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James D. Standish was the communications director for the South Pacific Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, as well as head of news and editorial for RECORD, the official news magazine of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. James left this role in May 2016 on a leave of absence from denominational employment.
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Early life and career
Born in Australia, Standish has travelled widely and has lived in the UK, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and the US. He holds both Australian and US citizenships.
James' first job was in fifth grade, selling newspapers to motorists at the six-lane intersection of Whitehorse Rd and the Maroonda Highway in Melbourne. At 15, he graduated to teaching English to Laotian refugees in eastern Thailand.
He previously served as the Adventist Church's representative to the US Government in Washington DC, and the United Nations in New York and Geneva. From 2001-2008 and then 2009-2011, he was Director of Legislative Affairs for the Seventh-day Adventist Church World Headquarters. From 2008-2009, he was also executive director for the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.
During this time, he was presented twice at the White House and met President Obama and Vice President Biden. Standish has also met many other world leaders on behalf of the Adventist Church, including President Bush, Senators McCain, Kerry and Clinton, the Governor General of Papua New Guinea, Members of both the British House of Lords and House of Commons and the Prime Minister of Australia.
He has a Juris Doctor degree with honors from Georgetown University (Washington, DC), an MBA from the University of Virginia, and a BBA from Newbold College, England.
Education
Standish earned his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Georgetown University where he was president of the Georgetown University Church-State Law Forum and an editor of the Georgetown Journal on Poverty Law & Policy.
He earned his MBA at the Darden Graduate School of Business at the University of Virginia where he was news editor of the Darden News.
He also holds a BBA from Newbold College, England, where he was editor of the college newspaper and then served as president of the student association.
Appointments and Awards
Bar Memberships
Personal life
James is married and has two daughters. In his spare time, he enjoys scuba diving, tennis, playing the guitar, composing songs, writing and recreational reading.
Publications
From 2009-2010, Standish wrote a column on the Newsweek/Washington Post's 'On Faith' site.
He has authored numerous articles and reports, including scholarly articles for professional journals such as the American Bar Association's journal and the National Law Journal.
Standish has also written several articles for Liberty magazine.
As editor of RECORD, the official news magazine of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, he writes regular editorials and features.