the globe. While at the BRI, Ekkehardt served as secretary of the Biblical Research Committee for many years and initiated several new projects that have proven to be a great blessing, such as initiating the BRI newsletter Reflections, of which he served as editor from 2003 to 2009. He also chaired the Biblical Research Ethics Commission, which addresses important ethical issues and gives advice on church statements, and chaired the Theology Committee of the Faith and Science Council. Beyond this Ekkehardt worked with numerous division Biblical Research Committees around the globe. In this capacity he fostered a collegial atmosphere among Adventist theologians around the world that helped unite Adventist scholarship and connect it more closely with the church.

Ekkehardt is exceptionally loyal to the message and mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and was very dedicated in his work. Sometimes one would get the impression that he was doing the work of more than just one person! While he never delighted in theological controversy, he had the courage to take a biblical stand on important issues such as abortion and noncombatancy, to mention but two recent issues. If he considered it necessary, he spoke convincingly to voices on both the theological far left and far right and challenged all of us to focus more fully on what the Bible says. He also had a unique ability to foresee trends within the church and prepared statements that would help address issues from a biblical perspective. His strategic foresight helped the church respond to issues that confront us.

Perhaps one of Ekkehardt’s greatest strengths is not only his ability to present a superb theological exegesis of biblical passages and to think thoroughly, biblically, and theologically on issues, but also the rare talent he has of bringing to the theological task a warm pastoral heart. His rich pastoral experience helped him to see the other person as a human being who deserved respect and who should be treated with dignity and fairness, no matter how different his perspective on things may have been. This rare combination of rigorous and serious academic scholarship along with genuine pastoral concern can be seen in several of his publications. He developed and published Bible study guides to help train church members to give practical Bible studies. Several of his practical and sustained theological expositions have been included in the Minister’s Bible (published by Safeliz, 2015).

In his capacities as associate director and deputy director of the BRI, Ekkehardt Mueller has faithfully served the world church for many years with great dedication. His deep commitment to the Word of God and to the message and mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church has been obvious in all he did. His careful theological scholarship will have a lasting impact and will be a blessing for generations to come.