Gerhard Pfandl is the former Associate Director of the Biblical Research Institute at the General Conference, now retired. He is a native of Austria and holds a Ph.D. in Old Testament from Andrews University. He has worked as a church pastor in Austria and in the Southern California Conference. From 1977-1989 he was Professor of Religion at Bogenhofen Seminary in Austria. Prior to taking up his present position in March, 1999, he served as the Field Secretary of the South Pacific Division from 1992-1999.