9 Apr 2009, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States…Elizabeth Lechleitner/ANN
The Seventh-day Adventist Church's Exectuive Committee appointed a church-state relations expert this week to act as the worldwide denomination's liaison to the United Nations.
In his new position, professor and author Tiziano Rimoldi will work out of the world church's department of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty.
“It is encouraging to know that I am joining a department of very committed and expert colleagues,” Rimoldi said upon learning of his April 6 appointment.
Rimoldi, currently a professor of religion, rights and society at the Instituto Avventista di Cultura Biblica, holds a master's degree in Law from the University of Bologna, where he concentrated on church-state relations. He also earned a doctorate in Canon Law/Ecclesiastical Law from the University of Perugia.
Rimoldi replaces Jonathan Gallagher, who held the post for eight years.
Previously, Rimoldi served as senior accountant for the Adventist Church's Italian Union and held a post at the Longobardi Law Firm in Rome.
An Italian citizen, Rimoldi, 42, speaks Italian, is fluent in English and French and understands Spanish. He is widely published in academic journals in the areas of law and freedoms of religion. Currently, he is researching state financing of religion in Ireland and the development of an Adventist mission in Cameroon.
“With his strong background in international law and church-state relations, Rimoldi will explore new opportunities for the Adventist Church at the UN,” said John Graz, Public Affairs and Religious Liberty director for the Adventist world church. “His ability to lead coalitions and analyze resolutions will be an asset to the church's work in the realm of religious liberty.”
Rimoldi, who currently lives in Florence, is expected to move to the Silver Spring, Maryland area — where the church's world headquarters are located — when he secures his visa. In the meantime, Rimoldi will assume most of the responsibilities of his new post, including attending the next UN meeting, Graz said.
As UN liaison for the church, Rimoldi's duties will include attending the council of Human Rights in Geneva, meeting government delegations at UN headquarters in New York City, working with other non-governmental organizations and leading coalitions with agenda items concerning religious freedom.
