Ulrich W. Frikart, president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Euro-Africa since 1995, announced his retirement in an August 12 letter to world church president Jan Paulsen.

Frikart, 67, said his early retirement on December 31 would eliminate the need to replace two major regional church officials simultaneously and lead to a “smooth and efficient” transition of leadership. Both Frikart and the region’s church treasurer were scheduled to retire in 2010.

Regional church leaders say Frikart’s successor will be nominated at the church’s Euro-Africa fall business meeting in Jongny, Switzerland. 

A Swiss native, Frikart previously served as departmental director and secretary of the church in Euro-Africa. During his presidency, Frikart promoted outreach to postmoderns and young people and updated church communication methods in an effort to keep the church socially relevant. 

In his retirement letter, Frikart thanked his regional coworkers and church administrators at Adventist Church headquarters in Silver Spring, Maryland for being “loyal and dedicated partners” in ministry.