Mourning for Dr. h.c. Manfred Böttcher

"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain" (1 Cor 15:10).

Friedensau Adventist University (FAU) is mourning for the former Director Dr. h.c. Manfred Böttcher (1 March 1926–12 September 2019). Manfred Böttcher died at the age of 94. He was the director of Friedensau Theological Seminary and Friedensau Institutions from 1982 to 1990. Manfred Böttcher, born in Stettin, studied at Friedensau Mission Seminary from 1947 to 1950. He was pastor in Leipzig and Dresden and was ordained in 1955. He was youth director and president of the North East Saxon Conference, then in the East German Union, and later president of the Thuringian Conference. From 1968 to 1982, he was president of the SDA Church in former East Germany and managed the SDA Church in difficult times.
During his time at Friedensau Theological Seminary, he contributed to the academic development and gave international students access to the seminary. In 1988, he was awarded an honorary doctoral degree in divinity by Andrews University (USA). Thanks to him and some other people, Friedensau Theological Seminary got state accreditation as a theological university in 1989/90. Even after his retirement, he still was a guest lecturer at Friedensau Adventist University and worked on a voluntary basis at the university library. Manfred Böttcher published numerous books, essays, and magazine articles and, at the same time, had great interest in the practical work in church, which he himself supported through his preaching activities. Even at his advanced age, he still showed interest in the development of the SDA Church and Friedensau Adventist University. We will miss his friendly nature, his encouraging words, and his intercession. We will cherish his memory.

The funeral service will take place on Monday, September 23, 2019, at 11:00 am. The funeral will take place right after the service at the forest cemetery in Friedensau.