On September 21, during the quinquennial General Assembly of the Swiss Union of the Seventh-day Adventist Church—held in Biel—26 delegates from 59 Swiss congregations elected the board and the executive management.
Composition of the Executive Management
The statutes of the Swiss Union stipulate that the responsibilities of executive management members at the union level, or at the level of the nationwide church leadership, must be filled by members of the executive management from the two regional church bodies, known as "associations". Additionally, there is an agreement between both associations that the positions of president and executive secretary of the Swiss Union will rotate every five years between the respective association presidents. Following this arrangement, Olivier Rigaud, the previous president of the Swiss Adventists, has transitioned to the role of executive secretary, while Stephan Sigg, the former executive secretary, has been elected as the president of the Swiss Adventists.
The 4,950 baptized adult Adventists in Switzerland are organized, according to language affiliation, into two associations: the German-Swiss Association (DSV) based in Zurich and the Fédération de la Suisse Romande et du Tessin (FSRT) located in Renens/VD. Together, these administrative regions form the Swiss Union, the national church leadership. Every five years, a General Assembly takes place with delegates from the congregations, who elect the board and executive management as well as approve reports and annual financial statements.
Newly Elected Board
The newly elected board consists of the following members: Stephan Sigg (President), Olivier Rigaud (Executive Secretary), Jascha Felix Stahlberger (Treasurer), Nicolas Walther (FSRT), Karin Hoareau (FSRT), Benjamin Mühlethaler (FSRT), Nicole Kral (DSV), and Esther Brawand Fuchs (DSV).
Slight Increase in Membership among Adventists in Switzerland
According to the report from the executive secretary, the number of Adventists in Switzerland has grown by 132 individuals over the past five years. By the end of 2024, there were 4,853 adult baptized members in Switzerland who gather for worship on Sabbath (Saturday), the biblical day of rest, in 59 congregations.
Institutions and Works of Adventists in Switzerland
The Adventists in Switzerland operate the Private School A to Z, in Zurich and Reinach; two youth centers in St. Stephan/BE and Les Diablerets/VD; three nursing and care homes in Epalinges/VD, Krattigen/BE, and Oron/VD; as well as two senior residences in Gland/VD and Krattigen/BE. They also run the Advent Publishing Switzerland in Krattigen and a shipping facility for French books in Renens. Furthermore, they offer "Hope Courses" and the Religious Education Institute (rpi) in Zurich, along with the "Institut d'Étude de la Bible par Correspondance" (IEBC) in Renens. The "La Lignière" clinic in Gland/VD specializes in rehabilitation for cardiovascular diseases.
Nationally, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA Switzerland), with an office in Aarau, is a partner organization of the Glückskette. The Adventist Press Service (APD Switzerland), based in Zurich, primarily serves secular and church media. The Swiss League for Life and Health, located in Zurich, offers holistic health promotion through seminars in approximately 40 local groups, focusing on physical, mental, spiritual, and social well-being.
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