Dr. Angel Rodriguez was elected September 27 to head up the Biblical Research Institute (BRI), a group of biblical scholars located at the world headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Silver Spring, Maryland, United States.

“The role of the Biblical Research Institute is critical, it is of utmost importance,” said Pastor Jan Paulsen, president of the Adventist world church. Church leaders and members rely on the leadership of BRI to continue to give “balanced and sound advice to the international church.”

“These biblical scholars are not living in an ivory tower,” he added. They are constantly facing a range of issues presented by church members and leaders around the world—ranging from ethics, to theology, to Christian life, said Paulsen.

Rodriguez will replace Dr. George Reid who, after 17 years as director of BRI, will retire at the end of this year. Rodriguez has served as an associate director of BRI for the past nine years.

“We are trying to develop a camaraderie among Adventist theologians around the world,” Rodriguez told Adventist News Network. “The church is growing tremendously, as is the number of Adventist theologians internationally. It is important to keep the dialogue open to preserve the message and mission of the church.  We continue to use as many Adventist theologians as we can in that task.” Rodriguez also paid tribute to Reid, saying he has “put together a good team.”

“Our most urgent need now is to select a fourth theologian for BRI,” he added.

The Adventist Church’s executive committee, who met September 25 to 27 at the church’s headquarters, voted unanimously to accept Rodriguez’s nomination.

BRI, established in 1956, is a resource of biblical scholarship for the world church, answering questions on biblical matters, publishing studies on different topics, presenting programs for minister’s meetings, and developing education courses for ministers.