Symposium  II

Mark Pearce

Director, Ellen G. White Research Centre, Avondale University

Mark was born in Mackay, Queensland and grew up in a farming context. He graduated from Avondale College with a BA (PUC) in 1984 and worked as a church pastor first in the Northern Australian Conference (10 years) and then in the South Queensland Conference (24 years). He completed an MA Religion (Andrews University) in 1993, and then a BA Honours at the University of Queensland in 2007. He is currently completing a Postgraduate Certificate in Ellen White and Adventists Studies (Andrews University) while his PhD is on intermission. He worked at Pacific Adventist University as the inaugural Director of the Pacific Adventist Research Centre as well as teaching in the Theology faculty for 18 months prior to commencing his current role as Director of the Ellen G. White/SDA Research Centre at Avondale University in July 2020, which also includes teaching for the Seminary.

Darius Jankiewicz, PhD

Field and Ministerial Secretary, South Pacific Division

Darius Jankiewicz is the Field and Ministerial Secretary for the South Pacific Division. Until June 2019 he served as a professor of historical theology and chair of the Theology and Christian Philosophy department at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University, USA. Darius holds PhD and MDiv degrees from Andrews University and a BA from Avondale College, Australia. He is married to Edyta, and they have two young adult daughters, Caitlin and Ashley. His particular theological interests are soteriology (doctrine of salvation) and ecclesiology (doctrine of the Church) and the way these two doctrines interact in the life of the Church.

Chantal Klingbeil

Associate Director, Ellen G. White Estate

Chantal J. Klingbeil, M.Phil., Ph.D. Student, a native South African, is an Associate Director of the Ellen G. White Estate. Chantal began her career as a high school teacher, instructing students in English, Religion, and History from 1991-1994. Life then took her to the Universidad Peruana Unión in Lima, Peru, where she founded the Language Institute, serving as Director from 1995-1997. While in Peru Chantal began working as Adjunct Professor of English (1995-1999), a position that would lead to other professorships in academia — Assistant Professor of English, River Platte University, Argentina (2001-2005); and Assistant Professor of Composition and Thesis Research and Writing, Adventist Institute of International Studies, Philippines (2006-2009). Through the years Chantal has also worked as a copy editor and contributor to publications such as, DavarLogos and Serie monográfica de estudios bíblicos y teológicos de la Universidad Adventista del Plata (SMEBT), Journal of Asia Adventist Seminary, and Old Testament Abstracts. Before joining the White Estate in 2013, she hosted the Hope Channel’s Storyline television program, a weekly live exploration of biblical narratives and their meaning. Co-author of the book Illuminating Shadow Figures of the Bible, a 2010 Adult Bible Study Study Guide titled Background Characters of the Bible, and many other articles, Chantal currently develops multimedia resources for children, youth, and young adults, while managing social media for the White Estate. Chantal and her husband, Gerald, are the parents of three young adult daughters.