Dr. Gerhard Pfandl retires from his position as associate director of BRI at the end of January 2012. With him BRI loses an outstanding scholar and a wonderful colleague. He is a man of many countries and many interests. Born in Poland as an Austrian citizen, he attended Newbold College in England, continued his studies in Australia at Avondale College where he finished his first degree, and then worked as a pastor and teacher in Austria and as a pastor of the German Church in Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. He returned to Australia to serve as a field secretary of the South Pacific Division before joining the Biblical Research Institute in Silver Spring, Maryland in 1999. His wife Maureen is British. Their older son lives in California and the younger one in Switzerland.

Besides Old Testament Studies, Gerhard is well-versed in the wider field of biblical studies, Adventist history, and the writings of Ellen G. White.

Gerhard Pfandl began his career as a trained electrician but soon felt his calling to the ministry and to the field of theology. He earned his B.A. from Avondale College and his M.A. and Ph.D. from Andrews University, majoring in Old Testament. His doctoral dissertation, entitled “The Latter Days and the Time of the End in the Book of Daniel,” has been of great value in understanding important and significant elements of the apocalyptic prophecies of Daniel. But his interests are not limited to Old Testament studies. He is also well-versed in the wider fields of biblical studies, Adventist history, and the writings of Ellen G. White. He likes to collect many things, including coins and stamps, and enjoys listening to classical music. He is involved in his local congregation as head elder and has served as the secretary of the Adventist Theological Society.

Contributions to BRI

In Gerhard we have had an extraordinary man with a commitment to the message of the church that is hard to equal. Although he has constantly demonstrated his ability for doing constructive theology, he has also proven to be a fearless apologist of biblical faith. But in his work as defender of the truth he has shown respect for those who promoted views in opposition to the church and the Scriptures without conceding to their teachings. He has been characterized by the gift of spiritual discernment and has used it judiciously. His many articles have been a blessing for pastors and church members who were seeking answers to their own concerns.

The staff of BRI have another specific reason for missing him: His superior work as librarian of the Institute. This is a legacy that will continue to benefit those of us who remain as well as those who will join BRI in the future. One of his first assignments in the Institute was to develop the library and to make it a resource center for theological investigation for the members of BRI. As usual, he took the assignment very seriously and the result has been impressive. Thousands of volumes have been carefully selected and added to the collection, increasing the reference section to no less than four times its original size. What is surprising to us is that he accomplished this while at the same time being prolific in research and writing, traveling around the world for teaching assignments and conducting seminars, and in fulfilling many other assignments.

Some Personal Glimpses

Gerhard is a very friendly, God-fearing person. His dedication and faithfulness to the Word of God will continue to encourage others to follow his example.

Gerhard likes socializing with people, playing a game here and there, and encouraging others. His friendliness is contagious, his camaraderie exemplary, and he is always willing to go out of his way to help and support others. This he has often done for his colleagues at BRI when they were overburdened. He works so hard that occasionally he has to be reminded that he does not have to come to the office during his vacation. Another interesting dimension we have seen in Gerhard is that he keeps in contact with his former students and allows them to room with him at professional meetings if they do not have a travel budget. No wonder that they honored him with a Festschrift in 2007.

Gerhard loves his Lord, the Scripture, and the Church and its members. While we regret losing him as a colleague, we are grateful for the time we have spent together on a common pilgrimage. It was a real privilege to have worked with him shoulder to shoulder.

It is good news that, while Gerhard will be retiring from a full-time capacity at BRI, he will continue with us on a part-time basis. Thus, celebrating now what the Lord has done through his ministry in the past, we look forward in anticipation of even greater things that the Lord has in store for the church through Gerhard’s future ministry.