La Sierra University makes a significant statement

[Stan]

La Sierra University Won’t Neglect Creation Teaching, President, Chairman Vow

Open letter signals shift in two-year controversy

BY MARK A. KELLNER, News Editor

In an open letter welcomed by church leaders and members across North America, La Sierra University March 9 acknowledged serious problems in its teaching of origins over the last several years, and apologized for not having adequately communicated Seventh-day Adventist beliefs about creationism to its students.

‘We found that only 50 percent of the students surveyed agreed or strongly agreed that our Adventist view of creation was presented, and only 40 percent agreed or strongly agreed that our Adventist view was supported,’ LSU President Randall Wisbey and LSU Board Chairman Ricardo Graham wrote in the open letter accompanying the release of a Board-approved report on the controversy that has focused on the Riverside, California, campus for nearly two years. “‘This is not acceptable, and we apologize,’” the two leaders added.

Dr. Lisa M. Beardsley, education director for the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, said the statement from the school “is a step in the right direction. My prayer is that Adventist education at La Sierra University will grow and acknowledge its redemptive purposes.”

Larry Blackmer, NAD vice president for education, also saw promise in the university’s letter: “I am so pleased with the board and administration’s openness in addressing the issues that have concerned the church for the past few years. I found their statements to be sincere, looking to do what is right. This issue has been a controversy regarding the university for the past two years, and I hope with strong administrative follow-through, with monitoring by the board of directors and a continued commitment to the core values of the church, that this chapter can be closed and we can focus on the many wonderful things that are happening on the LSU campus.”

The school, which on February 8 had announced a site visit team’s finding by “Adventist Accrediting Association (AAA) [which] concludes that ‘in their opinion, and subject to AAA approval, La Sierra University should receive the maximum accreditation possible under AAA guidelines,’” has since withdrawn that online announcement. The full board of AAA will vote in April on a final accrediting recommendation for the school.

In its place, La Sierra has posted “An Open Letter Regarding the Teaching of Creation,” in which the school states its apology, adding, “Instruction at the university, while being strong in many areas, has not adequately presented the denomination’s position on the subject of creation,” according to the document.

“There is some evidence that students have not always been respected for their belief in the Biblical creation position,” the LaSierra statement said. In 2009, one LaSierra student said he’d felt that lack of respect: Louie Bishop told Adventist Review he was placed on “citizenship probation” by the school for circulating letters opposing the teaching of evolutionary concepts and for posting notes of a professor’s classroom lecture online.

Following consultation with its Board of Trustees at a Feburary 10 meeting, the university announced, “The Board adopted, and directed campus administration to implement, the following measures:

Accept and implement the recommendations from the Adventist Accrediting Association.

Develop faculty workshops regarding the challenges of teaching controversial topics such as those in biology.

Continue the work in progress, (as identified [elsewhere in the statement]).

Conduct regular follow-up surveys of biology students.

Provide the Board with ongoing candid and prompt reports of both progress and challenges in dealing with this issue.”

Moreover, the school said, “The university president and provost identified steps to address this issue that have already been taken or are currently in progress. These include:

Ensuring that all biology students discuss key documents relating to our Adventist belief regarding origins, including Fundamental Belief #6, [and] the 2004 Annual Council Reaffirmation of Creation, and Genesis 1 and 2.

Increased participation by the Church’s Geoscience Research Institute in planning the General Biology Seminar.

Ongoing refinement of the General Biology Seminar, based on student exit surveys and other input.

Attendance of biology faculty members at the Geoscience Research Institute summer workshop.

Continue the lecture series that presents a range of Adventist views on the integration of faith and science.

Establish dialogue with biology professors from sister Adventist colleges and universities.”

According to the statement, La Sierra’s “biology department specifically commits to:

Faithfully present the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s position on creation.

Respect every student’s religious beliefs.

Help students learn how to grapple with issues of faith and science in faith-affirming ways.

In conclusion, the statement said, “La Sierra University is committed to being an institution that does not just present the Church’s view of creation, but fully supports it. We pledge our commitment to work prayerfully and diligently to ensure that our mission to provide a rigorous and faith-affirming Seventh-day Adventist education is carried out on behalf of our students and our Church.”

Here's the full text of the voted report by the Board-appointed Creation-Evolution Study Group. The text of the open letter is available by clicking here.

Pastor Daniel Jackson, North American Division president, expressed hope at the news.

“I appreciate the expression of the La Sierra University administration and the Board in terms of their stated determination to promote the teachings of Scripture, in particular Creation,” Jackson said in a telephone interview. “My prayer would be that God would give them the commitment and resolve to see this matter through in a way that will be a blessing to students, faculty and the constituency at large. La Sierra University has had a reputation as an excellent institution; my prayer is that in this significant area of understanding, that God will bless the institutional leadership with wisdom as it implements its stated objectives.”

“The acknowledgment on the part of the Administration and Board that its teaching and support of Adventist beliefs on creation have been lacking is a positive first step,” said Norman Reitz, president of Adventist-laymen Services and Industries. “However, I hope that in LSU's implementation of the stated goal to uphold Fundamental Belief #6 (the world was created in six literal days) that fiat creation 'by the word of the Lord' would be treated as the norm and that the concept of evolution would only be taught descriptively as a worldview, not as a viable explanation of origins. We await future reports of the effective implementation by LSU of its goal to faithfully teach and strongly support the Biblical Adventist understanding on creation,” he added. -

David Asscherick, the Adventist pastor and evangelist whose open letter to church leaders in 2009 brought attention to the concerns at La Sierra University, also expressed optimism.

“I’m happy to see the university affirm the reality and seriousness of these issues, and I look forward to observing the implementation of their plan,” he said during a March 10 visit to the General Conference headquarters

Source

[Woody]

Woody Likes

[phkrause]

[doug yowell]

Sounds really positive, but I'm still a little skeptical. How does the Administration expect those teachers, who they previously defended as having NOT done what they now say was in fact done, to suddenly teach that which they previously swore they would never teach in the name of academic honesty? Was LLU's previous attitude and actions towards those who brought the original claims against the school's policies simply swept under the carpet as if it never happened? Hopefully I'm not seeing the whole picture.And hopefully all will end well.

[Bravus]

1. Not enough bloodshed (or, at least, jobshed) for your taste? Is that would it would take...?

2. It needn't be the same people, and arguably shouldn't. The biologists responsible for teaching about evolution will be told not to ridicule the beliefs of creationists - I'm not convinced they ever did, but if they did they shouldn't have. Someone else may well be tasked with teaching creationism.

This ought to be the end of the matter: the forces of reaction have basically got everything they wanted.

Can they be gracious in victory?

[Woody]

1. Not enough bloodshed (or, at least, jobshed) for your taste? Is that would it would take...?

2. It needn't be the same people, and arguably shouldn't. The biologists responsible for teaching about evolution will be told not to ridicule the beliefs of creationists - I'm not convinced they ever did, but if they did they shouldn't have. Someone else may well be tasked with teaching creationism.

This ought to be the end of the matter: the forces of reaction have basically got everything they wanted.

Can they be gracious in victory?

[Gerr]

But if those teaching evolution as fact and ridiculing creation are still in the faculty, will anything really change?

[Bravus]

Again, that assumes that there are such, something I'm far from convinced of. At least one of those who has been controversial has retired in any case.

And as I said above, the pledge is to ensure that creation is taught. It will be. Evolution will likely also continue to be taught.

If the evidence for creation is as overwhelming as assumed, that shouldn't be a problem...

[Sonny]

Evolution is a lie! It takes much more faith to believe that all we see now got here on it's own.

If I place some stone in a burlap bag and shake it for a billion years - I'm not going to get a Cadillac. Rather I'll have some polished stones.

God uses His creation (even though fallen) to prove His existence. When you look at life here on earth, when you gaze at the moon & stars, God reveals Himself. Who said this? Paul:

Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

Too allow evolution to be taught in SDA Universities is the same as teaching unbelief. As Paul states, those who reject God as the creator - their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools

[Bravus]

As I say, if it's that clear and obvious, and all La Sierra students are taught creation, then the necessity to teach evolution as an explanatory framework in biology classes shouldn't be a problem.

[Overaged]

Definitely a step in the right direction. It's all too easy to yea or nay one side or the other in this; but I think that one thing shows through pretty clear. The university itself admits to neglecting the official Adventist position; and now atleast there is some directive and purpose to start teaching this at the school. While some may continue to espouse evolutionary views, atleast creationism is being given a fair shake now.

[Gerr]

Again, that assumes that there are such, something I'm far from convinced of. At least one of those who has been controversial has retired in any case.

And as I said above, the pledge is to ensure that creation is taught. It will be. Evolution will likely also continue to be taught.

If the evidence for creation is as overwhelming as assumed, that shouldn't be a problem...

I have no problem with evolution being taught. It should be taught. But I do have a problem having a SDA teaching evolution as the more acceptable explanation of origins rather than creationism in a SDA school.

Since the non-Christian evolutionist (IMHO Christian evolutionist is an oxymoron) has a basic premise that there is no such thing as supernatioral (miracles), then no amount of evidence to the contrary will will convince them.

[John317]

This is great news. Hope it is all put into actual practice.

[John317]

Evolution is a lie! It takes much more faith to believe that all we see now got here on it's own.

....Too allow evolution to be taught in SDA Universities is the same as teaching unbelief.

I agree that the evolutionary theory is false, but don't you think that our students should be familiar with it since they will have to meet it and deal with it in their work and in their relationships with other scientists?

I have no problem with its being taught as long as it is taught alongside of creationism and it isn't taught as a fact but as a theory.

I fear that if our SDA science students aren't well familiar with it, it's likely that evolutionists will believe we reject it not because of knowledge but only because of ignorance of their theory. And if that is true, we can't expect them to take seriously anything creationists say.

[Sonny]

we can't expect them to take seriously anything creationists say.

Personally I think spiritual things are spiritually discerned. God has already revealed Himself through creation (see Rom chapter 1). Using intellectualism to reach folks for God doesn't work in my Biblical view.

[John317]

You do have a point there. :-)

[H. Lee]

The absurdity of this is incredible. To claim to be a SDA institution and only stand for the principles of God's Word when forced to is not the conversion that is needed. "He convinced against his will is of the same opinion still." If the servant of the Lord were here today she would make the same statement as when Dr. Kellogg was preaching pantheism at Battle Creek. "Do not send your young people to this institution." If an individual does not want to stand on the principles of this church then find another one. Let us stand firm on the Word of God - all of it! I pray our 'leaders' will find their backbones and forget the politics and money issues. Last I checked, God owned it all.

[H. Lee]

Since when do we have to study a lie to know how to stand for truth?! As a craftsman I have never found the necessity of studying the wrong way of doing things in order to prove that I do is right. Yet I am respected as a leader in my field. For that matter I never read where Jesus instructed His followers to go to the Pharisees to enhance their ability to reach the world.

[Tom Wetmore]

Personally I think spiritual things are spiritually discerned. God has already revealed Himself through creation (see Rom chapter 1). Using intellectualism to reach folks for God doesn't work in my Biblical view.

OK, where to start???

As expressed, a Biblical view would seem quite limited by a personal pronoun.

The lack of using ones intellect is sometimes self-evident... For some it may be a choice, but for others, choices are limited... I think it may be wiser, and some might say wisdom requires, the use of ones intellect to reach anyone. And Biblically speaking, as I recall the Author did say something like, "Come, let us reason together."

But most disturbing is an adventist (we are pro-education after all) giving voice to anti-intellectualism... Maybe one would do well to read Anti-intellectualism explained .

Finally, a bit of thought might reveal an apparent fallacy in trying to defend creationism, and I assume creation science, with the idea that spiritual things are spiritually discerned. (That does beg the question of what role intellect might have in discernment, spiritual or any otherwise...) So one would assume a lack of physical/material evidence in support of creationism? That the act of creation by God was only in the spiritual realm? That God's creation was not physical/material? That the Biblical creation account is just a spiritual metaphor to explain something beyond human intellectual comprehension? And wasn't spiritual discernment notably lacking among the target group of which Paul spoke, not to mention that the thing revealed somehow was not merely in the spiritual realm?

[cardw]

Quote:

The Islamic Republic of Iran, a theocratic regime established in 1979, effected its anti-intellectualism by replacing secular law with religion, thereby provoking the brain drain-emigration of most of Iran’s Western-educated and -trained intelligentsia. In 1980, the government closed the country’s universities until the curricula were ‘purified’ of the Pahlavi Dynasty (1925–1979) corruption. The assassination of the poet Saïd Soltanpour, in 1981, was the theocracy’s most notorious anti-intellectual suppression; and secular education remained proscribed until 1982.

This is exactly what is happening within Adventism. There is a purity movement and a restriction of free speech going on in the name of pure Adventism.

The proof of this is the total lack of evidence for creation and a complete failure to even present a scientific theory of creation.

The field of discussion is not based on evidence, but on dogma.

Dogma keeps people dumb.

[ChildofChrist]

All things being equal, are non-SDAs being hired to teach? IMO, that is where the devil finds his toe-hold.

What's next???..non SDA ministers standing in the pulpit? Would not be at all surprised.

[Amish]

Non SDA teachers have to be hired due to equal hiring practices, since the schools take federal monies for tuition grants. I agree this is a mistake. They could at least keep better control over curriculum, and if the non SDA teacher does not agree then they do not meet the requirements. This is the case in government schools all the time.

But that's not all!

The schools have been supporting Satan's Feminist Movement for quite some time. This is no different than supporting abortion or any other anti family agenda. FM is not only anti family it is anti culture country and church. God put His plan for the family in the adultry commandment and wants that we should all get married. Too many single people seeking college and work as alternative to family causes many problems in society including homosexaulity, fornication, and the sex addictions we see on the internet. Single people often break other families apart. The SDA church really droppped the ball on this. God's plan for the family is there for good reason.

[Woody]

All things being equal, are non-SDAs being hired to teach? IMO, that is where the devil finds his toe-hold.

What's next???..non SDA ministers standing in the pulpit? Would not be at all surprised.

Nothing wrong with non SDAs preaching God's word. If Rick Warren was in town ... I'd invite him to our pulpit. No question.

[Stan]

Here is a copy of the letter LSU published on their website

AN OPEN LETTER REGARDING THE TEACHING OF CREATION

How students learn about origins is a matter of significant concern in the Seventh-day Adventist Church today. La Sierra University has found itself the focus of this concern for much of the past two years.

The University Board of Trustees, administration, and faculty have heard and taken seriously the concern expressed by Church leaders and members, especially as expressed in the report and recommendations of the Adventist Accrediting Association following their regular November site visit. The Board appointed a study group to study the issue. It carefully reviewed the AAA report and the team’s counsel and issued a report that the La Sierra Univer- sity Board of Trustees voted to receive at its February meeting. The Board has directed cam- pus administration to implement the Board’s recommendations. The complete report can be found at http://www.lasierra.edu/fileadmin/documents/provost/LSU_Board_Report.pdf.

In order to get the most accurate and objective assessment of what students are learn- ing in La Sierra’s biology classes, the study group went directly to the source. It attempted to reach every student who studied General Biology or who graduated with a biology major for the past four years, plus the year 2000. It invited them to answer, anonymously, 17 questions focusing specifically on what they learned about creation and evolution, whether their per- sonal religious views were respected, and how the classes impacted their religious faith.

From those who have been enrolled in biology classes, the study group learned that the university is doing well in some areas. Two-thirds responded that their professors presented helpful ways of relating science and religious faith, supported their faithfulness to their reli- gious heritage, and encouraged faith in a personal God.

The survey, though, also showed areas in which we have fallen short of what we and our Church want for our students. We found that only 50 percent of the students surveyed agreed or strongly agreed that our Adventist view of creation was presented, and only 40 per- cent agreed or strongly agreed that our Adventist view was supported. This is not acceptable, and we apologize. We have already begun addressing this in meaningful ways to ensure that our biology program seriously addresses the topic of creation.

The study group’s findings also included:

• The biology faculty deserve recognition and respect for their work. Neither their pro- fessional competency as biologists nor their character and sincerity were questioned.

• Instruction at the university, while being strong in many areas, has not adequate- ly presented the denomination’s position on the subject of creation.

• There is some evidence that students have not always been respected for their belief in the Biblical creation position.

The Board adopted, and directed campus administration to implement, the follow- ing measures:

• Accept and implement the recommendations from the Adventist Accrediting As- sociation.

• Develop faculty workshops regarding the challenges of teaching controversial topics such as those in biology.

• Continue the work in progress, (as identified below). • Conduct regular follow-up surveys of biology students. • Provide the Board with ongoing candid and prompt reports of both progress and

challenges in dealing with this issue.

The Board affirmed its support for the president and his administration and entrusted them with the implementation of these recommendations. In addition, the Board committed to support the administration in these efforts and to focus on the more positive aspects of the university.

The university president and provost identified steps to address this issue that have already been taken or are currently in progress. These include:

• Ensuring that all biology students discuss key documents relating to our Adven- tist belief regarding origins, including Fundamental Belief #6, the 2004 Annual Council Reaffirmation of Creation, and Genesis 1 and 2.

• Increased participation by the Church’s Geoscience Research Institute in plan- ning the General Biology Seminar.

• Ongoing refinement of the General Biology Seminar, based on student exit sur- veys and other input.

• Attendance of biology faculty members at the Geoscience Research Institute summer workshop.

• Continue the lecture series that presents a range of Adventist views on the inte- gration of faith and science.

• Establish dialogue with biology professors from sister Adventist colleges and universities.

ways.

The biology department specifically commits to: • Faithfully present the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s position on creation. • Respect every student’s religious beliefs. • Help students learn how to grapple with issues of faith and science in faith-affirming

La Sierra University is committed to being an institution that does not just present the Church’s view of creation, but fully supports it. We pledge our commitment to work prayerful- ly and diligently to ensure that our mission to provide a rigorous and faith-affirming Seventh- day Adventist education is carried out on behalf of our students and our Church.

Randal Wisbey Ricardo Graham President Chair, Board of Trustees

SOURCE

http://lasierra.edu/fileadmin/documents/provost/OpenLetterReCreationLSU.pdf

[Overaged]

Tom; you sound like the Pope. Have you got the red shoes yet?