Who Killed Azaria? W omen Pastors Begin Baptizing

- Journal of the Association of Adventist Forums Vohune 15 Number 2

THE GREAT CREATION DEBATE Beyond Arithmetic Conservative Takeover at Geoscience Odyssey of a Creationist

_, .. ,. __ ..... _... _,_ .. ___ .. _. F;el·e r!q.c:=--I:-'~\;;;;~~~-nT 'T p.ars ~-I,,-AL SDA-, ,- -,,- - Creatl·om·sm, _,'_ -_' - ___ _ -__-- '_ - -- _' SPECTRUM Editorial Board Consulting Editors Edward Lngenbeal Roy Bruuon Earl W. Amundson Anthropology Editor Ethics, Kennedy Institute President Kettering. Ohio Georgetown University Atlantic Union Conference Roy Branson Margaret Mcfarland Molleunu COUperul Eric Anderson Attorney Associate Editor Physician History Washington, D.C. Angwin, California Pacific Union College Charles Scriven LaVoane Neff Gene Daffern Roy Benton Publishing Physician Mathematics Downers Grove, Illinois Senior Editor· W-asliington;·~D.C. CQ)~mbia Uni90·.Coliege Ronald Nnmben Tom Dybdahl BoanieDwyer Bonnie Catey History of Medicine Journalism Writer/Editor University of Wisconsin Lorna Linda, California Wash.ington, p.C . .. News Editor Gary PattersoD Bonnie Dwyer TomDybdahl George Colvin President Edi~or Government Georgia-Cumberland Conference AIlc:!ntown, Pennsylvania Mattuscript Editor Claremont Graduate School Edward E. RobiDson Richard Emmerson Raymond Cottren ··Attorney Gene· Daffern Engluh Theology , Chicago, I!linois wall. W.ll. College Loma Linda, California Gerhard Svrcek-Seiler .. Book Review Editors Alvia L. Kwiram" Ged Fnller Psychiatrist Peggy Corbett·· Ch~mistry . Public Relations Vieruia, Austri~ University of Washington W~shington, D.C. ,Clrolyn Stevens Rennie Schoepflin Gary Load Lawrence ~ty Engluh History Old Testament Walla Wall. College Andrews Univers~ty SDA Theological Seminary .Editorial Associate Helen W~ n.ompsoD Rennie $choepflin Fritz G~~ Administration Penelope Kellogg Winkler History Tlieology Walla w.lI. College University of Wisconsin SDA Theological Seminary L.E.Tndet Editorial Assistant CharI.. Scriven F.E.}. Harder Education Dana Lauren West Theology Educational Administration Marienhoehe Gymnasium w.lI. Wall. College College Place, Washington West Germany Ottilie Stafford JorgeD HeDl'ikIeD Louis Venden English Artist Pastor Atlantic Union College Boston, Massachusetts Loma Linda Univeristy Church

Northern Pacific Association of Adventist Forums }o.... Brant Theology Wall. w.ll. Coliege President College Place, Washington Lyndrey A. Nil.. Directors Regional Representatives Communications AtlantiC Southern Howard University, Washington, D.C. Of Chapter Development Jo.... Homer T. Grace Emori Walter Donglu Business Nursing Administration Vice President Church History Hudson, Massachusetts Atlanta, Georgia Andrews ·University Edward Lagenbed Central Southern Pacific Systems Management Of International Relations Darrell}. Huenergudt Mike Scofield Kettering, Ohio Mo1leunu COa.,..... Attorney Business Physician Kimball. Ncbraska Anaheim, California Executive Secretary Angwin, California Claire HOlten Central Pacific Staff Attorney Of Membership Norman C. SOIl~Dg Washington, D.C. Ronald D. COple Physician Legal Consultant Business St. Helena, California Bndley Litchfield Silver Spring, Maryland Treasurer Columbia Attorney Richard C. Olborn Of Promotion· E. Theodore Agard Washington, D.C. Principal Richard B. Lewis, Jr. Radiation Physicist Secretary Takoma Academy Advertising Kettering Medical Center Villette AndenOD Takoma Park, Maryland Weston, Massachusetts .Kettering, Ohio Takoma Park, Maryland Editor Of Special Projects Lake Systems Manager Roy BraJIIOD GleanE •. Coe Donald Gillespie Don McNeil Ethics, Kennedy Institute Attorney Health Care Admiilistratio~ Comp.uter Programmer Georgetown University . Wes~ J:Iar.tford, Connecticut Stevensville, Michigan Spencerville, Maryland

SPECTRUM is a journal established to encourage quarterly by the Association of Adventist Forums. Direct • Seventh-day Adventist participation in the discussion of all editorial correspondence to SPECTRUM, 7710Carroll contemporary issues from a Christian viewpoint, to look Avenue, Takoma Park, Maryland 20912. Manuscripts without prejudice at all sideS of a: subject, to evaluate the should be typewritten, double spaced and in matters of merits of diverse views, and to foster Christian intel­ style and documentation, conform to A Manual of Style lectual and cultural growth. Although effort is made to (University of Chicago Press). Submit the original and ensure accurate scholarship and discriminatingjudgment, two copies, along with a self-addressed, stamped enve­ the statements of fact are the responsibility of contrib­ lope. Responses from readers may be shortened before utors, and the views individual authors express are not publication. necessarily those of the editorial staff as a whole or as individuals. Subscription Information: In order to receive SPEC- The Association of Adventist Forums is' anonsubsi- TRUM, send a membership f~e ($15 per 4 issues, except dized, nonprofit organization for which gifts are deduc- $18 in Canada and in other foreign countries; $2 less for tible in the report of income for purposes of taxation. The students) to Association of Adventist Forums, Box 5330, .....publishing.o.£:SPECTRUM.dependsonsubscriptions,.gi£ts ... ;.Takoma.J)ark, ... Mary:land20912;..~.P.hone:.~301.}270d)423... 1i0011~~u~ffn¥t$' . ot:::me:: ... ~~~ !1la}cEept1~.Eil4i":£atlj~ehd:ixmi,4e" - contributors and the staff. out to the Association of Adventist Forums. For address Editorial Correspondence: SPECTRUM IS published changes, send old address label along with the new @ 1983 All rights reserved. address. Litho USA 1

In This Issue Vol. 15, No.2, August 1984 From The Editor A Church Of, By, and For the People Roy Branson 2 Articles Women Pastors Begin Baptizing Judith P. Nembhard 7 Who Killed Azaria? Adventists on Trial in Australia Lowell T arling 14 Special Section: The Great Creation Debate The Conservative Restoration at Geoscience Edward Lugenbeal 23 Fifty Years of Creationism: The Story of An Insider Richard Hammill 32 Odyssey of An Adventist Scientist . Roy Benton 46 Beyond Arithmetic: The Truth of CreatIOn F.E.]. Harder 54

Responses

ministerial licenses in the Seventh-day Ad­ About This Issue ventist denomination. They have begun 1 or many years, Ad­ baptizing new members into the church. An Fventist scientists essay in this issue explores how this has have met just before the annual meeting of taken place, and draws attention to some of the many women in the history of the the Geological Society of America. In t~e Adventist church who have received minis­ autumn of 1983, Richard Ritland and BIll terial licenses. Hughes, both members of the Andrews Other changes coming in the church­ University department of biology, orga­ particularly its structure-continue to be nized three days of lectures celebrating the discussed in this issue. Some may justifiably 25th anniversary of the founding of the wonder if questions about organization are Adventist Geoscience Research Institute. the most fundamental facing our church. Ritland, a former director of the Institute, But even apparently unrelated issues such as and author of Search for Meaning in Nature: A whether Adventist women may receive New Look at Creation and Evolution, selected as ministerial licenses become questions of speakers several past members of the Insti­ how much authority local conferences enjoy tute. We thank Dr. Ritland and Dr. Hughes in applying General Conference policy to for permitting us to print the views of four their regions. who participated in the conference they Finally, we introduce to our readers the planned. Dr. Edward Lugenbeal contri~­ most celebrated murder case in the history uted not only his own essay, but also hIs of Australia. Those convicted of the crime editorial skills and energy in preparing this are faithful Adventists in good and regular cluster of articles for publication. standing. The second and concluding install­ Women pastors in North Amer~ca ~a~e ment will appear in the next issue. recently expanded the scope of theIr ~I~IS­ tl:Y,-·and~~te welL.on".the _w.ay.tQX~CelYJn~ -The.J~;(;ktgrs . Prom the Editor A Church Of, By And For the People

by Roy Branson

n a few weeks Adventism: the historical, the corporate, I Annual Council will and the representative. Recently, denomi­ be asked by a commission chaired by Francis national leadership has had difficulty con­ D. Wernick, vice president of the General tinuing to claim authority on the basis of Conference, to recommend to the 1985 historical or corporate models. Careful General Conference Session alterations in analysis of the structure of the church the way the church carries out its business. reveals that denominational leaders can also The reports of the commissions on church no longer say that their authority is based on structure established by the Pacific and the church being representative. Now, the North Pacific Unions, various local con­ higher the officers the less representative ferences and the Association of Adventist their selection, and in a church that claims Forums have already made a chorus of to be "truly representative," the less legiti­ suggestions for improving the church (see mate their authority. Spectrum, Vol. 14, No.4). What emerges at General Conference must be more than cosmetic, half-way measures. What is Historical Model necessary is nothing less than completely reestablishing the basis for the authority of church leadership. The historical model Adventists want to respect their elected places authority in leaders. But those officials themselves now the hands of those providing persuasive wonder if they actually have the authority interpretations of the inspired writings on they supposed. General Conference leaders which the church was founded. In early could not remove union conference officials Adventism, those with the most convincing involved with Davenport (see Spectrum, Vol. interpretations of the Bible were often 13, No.4). A local conference committee acknowledged as the leaders of the move- has authorized granting ministerial licenses ment. Even Ellen White usually waited until to women, even when some General James White and other students of Scripture Conference officials objected (see pages 7 came to a consensus before she publicly to 13). endorsed their views. After Ellen White's Legitimation of authority differs accord- death, the president of the General Con- ing to which model of the church prevails. ference, A.G. Daniells, continued to -======::::;''::::;' '::J-flr:~MF"-·:;tc, ":ge:;~sr=rlw;:t::' ,,:::::,,·tt-'H'm~;~e==htt~:n;;p" ~re--=be~"-::t' ')l1"':.gett=:ttt"'::::;' -u'lt1np:g;' 'OOl' tl::'tt;a:alll:11tt:;:;;,,~it.tn=,- ;;::;,;;;tb~~utlt:tt1r~-umn¥~e.wng;hi~ Volume 15, Number 2 3 knowledge of Ellen White's thinking. To a ment of public affairs, warned that the significant degree, subsequent presidents Adventist church was more and more often based their authority on conforming to Ellen being referred to as a corporation. The White's writings, housed within the Ellen church, he said, must never forget that it is G. White Estate at General Conference first and foremost a church, not a business. headquarters. But Adventism, committed to spreading the However, authority to interpret Scrip­ gospel as widely and rapidly as possible, ture and the writings of Ellen White has easily puts premiums on the corporate spread beyond the top administrators of the values of effectiveness and efficiency. Pas­ denomination. Milestones include the pub­ tors and evangelists have long been eval­ lica tion of the Seventh-day Adventist Bible Com­ uated in terms of numbers. The develop­ mentary in the 1950s; it was clearly the work ment during the 1970s and 1980s of Adventist of Adventist scholars, not church execu­ Health Systems, U.S.-the seventh largest tives. Not only the establishment of a semi­ health system in America, after New York nary, but the requirement in the 1960s that City's Municipal Health and Hospitals every pastoral candidate in North America Corporation-provided the church with a should be instructed by professors at the concrete example of how the corporate Seminary, acknowledged the central role of model can foster growth. Aggressive con­ theologians in the church. A small, quiet ference administrators listened more atten­ committee on "defense literature" eventu­ tively to Adventist business executives and ally became, in the 1970s, the Biblical began reading the literature of corporate Research Institute, staffed and headed by America. academics. The Glacier View Conference Within such a framework, the church, on Desmond Ford's theological views and like the corporation, is understood as an theological Consultations I and II in the organization that must achieve clearly 1980s, relied on presentations by academics. defined-even quantifiable-goals. The Indeed, much of the subsequent controversy church has a bottom line: baptisms, tithes about those conferences revolved around and offerings, and returns on investments. just what the scholars attending them Some conferences have adopted the no­ 1 actually said and believed. menclature of the corporation and now call t .--~-.. --.------. -- Over the last decade, interpretation of their secretary and treasurer "vice president Ellen White's writings has extended beyond for administration" and "vice president for the personnel of the White Estate at General financial affairs." The emphasis subtly Conference headquarters to trained his­ underscores the hierarchical relation of all torians at Adventist colleges writing to the other officers to the president, rather than to membership at large. However they may the conference committee or constituency. quarrel with a given professor, adminis­ Indeed, hierarchical relationships are not so trators have recognized that, increasingly, much justified as they are assumed. If church members consider trained academics objectives are going to be achieved, de­ to have authority in interpreting inspired cisions sometimes need to be made quickly writings, authority distinct from that of by someone clearly in charge. If they prove church executives. to be right, an administrator is promoted to Corporate Model a higher position, with more people im­ plementing his decisions. If the decisions are wrong, he is replaced. t the 1983 Annual Management-by-objective, taken from A Council, B.B. Beach, corporate America, was adopted by pro­ a former history professor, who now is the gressive church executives. Systems analysis dir.ect'?£:;~2ft~~ .. Q~¥ra!.Conference. .de tart-. ... hashecQme,. .pQP.ularJ.Mote~s.ymhQJic.ally,. but 4 SPECTRUM just as revealingly, local and union con­ tive form of government is that which pre­ ference headquarters are built to the vails in the Seventh-day Adventist church." dimensions of corporate headquarters. The It is not surprising that the founders of the planned General Conference building is Seventh-day Adventist Church were com­ being placed in an industrial park setting, mitted to a structure similar to that of the next to several headquarters of corpora­ United states, a nation they thought God had tions. The General Conference building, guided in its adoption of republicanism and a after all, should be as impressive as any other constitution guaranteeing self-government multinational organization with total assets to its citizens. when the church was much of over $5 billion, larger than many Fortune smaller, fewer layers of administration 500 corporations. When church officials came between the members and the General laud each other for their sacrifices on behalf Conference leadership. The will of mem­ of the church, they do not refer to the bers could be expressed more directly than it prominent non-Adventist pulpits or tele­ can be at present. vision ministries they could have held, but to Now, if the church has a "representa­ the high-salaried, corporate jobs they could tive form of government," it is a form have filled. unknown to the democracies of Western However, for the forseeable future, Europe, North America, or Australasia. At church members in North America will not least six levels separate members from the be able to respect church officials for their highest leaders of the church. * Members do management skills. For one thing, members not choose delegates to local conference have come to realize that in the area of constituencies of the unions; the local publishing, hundreds of thousands of dollars conference committees make those selec­ are lost every year because of duplication in tions. The delegates chosen by conference Adventist printing facilities in North committees to union constituencies are America and unimaginative means of distri­ predominately clergy (two-thirds to three­ bution. If denominational leaders were to fourths are typical ratios). The union persist in trying to rest their church committees elected are even more heavily authority on their managerial acumen, there dominated by church employees, and in is the Davenport case. Not only was so much North America, it is these clerical union money lost in certain parts of North committees that select delegates to the America that salary increases of pastors and General conference Sessiori. In preparation teachers have been imperiled, but some of for the last General Conference in 1980, it the most prominent leaders of the denomi­ was necessary to urge committees selecting nation violated the minimum moral stan­ delegates to at least try to see that 10 percent dards practiced in American corporations. of the delegates elected to the General Conference Session were laypeople. Finally, the General Conference Committee also selects delegates. As recently as the 1975 Representative Model General Conference Session, just those delegates selected by the General Confer­ ence comprised 40 percent of those eligible ecent developments to vote at the General Conference Session. Rmake it difficult for The structure of the church beyond the church leaders to find legitimation within local conference could be described as a historical or corporate models, but the representative democracy only if one present church structure also prevents them thought the United States could be called a from truly "representing the world field." representative democracy if the governors The Church Manual says that "a representa- of the 50 states ( e:l~_~te_~.Qy F~gEle the Volume 15, Number 2 5 governors had helped to get their jobs), power, the more imperative it becomes that together with their cabinets, designated denominational officials be democratically their subordinates in the state governments elected. Greater concentration of power in as 60 percent of the delegates to a fewer hands never prevents its abuse. convention that elected the President of the Instead, those in power must be made United States. The remaining 40 percent of accountable. The greater the ability of lay the delegates would have been selected by members to determine which of their the incumbent president, his staff, and cabinet, or would be delegates because they occupied certain positions in the federal Now, if the church has a "representa­ government. Finally, the convention dele­ tive form of government, ,; it is a form gates-all of whom belonged to one party­ unknown to the democracies of would vote on only one name. Western Europe, North America, or The parallel to the way the top leadership Australasia. of the church is elected today is not Western representative democracy. A closer com­ parison is the forms of government found employees will lead them, the more in­ in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics formation members will have and the less and the People's Republic of China. No likely the secret abuse of power will doubt these governments achieve goals. But become. whatever else those regimes are, they are Fortunately, a more representative not representative democracies-neither is church structure will not only reflect the the present structure of the Seventh-day will of its members; it will also allow leaders Adventist Church. Right now, the members to be more effective. Denominational of the church have virtually nothing to say leaders will be able to convince better well­ about selecting those who decide denomina­ informed members to support major, long­ tion-wide policies and the allocation of the overdue changes without threatening the largest percentage of their tithes and unity of the church. Now, leaders some­ ---- offerings. times hesitate to take the decisive actions j any corporate executive would put into effect to improve the efficiency and effec­ tiveness of his organization. (One example is The Future the long postponed reorganization of Ad­ ventist publishing, including the role and function of colporteurs.) A more represen­ n the wake of the tative church will bring discussion into the I Davenport case, it open more quickly and force action earlier. may be tempting for church leaders to The leadership of this denomination recommend to the General Conference should be influential. But that influence can Session that the central authority of the no longer be based on definitive interpreta­ church should be strengthened; that, for tions of Scripture or the writings of Ellen G. example, the General Conference Com­ Whi te. Nor, at least for a long time in North mittee should be able to convene a meeting America, can leadership expect to be of a union conference constituency, even if a followed because it enjoys a reputation for recalcitrant union executive committee sound, corporate management. objects. The fastest way for denominational Certainly, duly-elected officials of the leaders to regain the widespread respect and church must have the power to carry out confidence of Adventist members is to go I Jh~ir___ re~EQ:n~ibjli!t~s.J?l1tthe g~~_Clt~r t~ei~ 4i.~ect!y_~t() _t_h~ p~()P!e:T ~a~~()~ey~~~~is,_ • .-'-~ ."'.~ .--:". <--. :.- . .•• ••. .••. • _. - •• - •• f 6 SPECTRUM three basic changes need to be made in the important than institutional frameworks is present structure of the church. the quality of life the family of faith embodies-its sacrificial service to others, • One step is to reduce the levels of powerful preaching, and moving theology. administration between the members and But even if reforming structure is in­ the General Conference (for example, in sufficient, it is necessary. How we act as a North America, eliminating union confer­ group significantly defines our identify as ences ). Adventists. Our structure must reflect and • Another badly needed change is to see express our faith. Members should have an that laypeople-those not employed by the equal opportunity to participate in selecting denomination-comprise at least 50 percent those who lead the church because our of constituencies electing officers at each fundamental beliefs affirm the equality of level of the church, including the General members. Conference Session. God the Creator gives all members a • Third, and very importantly, delegates capacity to perceive truth, to know the to the General Conference Session should good. Unfortunately, the freedom given by be elected by local conference constituen­ the Creator allows us to reject Him, and to CIes. dominate and manipulate others. All of us have the capacity for insights; yet none­ Adopting the three proposals made here even in the church-can be trusted with un­ would overnight make the highest levels of checked power. God the Savior offers grace the church leadership accountable to the to ,all, equally. All respond directly to the membership, instead of a narrow group of offer of salvation; none is closer to God than fellow employees. At the same time, another because of his or her position in the General Conference leaders, since they church. God the Spirit came as tongues of would be elected as directly by the people as fire to all the dis«iples, and the spirit now any other level of church administrators, endows all believers with gifts, calling all to would have greater assurance they do be part of the priesthood of believers. As our indeed speak for the church. Protestant forebears insisted, members have the right to participate in interpreting God's will for the church; indeed, as much as any­ mproving the struc­ one, they are the church. I ture of the church We must renew the Protestant and Ad­ will not by itself bring a resurgence of the ventist vision of a truly representative Adventist movement-any more than re- church. We must be faithful to our heritage.

NOTES AND REFERENCES

*First level: Local conference constituency (electing Fourth level: Union conference executive committee local conference officers and executive committee). (selecting delegates to General Conference Session). Second level: Local conference conference executive Fifth level: General Conference Session (electing committee (selecting members of union conference General Conference officers and General Conference constituency). Committee ). Third level: Union conference constituency (electing Sixth level: General Conference officers and General union conference officers and executive committee). Conference Committee W Olllen Pastors Begin Baptizing

by Judith P. Nembhard

· n Sabbath, Feb. 25, extent to which a local conference has the O 1984, Marsha Frost authority to set policy in its own territory. co-pastor of the Fairfax and Arlington, Va., In the North American Division, three Seventh-day Adventist churches, baptized conferences (Potomac, Southern California, Teresa Maria Castano, a young mother and Upper Columbia) employ a total of nine whom Frost had led to Christ. Two weeks women ,as pastors. Daffern, Frost, and later, on March 10, during the worship hour, Wiegand now hold commissioned minister Jan Daffern, associate pastor of the Sligo licenses, a special license granted only to Church, baptized Patty Parks, a 20-year-old women, and are ordained local elders. The community college student with whom she women have ministerial training. Frost, a had studied. Yet another baptism took place graduate of Southern College and valedic­

on June 2 at the Beltsville Church when torian of her 1982 class at the Seventh-day j -,------Frances Wiegand, associate pastor" bap­ Adventist Theological Seminary, holds the tized 18-year-old Mike Manimbo and four master of divinity degree. Wiegand grad­ seventh-grade girls, all of whom had studied uated from Southern College with a bach­ with her for several months. These baptisms elor of arts degree in religion and earned a in the Washington metropolitan area, the master of arts in religion from the seminary first by Adventist women in North Amer­ in 1979. Daffern will receive the master of ica, have touched off much discussion and divinity degree from the Seminary this year. debate in Adventist circles. The events have The three women have served from three to generated little or no controversy among five years in the Potomac Conference. pastors or in most local congregations; On Feb. 11, 1984, the Potomac Confer­ however, some General Conference of­ ence Executive Committee authorized eight ficials (several of whom attend the congre­ ordained local elders to perform baptisms. gations involved) have protested strongly In taking this action, the executive com­ against the baptisms. In fact, the baptisms mittee noted that have posed more than the question of who The Potomac Conference has given pastoral responsi­ can baptize. They also raise the issue of the bilities to a number of individuals who are not cre­ dentialed or licensed individuals. Therefore, the Potomac Conference Committee approves the concept (to grant permission to baptize) and authorizes Judith P. Nembhard, assistant professor of English at administration to extend the permission to baptize to Howard University, received a bachelor's from credentialed and licensed commissioned ministers who Columbia Union College and her doctora te from the are assigned a pastoral responsibility. They must be a ~niv:~rsi ~oL - -~ . 1~S3lel.d~rJsic) in-the,.chur-:ChLchun;hestow~ic~_t~ey: .- 8 SPECTRUM

are assigned and the authority to baptize is only valid studies with Patty Parks, a Montgomery for the duration of their pastoral assignment. College student who had been introduced to In addition to the three women, the action Adventism by a student from Columbia also involved five men who are ordained Union College. Then Patty, a Roman local elders. On the strength of the Feb. 11 Catholic, decided to be baptized. The same authorization, the female pastors proceeded executive committee action which had with plans to baptize. allowed Frost to perform the earlier baptism Marsha Frost met Teresa Castano served as the basis of Daffern's March 10 through Teresa's sister, who had been taking baptizing. In preparing to perform the rite, Bible studies from Frost. Teresa, eight Daffern says she found both Sligo senior months pregnant when she moved to the Pastor James Londis and Potomac Con­ Arlington area from Minnesota, received ference President Ron Wisbey "very sup- much support from Frost. When Teresa portlve.. " went into labor prematurely, Frost took her Neither Daffern nor Frost told their to the hospital and, as Teresa's pastor, was candidates that they might not be able to allowed to be with her during the Caesarean­ baptize them, and there was no build-up of section delivery of her baby boy. Frost says tension before the event, the women point that she and Teresa developed a bond which out. In the Arlington Church, according to led to Teresa's decision to be baptized. She Frost, the focus was on Teresa. The service would have felt personally "let down" if she took place at the vesper hour, and three had not been allowed to baptize Teresa, church members-the church clerk, the Frost now says, but adds that if the head elder, and the head deacon-wel­ conference had not given its permission, she comed Teresa Castano into church fellow­ still would have entered the baptismal water ship afterwards. The reaction has been with Teresa. However, Frost's husband, overwhelmingly positive, says Frost. There Jim, with whom she co-pastors, would have was no negative feedback from the 60 people done the baptizing. who attended the service. The head elder For three months J an Daffern held weekly remarked: "You know, there was some-

Women Ministers in Adventist History: An Overview by Josephine Benton

pot-checking the Ad­ 1881, p. 392). The committee did not adopt the Sventist Yearbook for resolution but in 1904, five women in as many every fifth year from 1910 through 1975 reveals 32 different conferences were listed as licensed minis­ different women who were licensed ministers, some ters. If every year in the Yearbook were checked, one of them serving over a period' of decades. Other can only guess what the total might be. The follow­ women served as evangelists, pastors, missionaries, ing are only a few of the women who have held and administrators. ministerial positions during the early years of the The early categories of ministers were creden­ Seventh-day Adventist Church: tialed (ordained) ministers, licensed ministers (licen­ • Dr. Caro: Dr. Caro was aNew Zealand dentist tiates), and people who held the missionary license. with an excellent practice. Ellen White wrote of At the General Conference Session of 1881, the her: "She is a queenly woman, tall, and every way delegates voted that the following resolution be proportioned. Sister Caro not only does her busi­ passed on to the General Conference committee for ness, but she has a ministerial license and bears study: "Resolved that females possessing the neces­ many burdens in their church at Napier" (Manu­ sary qualifications to fill that position may, with script 22, 1893, p. 2). perfect propriety, be set apart by ordination to the • Minnie Sype: Mrs. Sype was an evangelist work of Christian ministry" (Review Herald, Dec.20, whose husband was listed as a credentialed inis- Volume 15, Number 2 9 thing different about this service. It's the baptism was postponed. Dan Goddard, first time I have seen a woman baptize. I like Beltsville's senior pastor, points out that of it." The reaction has been similar in the the active church membership, about 25 Sligo Church: Daffern says they have percent are General Conference employees, received between 15 and 16 letters of and, says Goddard, this high concentration support and only one negative comment thus of General Conference personnel seems to far. Sligo Pastor Jim Londis calls the baptism make accepting baptism by a female pastor "a positive thing, a powerful symbol" for difficult. Between the last Sabbath in April women in the congregation, some of whom and the third Sabbath in May, Goddard came to him in tears after the service. preached a series on the role of women in the For Frost, the authority to baptize is not a church. He says that at that time he sensed right which she has finally achieved but" an among even non-General Conference em­ opportunity, a fulfillment of my ministry." ployees an "antagonism to the idea of She finds it personally beneficial "to have women in the ministry." the official church recognize the call God has given me." To Daffern, the baptism opens the door for the recognition of trong objections to women's ministry. "It gives the congrega­ Sthe executive com­ tion a heightened awareness that I actually mittee action of Feb. 11 surfaced among am a mInIster." " General Conference officials, who felt that Frances Wiegand's experience has been policy had been viola ted, that there had been somewhat different from those of the other a too liberal interpretation of the Church two women. Since January 1984, she had Manual. The Manual (1976 revised, p. 86) been studying with Mike Manimbo, a high states: "In the absence of an ordained pastor, school student. Wiegand says that she had the elder shall request the president of the been scheduled to baptize Mike on May 12, conference or local field to arrange for the but there had been too much resistance to administration of the rite of baptism to those the event in the Beltsville Church; the desiring to unite with the church. "The Feb. sionary as was the Bible worker who assisted her. she conducted throughout northeastern Pennsyl­ She held tent meetings, debated non-Adventist vania, she organized several new churches. Many ministers when necessary (she didn't enjoy it), young interns got their introduction to the minis­ conducted' quarterly meetings' (communion ser­ try under Jessie Curtis' supervision. vices), and showed a cheerful, resourceful, vir­ • Mrs. E.B. Lane: Married to a minister, E.B. tually indomitable spirit. She appears in the Year­ Lane, she was a highly acclaimed preacher as well book first as a licensed minister in Oklahoma in as a licensed minister. 1904, and last as a minister in the Southern Union • Mary E. Walsh: Extremely active in the in 1945. church during the 1940s, 1950s, and the 1960s, Ms. • Mrs. J .S. Wightman: A licensed minister in Walsh conducted evangelistic meetings and Bible the Central Union Conference during the early studies in churches and homes in the United States 1900s, she did a great deal of preaching and public and Europe, as well as in Mexico. She now lives speaking. During 1909, when Sunday law legis­ in Glendale, Calif. lation was an issue, Mrs. Wightman addressed the Missouri Legislature on the subject. • Anna Lo: She carried her ministerial license Josephine Benton, associate professor of humanities during the mid-1940s and was connected with the at Montgomery College, previously served as Kwangsi Mission in China. associate pastor of the Sligo Church, and for three • Jessie Weiss Curtis: Mrs. Curtis, who died in years senior pastor of the Rockville Seventh-day 1972 at 89, was a well-known minister in the Adventist Church. She is currently doing research Conference during the 1940s, 1950s, on a history of women pastors in the Adventist 10 SPECTRUM

11 authorization notes that "in spite of the was held to discuss the issue. Present at that wording in the Church Manual, 'in the meeting were C. E. Bradford, vice president absence of an ordained minister,' leaders of for North America, and J.W. Bothe, the General Conference assure us it is associate secretary of the General Confer­ understood that local elders can be autho­ ence for North America. Concerning his rized to conduct baptisms." According to presence at the meeting, Bradford says that executive committee member Nancy Mar­ he had been invited by the president of the ter, a layperson from Silver Spring, Md., conference, who, in Bradford's words, "felt "We were told tha t this had been discussed himself between a rock and a hard place." with people high in the General Conference, Bradford, in turn, invited Bothe to attend and the conference leadership thought that "as an expert witness" and because "he is a they were in order in interpreting in this good policy man. " way what was said." Londis, also an This meeting, Frances Wiegand explains, executive committee member, was "skep­ was a time to resolve conflicts. At issue was tical" and "apprehensive" of the General policy. The General Conference representa­ Conference's willingness to interpret the tives, Bradford and Bothe, maintaining Manual liberally, but he had "no theological their support for church policy, asked the reservations" about the correctness of the executive committee to withdraw its auth­ move to allow women to baptize: "If the orization of women baptizing. Instead, the church will not see fit to change the manual, committee voted to support the women in then the church is in defiance of the will of their ministry. Executive committee mem­ God," says Londis. ber Russell Isaac, an insurance representa­ tive, says that the committee thought the best way to solve the problem was to license All of the principals involved in the the women, since they had already met all current situation agree that there is no the criteria for licensing as stipulated in the theological reason to exclude women Manual. The executive committee, there­ from the ordained ministry. fore, voted 18 to one, to issue ministerial licenses to Jan Daffern, Marsha Frost, and Frances Wiegand. The committee action The executive committee in the past had states: requested two or three times that the Because of our concern for the value of the souls now General Conference make some movement being prepared for church membership, we will con­ tinue to support the baptisms planned on the basis of our on the issue of women being granted the earlier action (February 11, 1984) to proceed. ministerial license, but the General Con­ This is to give the North American Division appro­ ference refused each time even to discuss the priate time to study Potomac's concern for women in issue. The Potomac Conference, therefore, ministry. We will not implement the following action until after Annual Council 1984 .... "had to do something," Londis says. Both We recommend that the Potomac Conference the conference president, Ron Wisbey, and Executive Committee issue them (Daffern, Frost, and the Columbia Union president, W.O. Coe, Wiegand) the ministerial license. believed that they had the support of the The General Conference representatives General Conference. In Nancy Marter's argued in the meeting that the Manual had view, there was "a difference of opinion as been violated since the Manual stipulated "in to the clarity of the authorization, but I don't the absence of an ordained minister" and in perceive one side to be at fault. There has both the Feb. 25 and March 10 baptisms been a misunderstanding, but I don't want to there had been no "absence of an ordained place blame." minister. " Bradford declares that the autho­ On May 16, 1984, a second meeting of the rization for a local elder to baptize is given ):latmn~a<;eunfenm€e:Execuli'Jee(jm1tl:ittee .. . Qul¥ in extremc,.eases, in_the t.eOJls.'~-a:~ Volume 15, Number 2 11 hoc situations," to be determined case by also chairperson of the Beltsville Church case. In the May 16 executive committee board, says that he was asked to explain the meeting, Ronald Halvorsen, formerly min­ actions of the conference executive com­ isterial director of Mid-America Union and mittee to his board. This he attempted to do now pastor of the Takoma Park Church, at a Beltsville Church board meeting on responded to the General Conference breth­ May 21, 1984. However, ].W. Bothe of the ren. I t seemed strange, he said, that a t a time General Conference insisted that the Belts­ when the General Conference was strongly ville Church board, of which he was a urging 1,000 baptisms a day during the 1,000 member, discuss Francis Wiegand's impend­ Days of Reaping, General Conference ing baptism. Heated discussion proceeded officers were urging a local conference to for several hours with Bothe insisting that stop pastors from baptizing. The concern, the Potomac Conference Executive Com­ Halvorsen contended, should be for bap­ mittee was not conforming to General tisms, not for who does the baptizing. Conference policy. But no action was taken opposing the baptism. However, after the issue had been raised by Bothe at the church he committee's ac­ board meeting, it became sufficiently con­ T tion granting minis­ troversial that Beltsville's pastor, Dan terial licenses to the three women, which Goddard, appealed to conference president passed with only one dissenting vote, will Ron Wisbey for assistance in resolving the not be effective until after October 1984. problem. The delay, says Isaac, is an attempt to cooperate with the General Conference. He n response, Wisbey suggests that the effective date has been I held an executive delayed in the hope that the church will committee meeting of the Potomac Confer­ clarify its position on "the potential for ence via telephone on Wednesday, May 20, . .. " women In mInIstry. 1984, from 10:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. with 21 Daffern finds both the Columbia Union of the 23 committee members on the line. At and the Potomac Conference leadership that time Wisbey reported that certain supportive of women in ministry. Farther General Conference officers were rec­ afield, in California, Louis Venden, pastor omending that the Potomac Executive of the Lorna Linda University Church, Committee reverse its earlier decision. which has Margaret Hempe on its pastoral However, the committee voted unani­ staff, "is working on the matter," Venden mously to support Frances Wiegand in her says. He reports that in a board action which ministry and reaffirmed its previous action passed with only one dissenting vote, the that women should continue to baptize. University Church board voted to send a Thus on June 2,1984, a baptismal service letter of support to Ron Wisbey. That letter, took place at the Beltsville Church with dated April 3, 1984, reads in part: "I want to Wiegand and Goddard officiating. Ron commend your courage and also the princi­ Wisbey was present to preach the sermon ples which you have put into practice." In and to read a statement on behalf of the V enden's personal view, "Young women executive committee, outlining the se­ who have prepared for ministry the same as quence of events leading to that particular men should not be penalized because they service. Wisbey said that the executive are women. " committee had unanimously "voted to stay For Francis Wiegand, the issue of her by its earlier motion." He cited the action baptizing was still far from settled by the taken by the committee on May 20 regard­ May 16 executive committee action affirm­ ing the Beltsville Church specifically. It had j ing WQmen in ministry ,Ry~s~ll I~ClCl<::-,whois~ \T

Potomac Conference Executive Committee Action

Because of our concern for the value of the souls now being prepared ministry and concluded (as the Review writers did in 1881) that there was for church membership, we will continue to support the baptisms nothing theologically improper about ordaining women to the ministry planned on the basis of our earlier action (Feb. 11, 1984) to proceed. of the church. On the basis of that study, the church has encouraged This is to give the North American Division appropriate time to study women to serve the church as ministers wherever it was feasible, and the Potomac's concern for women in ministry. We will not implement the Potomac Conference hired women because of that encouragement. following action until after Annual Council 1984. (The church has delayed ordaining women for reasons of church unity, For many years the Potomac Conference Executive Committee has even though it has supported the utilization of women in pastoral roles.) applauded the vision and leadership of the General Conference as it has Since they have exercised the prerogatives of ministry in Potomac, encouraged women to qualify themselves for ministry to the Seventh­ our members in their churches and we on the executive committee have day Adventist Church. Both the General Conference subsidies for corne to recognize their calling to the ministry. They have demonstrated women to attend the Seminary and the use of women as associates in that the Holy Spirit is behind their desire to work as pastors in the pastoral care have received enthusiastic support in Potomac. We have Seventh-day Adventist fellowship. It was because we felt so deeply the hired a number of women for ministry and were among the first to have importance of affirming them in their ministry that we authorized them, a woman on a local church pastoral staff. if locally ordained elders, to baptize the people they lead to the church. A number of years have passed since our initial commitment to We did not intend nor wish to be in defiance of the Church Manual; women in ministry began. Since that time, the women in our conference however, we also do not wish to rescind our affirmation of their have met the requirements for seminary education and have served the ministry in our midst. required years of an internship. When this program began we all knew Therefore, to affirm the ministry of these women pastors, we affirm that the time would corne when the women we have sponsored would be the following: fully eligible for a ministerial license under the provisions of the Church 1. Frances Wiegand, Marsha Frost and Jan Daffern have met the Manual and the Manual for Ministers. requirements for seminary education and internship according to the We find it significant that the role of women in ministry has been policy; discussed by church leadership since the 1880's in the pages of the Review 2. The language concerning the issuing of ministerial licenses in the and Herald. In that era, a number of editorials examining the meaning of Manual for Ministers and the Church Manual does not exclude women; those Scripture passages that discuss the role of women in the church 3. All other pastors in the Potomac Conference meeting these concluded there was no biblical reason women should not be in the requirements hold the ministerial license; ministry. Consequently, a formal recommendation to the General 4. There are historical precedents for women holding such licenses; Conference supporting the ordination of women to the ministry was 5. They are locally ordained elders; published in the pages of the Review on Dec. 20, 1881. While the 6. The license grants pastors the privileges of ministry only in the resolution was never adopted, the fact it could even be recommended congregations to which they are assigned; while Ellen White was alive and elicit no negative response from her, 7. The ministerial license does not lead to ordination in every case. strongly suggests she was not opposed to it. We recommend that the Potomac Conference Executive Committee Up until recent years, this openness to the idea of women in ministry issue them the ministerial license. found expression in several cases where women were granted ministe­ We would be happy to participate in further discussions about our terial licenses as they pastored churches or occupied other roles of affirmation of women in ministry with the church leadership. We leadership. Ms. Welch of Massachusetts and Mary Walsh are two believe that we are acting in the best interests of the church and that we examples among several that might be cited. would be out of harmony with the will of God if we did not give our Then, in the 1970s, a commission under the auspices of the Biblical women in ministry this affirmation. Research Committee studied the theology of ordaining women to the -May 16, 1984 Who Killed Azaria? Adventists on Trial In Australia

by Lowell T arling

ichael Chamberlain, men hold about the church, the most bizarre Muntil a few months of which is that Adventists practice ritual ago an Australian Adventist minister, and infanticide. In the face of such prejudice and his wife Lindy have been convicted of what they consider a flagrant miscarriage of murdering their daughter Azaria. Theirs has justice, Adventists who have recently been become the most publicized criminal case in fighting the church and each other are the history of Australia. Documentaries and working to free Lindy Chamberlain, a docudramas have been broadcast on Austra­ faithful Seventh-day Adventist who is lian national television networks, and four behind bars and sentenced to hard labor for years after Azaria disappeared, newspaper the rest of her life. sales still rise when stories about the The following account of the case was Chamberlains appear on the front page. written by Lowell Tarling, until this year a Several books have already been written practicing member of the Seventh-day on the case; more are coming. One Adventist Church. He and Michael Cham­ forthcoming volume discusses the perma­ berlain attended Avondale College at the nent effect the case is likely to have on the same time. Tarling is the author of Thank Australian legal system. Issues that have You God for the Salvos: A History of the Salvation been raised for Australian jurisprudence Army in Australia, 1880-1980 (Harper and include the rules concerning changes of Row, 1980); The Edges of Seventh-day Adven­ venue for criminal trials, when trials should tism: A Study of Separatist Groups Emergingfrom or should not go before a jury, and how the Seventh-day Adventist Church (1844-1980) scientific evidence should be entered into (Gailee, 1981); and Taylor's Troubles (Pen­ trial proceedings. The case has even drama­ guin, 1982), a novel based on Tarling's years tized questions about the Australian govern­ at the Adventist academy in Sydney, where mental system, particularly ones about the he attended and later taught. This telling of relationship of the central government to the Chamberlain story is adapted from an the Northern territory, still not a full­ article published in the Australian edition of fledged state. Rolling Stone (April, 1984). The story will The Seventh-day Adventist Church has appear in two installments; we will print the become increasingly visible during the second and concluding segment in the next· intense media coverage of the case. Austra­ issue of Spectrum (Vol. 15, No.3). lian Adventists have been shocked to learn ======;::;:;;=~amcep:ti:01lS:=S:

({Although I)ve felt broken at times I)ve risen The results of the first inquest did not above it. J don)t cry myself to sleep much any more. satisfy the public. After 18 months a second I just grit my teeth as I know where I'm aiming. inquest was held, with a new coroner, and God forgive those involved in doing this to me and much hostile press coverage of the Cham­ my family. Their action was the finishing touch­ berlains. The inquest was largely motivated the ultimate act in framing an unworthy picture of by the continued investigations of Dr. justice. People can blacken my reputation but they Kenneth Brown, head of the Department of can never change my character. I will present myself Oral Biology at Adelaide University, who before the Judge of the Universe for His ultimate is, coincidently, also a Seventh-day Adven­ decisions. )) tist. His forensic investigations, combined -Lindy Chamberlain with those of the highly esteemed London Press statement, May 3, 1984. expert, Professor James Cameron, led to a re-opening of the case and eventually led to Lindy Chamberlain being found guilty of murdering Azaria, and sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labor. Michael was charged with being an accessory to the zaria Chamberlain murder of his daughter, and was released on A was the daughter of a $500 three-year bond, after being sen- two Seventh-day Adventists, Pastor Michael tenced to 18 months hard labor. The date and Lindy Chamberlain. Azaria was born on was October 29, 1982. June 11, 1980, and disappeared at Ayers The Chamberlains have since lodged two Rock on Sunday, August 17, 1980.Her body appeals in 1983, one before the Federal was never found, but one week later most of Court and another before the High Court. her clothes were found at Fertility Cave, at Both were unsuccessful. However, the Ayers Rock, by Wallace Goodwin, a tourist. matter will simply not go away. "Lindy and After the first flush of public sympathy, I are innocent people," Michael Chamber- there developed strong underlying sus pi- lain told the Australian press after the High cions that the Chamberlains themselves may Court decision. "We will not stop fighting be guilty of the murder of their daughter. As to clear our names and the names of our practicing Christians, they were given no family. This case is not over yet." points for honesty. In fact, their involve- As far as the legal system is concerned, ment with the Seventh-day Adventist however, the case is over. If the case is re- Church only deepened public suspicion. opened, and if Lindy is proved to be A rumor was started suggesting that innocent, Australians will want to know Azaria was sacrificed as the Bearer of Sin. how it was ever possible for the system to An inquest was held into Azaria's disappear- run roughshod over a completely innocent ance. Coroner Denis Barritt concluded that person. The implications are frightening, a dingo took the baby, but Azaria's body was' and many icons will be broken. For disposed of by "a person or persons, name example, the scientific method must be held unknown." Coroner Barritt also quashed suspect-certainly at the public level. the suggestion that Azaria may have been Politicians, park rangers, police officers, ritually sacrificed as part of the Seventh-day public servants, government officials have Adventist religion. However, these fears all somehow strengthened the case against have never been eradicated from the the Chamberlains-through negligence or Australian consciousness. Azaria, The Trial of design. The media has virtually governed the Century by Steve Brien, published in 1984, public opinion, so much so that even those has revived the theory that the religion is the Australians who consider Lindy to be guilty k_J~::-y_~t~_t~:::~lJlEE~&er:.~'______~_~mm~ho~wJeel man~ted £t the ~ress ..- 16 SPECTRUM Finally, after what amounts to five court cases, the real mystery still remains. It has The Issues cost the taxpayers too much to be answered in uncertainties. Yet, to the man-in-the­ street the idea that Lindy murdered Azaria is ince that night, still not conclusive. Australians view it only Sthousands of words as the most probable explanation in a series have been written about the case. Many of improbabilities. In one sense the situation people are famous because of it. During the is still no more resolved than when, on course of two inquests, one trial, and two August 17,1980, Lindy Chamberlain's voice appeals, millions of dollars have been spent cracked the nighttime silence with the by the government and by independent words, "Michael! The dingo's got my sources. Experts have crossed continents, ba by. ," three books have been published about the

A Brief Chronology of the Chamberlain Case

June 11, 1980: The birth of Azaria Chamberlain. appearance of Azaria begins. Coroner Denis Barritt June 23, 1980: Four-year old Amanda Cranwell is officially pronounces Azaria Chamberlain dead. attacked by a dingo named Ding. The circumtances February 20, 19,81: Coroner Denis Barritt's findings have a close parallel to the attack on Azaria. are televised Australia-wide. He says, "I further June 1980: (specific date unknown) An aboriginal find that neither the parents of the child, nor either child is attacked by Ding. This attack is not reported of their remaining children, were in any degree to authorities, Aborigines nickname Dingo "Kul­ whatsoever responsible for this death. I find that the punya,". meaning, 'the Devil Dog.' name Azaria does not mean and never has meant 'sacrifice in the wilderness.' I find that after her August 1980: Chief Ranger at Ayers Rock, Derek death, the body of Azaria was taken from the Roff, assigns rangers Rowen Dalgleish and Stewart possession of the dingo and disposed of by an Mitchell to design a warning sign aimed at dis­ unknown method, by a person or persons, name couraging tourists from feeding dingoes. unknown." August 13, 1980: The Chamberlain family­ September 19, 1981: The Chief Minister for the Michael, Lindy, Aidan, Reagan, and Azaria-Ieave Northern Territory, Paul Everingham, announces Mount Isa for a holiday to Central Australia. that because of new evidence, the Azaria case is being reopened. The new evidence included tests August 17, 1980: (approximately 8:10 p.m.) Lindy done to Azaria's jumpsuit, initiated by Dr. Kenneth Chamberlain investigates a cry from Azaria. She Brown of Adelaide, and conducted by Professor sees a dingo moving away from the tent. She sees James Cameron from London. Other evidence in­ something in the dingo's mouth. Azaria Chamber­ cluded suspect blood found in the Chamberlain's car, lain disappears. a Holden Torana. These tests were conducted by September 30, 1980: Detective Sergeant Graeme Mrs. Joy Kuhl, forensic biologist for the New South Charlwood makes an official approach to Lindy Wales Department of Health. asking her to undergo hypnosis to help with her December 13, 1981: The second inquest into the dis­ recollection of events at the time of Azaria's dis­ appearance of Azaria begins. Like the first, it is held appearance. Lindy refuses, on religious grounds. in Alice Springs. A new coroner, Mr. Gerry Galvin, This deepens suspicion in the minds of Australians: is appointed to hear the case. rumors abound that Lindy killed her baby, perhaps as February 2,1982: Coroner Gerry Galvin announces a sacrifice relating to her Seventh-day Adventist that there was sufficient evidence to establish a religion. prima facie case against both Michael and Lindy. December 15, 1980: The first inquest into the dis- Galvin charged that Lindy murdered Azaria at Volume 15, Number 2 17 case-all entitled A zaria, more are being the prosecution, saying that he will not written. Two television prime-time pro­ provide a motive-no body and no motive. grams have been screened, and Australia the on-the-spot witnesses are to be believed, has developed a rapacious appetite for media there was also no opportunity. Sally Lowe, coverage of the latest on Lindy. But still the Michael, and Aidan Chamberlain all heard heart of the mystery is unsolved: who buried Azaria cry after the time at which the the body, and where is it now? That very prosecution claimed that Lindy Chamber­ statement is a speculation, as in the absence lain cut her baby's throat. Yet there is no of a body, there is no absolute proof that shortage of murder weapons. If the prosecu­ Azaria Chamberlain is dead. tion's case is sound, this was not murder, but This is a murder story that begins without butchery. In Alice Springs, this suggestion is a body. It is an assumed murder. It later goes not thought absurd. In giving his explana­ to court, and Ian Barker opens the case for tion for Azaria's disappearance, one of the

Ayers Rock, and that Michael assisted Lindy in order April 29, 1983: Coroner Denis Barritt supplies the that she should escape punishment. They were each material prepared by Phil Ward, Don McNicol, and released on $5,000 bail. Arthur Hawken to the Attorney-General of the June 7, 1982: The media announced that Lindy Northern Territory, Jim Robertson. After the Fed­ Chamberlain is pregnant. Friends say the couple are eral Court Appeal, many Chamberlain support groups are formed Australia-wide. "praying for a girl." September 13, 1982: The trial begins. It is held in February 22, 1984: The High Court votes three to Darwin, the capital of the Northern Territory. two to reject Lindy Chamberlain's leave to appeal against her life sentence. October 29,1982: At 8:37 p.m., Lindy Chamberlain is pronounced guilty. Pressman Malcolm Brown March 26, 1984: A Gallup Poll indicates that 53 shrieks out "y ou bastards!" and is not charged with percent of people believe the Chamberlains to be contempt of court. Moments later, Michael Cham­ guilty. berlain is also found guilty. Lindy is sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labor. Michael is not sen­ April 3, 1984: The airing of "Azaria: New Facts" a tenced until three days later, when he is released on a documentary by Kevin Hitchcock by Sydney's $500, three-year bond, after being sentenced to 18 Channel 10. Much of Phil Ward's new evidence is months hard labor. used, without naming him as the source. The After the trial there is a rush on the media. Two program makes a big impact on changing public books are immediately released: Azaria by James opinion. Simmonds, and Azaria by Richard Shears. A rock musical, Dingo Girl, plays in Sydney University's April 3, 1984: Thirty-one scientists, including Pro­ Footbridge Theatre. A song, "I'll Be A Baby for the fessor Sir Gustav Nossal, release a joint statement Dingo in Your Heart," is released by the Ra tbags of expressing severe doubt about Crown evidence on Rhythm. T-shirts, badges ("Give Di a Dingo"), blood during the Chamberlain trial. paraphernalia, cartoons, turn the case into some­ thing extraordinary. April 6, 1984: The public hears of Michael Cham­ berlain's resignation from the ministry. November 1, 1982: Phil Ward and Don McNicol meet with Arthur Hawken. The three agree on a May 3, 1984: Under. the initiative of Mrs. Betty joint investigation of the Azaria case. Hocking and Mr. Guy Boyd, a hundred Chamber­ November 17,1982: Lindy is allowed out of jail to lain supporters hold a public meeting in Canberra. give birth. The baby's name is Kahlia, a girl. Some 131,000 signatures are dIsplayed (7,000 from overseas), then presented to the Governor General April 27, 1983: The Federal Court hands down its Sir Ninian Stephen, who-even before receiving the verdict on the Chamberlain case. They find no petition-told the press that he could do nothing to reason to overturn the verdict of the jury. help. 18 SPECTRUM

locals told me that Lindy took Azaria by the other 800 at Ayers Rock that night? "We feet and smashed her head against a rock. knew it wasn't a dingo and that's all we According to courtroom evidence, the needed to know," were the words of the Chamberlain's car, a Holden Torana, was woman behind the counter at the Aboriginal awash with blood. More than one year after Arts and Crafts Centre at Alice Springs. The Azaria's disappearance, the following items inference was that if a dingo didn't do it, gave a positive response to fetal blood tests: then all you've got left are the Chamber­ two army hats, one of the boy's shoes, the lains. All over the country, but particularly camera bag, a pair of scissors, inside the in Alice Springs, people were quick to window winder on the driver's side, inside condemn the Chamberlains, believing what the door on the driver's side, a chamois, they wanted to believe, regardless of the beneath the radio, a towel, a plastic chamois complex and contradictory nature of the container, the console, the left side of the evidence. driver's seat, and a boy's parka. In fact, the Just one year ago, investigators Phil whole surface of the carpet on the driver's Ward, Don McNicol, and Arthur Hawken side gave a reaction to what might have been went back to Ayers Rock and talked to a few blood-so much that 13 and a half months of those others-rangers, eye witnesses, and after Azaria's demise, that blood was still a blacktracker, Nipper Winmatti, the tradi­ sticky. In the words of one Sydneysider, tional owner of the Rock. Gradually they "She must have been a hell of a big baby." pieced together an alternative explanation In the absence of a body, a motive, and an of Azaria's fate. They plan to reveal these opportunity, how did the defense lose the facts in a private prosecution charging at case? Taken on face value, the prosecution is least seven people with conspiracy to offering as .fact something like the murder pervert the course of justice. Says Ward, scene out of Roman Polanski's Macbeth. "Lindy Chamberlain is innocent. I know Author of Azaria, Wednesday's Child, James who buried Azaria. I have more evidence Simmonds provides at least part of the against them than there is against Lindy answer; he writes, "Perhaps the dingo was Chamberlain. " Before the discovery of on trial after all, and in a choice between the 'fetal' blood in the Chamberlain's car, Ward dingo and Lindy, she simply ran second." An might have been more popular with North­ Alice Springs T-shirt neatly summarized ern Territory officialdom than he is now. local public opinion.' It read, "The Dingo is His evidence suggests an escalating con­ Innocent," and it was banned for contempt spiracy, beginning with a cover-up that was of court during the first inquest. Neverthe­ almost humane, but leading to the forensic less, the slogan is partly true. Even Coroner department of the Northern Territory Denis Barritt-still a strong believer in the Police Force receiving a public caning by Chamberlain's integrity-didn't believe Coroner Denis Barritt. For a little while, that a dingo would use scissors to make his the Force was an Australian joke. But the mark on a baby's jumpsuit, nor would the case against the Chamberlains changed all dingo leave handprints on clothes. that. Ward's explanation has been welcomed by those around the Rock who gaze he Chamberlain case suspiciously at the new $190 million (Aus- T has gained the repu- tralian dollars) Yulara Village. Sure, the tation of being a 'trial by media,' and this is ownership of Ayers Rock has recently been very true of many aspects of the case. given back to the Aborigines, but that Almost immediately, the media narrowed decision also closes down all existing its focus to only three real participants: accommodation sites, thereby creating a .. M-ff;ltaib-kitlfi-y, a:~-4t~dYP~~m2!!£?ll2!yfor,u ~be!2an~g!::E~f the.- Yula£ '.. Volume 15, Number 2 19

Village, who have to find some $15 million search, have signed a joint statement expres­ (A. dollars) a year just to keep up on interest sing severe doubts about the forensic evi­ payments. Prices at Ayers Rock are ex­ dence. One expert, the leading defense pected to rise steeply around the end of1984, witness at the trial, Professor Barry Boet­ when Yulara takes control. tcher, now says that further tests have Y ulara accommodation prices will cer­ revealed conclusively that there is no way tainly be too expensive for average-income the blood found in the car could possibly be earners in Australia. Yulara Village must fetal. Tests to replicate the prosecution's then look to the overseas market and super­ claimed findings of fetal blood have not annuated citizens. The assumption made by done that job. tourist departments is that such people Significantly, all the original hard foren­ sic evidence that put Lindy Chamberlain in jail was destroyed before the trial. Investi­ Australian Adventists have been gator Phil Ward sees it this way: "Mrs. Kuhl shocked to learn the misconceptions believed her evidence was correct at the some of their non-Adventist first inquest-but after the discovery that countrymen hold about the church. the reagent she used to test the fetal blood was faulty, she discovered her mistake. She believed the Chamberlains were guilty. But dislike seeing anything unprocessed, dirty, because of her error in testing the blood in or dangerous. That an Australian wild crea­ the car she felt they may escape conviction. ture might a ttack a human being is seen as So she did not report her mistakes to the 'bad press' in the short term, even though a trial-although she knew of the mistakes by generation later they'll sell postcards of the then. To cover up those mistakes she de­ site. Like the Loch Ness Monster, tourists stroyed the microscope slides showing her might stay awake all night, hoping to catch a tests." Joy Kuhl, forensic biologist for the glimpse of Kulpunya, Devil Dog of Ayers New South Wales Health Department, a Rock. key prosecution witness, testified that the Right now we're living in the myth­ destruction of the evidence was "standard making period. Writers are codifying the proce dure. " updates on the ancient Aboriginal dream­ ings, and while many of the agnostic Aussie The Dingo journalists have alluded to the strong re­ ligious overtones of the case, the explana­ tions needed right now are more practical. In 190 years of European settlement, the dingo How did the blood get into the Torana? Was has acquired a mythology second only to that of the the syringe plunger, found in the car, in any wolf. The destruction wrought by the dingo has way linked to the placement of the blood? Is become, if not factual, at least legendary and over the it true that Joy Kuhl's reagent reacts with years incalculable millions of dollars have been spent adult hemoglobin and certain Dulux paint on its control and eradication. (Proceedings No. products, as well as fetal hemoglobin? Could 36 of Course for Veterinarians, Fauna-Part the blood have been planted? B, February 6-10, 1978.) The question as to whether the blood found in the Chamberlain's car was fetal or not has generated new controversy. Thirty­ t always seemed to one Australian scientists, including Profes­ I. me strange that peo­ sor Sir Gustav Nossal, the world-renowned ple would doubt that a dingo might kill a immunologist and director of the Walter baby or a small child. Humans do it, and and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Re- they're much tamer than their pets. 20 SPECTRUM

. Melbourne dingo-owner, Ken McVicar, lives in these locations. Said Ron: "If you owns Kuldi. He keeps Kuldi in a suburban open the window and cook some meal, that backyard in East Ringwood. He's quick to dingo spirit come after you. Coming from defend the reputation of his dog. In Feb. 1981 thataway back home. Too dangerous this he told the Melbourne Truth that, "He's a one, that dingo one. See the little cut over fabulous dog. He spends all day at my boat there, that one on top of the mountain? He shop, then sleeps on the end of the bed at come from thataway." Ron pointed to hills night, and he's great with the neighborhood of Bloods Range, "We don't wait too long kids." Kuldi is obviously tamer than a pet here, just pass. He live here, spirit you rabbit. A canary could do more damage. know. Real dangerous." However, Max Williams, author of the There are also those who believe Azaria's novel Dingo, tells another story: "I quite murderer to have been the devil-dingo spirit believe that the dingo would've taken the Kulpunya in another guise. They say he child. I know how strong they are. My niece came back exactly three years later and has a dingo, and it even scares me a bit. It'd possessed the driver of a road-train who got put you on your back in one go, it's that big. into his truck and drove through the public And when you look at those eyes-they're bar at the Inland Motel. Five were killed, 20 just untamed." injured. The time and location were almost The dingo's innocence is nota theory identical to that of Azaria's disappearance. based on aboriginal or white man's history. This is the story of Kulpunya , the Docker In the .aboriginal dreamings, even a nice River version: ((We)re going to teach the Mala dingo, like the repentant Gaiya-spirit, people of Ayers Rock a lesson))) said one of the started out as a devil-dog whose immediate elders of Docker River)s Windulka tribe. And mission was to devour the very reasonable beginning with the backbone of a kangaroo) the Chooka-chooka brothers. (Another dream­ medicine man began to create Kulpunya. His ears time story tells of the birth of twins to tribal were tufts of spinifex grass) his tail was that of a women-something that happens very bandicoot and woman)s hair was plaited into his rarely. It is said that the weaker twin is left back. For three days the windulka people sang over in the wilderness to be eaten by the dingoes. his effigy) then the hair began to grow. Eyes grew. Teeth grew. And Kulpunya became a huge and fearsome dingo) one that roared and breathed fire. In the absence of a body, a motive, The Windulka people then headed him off towards and an opportunity to commit the Ayers Rock) where he massacred the Mala people) murder, how did the defense lose the leaving only formations in the rock face. One of case? these is a spectacular cleft) known to tourists as (The Brain. J )) Professor A.P. Elkin, author of The The specific details of this story must not be Australian Aborigines, believes that we should publicly told. Coroner of the first inquest, not dismiss such stories lightly. He says, Denis Barritt, apologized to the aboriginal "We should not ignore the possibility that community for even bringing the matter these sacred myths do often enshrine actual ) historical events and sequences, even though uPUnlike Gaiya, the repentant dingo-spirit, these may be somewhat symbolized and Kulpunya-the Ayers Rock devil-dingo distorted." If this is true, the dingo has done spirit, did not repent. Some say he's still some damage in its time. But aborigines around. When I was driving to Bloods never kept records of dingo attacks, and Range with aboriginal artist Ron Richards, until the 1930s, injuries sustained to the there were some places where he refused to blacks were not scrupulously recorded, if ··stop:l5ee~, ~J3il'i~t:,~.:fi~H· *'trmfft¥Ylt~;:;::::=.~t~h~.~f;;. ~...~.::::;.~~. ~.~::::::: ===;:;::::======Volume 15, Number 2 21

On the other hand, the dingo is said to classified as vermin, meaning it can be killed have accompanied the first aborigines to on sight, and must not be fed or kept as a pet. Australia. Such was their respect for Canis Has the dingo been largely misunderstood familiaris dingo that they brought the family by whites? Or has it deteriorated over the dog on their travels. Whatever its vices, it last 40,000 years? fit easily into a small canoe. This was a Bardios, from Alice Springs, was raised significant point in favor of the dingo, on a ca ttle station in Maryborough, Queens­ Australia's only indigenous creature to be land. "Ask any cattle man or sheep man,

Australian Editorial Comment on the Azaria Case

The following is a reprint from an April 4, 1984, editorial of about the Crown's evidence on blood stains. The one of Australia's most respected newspapers, the Sydney scientists are not saying the Crown is wrong; they Morning Herald: are saying, just as importantly, that it did not esta­ blish its evidence beyond a reasonable doubt. This attack from the scientists has been matched by a similar assault on the verdict from eminent The Chamberlains: a case for review lawyers. For example, a former Supreme court judge, Sir Reginald Sholl, says "I feel that, on proba­ he Chamberlain case bilities, there has been a very grave miscarriage of T needs to be reviewed. justice." Professor Stone, of the Faculty of Law in It is quite clear that the High Court decision sup­ the University of NSW, has argued that the law porting the jury's verdict of guilty is not accepted by itself may be responsible for "a miscarriage of jus­ a substantial, growing and well-informed section of tice." He has proposed that if there is another the community. It is equally clear that this group is murder trial similar to the Chamberlain case the jury mounting a case against the verdict that is becoming be given "a special warning that only the very more vocal virtually by the day. The growing pres­ highest degree of cogency of circumstantial evi­ sure of this sort of opposition allows the Northern dence can ever warrant conviction in the absence of Territory Government only two options: either it a plausible motive by the Crown." can order a review now, or it can wait until it is And on top of all this, we have the remarkable forced to have a review. spectacle of witnesses who gave evidence at the A peculiarity of the Chamberlain case is that no Chamberlain trial, some for the Crown, speaking body has been found, no murder weapon has been out publicly about the way what they said was dis­ produced and no motive has been brought forward by regarded in the contentiousness of the trial process. the Crown to explain why Mrs. Chamberlain may The main argument against a further review of have done what it accused her of doing. The absence the case is that "the umpire's decision must be of anyone of these elements in a murder case would respected." There must be a time, in other words, be enough to cast some doubts on a guilty verdict. when enough is enough. After all, the original jury The absence of all three places a requirement on the decision has already been the subject of an appeal Crown to make its case virtually watertight. That before the Full Bench of the Federal Court and an clearly has not been done. As justice Murphy pointed appeal before the High Court. The question be­ out in his dissenting High Court judgment, the comes, then, whether the Chamberlain case has Crown's case was essentially based on a demolition reached this point of judicial exhaustion. The of the dingo theory. mounting attacks against the verdict suggests that it The approach enabled the Crown to win a ver­ has not. What should happen next then? In South dict. What is happening now is that its specific case Australia, the Government asked a QC to investi­ against Mrs. Chamberlain (such as it is) is being torn gate all the evidence, old and new, and to make a to shreds by experts who have had time to analyze its finding about a further judicial review when a public content. Forensic evidence of the type raised against campaign several years ago established that a con­ Mrs. Chamberlain is always liable to create contro­ victed murderer, Edward Splatt, may have suffered versy. But it is unprecedented in Australia for 31 a miscarriage of justice. Perhaps this is a precedent scientists to express, as they have, "severe doubts" the Northern Territory Government could look at. 22' . SPECTRUM you'll see full grown cows attacked by one ing the little girl in his arms. He said a dingo dingo. They'll attack a sheep and drag it had attacked the girl. She had abrasions away, and half-grown wallabies. They're around her neck." Cawood admitted that incredibly strong. I've seen this sort of thing this dingo had. been in his home and was many times, and it's always a terrible sight. almost domesticated. The dingo had at least You go to any wild cattle sale and you'll see three names. Whites called it 'Ding' or it in every truckload-one or two with their 'Scarface,' and among aborigines it had tails bitten off. Full-grown steers! That's earned the dangerous nickname, 'Kulpunya' why they build dingo fences. Why do you or 'Devil Dog'. The dingo had an all-round think they've got dingo fence spread bad track record, even among the abori-· halfway across the country?" This is the gines. He had also attacked Kitty Connor's world's longest continuous fence; the dingo little child. fence runs for 5,531 kilometers. "It's to keep This was the dingo that blacktracker them in one area, so they don't attack the Nipper Winmatti claims took Azaria Cham­ livestock. " berlain. Not Kulpunya the spirit-dingo, but Kulpunya the 'proper dog.' He told me this resident of the Dingo in Sept., 1983, as we sat in the red Ayers PFounda tion, Les Har­ Rock dirt and talked. "I bin seen tracks," he ris, was called as a witness for the defense. said. "Two of 'em come running. Go around. He believes that the dingo is not a dog, but a He might be get 'em from there. Then leave wolf. For years his group has been telling the blood. Dog run away. Not run away­ government of the state of Victoria that the quicker. We call 'em two names, Ding dingo is a dangerous pet, and existing laws Kulpunya." Those words were transcribed. should be enforced. Harris told the first from my taped interview with Winmatti, inquest that he knew of "12 recent dingo who tracked Ding. When I asked him if he attacks." When it comes to dingo attacks was referring to the aboriginal dreamtime there is no shortage of examples. In 1981, story he said, "Proper dingo one. Proper any sort of dingo attack made headlines, dog. " ahead of wars, murders, and strikes. "Dingo Shortly after the attack on Amanda Cran­ Savages Baby" was the Sunday Telegraph)s well, but before the attack on Azaria, account of a dingo attack on Toni Plumb, warning signs were posted around the Rock. aged four. More relevant was the story of The signs read like a confession, and the the girl who was attacked six weeks before capitalization is their own. They say, "Din­ Azaria's disappearance. This dingo was goes are wild. Feeding or touching wild wormed, fed, and partly housed by the animals breaks down the natural gap that family of Ian Cawood, the assistant park separates them from humans. Dingoes CAN ranger. There is a growing suspicion that and DO bite. For your own safety and to this may have been the same dingo that took maintain the dingo's integrity as a wild Azaria. animal, PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH OR Cawood was asked about this attack FEED THEM." during the first inquest. He explained that Despite all this, the dingo didn't get the the Cranwell family had checked into the rap. Journalist Jim Oram described the scene camping area, and shortly afterwards their in a wine-bar when the verdict came down. four-year-old daughter Amanda was being "Hey, I've got great news!" shrieked the dragged by a dingo out of her parents' car. disc-jockey, "The dingo's been acquitted." Cawood said, "The father came back hold- To be continued Special Section The Conservative Restoration At Geoscience

by Edward Lugenbeal

on Neufeld, an as­ forests at Yellowstone Park was due to the D sociate editor of the Flood. At the end oChis presentation, the Adventist Review and of the Seventh-day Ad­ General Conference president, R. H. Pier­ ventist Bible Commentary, had given a non­ son, stood to offer a fervent speech of traditional interpretation of Genesis 1. Eric gratitude. Dr. Coffen responded with equal Magnusson, a research chemist from Aus­ emotion. "Someone has to do it!" tralia and later president of Avondale Col­ The Adventist church had passed a deci­ lege, logically and clearly defended the sive turning point. As it had never done scientific validity of radioactive dating before the 1968 Geoscience Field Confer­ techniques and by implication, life on earth ence, Adventist church leadership endorsed that was millions (if not billions) of years one side of a deep and continuing debate old. Listening to these presentations during among Adventist scientists and theologians the 1968 Field Conference conducted by the concerning creation.

Geoscience Research Institute were leaders In the decade of the 1960s, a conflict ------of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and developed in Adventism. For the first time the leaders were becoming increasingly mu­ in its history, a whole generation of scholars tinous. After Magnusson's presentation, with doctorates from secular universities some even wanted to abort the conference. became active in church institutions. Prob- The leaders were angry that scientific ing, open to change, skeptical of tradition, evidence was not being provided by all imbued with the values and culture of higher speakers to sq.pport the creation of the world education, this new breed of "progressive" 6,000 years ago. Adventist intellectual soon began to re­ Reassurance did come from biologists evaluate Adventist tradition. A conflict Ariel Roth and Harold Coffen, who ex­ with church leaders, who represented the pressed the minority views of the Geo­ Adventist mainstream, was predictable. science Institute. Before the end of the During the early 1960s the conflict did not conference, Harold Coffen defended the flare into an open fire. Perhaps the church notion that the layer-upon-Iayer of fossil did not yet clearly understand where the progressives were heading. Progressive theologians, for example, did not attack traditional views. They used traditional Edward Lugenbeal received his master's from the terminology and concepts but infused them Seventh Day Adventist Theological Seminary and a with new meanings. It may have taken a doctorate in prehistoric archeology from the Uni- versity of Wisconsin. At Andrews University he while for conservatives to sense that a~- served in the religion department and then in the though the words and symbols were fall11- "Oeosc:ie-nc-e:::-Reiearch:tristltute-frorrrl-964=tm-;-- --=lfM¥':me::;~ibOOl€)gi€al--peIig~~~:ew;::.--=;;;::;;;;;=;:;;::=~=====:::;; 24 SPECTRUM

But the arrival of R. H. Pierson to the progressives felt that once their conserva­ General Conference presidency brought a tive brethren (scientists, administrators or dramatic change. The new administration educators) saw the data they would take the concluded that the progressives threatened only course open to reasonable men and the very soul and mission of Adventism. reevaluate their traditional positions. This Policies based on that perception altered the assumption was naive.2 Nor was the dif­ course of the Geoscience Research Institute ference loyalty to the church. While the and of the Adventist study of geology. historical record shows that it is harder for progressives to retain their loyalty to the church (often because of the obstacles The Philosophies placed in their path by conservatives), it is important to recognize that many progres­ con£lict between sives were profoundly loyal to the church. A " conservatIve. " and However, the two camps were very dif­ "progressive" philosophies was central to ferent. the history of the Geoscience Institute from Conservatives and progressives pursued the start. The Institute began its life with different strategies in the search for har­ two staff members, Frank Marsh and Peter mony between Genesis and geology. Pro­ Hare. Before long a third, Richard Ritland, gressives were willing to accept the weight joined the team. Soon a split developed that of contemporary scientific evidence and persisted for two decades. Ron Numbers change their theology in order to achieve described the conflict this way: harmony. They were willing to keep open multiple theological hypotheses and live Before long this Institute was split down the middle. with uncertainty. This is what Marsh meant On one hand you have Marsh insisting that the group . . . adopt the traditional and historical Adventist in the early years when he characterized his interpretation of the Bible and the writings of Mrs. colleagues as endorsing an open-minded Ellen G. White on science. Marsh thought the function approach. of the scientist was to study the Bible and Mrs. White's writings to discovetwhat was true, and then to go oilt into the field and to verify what you had By the mid-1960s, the progressive's ,'discovered. Hare and Ritland took a different position. They believed . . . it was just as easy to make a study ofthe issues led them to conclude mistake in interpreting the book of Revelation as it that harmony between Genesis and was to make a mistake in interpreting the book of nature. This "open-minded approach,"-... [Marsh] geology required some kind of regarded as satanic. He. . . believed this was a real theological accomodation by the threat to the future of the Seventh-day Adventist church. church.1 After Marsh's banishment to the "Sibe- ria" of the Andrews University biology Conservatives were willing to achieve department and Hare's departure to the harmony only by trying to revolutionize Carnegie Geophysical Laboratory, the play- contemporary science. They steadfastly re­ ers changed, but the conflict continued. The fused to compromise what seemed to them "open-minded" approach of the progres- "fundamental" theological positions whose sives and the "tradition-minded" approach alteration undermined the essence of Ad­ of the conservatives vied for ascendency. ventism. Included in these fundamental The difference was not intellectual capa- positions were the age of the earth, the city. It is not necessary to administer I.Q. literal creation week, and the universal tests to observe that both sides had their Flood. The real differences at the Geo­ quota of brilliant and pedestrian minds. The science Research Institute were theological, ======:aJi£titt·.~e~'r~ent:ltc~e;:;:w:;a:;:;:!' •• ,Vfl.',alSH·i;I(lO~' t:s:s,"ciemifi~~~.j~~~~~-;f1~S, Volume 15, Number 2 25 came down to a disagreement concerning conservatives suggest these statements what aspects of Adventist religious ideology might illustrate the fallibility of a prophet. were negotiable. If the two sides had ever Without fail they defended each statement's reached theological agreement, the so­ validity in terms of contemporary scientific called scientific differences would have knowledge. In short, they treated the entire vanished. corpus of Ellen White's writings as inerrant. Given this view of Ellen White, con­ servatives could not compromise on the age of the earth or a universal flood (Ellen The Scientific Authority ofScripture White was crystal clear about them). Ellen White probably played an important role in and Ellen White the conservatives' conclusion that no inter­ mediate position between the traditional onservarives and Adventist view and naturalistic evolution C progressives had sig­ was viable. All compromise positions were, nificantly different views· of the doctrine at worst, in direct opposition to the clear of revelation and inspiration. Both groups teaching of the Bible as interpreted by Ellen accepted the authority of Scripture in Chris­ White, or at best empty speculations, tian life. Both groups believed Ellen White unworthy of serious consideration. There was a divinely inspired prophetess. Both was no room for compromise. The Adven­ gave lip service to the concept that inspira­ tist faith, with its glorious eschatological tion did not require inerrancy. But in hope, was a sham unless its traditional views practice these affirmations didn't mean the of earth histoty were true. same thing to the two sides. For conserva­ Because of their views on authority, tives, the Bible, as interpreted by Ellen conservatives and progressives had different White, was crystal clear. Did you accept or levels of tolerance for diversity. During the reject the Bible and Ellen White? early 1960s, when progressives were in For progressives, that was not the issue at positions of leadership at the Geoscience all. They too acknowledged the inspiration Research Institute, conservative points of and authority of these sources. For them the view coexisted in the Institute and were issue was traditional interpretation versus given ample opportunity for expression. an objective examination of the relevant During the 1970s, when conservatives con­ scriptural and scientific evidence. Ellen trolled the Institute, progressive points of White was a key. Progressives believed view were not allowed free expression. This inspired messages could come in fallible is not because conservatives are rigid and wr·appings. They believed it was unneces­ intolerant persons. The differences flow sary to defend the inerrancy of every his­ logically out of the philosophical commit­ torical, scientific, or exegetical statement ments of the two groups. made by a prophet. Conservatives agreed in In any human institution, revolutionaries theory that Ellen White was fallible, but are not handled with laissez faire tolerance. If their actions indicated otherwise. They con­ the identity or existence of the institution sistently defended everyone of Ellen is at stake, confrontation may be necessary. White's published scientific comments-no Conservatives believed that the identity of matter how incidental to the message of the the church was at stake. Church institutions passage. When asked, for example, about did not dare tolerate progressive views that her statements attributing vulcanism to the would eventually destroy the institutions burning of coal or her assertion that giant that tolerated them. Of course, progressives men had been found in the fossil record, not felt just the opposite was true. They be­ once did the.Geoscience Research Insti tute lieved that a.diversityof .th¢ol~- 26 SPECTRUM proaches, instead of threatening the identity During this time, the Institute placed of Adventism, would contribute to a clearer great emphasis on educating thought leaders understanding of truth and ultimately to a and administrators in the church to the firmer and more viable definition of the severity of the problems posed by the Adventist mission. An asymmetry of ac­ geologic record for traditional views con­ ceptance is characteristic of conserva­ cerning the age of the earth and the Flood. A tive-progressive religious conflicts. The primary consideration in collecting data progressive is philosophically free to accept became the ease with which it could be the legitimacy of the conservative's point of grasped by scientific laypeople. The best view, but the conservative cannot accept the example of this is the attention devoted to legitimacy of the progressive point of view the Fossil Forests of Yellowstone. The Fossil without compromising his conservatism. Forests are a fascinating but relatively minor slice of geologic history. The Fossil Forests were enormously exciting to progressives Role and Function of the Institute precisel y because Yellowstone's levels and rings made it easy for the layperson to grasp he progre~sives saw the problems with the traditional timescale. T the GeOSCIence Re­ The Fossil Forests were an excellent apolo­ search Institute as an open-ended research getic tool. institute dedicated to helping the church dis­ In general, progressives conducted a cover the truth about origins within the limited number of detailed field and labora­ context of Christian commitment. For tory studies of the Fossil Forests. Most of progressives, the founding of the Institute their work was (as conservatives com­ was a call for help by the church. The plained) essentially descriptive. Why? Be­ Institute had been established to generate cause the progressives were quite satisfied information and analysis needed to allow management to act wisely. They certainly did not see it as a corporate public relations For the first time in the history of the department with a mandate to place the best church, a whole generation of scholars possible face on management's previous with doctorates from secular actions. By the mid-1960s, the progressives' universities became active in church study of the issues led them to conclude that institutions. harmony between Genesis and geology required some kind of theological accom­ modation by the church. This had conse­ with descriptive information. The implica­ quences for their view of the day-to-day tions seemed obvious. Why miss the Forests role of the Institute. For example, the for the trees? Progressives were sensitive to Institute under Ritland hired two new staff the criticism that their focus on illustrating members (Harold James and Edward time problems was too negative, and they Lugenbeal) with backgrounds in theology. involved themselves in other kinds of study. Since at that time the most theologically One type of research aimed at locating the flexible products of the Adventist educa­ Flood in the geologic record. The progres­ tional system were its seminary graduates, sives said: "Let us define portions of the the Geoscience Research Institute was record that could not be Flood deposits signaling that theological flexibility was because they contain evidences for the vital for reaching a resolution of the passage of time. If we find a punctuation problem of creation and science and for mark (a temporal break) in the record, we educating the church regarding the resolu- can conclude the Flood occurred either .. uW:f2~~t~ispojnrin~be. £eSer 20 E ~t;£:':;;_ ...... Volume 15, Number 2 27

The search for the Flood in the record also increase the effectiveness with which the led previous progressives to collect a large church can maintain its position, accord­ quantity of data about the distribution of ingly, the Institute is obligated to work fossils. This information provided some within the framework of the established critical tests of the Flood model. Unfor­ beliefs of the church and to seek inter­ tunately, this research program also evolved pretations of available scientific data from into a "negative" effort. The progressives the viewpoints of these beliefs. "5 The docu­ found much evidence for time in the geo­ ment goes on to list several conclusions that logic "column." Responding to this evi­ a staff member of the Institute must support. dence, the Adventist geoscientist com­ Included in the list of ready-made conclu­ munity began to restrict the portion of the sions are the supernatural origin of life, the record attributable to the Flood. However, six,...day creation week, the universal Flood, perceptive students soon saw where this and a less than 10,000 year age for the earth. approach was leading-pushing the Flood In the next to last paragraph, the document out of the entire record. Evidences for time states: "In its work the Institute must be could be discovered throughout the geologic taught by the understanding of divine rev­ column. Hence this tack slipped into a means el;,ltion that is held by its supporting church; of falsifying Flood geology, instead of a it is not warranted to attempt the role of an "positive" effort to locate the Flood in the instructor of the church in these matters. "6 record. This document clearly expressed the basic In yet another effort to make a more strategy of the conservatives. For them, as "positive" contribution to the life and faith for the progressives, the Geoscience Re­ of the church, the progressives began to search Institute was primarily an apologetic collect scientific information that suggested instrument. But for conservatives, the In­ fundamental patterns of design in nature stitute's open-ended scientific research that called for a Designer. This effort never ultimately must bow to traditional beliefs. 1 found a significant market in the Adventist The conservative and progressive views of community. the role of the Geoscience Research Institute onservatives, of were both vulnerable to criticism. Inherent C course, had a com­ in each were internal contradictions or pletely different view of the role of the ethical dilemmas. The difficulties with the Institute and what constituted legitimate conservative view were stated eloquently work. The conservative view is well-stated by a conservative critic: "Out intellectual in an unofficial document in the 1970s approach in Geoscience can raise a serious entitled, "The Role of the Geoscience Re­ question about a lack of integrity that we search Institute Within the Seventh-day need to be careful about. Unless we are Adventist Church."3 Although this docu­ willing to take the risk involved in the ment was never adopted formally, I believe openness of scientific investigation, we can­ it candidly and clearly reveals the true not honestly claim the support of science in feelings of the conservatives. our work. Our act is and appears a sham. The document makes several points. In Much of the basis for the authority of the second paragraph it states flatly: "The science comes from its openness and willing­ Institute is not an open-ended research ness to look for truth wherever it may organization ... free to investigate all Iea d. "7 possible ideas and reach whatever conclu­ Conservatives were vulnerable to the sions may appeal to investigators."4 It later charge that they posed as scientists working states that "the Institute should conduct and in a "research" institute (which enhanced stimulate original research if that research the effectiveness of their defense of tradi­ giyes promise Dfprovidingdatathat would tional beliefs) while they actually operated 28 SPECTRUM

on a dogmatic nonscientific basis. For ex­ brink of an abyss. The horror of its depths ample, was there any natural data they was too much. By the 1968 Field Confer­ would accept as falsifying a short chronol­ ence, the time for problems was over. The ogy for life on earth? Their treatment of time for answers had come. evidence from ancient history, archeology, At the 1968 Field Conference, conserva­ and geology suggested their commitment tives took a public stand. By then they knew could not be altered by any conceivable the progressives would never solve the body of natural evidence. Progressives were problems they could so effectively present. vulnerable too-for being less than candid They suspected that the progressives had no about their true aims. Conservatives could intention of solving those problems. They rightfully complain that progressives, while sensed that the problems were presented in never clearly stating their goal of influenc­ order to create pressure for theological ing the church's traditional belief system, change. So, in order to protect the church, were in fact working hard to undermine the they made a consistent effort to provide very beliefs they were paid to defend. answers for all problems, or at least to suggest problems with all problems. "Blow­ ing smoke," and "throwing sand in peoples' The T ransi tion eyes" is what the progressives called this tactic. "Presenting a balanced picture," and uring most of the "exhibiting true scientific rigor and cau­ D decade of the 1960s, tion" is what the conservatives called it. progressive staff members exerted the Church administrators at the 1968 Field greatest influence over the operation of the Conference recognized kindred spirits Institute. But this ascendancy was soon to among the conservative scientists. The ac­ end, and began ending in 1966 with the tions of R. H. Pierson after the 1968 Field arrival of the Pierson administration, which Conference left little doubt where his sym­ moved to counter what it saw as the threat pathies lay. In an Adventist Review article, in of creeping (or perhaps galloping) liberal­ 1968, summarizing the conference, he wrote: ism. The attempt to minimize or isolate "In our controversy with the proponents of progressive, intellectual influences in the the evolutionary theory we must keep in church became a conscious policy. The 1968 clear perspective the Bible and the Spirit of Field Conference, the last organized by the Prophecy are not on trial." Even more progressive forces, was a watershed for the Geoscience Research Institute. Field con­ ferences had provided numerous show-and­ Progressives were vulnerable too­ tell forums for the progressive message for being less than candid about their concerning the problems posed by the geo­ true aims. logic record. In the early years of the institute, the progressives were the most geologically knowledgeable Adventists. telling, at a Geoscience meeting shortly They were the only ones attending, for after the conference, Pierson introduced a example, the annual Geological Society of resolution that called upon members of the America meetings, and had much to tell and Geoscience Research Institute to refrain much to show their Adventist confreres. from presenting problems in all public and They led conservative colleagues to the tops semi-public meetings. Asked if a field con- of many mountains, the brinks of many ference was a semi-public meeting, he canyons. Conservatives lost their geological answered, "yes."8 The era of a progressive virginity. They too recognized the prob- approach to problems was over. After the ·l~.~- ... mm ... mmmm:" m . ~tle4Lf..r-Om~t~Eield:Conf.etefiCe,tbe .. m... ::~~ .. ; .... _ ;eE~!!f m.:!:!!:!:m Piersonadf!'linis- .. ~ . .. Volume 15, Number 2 29 tra tion exerted increasing pressure on the budget. There was some apprehension that Institute to abandon its problem-oriented dissatisfication with the Institute's lack of approach. Altering the course of the In­ positive results might lead to its dissolution. stitute was politically easy (unlike the dif­ Many a union conference president looked ficulties in controlling the universities and hungrily at the hundreds of thousands of seminary). At Geoscience there was no dollars swallowed by the Institute budget. tradition of academic freedom to overcome, Some of the communication vehicles used .f no accrediting bodies to worry about, no by Brown were traditional. Beginning in independent-minded board to contend with 1976, a cycle of three field conferences was (board members were almost exclusively arranged-one geared for the Union Con­ General Conference officers). All that was ference presidents. The hope was that the needed was a change in the leadership of the Institute's new answer-oriented approach Institute. would build political and therefore financial Richard Ritland's decision to resign from support. Another conference was directed Geoscience and accept a position as more at academically-oriented individuals. professor in the Andrews University Other programs were newer. At the biology department provided an oppor­ request of W.J. Hackett, chairman of the tunity for the board to alter the course of the Institute's board, the Institute arranged to institute. So by 1971, new interim leadership (Ariel Roth), and by 1972 new permanent leadership (Robert H. Brown), was firmly The Pierson administration was eager in place. The Pierson administration could to use the institute in its struggle look with satisfaction at the Institute, which against "liberalism" and the newly had accepted the administration mandate to transformed Institute was eager to be become a conservative apologetic institute used. for traditional Adventist views of origins. The influence of the two progressive scien­ tists on the staff was minimal. By 1979, visit one or two Adventist college campuses both were gone. each year. These visits provided an op­ portunity to promote confidence in the church's traditional beliefs, regarding ori­ The Rise of the Present gins, among students and faculty. The Geoscience Institute apologetic outreach of the Institute also included the organization of several sec­ ondary or elementary teacher conferences he immediate chal­ and a steady parade of visits to workers' T lenge for the 1972 meetings, ministerial retreats, and other Geoscience Research Institute was to be . Adventist gatherings. The Institute also both positive and visible. The Pierson ad­ intensified its use of the print media in the ministration was eager to use the Institute church. It sponsored a regular feature in in its struggle against "liberalism" and the Ministry magazine and provided an increas­ newly transformed Institute was eager to be ing flow of articles for various church used. Under the strong leadership of R. H. publications. Its most ambitious venture was Brown, an impressive array of new pro­ the publication of an excellent scholarly grams was instituted, aimed at communicat­ journal, Origins. ing broadly with the church, increasing the The materials printed often set a new visibility of the Institute, and creating an standard of excellence for creationist litera- image of greater productivity. Indeed, these ture. A final contribution (and pr~gramslllay have saved the Institute's one with oHts the. 30 SPECTRUM complete revision of the painfully outdated administration created a science council for creation and geology articles in the Seventh­ the Geoscience Research Institute and chan­ day Adventist Commentary. After the transi­ neled theological interaction through it. tion to conservative control, the Geoscience The consultant's committee (accused of Research Institute cooperated closely with liberal leanings ) was disbanded. Throughout the Pierson administration in its efforts to the decade of the 1970s, the Geoscience contain progressive influence in church Research Institute faithfully reflected the institutions. On several occasions, efforts conservative views of the Pierson adminis­ were made to influence Seventh-day Ad­ tration instead of the views characteristic of ventist institutions not to hire progressive the seminary. geoscientists. The Institute also became involved in the Pierson administration's n the 1980s, the effort to develop and promote statements I Geoscience Research that defined the acceptable limits of belief Institute began to reach out, for the first for scientists employed by the church. The time, to its counterparts in non-Seventh-day creation statement sought to control the Adventist creationist organizations, and to growing diversity of views in the church become involved in the public debate re­ concerning origins. Its affirmation of the garding the propriety of teaching creation­ traditional views was used as a tool for ism in the public school systems. In spite of screening employees. the commitment of Adventism to a The first discussion of a creation state­ meticulous separation of church and state, ment took place in an informal group at a and the reservations expressed by many Geoscience Field Conference. Progressive Adventist geoscientists, some staff members participants at the conference were point­ of the institute vigorously promoted the edly excluded from these discussions. teaching of creation in state-supported Throughout the controversial and divisive schools. This support culminated in the life of the creation statement, the Geo­ highly publicized Arkansas trial at which science Research Institute leadership sup­ Geoscience staff members played prominent ported it. This was consistent with the roles as witnesses. The movements to Institute's commitment to narrowing the cooperate with other creationist groups range of acceptable discourse in Adventist were made with caution and hesitation. creation science. In general, the Geoscience Institute staff members were generally Research Institute supported the Pierson embarrassed by the low quality and tone of administration in its using administrative the publications of other creationist groups authority to protect the church from infil­ and hesitated to be identified with them. tration by progressive modes of thought. Nevertheless, there was a recognition of Another result of the transition at Geo­ common ground. Some very tentative and science Research Institute was a change in minor steps toward rapprochement evolved. the character of the Institute's interaction Research in the post-transition Geo­ with Adventist theologians. In the progres­ science Research Institute proceeded along sive era, interaction with seminary theo­ two different lines. First, the persuasive logians was frequent. Seminary professors force of the progressives' most effective would gather with staff for informal and exhibits had to be neutralized. Progressives formal discussions and seminars. A consul­ called this the fire-fighting function. tant's committee composed of administra­ Clearly, the most damaging progressive fire tors, Bible scholars, and scientists met was raging in the Fossil Forests, therefore periodically with the staff of the Institute. the institute used its new research fellow­ After the transition, the institute's theo­ ship program to fund numerous projects logical interactions .were restructured. The . rela ted to them. Volume 15, Number 2 31 Second, a conscious offensive effort was though the conflict between progressives launched. Many of the problems raised by and conservatives no longer enlivens the the progressives were put on the shelf as Geoscience Research Institute, the conflict Institute conservatives determined to build a continues in Adventism. An important Flood Model. Justification for an essentially factor tha t could influence the future history selective approach to geological data was of the conflict is the momentum given to garnered from the writings of the philo­ new views of Ellen White by recent dis­ sopher of science, Thomas Kuhn. The Geo­ coveries of her extensive literary depend­ science Research Institute staff members ence on contemporary authors. concluded they could (in a Kuhnian sense) Future historians may conclude that the step outside the mainstream and build their Geoscience Research Institute's most im­ alternate paradigm, nurtured by the knowl­ portant contribution was that it stripped edge that science progresses because of the Adventism of geological innocence. It courage of visionaries whose radical new thereby set the church on a course with an paradigms can eventually revolutionize uncertain destination. That course now is their disciplines. taking a new turn. Adventist geology has grown beyond the Geoscience Research Institute. The church has a department of geology at Loma Linda University and a A Model for the Future growing community of professionally trained geoscientists whose primary focus is etween 1966 and not on apologetics but on the study of B1972, a significant geology as a discipline. Do church leaders transition altered the course of the Institute. realize that the course followed by the Appropriately, the transition was not evolu­ Institute since 1972 has increasingly isolated tionary, but the competitive replacement of it from this broader community of Adventist one species of thought (progressive) by geoscientists? Although in its first 25 years the Geo­ another concurrent species of thought (con­ ------servative). Given the political environment science Research Institute has been the of the Pierson administration, we might primary force molding the character of justifiably conclude, however, that the Adventist geology, it may be hard pressed to selection that occurred was natural. AI- retain this primacy in the future.

NOTES AND REFERENCES

1. Ron Numbers; unpublished manuscript in my 4. Ibid., page 1. files (transcription of presentation to a forum group 5. Ibid., page 2. at Loma Linda), no date. 6. Ibid., page 3. 2. The Geoscience Research Institute did have 7. Ariel Roth, unpublished letter to Robert H. great difficulty recruiting a single professionally Brown with copies sent to other Geoscience staff credentialed conservative geologist for its staff. members, May 10, 1979. 3. Robert H. Brown, "The Role of the 8. Richard Ritland, personal communication, Geoscience Research Institute Within the Seventh­ 1969. day Adventist Church," unpublished manuscript circulated among staff members of the Institute, 1979. Fifty Years of Creationislll: The Story of an Insider

by Richard Hammill

ince I was a member seriously until George McCready Price be­ Sof the guiding com­ gan to write on the subject at the turn of the mittee for geoscience from the time it was century. His teaching and writings resulted set up in 1957 until my retirement in 1980, I eventually in sufficient interest for the must bear some of the responsibility for its church to help some of its science teachers history and for the relationship between get professional training in geology. geology and religion within the Seventh­ My first acquaintance with Professor day Adventist Church. I have been asked to Price and the subject of creationist geology elaborate on my own role in those develop­ occurred at Walla Walla College in the fall ments, and to give my personal viewpoints of 1934, when it turned out that my teacher concerning them. My comments are bound for Greek II and Dogmatic Theology was to be subjective, although I have attempted George McCready Price, a new member of to be as objective as possible. the faculty. In these classes, for which Professor Price had little or no training, he often diverged from the assigned topic to his Origins geological interests. His public debate in England with a noted evolutionist was a lthough various Sev­ favorite topic. As a new Adventist, who had A enth-day Adventist read quite widely on evolutionary geology ministers and teachers published articles on while in high school, I was fascinated with the relationship of geology to the biblical his views and later enrolled in one of his teaching on creationism in the late 19th courses in creationist geology. That sparked century, Adventists did not take geology in me an interest lasting for the 50 years smce. As a very young man, Price attended Richard Hammill, former vice president of the Battle Creek College for two years General Conference (and before that president of (1891-1893), after which he engaged in Andrews University longer than any in the school's history), is now retired and living in Washington colporteur and evangelistic work. A Cana­ state. He received his Ph.D. from the University of dian, in 1896 he enrolled in a teacher- .. . . on:_ ",,"T ~ ... ll_.. • _1_ .1 Chica:go tra~lftStRW~-vt1k""!l>,any .. Volume 15, Number 2 33

~ then taught for several years in Canadian should I risk my neck trying to climb up public schools. During this time, he read there when the pictures show it very extensively in the field of geology and began clearly?" (I had the impression that phys­ to publish articles in Adventist journals on ically he was not a strong nor an active the subject of creationism. In 1902 he pub­ person. Sometimes in class he could become lished his first book, in which he sought to very emotional, particularly if hediscov­ refute the idea of a geologic column of ered a student cheating or being unruly. But fossil-bearing strata. Meanwhile, he ob­ Professor Price was a compassionate man, tained teaching positions in several Advent­ always keenly interested in his students. ist secondary schools in California. Accord­ While I was enrolled in his classes he ing to the Seventh-day Adventist Encyclopedia} discovered my lifelong affliction of poor he received a bachelor's degree from Loma eyesighL Every time I chanced to meet him Linda College in 1912, and a few years later in the next 30 years he inquired with much a master's degree from Pacific Union Col­ concern about further visual impairment.) lege, both of them honorary degrees. Price Despite being handicapped by his lack of then taught geology successively in the scientific training, Professor Price must be College of Medical Evangelists, Pacific credited for creating a very deep-seated Union College, Union College, S tanborough interest in geology and scientific creation­ College, Emmanuel Missionary College, ism in the Adventist church. His influence and Walla Walla College, where he retired eventually led the church to finarice training in 1938. in geology for some of its gifted science Professor Price's main thesis, which he teachers, and to support the Geoscience propounded in about 20 books (some of them Research Institute. He was a brilliant man published at his own expense), was that the who remained mentally active and inter­ geologic column of fossils, increasing in ested in geology up until his death at age 91. complexity from the bottom strata to the When a group of us, who had been his top strata, was a theory, advanced by former students, asked what we could give evolutionary geologists, that was not true to him for his 90th birthday, he provided the geological facts. He tried to show that the titles of two large scientific books on the different sedimentary strata occurred in new discipline of oceanographic geology. many places in a sequence different from that advocated by evolutionary geologists, and that there is no verifiable order of fossils A bout the time Pro- from the simple to the complex in the strata . fessor Price's work of the earth. He asserted that the Genesis was drawing to a close, two biology teachers flood was responsible for all the major in our colleges began to write on aspects of sedimentary strata, and that they were all geology that related to Adventist views of laid down within the short time of the flood. cosmology (a branch of philosophy dealing All life forms preserved as fossils had been with the origin, processes, and structure of created about 6,000 years ago in six literal, the universe). These were Harold W. Clark, 24-hour days, and there was no order to the of Pacific Union College, and Frank L. fossils in the geological record. Marsh, of Emmanuel Missionary College. Not having had academic training in Though neither of them had received aca­ geology, nor being psychologically inter- demic training in geology, their graduate ested in field studies, Professor Price was studies in biology enabled them to write mainly a theoretical critic of evolutionary penetrating material on creationism which geologists. Often in class, while showing us was much appreciated by Adventists. Ap-

.fr!~::~~d~~~~e~:=:::k~i.~~~~.~.:;;;.::::: .. :;;1 .. ~~xdt.Ir~~;:ei~~7.~iS!f$-::s·.~!'£;rB~£~y:~~:.::;s;~;!lh£!~;;i·l!f~~:;~Reil ...•~~;:ema~ ..·~~h~;:~~~·.aJ~1f!~!J~:~;:::::. ===::::. ~j==:::::i= 34 SPECTRUM of the geologic column and attempted to the earth and life upon it. The science explain the fossils in it by his unique "eco­ teachers recommended that the General logical zonation" theory. Conference should finance some Adventist The first Adventist with specific training scientists for graduate studies in geology so in geology, of whom I know, was Clifford L. they could conduct research and write Burdick, who, near the end ofWorld War I, effectively on problems geology presented earned a bachelor's degree with a minor in to creationists. geology from Milton College, a Seventh­ E. E. Cossentine, the director of the day Baptist institution in Wisconsin. He Department of Education, and I presented then taught chemistry and geology in public this recommendation twice to the Adventist high school, during which time he became a college presidents. At Canadian Union Seventh-day Adventist. Despite advice from College, in the summer of 1957, they W. E. Howell, educational director of the approved the idea and E. E. Cossentine General Conference, not to attend univer­ presented it to R. R. Figuhr, the president of sity, he enrolled in a graduate program in the General Conference. geology at the University of Wisconsin (soon dropping out because of Sabbath problems). Burdick published several dozen Commitment to Truth: 1954-1966 creationist articles in Adventist journals; one article caused him trouble when it came euben Figuhr had into the hands of his professors at the R gotten his profes­ University of Arizona, where he was en­ sional experience largely in missionary ser­ rolled as a doctoral candida te in 1958, when I vice. In 1923, a year after his graduation first met him. from Walla Walla College, he accepted a About this time, a significant event took mission appointment to the Philippine place in the study of geology in the Advent­ Islands, where he served for 18 years, the ist church. As an associate secretary in the last 10 as president of our work in that education department of the General Con­ country. He was elected as president of ference, it was my responsibility every our work in South America in 1941, where summer to arrange "the college teacher he served for nine years until becoming, in section meetings." For 1956, the group of 1950, a general vice president at the Gen­ eral Conference in Washington, D.C. Four years later he was elected president of the One of the major responsibilities of world church. the leaders of our church is to provide Though not a trained scholar, Reuben an atmosphere in which Adventist Figuhr was much interested in intellectual scholars can conduct research matters and was a strong supporter of scientificall y and responsibl y without Adventist educators. During his administra­ suspicion coming upon them. tion, with his strong leadership, the church established two universities: Andrews Uni- versity in 1957, and Lorna Linda University teachers were from the applied arts and in 1961. Figuhr helped get approval of the natural sciences departments, and met at suggestion of F. D. Nichol, editor of the Union College in August. The papers and Adventist Review) that a Seventh-day Advent­ discussions among the science teachers ist bible commentary be published. With centered on the increasing difficulties they the General Conference president's leader­ were encountering in answering some of the ship, the General Conference Committee problems modern geology presented to set up two study groups which developed . lJ<::Mevers.ofthebiblicCJ.1 accgunt (If ()rig-!.tl~.oL._two:ngxound..,breaking books: Seventh-day Volume 15, Number 2 35

Adventists Answer Questions on Doctrine (1957) their posts to teach classes in creationism and Problems in Bible Translation (1954). It was and to help their faculty colleagues answer due to Figuhr's sensitivity to concerns ex­ questions posed by evolutionary geologists. pressed by biblical scholars, about the The committee authorized E. E. Cossentine denomination's theological problems, that to explore, with their respective college a committee of biblical scholars, editors, presidents, the possibility of such training and a few administrators was appointed for P. E. Hare, Ray Underhill, Harold to study sensitive problems in the biblical Coffin, and Earnest Booth. (The minutes book of Daniel. indicate that a longer period of study, and The recommendation that the General special assignments, were envisioned for Dr. Conference financially support trained Booth.) geologists was well-received. Figuhr shep­ The college presidents were cool to the herded the recommendations through the overtures of the committee, for they did not General Conference officers (August 28, want to lose the services of some of their 1957), the General Conference Committee best teachers. This caused a change in (August 29, 1957), and the Annual Council planning. The committee concluded they of the General Conference Committee (Oc­ would have to employ a staff of their own tober 25, 1957). The last authorization and give them professional training in provided an annual budget of $13,500 to geology. Following this preparation, the finance graduate study in geology for "two geologists would be assigned to full-time mature, experienced men of proven loy­ research, writing, and field conferences and alty." The General Conference Commit­ institutes for Adventist science and religion tee also approved the appointment of a teachers, not only in the North American standing committee to administer the Division, but also in the overseas fields. project, and "to make such recommenda­ tions as may be necessary to implement the progressive development of the program," including recommending names of people he committee in­ to be appointed for study. R. R. Fighur was T vited Dr. Frank L. elected chairperson of the committee on Marsh, who had an established reputation as October 28, 1959, and chaired it until he a defender of creationism (April 17, 1958). retired in 1966. to join the endeavor. He was granted a one­ year leave-of-absence for geological studies, which he chose to take at Michigan My teacher for Greek II and Dogmatic State University. The committee discussed Theology (for which he had no the possibility of inviting Clifford Burdick training) was George McCready to join the staff, but because in 1958 he was Price, who often diverged from the already 65 years old, and was just starting assigned topic to his geological work on an ambitious dissertation. project, interests. they turned away from it. (They did authorize a $1,000 grant to encourage him in his research.) Instead, on May 8, 1958, the Early minutes of the committee show that General Conference Committee invited P. it saw as its function to encourage the E. Hare, of the Pacific Union College colleges to give leaves-of-absence to certain chemistry department, to join the staff, and science teachers, who would then take granted him a two-year leave to earn a graduate studies in geology, supported by doctoral degree in geochemistry, which he financial grants from the committee's chose to do at the California Institute of

~etu These tea<::--he~ tQ-fe£!!P),uJo u I~!1QJ 2J1i¥:J:I~;e }:Y~H .~lre~dx~t~~Xil}~. 36 SPECTRUM geology part time at the University of them in listening to and counseling the staff California, Berkeley. about their research and publications. This In January of 1960, the committee group met once or twice a year and served as appointed Richard Ritland to the staff. a sounding board on sensitive problems in Ritland was the first appointee who was geology and creationism. already professionally trained, having In the meantime, after fumbling with earned a doctorate in paleontology and several names, the project was named the comparative anatomy from Harvard Uni­ Geoscience Research Institute. The Com­ versity before he started teaching anatomy mittee on Teaching of Geology and at Loma Linda University. Dr. Ariel Roth Paleontology became the Board ofDirectors was invited in 1963 to participate in the new of the Geoscience Research Institute. endeavor, but declined. Instead, he joined the biology department of Loma Linda University. Later he accepted half-time have given this his­ employment with the new project, also I torical development studying geology at the University of as the background for my evaluation ofR.R. California at Riverside. He joined the staff Figuhr's administration in its relationship to full time in 1971. They invited Dr. Harold the study and teaching of geology in the Coffin in 1964 to join the group for research in the paleontology of invertebrates. In the summer of 1965, Harold James, who was I have been told on reliable authority studying geology at the University of that the Institute staff were not in Massachusetts, was appointed to the staff favor of including a reference to 6,000 and financed to complete his doctoral years in the "Statement of studies in sedimentology at Princeton Uni­ Affirmation" (see page 59). versity. Finally, in 1967 the committee called Edward Lugenbeal and financed his doctorate in the anthropology of early man Adventist church. Much of the impetus at the University of Wisconsin. Thus, the given to the study of geology among guiding committee sought to build a re­ Adventists from 1957 onward was due to his search staff with competence in the various wisdom and insight. Figuhr not only led out specialties of geology. The original autho­ in providing organization and funding, but rization for "two mature persons" had also encouraged the new staff to do basic indeed gone through a "progressive devel- research. He encouraged field travel and opment. " provided funds to purchase equipment for a In February 1962, the Committee on the carbon-14 laboratory, becoming greatly Teaching of Geology and Paleontology, disappointed when this equipment was sold whose membership was made up of people after Edward Hare left the staff of the who could administer the business affairs Geoscience Research Institute in 1964. and guide the general direction of the Figuhr provided funds to purchase a building project, recommended, and the General for the Institute staff, and for an excellent Conference Committee voted, the appoint­ research library in geology. ment of another group composed of people Although there were other contributing able to counsel the staff in their research and factors, it was Elder Figuhr's insistence that publishing activity. This committee, which the staff engage in basic research which led was known as the Consultant Committee on in 1964 to a change in leadership of the Geoscience Research, was authorized to Institute, when it became apparent that the invite various scientists and religion teachers current director, Frank L. Marsh, did not from our colleges and universities to join care to engage in basic research .. This was Volume 15, Number 2 37 '. due in part to Marsh's minimal training in of life living today are found as fossils in the geology, partly to his age, and partly to his upper layers of the geologic column. firm belief that the record in the earth's This staff member's studies in biogeog­ strata was misleading on the subject of raphy, the biological study of the geog­ origins. He preferred to discuss origins on raphic distribution of animals and plants, the basis of interpreting inspired writings. had made it clear to him that some orders While recognizing the necessity for guid­ and many families, genera, and species ance from such writings, the committee unique to specific areas of our present world wanted the Institute to apply itself to (armadillos, ground sloths, anteaters, cer­ scientific research. Dr. Ritland was ap­ tain groups of marsupials; rodents, and many pointed the next director of the Institute. At other forms) were also unique to those same that time, 1962, I was president of Andrews geographic areas in the fossil record. The University and was assigned the chairman­ obvious conclusion is that the strata in which ship of the newly formed Consultant these fossils are preserved (mainly those of Committee on Geoscience Research. I made the Cenozoic period) were laid down a special effort to become acquainted with subsequent to the Genesis flood, for if all the the issues which the geoscience group were strata of the geologic column were laid addressing. I read all the papers produced by down during the flood, and present life the staff, and relevant material which they forms are the descendants of animals and recommended. One of the major problems plants saved in the ark, one would expect to that led to some polarization within the staff find fossils of these plants and animals in and also within the interested Adventist many places and not just where those plants scholarly community concerned the Genesis and animals now live on the earth. No issue flood, namely: are all the major periods and raised as much heat among some members of systems of the geologic column the result of the staff (and still does!) as these arguments Noah's flood, or are the flood deposits to be from phylogeny and biogeography. found only in the upper layers in the Conversely, others on the staff advocated Cretaceous or Tertiary? that the fossil forests had been floated in to Discussion centered largely around two their present locations in a short time by sets of data: first, did the layered fossil successive waves of Noah's flood, and forests of the Yellowstone and Nova Scotia concentrated their research on trying to areas grow successively in their present develop scientifically supportable flood locations? One member of the staff advo­ models to account for the geologic column. cated that such was the case, and that the data collected by counting the annual s divisiveness in­ growth rings in the successive layers of trees A creased over these requires far more time than allowed for in and other issues, including the validity of the 6,OOO-year chronology for life on the various geochronometers (radioactive ma­ earth. terials used to date fossil records), someone The staff member had also done extensive accused me of being a "fence straddler" and reading and research in phylogeny, or the one who held "liberal" views on cre­ historical development of a species of plants ationist issues, particularly in regard to a or animals, as seen in the fossil record. He short chronology for life upon the earth. I introduced a second set of troublesome data thought that it was premature to take a that the majority of organisms in the lower definitive position for either theory about levels of the geological column are not the fossil forests, and that much research found in the upper levels, apparently having needed to be done on the subject. As become extinct when those strata were laid chairperson of the Consultant Committee, I ---=;;::1.'i~t1:ast'khU'ge 4?!!r1;Qfthe--ieF-m~ . ·t:!E!S;g ~Q;;;p:la~iaw-~~n --.--.--~ ..------.... --.--"-' ------....._... ----- . ..~ ... "- _.. - -.------.--.-----~- "-----" . J -.------1 38 SPECTRUM

investigation and discussion, believing then, there were evidences of a very long de­ as I still do, that creationists must look at all velopment of various cultures, including the the facts and be wary of developing primitive hand-ax, stone-age culture similar creationist models built on selective data. to the Acheulian in France and Germany. But at that time, 1964, a letter was sent to the General Conference president alleging that the consul tan t commi ttee was" stacked" t the meeting with with people who did not accept the teach­ A Reuben Figuhr, I ex­ ings of Ellen White on earth history, and plained to him and some of his associates my implying that the chairperson was one of views about the great age of Egyptian them.! civilization. I referred to the discovery by About that time, several professors in the Lynn H. Wood, a professor in the Adventist theological seminary were heavily criticised seminary, of a record of an ancient eclipse by various conference presidents for liberal mentioned on an Egyptian inscription, which theological views. One of the influential fixed without question the beginning of the senior conference presidents talked to me 12th Egyptian dynasty of kings at 1991 B.C. about it: "Reports are being circulated that On the basis of this datum, it was impossible you, too,President Hammill, do not believe for the flood to have occurred at 2348 B.C., that life on the earth is only 6,000 years old." as Bishop Ussher's chronology asserted, I thanked him for his frankness and im­ because there is noway that all the events mediately arranged a meeting with President that had happened in Egypt up to that time Figuhr and his chief advisors to explain my could be crowded into the 357 years between .views about the 6,000-year chronology. 2348 B.C. and 1991 B.C. Thus, the 6,000- Before becoming an Adventist in college, year chronological scheme has to be ex­ I had been exposed in public school to panded, and life on earth has existed longer teachings about evolution and had read than 6,000 years. fairly widely about it. However, when I converted to Christianity, I wholeheartedly accepted creation in six literal days, and The data collected in the layered fossil have believed it ever since that time. In forests of Yellowstone requires far Professor Price's classes I accepted the more time than allowed for in the position he held at that time, that God had 6,OOO-year chronology. created the universe ex nihilo a long time ago, but it was only about 6,000 years ago that God had made the earth fit for man. I had I stated that I trusted implicitly in God's also studied under Dr. Marsh at the theo­ inspired word, but that word does not logical seminary and believed that I stood in mention 6,000 years and I could not accept the mainstream of enlightened Seventh-day chronologies, based on interpretations of Adventists. certain passages of the Old Testament, When I studied at the University of which my knowledge of the Hebrew Bible Chicago, one of my comprehensive exam­ made it impossible for me to accept. My inations for my doctorate was on ancient major field of graduate studies had been in Egyptian history. At the Oriental Institute, I the Hebrew literature of the Old Testament, studied about the long period of pre-history and I was aware of how imprecisely some leading up to the formation of Egyptian Hebrew writers often used round numbers. civilization and the successive kingdoms of Many generation gaps could be demon­ more than 30 different dynasties. I had been strated by comparing the various biblical surprised to learn that in strata underlying geneologicallists. Moreover, whenever we ~.cienthvr..attl.igsof the e 1 · ,.l':?stj ..P...... ~...... ,...... • .. 3E:Y::!Y!L .e:~ 4~~E £!!E!!S~te.accountsjntheBible of the Volume 15, Number 2 39 same event or series of events, we often find met it decisively. Reuben R. Figuhr's com­ -1 different lengths of time cited. If we had mitment to theological and scientific truth duplicate accounts of other events recorded was very great. Seventh-day Adventist in the Bible, this human element of inspi­ scholars and teachers owe a very large debt ration, of which Ellen White speaks, would of gratitude to this quiet, but determined no doubt show itself also. 2 But in all this, and thoughtful church leader. God's purpose in revealing to mankind His will and the way to salvation always stands The Conservative Defense: out clearly and unmistakably. I explained 1966-1978 that with the vast explosion of knowledge in recent centuries, data accumulates to the hen R. R. Figuhr re­ extent that reasonable men must acknowl­ W tired in June of 1966, edge certain historical dates as proven, no he was succeeded by Robert H. Pierson. matter what philosophical or religious be­ After finishing the two-year ministerial liefs they hold. I was convinced that course at Southern Junior College, Robert historical data concerning the history of Pierson had become an active evangelist, civilizations in the Mesopotamian and Nile first in this country and then in India. There valleys proved that life has existed on the his spiritual qualities and native leadership earth for more than 6,000 years, however, I ability quickly led to administrative po­ did not think in terms of hundreds of sitions. He served first as a top-level church thousands or millions of years. Moreover, administrator in the Caribbean, then in local evidences from geology, such as the suc­ conferences in the United States, and finally cessive periods of glaciation on top of fossil as president of two world divisions of the forests, and of ancient, superimposed drain­ Seventh-day Adventist church: in Southern age basins (such as those of the Green River Asia and later in Southern Africa. While and Colorado River) compelled me to look serving in the latter post, Pierson was beyond the 6,OOO-year chronology which elected to the presidency of the Seventh-day some claim the Bible supports. R. R. Figuhr Adventist world church. . and his associates seemed satisfied with my I worked closely with Elder Pierson on explanation, and I had no further problems various projects and committees from 1954 on that issue during my administration. onward, and it was always a pleasure to The policies and programs R. R. Figuhr serve with him, partly because one could instituted and supported, as well as the type disagree with him without his getting upset. and quality of people he helped appoint to Robert Pierson was intelligent, quick to the Institute staff, bear witness to the grasp the implications of facts and ideas, and openness of his mind to new ideas and always cheerful and energetic. He also had a approaches. In my capacity as chairperson of fine sense of humor. Above all, Pierson was the Consultant Committee on Geoscience a deeply spiritual leader who always sought Research, I often discussed sensitive areas of divine guidance when dealing with difficult geology and biblical cosmology with Reuben situations. Figuhr. I found him very interested in ideas Since most of his career had been spent in developed by scientific research. This Gen­ the mission fields, when Elder Pierson be­ eral Conference president was not panicked came president of the General Conference by critical "fan mail," nor could he be he was not well-acquainted with the theo­ pressured to back away from the study of logical tensions which had led to the estab­ sensitive areas of denominational thought lishment of the Geoscience Research and life. When an «Omega attack" was made Institute, nor with the mushrooming prob­ against ideas contained in the book Seventh­ lem of academic freedom in our colleges and Mj,AMerJfii't~efftjii~HiQijJQfiQ(ji'm·~ J:~pi(:lJy=grQ~'Y'i.~g.!l-~~~.·_~ ... :.... ____ ._ . _.. ," ______,..... :~ .... 40 SPECTRUM

Elder Pierson diligently became knowl­ How much time is necessary to account for edgeable about these aspects of the church. the successively layered fossil forests of the He appointed M. V. Campbell, one of his Absaroka area in Montana and Wyoming, general vice presidents, to serve as the and in Nova Scotia? How much time tran­ chairperson of the Geoscience Institute, but spired in the development of the many he himself faithfully attended the board successive basalt layers of the Columbia meetings. River basin, and of the evidence of extensive Despite constant demand for his time and glaciation above them? What is the validity attention, Elder Pierson attended the second of the various geochronometers? How long major geology field conference during the did it take for the coral reefs to form or for summer of 1968. Noticeable tension and the superimposed drainage basins of the polarised views, existing both within the Tertiary and Quaternary to develop? Geoscience Institute staff and between some The Geoscience Research Institute staff Adventist scientists and church administra­ had prepared excellent background material tors, dominated this field tour. In the earliest and sent it to the delegates ahead of time. years of the Institute, the staff had had to Due to his heavy program, Elder Pierson, as concentrate on helping the church under­ well as some of the other denominational stand some fairly simple concepts about leaders on the tour, had not read many of the geology. There were still quite a few articles and there was no time to do so on the teachers and church members who denied trip. Moreover, Elder Pierson's extensive that dinosaurs had ever existed, or that mail was waiting for him at the end of most glacial ice sheets had at several successive days, and sometimes he had to miss important times covered large parts of North America lectures to read and answer it. This made it and Europe. As a holdover from the teach­ difficult to get the facts lying back of the ings of Professor Price, many Adventists still ideas being discussed on the trip. One believed that the concept of a geologic lecture, by a physical chemist about the column of sedimentary rocks was a figment length of time indicated by certain geo­ of the geologists' imaginations. The Insti­ chronometers, was particularly upsetting. tute staff addressed itself to such issues in their early days. Articles in our periodicals, and books such as Dr. Ritland's Search for Meaning in Nature (1966) and Dr. Coffin's he influence of this T tour on Elder Pier­ son was significant. Although he wanted to With the vast explosion ofknowledge support scientific investigation, his strong in recent centuries, reasonable men conservatism and his implicit faith in the must acknowledge certain historical inerrancy of Ellen White's statements on dates as proven, no matter what biblical chronology led him to reject the philosophical or religious beliefs they view of many that Ellen White's under­ hold. standing of early biblical dates was based on Bishop Ussher's dates, which were printed in the margins of the Bibles of her time. He Creation-Accident or Design (1969), were instinctively reacted against research data very helpful to the church on these matters. which looked like it might prove more than But by the time of the geology field tour 6,000 years of earth history. Several years of 1968, questions not so easily answered after Elder Pierson became president of the were being discussed. How much of the General Conference, questions about my geologic column was a result of the Flood? beliefs were again raised when several

Whei"e .does thefhjod~iI thecohtmn? n n~eminaq . teaclters Jeft .tlieHtetthy "BiEler Volume 15, Number 2 41 heavy criticism. Again, I tried to make clear were comfortable with the new orientation to Robert Pierson, W. J. Hackett, and the of the Institute. other leaders my views of the 6,000-year chronological interpretation of biblical n the spring of1976, data. Their reaction was not quite the same I Elder Pierson invited as that of Reuben Figuhr" although they did me to become a general vice president of the not regard my views as outside the borders General Conference and to work with him of acceptable Adventist beliefs. They on two special projects: reorganizing the expressed confidence in me and continued to support me in my work at Andrews. A t the Annual Council following the 1968 There were still quite a few teachers field tour, W. J. Hackett was elected as and church members who denied that a general vice president of the General dinosaurs had ever existed. . . . Conference, and as soon as he arrived at world headquarters he was assigned to serve as chairperson of the Geoscience Research division structure in Africa and establishing Institute board of directors (January 9, four or five full-fledged theological semi­ 1969), replacing M. V. Campbell. Elder naries in key places around the world. At Hackett had attended the 1968 field tour, that time I had served as president of and he had reacted the way Elder Pierson Andrews University during 13 years of rapid had. Under his conservative leadership, development of the facilities, the curricula, important changes took place in the Geo­ and of a faculty oriented to university level science Research Institute. The Consultant teaching and research. I was worn out from Committee on Geoscience Research was the heavy work load and the tensions of terminated and a new emphasis was insti­ helping our leaders and people understand tuted for staff activities. Research tended to what a university really is and the role it concentrate on selected areas where the data would fill in the church. High inflation was were most supportive of the 6,000-year making it increasingly burdensome to oper­ biblical chronology of Bishop U ssher. Be­ ate Andrews University on sound financial fore long, the tacit policy arrived at in the and academic bases. I was ready for a 1950s during the General Conference presi­ change, and I think quite a few others were dency of W. H. Branson ( to the effect that also. the 6,000-year chronology need not be In the following four years during which I emphasized in Seventh-day Adventists served as a general vice president, I tried to publications) was abandoned. Moreover, present a viewpoint not often expressed on the new plan called for the Institute staff that level of church administration. I em­ to devote more of its time to holding phasized basic research on the part of all creationism conferences on college cam­ members of the Geoscience Research Insti­ puses and to participating in public hearings tute staff. I urged that we not impede free relative to the teaching of evolution in inquiry, and that those sometimes labeled as public schools, plus similar activities. This liberals should be encouraged to state their was not congenial to Dr. Ritland, the VIews. director of the Institute, who was most During this period of my participation in interested in pure research. He resigned in General Conference leadership, something 1971 and was replaced a little over a year occurred that has resulted in a number of later by Robert H. Brown, who was willing inquiries, namely, the development of a to support the new emphasis. In the next few more or less official statement of consensus years two other staff members left. These about biblical teaching on the subject of the v~cail<::ie_s Wete··filtewwt~i:¢id:~o crcatiol1~nd .(!~r!y. hi~f *.eSl+lr~bJ 42 SPECTRUM initiated by W. J. Hackett. The first draft where he had taken his elementary and was made by an ad hoc group drawn from the secondary education before attending and participants in a geology field trip con­ graduating from Pacific Union College. ducted by the Institute during the summer of After studying at the seminary, Elder Wilson 1976. Intended as the starting point for was appointed to mission service in Egypt, discussion of current Adventist beliefs about where he subsequently spent more than a creationism, the document underwent many decade. After returning to the United States, revisions. I was not closely associated with he served successively in several posts on the developing the document, although I was local conference level, then as president of present when it was discussed by the General the Columbia Union Conference, and Conference officers and presidents of our finally for eight years in close association world divisions in October, 1977, and at a with Elder Pierson as vice president of the lengthy discussion at the N osoca Pines Con­ North American Division of the General ference in February of 1978. I also partici­ Conference. He served as chairperson of pated with Elders Hackett and Eva when both the Board of Higher Education for that document and the companion statement North America and the Board of Trustees of on inspiration and revelation were discussed Lorna Linda University. Thus he was well­ with the religion and science faculties in acquainted with the theological and aca­ several of our colleges.3 demic stresses within the church in North The statement was eventually published America. in the Adventist Review (June 17, 1980). The Recently, another "Statement of Affir­ clause that caused the most debate reads: mation" relative to creation and the "Accepting the Bible time-frame, which chronology of earth history was published clearly indicates a short history for life and jointly by the Adventist Review (December the human race upon the earth ... " Quite a 8, 1983) and Ministry (December, 1983). few people wanted the statement to asss;rt The document ascribes its source as "the that the extent of earth history was em­ participants of the 1983 Geoscience Field braced within 6,000 years, and at some Conference," and the names are given at the stages in the development of the document, end. Participating in the trip were most of a clause to that effect was embodied in it. In the presidents of our world divisions, most all these discussions, the staff of the Geo­ of the key officers of the General Confer­ science Research Institute consistently fa­ ence, and several editors of our church vored including only a reference to a "short papers. The affirmation on time reads: chronology for earth history. " "That the biblical record requires a short Robert H. Pierson resigned his post as chronology of approximately 6;000 years in president of the Seventh-day Adventist contrast to tens of thousands or millions of church in October of 1978, to alleviate years." Although the Geoscience Research physical problems caused by long years of Institute staff planned and directed the field heavy work and stress. The Annual Council trip, none of the staff are included at the end delegates did not take long to decide upon of the document. I have been told on reliable Neal C. Wilson as his successor. authority that the Institute staff were not in favor of including a reference to 6,000 years, although they certainly do not advocate Maintaining the Defense: "tens of thousands or millions of years. " In 1978-1984 such statements about time, the staff have consistently argued for letting the matter lder Wilson had stand as "a short chronology of earth E spent his youth with history. " ...... ~f·· .. d=!nd' m]~arentS:ln·lf nC3.an~Ja, . ·Whilchcw3S:=StiH vice president fer the. J

Volume 15, Number 2 43

North American Division, Elder Wilson moved from Berrien Springs, Mich., to showed considerable interest in the work of Loma Linda University in Calif. the Geoscience Research Institute. As a member of its board of directors, he attended meetings faithfully and had been on one of Examining the Evidence its earlier field tours. He heartily supported the concept of a geology field tour for North n our effort to un­ American Division administrators; when it I derstand what the was arranged for the summer of1977, he put Book of Inspiration has to say about origins considerable pressure on the union presidents and earth history, too little attention is to be present. On the tour, he attended all being given to analyzing the Bible with the meetings and was an interested par­ ticipant, asking questions and making Neal Wilson had become acquainted observations. Elder Wilson seemed to be with the long span of Egyptian better informed than most church leaders on the problems of a short chronology for earth dynasties and did not seem to be history. During his many years of service in unduly disturbed by the fact that they Egypt, he had become acquainted with the did not fit with a conservative long span of ancient Egyptian dynasties, and Adventist chronology. did not seem to be unduly disturbed by the fact that they did not fit with the con­ carefully thought-out and rigorously ap­ servative Adventist interpretation ofa6,000- plied interpretive methods comparable to year maximum for earth's history. As far as I the methods scientists use to study the Book can discover, Elder Wilson has not published of Nature. Correctly understanding biblical any views on the problems of geoscience, cosmology requires carefully evaluating the but he has encouraged research and publica­ assumptions, literary devices, and technical tion by others. During his administration, terms which the biblical writer brought to funds have been provided from the general his effort to set forth God's message. church treasury for Seventh-day Adventist This neglect is understandable, in a way, -, scientists to research geological problems for most people who study what the Bible -!- related to biblical creationism. (One would has to say about origins assume that the 1 .:j wish that more Adventist scientists would Bible writers had the same knowledge about participate. ) the universe and the solar system which we During Elder Wilson's administration as have today. Moreover, most Adventists, vice president of the Nor'th American Divi­ including ministers, give preference to Ellen sion and as chairperson of the Loma Linda White's writing on cosmology because she University board of trustees, approval was wrote in our language and time, whereas given for Loma Linda University to offer they are unable to read the Bible in the bachelor's and master's programs in geol­ languages in which it was written. They ogy: a giant step forward for Seventh-day know that in reading the Bible in translation Adventist geologists. The General Confer­ they are coming to it through another ence provided a $125,000 annual grant to person or people. They do not have the skills support these and the graduate program in to dig into the full implication of words or biology. this was gratifying for those of us the shades of meaning in the syntax, tenses, who for decades had wanted geology taught and modes of the ancient languages. But in the Adventist educational system. To give those who don't understand the biblical greater breadth and depth of faculty for this languages ought to give more weight than new curriculum in 1980, the headquarters of they do to the counsel of those who are able Hie~H·fleosiientt,:3fesed±C:hJn~±itn.te .. ,w ere t~.eQnduGtfJ:;se~f*lH~ ~~-it_,\.V.CI;~ 1 44 SPECTRUM originally written. (I am thankful that the distinction between research and advocacy. number of Adventists with such training is They will not create divisiveness by the considerable, and is being augmented year premature or sole dissemination of un­ by year.) settling concepts. Scholars and church No doubt those who neglect the study of leaders must have confidence in one the Bible in preference for Ellen White's another and work together, realizing that it accounts of early history are unaware of is best to move very slowly when there is no what they are doing and would, in fact, clear consensus on belief and action. warmly deny it, but my close acquaintance At the same time, all Adventists need to with many ministers and leaders indicates be aware of certain human tendencies as this is indeed so. I appreciate the difficult expressed by Lester C. Thurow in another theological and administrative problems our connection: "Facts are difficult to deal with leaders face, and I concur in their desires when they conflict with theory. And before to preserve the unity and fellowship of changing theories most human beings will the Adventist church. At this stage in our spend long periods of time pretending that denomination's history, I prefer that we the facts do not exist, hoping that the facts have conservative leaders, for conservatism will magically go away, or denying that the is in line with the central consensus of our facts are important. Only if the facts are members. Our leaders, in the face of the very painful and very persistent will they many problems now present in the church, deal with the fundamental inconsistencies in must steer a course that will enable the their world views."4 As a church, we are church to live, to grow, and to solve its encountering some very persistent and problems as the providence of God shall painful facts which require calm, thorough, indicate. In the meantime, they should and honest investigation. Among these are support those who keep the Bible in a geochronometers, and early man and his predominant place while discussing doc­ place in the geologic column. We look to the trinal problems. This is the sine qua non of the staff of the Geoscience Research Institute to church's continued existence. One of the help us all in these particular investigations. major responsibilities of the leaders of our As originally conceived, the General church is to provide an atmosphere in which Conference's purpose for preparing key Adventist scholars can conduct their re­ individuals with expertise in geology was, search scientifically and responsibly without first, that they might help our science and suspicion coming upon them. Bible teachers find solutions to the problems being raised for creationists by the evolu- dventists should al- tionary geologists; and second, to help our A low no theory to ministers and interested laypeople become stand in the way of the search for truth, for acquainted with scientific support for truth is a part of ultimate reality, and our creationist views. The Institute has suc­ commitment to it must be absolute. If we ceeded quite weli in achieving these goals cannot accept concepts that seem to through its publications, geology field trips, numerous believers to be fully supported by and creationist classes and seminars con­ incontrovertible biblical and scientific data ducted on the campuses of our colleges and because to do so would change past universities. teachings, then we will be in a critical In recent years, a few in the Adventist condition spiritually. God is the embodi- scholarly community have asserted that the ment of truth, and in our search we must Geoscience Research Institute staff give so keep close to His revelation of truth. The much emphasis to what the staff terms church is God's church, and responsible "creationist apologetics," that they may be

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geology as a valuable discipline in itself. If taken into account as we try to understand this were to happen, it would be a reversion the twin books of revelation and of nature. to approximately the same view of geo­ I am extremely' grateful that God in His logical studies held by Professor Price, who providence led me to the Seventh-day Ad­ conceived of himself mainly as a defender of ventist church. Its interpretation of God's creationism and the 6,OOO-year life span for Word is closer to the true intent of that earth, rather than as a scientist using word than that of any other religious group. geology as a means for finding out what the Life within the Adventist church has been rocks and strata of the earth might teach us infinitely richer and more satisfying than about their own history. The policy of any other I could have chosen. I am also appointing to its staff only arch-conser­ grateful for the contribution Adventist ge­ vatives has isolated the Geoscience Research ologists and scientists have made to my life. Institute from many in the community of George McCready Price, Frank Marsh, Adventist scholars, and reduced its ability to Richard Ritland, P.E. Hare, Harold Coffin, help them. Robert Brown, Ariel Roth, and Ed Lugen­ beal have all helped open my eyes to the wonders of the universe and in the earth to eology is an aca­ which I had been blind before my associa­ G demic discipline in tion with them. One of the greatest blessings which careful study and research can help us in life is to understand what has gone on in to learn more than we now know about the the earth before you came along, and what is early history of the earth. It is God who gave happening to you and others as you live out us inquiring minds and logical ability. As your days. The Adventist church and the Christian scholars we must examine care­ Adventist geologists and scholars in many fully all geological data that is available, and fields have all helped me to achieve such an exercise great care against ignoring or understanding, indeed, to achieve an inner passing lightly over data that does not mesh serenity. But my curiosity has not dulled one with models of early earth history estab­ iota. I remain committed to the search for lished by religious faith. Such models are truth and to understanding about all that is extremely important to Christians, but in and is coming to be in every area of human scientific inquiry all available data must be activity and thought.

NOTES AND REFERENCES

1. Other members of the committee were American Division colleges, it was drastically re­ W.G.c. Murdoch, Ariel Roth and E. R. Thiele, all vised at the N osoca Pines Conference in February of from Andrews University, and H. W. Lowe, Gen­ 1978. Two sections of the document were excised: eral Conference field secretary, who was serving as one of these dealt with the human element in chairman of the Daniel Committee and of the revelation and the resulting problems of contradic­ Defense Literature Committee. I considered all of tions or differences where there are multiple ac­ them to be conservative Adventists. counts in the Bible of certain events; the other 2. Selected Messages, Vol. 1, pp. 19-21. excised section dealt with the role of xeason in 3. At the request of Elder Pierson, I wrote the seeking to understand inspired writings. I was not first draft of the statement on inspiration and included as a member of the subcommittee which revelation in the fall of1976. It was then sent out to excised these sections and further revised the docu.,­ various Bible teachers, editors, and church ad­ ment, no doubt because I had just made known my ministrators around the world, soliciting their sug­ views about that in a paper on inspiration which I gestions; in the light of their written comments the had presented earlier in the conference. document was revised. Beforethedocllment was 4 New.s.w t83-;- 1984 National Forum Conference Renews Adventist Heritage

by Bonnie Dwyer According to the questionnaires which atten­ dants filled out after the conference, people came to discuss issues, to share frustrations, consider the wo Forum conferences have come and gone; future of the church, and simply to brainstorm. . each provided perspectives on Adventism, They came to see old friends and to talk about Tbut each slanted its new perspectives in dif- Adventist identity and tradition. When asked what ferent directions. The first conference (held in they saw as the main goal of the conference, practi­ Washington, D.C., in 1982) featured theological dis­ cally everyone described a different one; but all said cussions of, among other subjects, the sanctuary, his or her own goal had been met Ellen White, and divorce and remarriage. The Ron Lawson, who responded to the session on second conference, entitled, "The Search for a Usable patterns in church growth, noted the graying of Future," took place in Grand Terrace and Lorna Forum, which he said has been mostly unsuccessful Linda, Calif., in March 1984, and provided a socio­ in attracting the generations younger than that of its logical look at the church today and in the future. founders, the graduate students of the late 1960s. This issue of Forum recounts some of the activities Lawson discussed the effect ofdoctrinal diversity of the second .conference, and future issues of in the church and said that while parents may be Spectrum will include many of the papers presented fascinated with the theological changes afoot in the there. denomination, their children apparently are not Discussions at. the second conference covered Some people there noted the lack ofacademics at­ everything from the general principles and patterns tending the· second conference,"given that· it was of current Seventh-day Adventist church growth held on the front step ofLorna Linda University­ through options for improving church stru<.:ture to a question parallel to why so few individualS from some personal experiences of Adverttiststoday. the General Confer~nce attended the first con­ There were also presentations on social issues and ference even though: it was ·located close to the on institutions within the church. General Conference; In addition to providing more and varied per­ Both conferences seemed to renew enthusiasm spectives on Adventism, the conference gave about Adventism. "1 went to both conferences with insights into the Association of Adventist Forums, questions running through my head about the because those who attended represented the 'visible church," wrote c,Ile participant. "The conferences Forum.? The picture which emerged is of

1

tions.) Sects in the process of developmentalmost inevitably relinquish their sectarian characteristics Respondents to AAF and become denominations with the second genera­ tion. Wilson affirmed this general tendency: "De­ Report Clash Over nominationalization-the loosening rigor; the loss of the sense of dissent and protest; the reduction of Elections, Structure distance from other Christians; and themutirig of claims that the sect's distinctive teachings are neces­ by Bonnie Dwyer sary for salvation-is a current that exerts some pressure on all contemporary movements." But he eviews of the AAF Task Force Model also affirmed that "every sect has its own distinctive Constitution were mixedduringtheofticial stance and orientation, and not all sects .'. . ,be­ R presentation at the recent national COIl­ come denominationalized" (p. 5). Hethendiscussed ference. Of the four people who responded to the factors that hinder and factors that promote de­ documents, two gave high marks,and the other nomiriationalization. The major categories under two faulted the suggestions contaIned in the which he pursued his argument are particularly proposals. Al Kwiram and Charles Sandefur,Je, appropriate to a discussion of the Adventist Church liked the constitution. Thomas Mostertdid riot, --charismatic leadership, organizational struc­ a.nd Earl Amundson disagreed with thesugges- tures, denominational distinctiveness, and the tIon that unions be eliminated. " . . growth and effects of secularization. K wiram, who chairs the chemistry department at Professor Ronald Lawson (professor of Socio­ the University of Washington, responded asa lay­ logy in the Urbail Studies Department, Queens person. He said he had no major disagreements College, City University of New York) responded with the Task Force proposal, but felt a broader with an interesting paper on "The Future of look at the organization was also needed. Taking a Seventh-day Adventism." In part, this paper quotation from an earlier talk by Bryan Wilson, meshed with Wilson's analysis and complemented K wiram said his theme was, "An organization is it -Wilson's analysis was broad, and conducted at a always in danger of manipulation, which tends to comfortable level of generalization and abstraction, force the good of the greater ends to become whereas Lawson's was specific, although not with­ subservient to the lesser means. " Then he compared out sociological sophistication. Unfortunately, the plight of the church to that of America's Lawson did not use Wilson's categories, nor inter­ smokestack industries in competition with· the act directly with Wilson's arguments. Perhaps this Japanese. He noted how American industry's indicates the greatest failure of the conference. overemphasis on the bottom line and on short term While it certainly did not lack interest, it failed to gains has been identified as one of the most serious sustain continuity. The bedazzled conference mem­ and damaging factors to its competitiveness. bers were constantly jolted from one experience, Japanese industry forced American industry to and from one universe of thought and discourse, to move to the next level of focus-management­ another. Strangely, although several currents of and to ask how the organization should be thought in subsequent sessions moved' directly into structured to accomplish its purpose. ' the orbit of concerns systematically analyzed by The church has also focused on the bottom line Wilson-i.e., in conference sessions having to do he said, by overemphasizing statistics (baptisms and with church organization and in a session which tithe dollars) while blissfully ignoring the impover­ explored the tension between Adventist beliefs and ished character of the enterprise. Recent contro­ values on the one hand, and academic respectability versies such as Davenport and Ford have forced the and rationality on the other-no attempt was made church to re-examine its approach to administra­ to relate these discussions to Wilson's earlier pre­ tion. The Task Force has not addressed church sentation which laid down a platform facilitating management. But the church cannot stop at this precisely such discussions. level of evaluation, he suggested, just as industry Of course, a conference organized around a cannot look just at management. The third level on broad central presentation might not be as enter­ which we must focus is that of value. This is the taining as a kaleidoscope of events by renowned conceptual level of an organization and is the level performers, but surely it would be more solidly on which we address the question "why?" It is rewarding. concerned with societal valuesforneighborsandfor individuals. Asking why, he suggested, will lead us to the individual and the local church, because that is where value is created. Russell Staples is the chairpersono!theDep4rtmgnto! . " .... Corona Chw:ch pastor Charles Sandefur Jr; re­ c::~l¥t'ldd::Missiiiriii~eiiity;;i··',"~":,:;£0.'::..•. ';';;'·~,.;;=:.c.;-.,;;;spoilding:;£t:Gllf.;a~pastGr-s~~~n~"",,,~~'~:: ... :.....:

3 within Adventism, saying that unless this happens, they respond to him? What is the purpose of our the result will be the apathy and cynicism that arises relationship to each other and to the church? from helplessness. His personal anecdotes iUus:­ Emphasizing that love that foregoes power and the trated the tensions between those who believe in the will to rule is the locus of all relationships, Tobler benefits of higher education and those who view it declared that we must not vest the organization, with suspicion, as something which weakens faith in which is merely an instrument with which we traditional beliefs. accomplish tasks, with spiritual authority. She Referring to the identity crisis currently afflicting takes as her model "to do justice, love mercy, and Adventism, he said, "I find an increasing number of walk humbly with God," and asked those present to people in the church who have no clear vision of remember that Jesus bid us not to be servants, but what Adventism stands for. They end up advocat­ friends. ing what Robert Jewett calls "a faithless tolerance," Jonathan Butler opened with a Larry Zif quote: an apathetic approach to religion which lacks con­ "The essence of America is democracy and plumb­ viction or commitment. On the other end of the ing," noting that the history of Adventism and spectrum, we find those who react against this Adventist education might be characterized the mentality by proclaiming an identity for Adventism same way. Plumbing, the enervating proliferation that is based on an understanding that majors in of policies and power structures, "can get rusty and exclusivity and triumphalism. Instead of faithless drain off the soul of an institution." He cited Lorna tolerance, this approach produces an intolerant Linda University policy that "anything we write has faith which says, "Define Adventism as I do or leave to be submitted to· our chairman, in turn should be the church." submitted within a lO-day period to the vice presi­ Lorna Tobler, having grown up in a "believer's dent for academic affairs, and all this must be priesthood honestly professed if not perfectly prac­ reviewed before it's sent in to an academic journal to ticed," found herself questioning, redefining, and be reviewed by the scholarly community. You re-evaluating "the church" during her 10 years of cannot really write if someone's looking over your litigation with Pacific Press. Having sued Pacific shoulder." Also in this vein, he spoke of the irony in Press for sex discrimination, she and Merikay church institutions of "academics who are so cyni­ Silver were told that clerical authority was more cal about their tradition that they do not engage in important than justice, "not that sex discrimination transforming it or creatively advancing it. They was good, but that it was more important to receive no criticism because they have done nothing support the authority of those who practiced it than wrong. But those who do take their tradition to question its justice." seriously and try to come to terms with it, with some Tobler has been asked repeatedly how herlawsuit passion and interest, they come under criticism." affected her relationship with the church. In this Butler extends his loyalty to the fundamentally presentation, she answered that she was changed egalitarian peer relationships which exist among more by the sex discrimination itself, and by its fellow academics, rather than to institutions and defense on grounds of clerical authority, than by the plumbing. actual confrontation in court. Tobler defined her relationship to the church as depending on which We must not vest the organization, definition of church you choose. Calling the church a body of believers, Tobler declared she was left which is merely an instrument, with with a warm reaffirmation by the strong support spiritual authority. she received from her fellow church members. However, her response to the "church" as defined Respondent Gregory Schneider portrayed the by the General Conference-"people who· wield Adventist experience as "a lonely quest for salvation power over fellow members"-has been much dif- which issues in an individualistic and competitive ferent. pursuit of prestige within the circumscribed arena. After quoting several statements made by various of the Adventist community." Seldom taking General Conference representatives both in and out seriously the biblical metaphor to be interdepen- of court (the "church is free to ignore, even to flout, dent organs of the body of Christ, Adventists measures which bind all others," "the authority of a instead get attention within the reassuring frame- church over its members is more important than work of the local church and the school system on justice," and "individual judgment must be sur- the basis offour Ps: piety, probity, professionalism, rendered to ecclesiastical leaders") Tobler turned to and patriarchy. The system stirs Adventists up to the Gospels for a model for her changed relation- good works, if not to love, and provides them with a ship to the church. relatively stable claim for prestige, no small feat in She asked some new questions: How did Jesus the midst of America's impersonal and unstable

relate to the powerless and the_e~~rf~l? "g~~_:....:"~~-.:.~~_~ ___ . _'._~_"'~"""':·':""":'_W' __~':-'""'-r-;""'-_..-J.....-~~" • .c,...,~._~-:.,..... __...... ---'--' ____~'--~_._·"..,._,'_'h'-_..,,~~~_~ .. __,_...... ,.,..,. . ,....".-~--,-----, .. ~---- ,.,~.--

5

Old Testament Scholar Raises Sabbath/Sunday Issues by Donna Carlson Reeves " T·he Day of the Lord and the Lord's Day" . was the title of Dr. Samuel Terrien's Terrienproposed that it was also during the exile controversial presentation of Sabbath that Sabbath first became a sacrament celebrating morning; March 17. Dr. Terrien,.a warm,pas- creation, and was then identified with the seventh sionate .speaker, is. Davenport Professor of day of the Babylonian week, or "haptomed." Before Hebr~wandCognate Langu.ages at Union Theo~ the exile, it was most likely a monthly event logical Seminary in NewYoric. In his pies~n- celebrating.thefullmoon, Its actual origins are tation,his purpose wasta examillethe biblical obscure and· "rema.il1 a subject of scientific in- origin of the seventh~ay Sabbath and its quiry ....~ What we can say is that originally a reli~ous function in Old· and New Testament seven~ayweek and the Sabbath were separated," times. . . he il1siste<:L •...... Terrienfrrst traced. thertses of the phrase "The The Sabbath commandments as reproduced in Day of the Lord," which appe~red,he says, about E:~(Odus 20~nd Deuteronomy 5, Terrien argued, 1215 B.c. at the time ofthe Exodus, The Jews were were elaborated oiamendedforms of the original fleeing. the Egyptians al1d the miracle, or "provi- commandment .which was expressed in a more deritial coil1cidence," of the· Red Sea tidal p(ltterns pithy form .. like "thou shalt not murder." He saved the former slaves from their pursuers. Thus supported the "lapidaryskeleton"tradition, which "Yom Yahweh," The Day of the Lord, was shown says simply that all the original 10 commandments to be a day of triumph over one's enemies. were in this short form. Further, the command- Following their years of nomadic wandering, the ments were originally given to nomadic people who Israelites settled in Canaan; Mterdefeating a series must care for their flocks on all days. For them of tribal enemies including Amalekites, Canaanites, an injunction to rest would h~lVe had no meaning. an.d Moabites, The Day of the Lord continued to be Therefore; Terrien felt the Sabbath commandment identified with military victory. In turn, Nebuchad- in its present forms was designed for a later, nezzar's armies in 587 B.C. dealt the Jews a major agricultural society as Israel was during and after defeat·and carried away the 3,000 survivors of the the exile. In this agrarial1 culture, the Sabbath was sack of Jerusalem. The prisoners were eventually an expression of a humane ethic were even animals settled in the marshy farmlands of lower Meso- were allowed to rest one day a week. potamia where they worked in the oppressive heat After providing this .extensive Old Testament Jortheir:aabylonian overloads.It was here, Terrien background, .during the last few minutes of his proposed, that the "true .miracle of the Bible" presentation, Dr. Terrien· moved into the New occurred. Captives from qlany conquered city states Testament and more specific Christian practices. were sent to the same hell,arid all simply dis- Jesus, he said,deliberately violated the Sabbath on appeared ftom history. Only the Jews retained their several occasions to illustrate the priority of com- faith, and thus their identity,· and were able to passion for fellow humans over legal institutions. transmit this faith to their children and eventually to All ... such legal systems, Jesus showed, are in- the world. trinsically relative, . thus he "de-absolutized" the This miracle of surVival occurred through the Sabbath, and delivered men from its tyranny. transformation of sacred space, which the JeWs had Terrien also pointed out the great significance for lost when: they lost Jerusalem and the temple, into the disciples of the resurrection of Jesus on the first sacred time. They kept the religious days, Sabbaths, day of the week. The Sabbath of that weekend was a feasts, even creating new ones, like Rosh Hashanah, dark day, a day of death and despair. Sunday was a the autumn New Year, and offering hymns and daYQf light, of new life and hope. "We cannot laments instead of sacrifices. No longer just a ignore the importance of Sunday for the early reminder of past victoties,The Day ofthe Lord was Christians," Terrien insisted, quoting Acts 20:7, now in the future-evidence that despite his refusal which tells of Paul and the disciples meeting on the to intervene in Israel's current history, God was still first dayoL the week. He went on to interpret in controL Someday, they believed, he would Colossians 2: 16; in which Paul advises the church ;=:=:::,:~~~t~~1~~a::n:i:!~1'~~~lr~a:~11·;+··.:;,,:.,.~~'"::;;;;;:'C;:..;;:tc9:tt;~~-P:t:r-R.e::::±~S.·\t~,~'"'.",..;~~:··\C~~~' ..~~ ~ .===~==

7 JtAF€onjereneeSlttutaay Night Live ll1ld on Btlm by Carol Richardson

leadership to the honor of his being nominated to .·as-socIal"'.Pl" P.ro~iSing.o. formula, n.. th.., e ..• f~.ln.il.ia.r. the Forum p. oS.'.t.-s ..put ~.b.b.a together... t. h,. "film­ a the post ofGren.ada's ambassador to the United I'./ >lively,engagihgprogramSat'urday·. evening, States. Match .17; in the ramshackle R.edlimdsCinema: an The final interview of the evening, conduct~dby - (!vening.oLwit and.coriversationiculminatingwith Carol Richardson,· LomaLinda ljbnirian, Was with tl)§premier(!pf •. ·the,first.Seventh:.dayAdYeiltist- film mak~rD.0Iiald Davenport,bestknownfortlie . ':W[itteri'-an&~prQdu¢edtt~levisionfilm wiihpi"ime­ a Ward -:-winriing i'Westbrook Hospital "series pro:" '.­ .. ~m~aspirations .. Host J ()nathan BuHerQP~ned the duced byFaithfor Today; Davenport spoke briefly • 'progra111 with amonQlogueand. playful" mock aboutthechallenge facing the Adventist filmmaker . •. interview,aided hyhis. wife ..·.Marianne. . who continually forges an uneasy alliance between a Threeseriousintervie¥,s folloWed BtJtIer's send­ secular, commercial market andan .Orthodox, often . llP, e~chfe

tending the boundaries will mean venturing into PrimeTimeFilm costly territory. However, A Lesson in Loving might just do the Premiers".- at Conference, trick. Free of the deadly impulse to sermonize, I£sson tells the story of a young couple's losing one by CarolRic/wrdsoll daughter to cystic fibrosis and possibly losing a second, yet recondlil1g themselves to these tragedies enough to seek to adopt a third child with' this onaldDlivenport's A Lesson in Loving, incurable malady. which premiered at the second conference Lee Merriwether plays ~ placement agent whose of the Association of Adven.tistForums job it is to screen prospective adoptive parents. Still Saturday evening, March 15, is such an important smarting from a placement gone bad for which she work on so many levels that to carp at its cinematic feels reponsible,Merriwether is especially wary of flaws seems downright mean-spirited. To begin these two fresh faces. She will not be duped by with, for an Adventist writer to be taken seriously in sentimental do-gooders: why should an apparently the cutthroat world of prime-time television is 110t healthy, happy couple seek out a child with this only a credit to Davenport's considerable talent, but debilitating disease? represents a radical shift in Adventism's approach Through a series of flashbacks, we learn of John to the medium as well. Faithfor Today's willingness and Mary as childhood sweethearts, college stu- to commit the funds necessary to compete in the dents, newlyweds, and too-soon parents suddenly sophisticated prime-time market indicates that per- burdened with studies, debts, and a sick baby. haps the "talking heads" of pre:.dawn community After extensive testing, baby Angela is at last _~";j~~,":;;::~s~~jGe:ctel~V~hav~t-Go-i!lnited~-a:n:;.~Rll@l!bE;-~~-~f)S€(l·iw~na-v.e-£¥stic-Aibr.osi§ia.~Js~.:'~-;:;;:,c:==--_ ..

8 communist crusade," which he thought ignored the Catholic Bishop and fact that misery and poverty-not communism­ are the roots of the problems there. While he urged SDA Diplomat Debate the United States to impose limits on itself, he praised socialistically inclined groups like the Central America World Council of Churches. Though Don Sergio suggested that socialism was by George Colvin the "only way" for Christians to follow and that capitalism (because it pitted man against man) was alk of liberation theology and the U.S. pre­ "anti-Christian," he defined the socialism he sup­ sence in Central America filled the confer­ ported as "democratic, participatory socialism" ence session on the Third World. The rather than historic socialism. In this "true social­ principal participants were Don Sergio Mendez ism," capitalism is stripped of its political power and Arceo, retired Roman Catholic bishop of Cue rna­ economic equality is established. This would en­ vaca, Mexico; John Kelley, an Adventist who hance liberty and promote political and economic directed the EI Salvador election project for the equality, he said. United States Agency for International Develop­ In his comments, Kelley downplayed the rele­ ment (AID); and Walter Douglas, professor of vance of theory and "isms" to events in Central theology at Andrews University. America. He saw the peasants, in particular, func­ Speaking in Spanish with John Kelley translat­ tioning as both socialists, by working in common to ing, Don Sergio indicated the principles important produce products, and as capitalists, by selling them to him: that God is understood through history, and for the highest price. In Kelley's view, the work of that history itself is relative; the recent emphasis in earning day-to-day subsistence excluded "the lux­ Catholic theology on understanding Christ pri­ ury of ideology." In the same way, he said Chris­ marily as man, rather than primarily as God; and tianity's eternal destiny transcended both capitalism the liberation theology that stresses God's working and socialism. in the world. These principles had led Don Sergio to Kelley hastened to distance himself from U.S. stress Bible reading in the worship at Cuernavaca policy in Nicaragua and Honduras, which he said cathedral, and to become involved in advocating was "totally wrong," and confined himself to El social change in Central America through libera­ Salvador. Tracing recent developments in El Salva­ tion theology and socialism. He denounced mili­ dor, Kelley said U.S. efforts had broken the taristic "North American imperialism," the U.S. "monopoly capitalism" that previously existed and exploitation of other countries, and the U.S. "anti- supported the extensive land redistribution that

monary disease that results in early death. Feeling of reminiscence, with all its possibility for distortion cheated of a "normal" firstborn, John and Mary and character revelation, is lost. Here it is mere gamble with Mendelian odds. A second daughter is reportage: two people tell the same story to a mostly born with the disease, and the parents face for the distressed Lee Merriwether. (Never mind that the second time their child's ceaseless cries, choking flashbacks were used to salvage old footage. Tele­ bouts, life in and out of hospitals, and inevitable vision does not necessarily reward thrift.) death. Nevertheless, Lesson is certainly no worse than They face, too, the knowledge that they choose to other TV movies of the death-and-dying ilk, and is gamble, and while dealing with the resultant guilt better than most, sparing us maudlin Love Story and rage, John and Mary search for divine ex­ death scenes or the manipulative mock heroics of planations for their daughters' short cruel lives. Terms of Endearment and Brian s Song. They do not find them, but do find an unexpected A Lesson in Loving is admittedly an experiment, well of love for children afflicted with cystic fibrosis, but one that will be watched closely by those who which leads them to try to adopt another child with hold the purse strings of the television ministry. A the disease after their own eldest daughter dies. stronger commitment to prime-time will mean Where Lesson falters is not in the somewhat upping the ante-more money, less preaching-to sentimental story, but in its telling. Flashbacks, reach that 94 percent of viewers for whom George though not unusual, can still be innovative (as, for Vandeman is indistinguishable from the test pattern example, in the backward flow of time in. Harold Indian. The boundaries might prove to be well Pinter's Betrayal, or in the three perceptions of a worth extending. single event in Alan Ayckbourn's Norman Con- -.quests).BuLtheJlashhacks jn_Le~sQnare so uni~ ... Ca.mLf.?.ichardson . is a. reference librarian at the forn;: s-()-lTnea.-r: solIteral, that the -evoca'ti';e;p({w'i~ ..... --Tj)m{i-iiriilfi:..:tJfifvifiiiY1ilffiiiji:·::::-:::";::':":'~:"::""":::':·~·=::;;'I-::-:: :~::: ....-=: ===J==

9 6t¢!ti;ted after1979. For this effort, the lives ofU.S. the similarity in social goals between liberation 'Wqrkers were placed in danger from both left-wing theology and Marxism. gut;pillas and right-wing ~'death squads" seeking to Kelley, too, seemed to leave some questions fe~t()re previous conditions. Kelley also emphasized open. In deprecating the importance of theory for that the Catholic hierarchy in EI Salvador agreed everyday living, Kelley left some listeners wonder­ with U~S. efforts at social justice, though it dis­ ingwhether he had rated theory too lightly­ cigreed with U.S. military assistance to the EI especially in view of the mobilizing power histori­ Salvador government in its struggle against Marxist cally shown by such theories as Christianity, Marx­ guerillas. While recognizing the dangers in escalat- ism, Zionism, and Nazism. In the context of the ing violence, Kelley defended the military assistance meeting, too, this approach left substantially un­ '•. dfort and attacked the guerillas as being interested challenged the theoretical assertions made by 'PriIIlarily in obtaining power and excluding the Douglas and Don Sergio. 'United States from Central America ratherthan in Because the meetmg occurred.three days before •<~o~faljustice; Kelley concluded that his experiences the ElSalvadorelection, the speakers' commellts ...•. had led him to believe that the, United .. States. was attractedihe local press. A report of the meeting acting in Central America ina way that Christians appeared on the front page of the San Bernardino could support. Sun the next day. Responding to Don Sergio and Kelley, Douglas $aid that theology must be related to social realities. George Colvin is a doctoral candidate in govern­ ·.Ghristianity could not be limited to personal salva­ ment at Claremont Graduate School and secretary tion; He said liberation theology was rooted in oftheAssociation ofAdventist Forums' Task Force God's liberating activity in Scripture, and defended on Church Structure . .. ". li.beration theology from the charge that it. was idehticalwith Marxism. In Douglas' view, the only siriiiIarity was that liberation theology borrows Adventist Women sOIl1e "social theories" from Marxism, as theology . irtgeneral commonly borrows from the social To sciences. Classical Marxism emphasizes the urban Meet Discuss WorKers, is concerned oriIy with "economic salva- tion," opposes religion, and asserts that economic Equality and str.1ldures alone determine society. By contrast, lib­ erationtheology values the poor, is concerned with Liberation Theology . salvation of the whole person, emphasizes eco­ byElizabeth Wear nomic and spiritual realities, and believes that spirituality is a vital social force. Liberation theol- M.··... ore than usual excitment prev.ailed at the ogyalso challenges the prevalent conformity of the breakfast-lecture, March 18, hosted by church to its culture by presenting the idea of '. the Inland Empire chapter of the As- c:hristianity as a minority position. sociation of Adventist Women. The audience of As in most discussions, the speakers left at least as approximately 150 was made up of physicians, many loose ends hanging as they tied. Both Don conference' and union officials· as well as pastors, . Sergio and Douglas lauded socialism and liberation laypeople-With a fairly equal balance of men and theology, but neither troubled to define them, or to women. The. meeting took a non-aggressive, mid- exarIline their outcomes. Neither Don Sergio or dle...:groundlook at the role of women in the I)ouglas discussed whether democratic capitalism Adventist Church. The featured speaker, Steve . might serve the liberty and equality of human rights Daily, chaplain ofthe La Sierra campus of Lorna better than socialism does. Douglas, in stressing Linda University, examined five theological themes that there was "no option between prayer and in Adventist thought that have had important politics, between transformation of individuals and implications in how the church deals with sexual transformation of social conditions," left some inequality. The themes were presented in the con- apprehensive that his position risked unification of text of liberation theology and limited to those church and state-a persistent tendency in Catholic motifs most prominent in Adventist thought . .countries. Daily asked first that Adventists re-examine their Although Douglas distinguished historic Marx- understanding of the gift of prophecy. He said that ism from liberation theology, he did not compare Ellen White was a gifted woman who used the liberation theology with Marxism as it presently talents she was given to God's glory, and that other .'. functions. The. positions taken by Don Sergio, a . women in the church may also give their talents to -f'--: ~·ii .• ~~af~~~~~ol~AL§B·s,!gg,~~g~~Q~9;~~lg~1tJh~:£;h~t~!L~~lr~~~e.~!~guts.;,~ .•• ·

10 Daily's second theme was that Adventist theo­ Terrien on the Sabbath, continued from page 7 logy has failed to live up to the wholistic theology that it espouses. It has failed to develop the notion members to ignore criticisms regarding "new moons of social justice. Instead, it has adopted a hierar­ and Sabbaths," as evidence that Paul saw these chical church structure which conflicts with its own celebrations as temporary, as shadows of reality. theology. He saw the potential for change in this Reality for the Christians, was the fact that Jesus area as encouraging. was alive. A third consideration Daily examined was In closing, Dr. Terrien maintained he was not eschatology. While Adventist eschatology has suggesting a substitution of Sunday for Sabbath, traditionally been linked with other-worldliness, but he did seem to chide his listeners for ignoring the isolationism, and a suspicion of socio-political great meaning Sunday should have for all Chris­ movements, the church at the same time operates tians. Sabbath, he said, is a celebration of creation, tremendous worldwide medical, educational, and a looking back. Sunday is a celebration of re­ institutional services. Daily's position was that creation; it points forward to the hope of the the church has generally avoided and discouraged resurrection and eternal life. socio-political involvement even when issues of Although there was no time for formal audience social justice have been at stake. This has been response to Dr. Terrien's presentation, many ques- particularly true in the field of women's rights. In regards to the matter of inspiration, Daily said that the church has never really outgrown its 19th century antipathy towards the feminist movement. Dr. Terrien maintained he was not With broader understanding of the nature of in­ suggesting a substitution of Sunday for spiration joined with higher education, and the application of the historical critical method to both Sabbath. Scripture and to the writings of Ellen White, the church is now better able to address the issue of sexual equality and to formulate a hermeneutic tions were later raised by individuals who had heard which will be sensitive to the concerns of liberation him. Some felt he had virtually ignored Genesis I theology. and a seven-day creation week as the real basis for Lastly, there is a glaring contradiction between Sabbath observance. Biblical scholars who heard the strong Protestant emphasis, in Adventist theo­ him, question the 1275 B.c. date for the Exodus logy, on the "priesthood of all believers," and the and also challenge the idea that the calendar church's hierarchical subordination of women and provided the basis for Israel's initiation of a weekly laypeople in general. The church must be willing to Sabbath. In opposition to Dr. Terrien's assertion consider new models and creative options in the that the Sabbath commandment was given late, to a 1980s. purely agrarian people, results of recent research Following the presentation, Alyce Pudewell, have indicated that as early as patriarchal times the Pacific Union director for the Association of Ad­ Hebrew economy was a mixed agrarian-nomadic ventist Women and chairperson for the morning system. session, opened the floor for questions. The Some pointed out that Jesus'violation of rules of audience expressed considerable concern over the Sabbath observance can be interpreted as his lack of official response to women's issues. How­ teaching the true meaning of the Sabbath, not an ever, there was a sprinkling of encouraging com­ attempt to free mankind from the day's "tyranny." ments on the fact that at least two churches have Further, despite the fact that the Sabbath of allowed women to baptize and that more churches Passover weekend was doubtless a dark day for the are moving in that direction. disciples, some members of the audience suggested The Association of Adventist Women was that Dr. Terrien failed to give clear New Testament started under the aegis of the Association of evidence showing early Christian substitution of a Adventist Forums. Membership information for hopeful Sunday for a somber Sabbath. Finally, the association, as well as a more detailed copy of some objected to his definition of Sabbath as simply Steve Daily's presentation, may be obtained by a celebration of creation. It also points forward to writing the Association of Adventist Women, Box re-creation; as Rabbi Heschel has said, Sabbath is, 3884, Langley Park, MD 20787. in fact, a "taste of eternity." Elizabeth Wear is chairperson of the department of education at Columbia Union College and editor of Donna Carlson Reeves is a physician practicing in :----'- Th~:AifVei:liist'~Woriian:=------·-_c --- .. ---.- ... _. ·--.--:.;San-Bernardino;c.CalifoJ".n~: __ .::~ __ ..:._~:..=__.:...:.....::.~.::.:.:::::.:: =:::::.~::..:...

11 $abJjath Worship continued from page 6

0" •• A tli~~4~aIldsgf orphansfe~umetheir educations in right.s; edited eight volumes .ofthe writings of Ellen ; some other part of the world. Dr. Nguyet Mehlert; a G.' White; and circulated the '\Vorksof numerous gqtduate ofLorna Linda University's School of other writers. by means .of.a clandestine press. The Medicine; has provided,.counselling and .access to autlloritiesnever located the press, hut Shelkov apoIiionsfor rape victims since 1981. Robert served a series of prison teflIls totaling mote than 25 Bainum, of Washington, D.C., has organized the years for relentlessly arguing that Christians have Coalition for the Protection of Vietnamese Boat the right and moral responsibility to oppose both People to combat governmental indifference to the state religions and athiestic governments~ Shelkov plight of the refugees.· This group lobbies for such died in prison in 1980 at the age of 84; his opposition measures as linking U ,S.financial assistance to to the beast undiminished to the end. Nancy Bailey described the efforfsof Amnesty International to obtain the release of "prisoners of conscience" throughoutthe world. This term applies .t~~.str9gglebetween the remn~nt and toahybody who hasbeenartestedfor his or her .... Jheijeast takes place anew in each beliefs, religion, sex, language, brrace, and who has .. ~erieration. neither advocated nor participated in violence . Bailey presented a brief, bleak glimpse of prisoners who have recently been on Amnesty's files: a young wOman in Paraguay who was beaten; burnt and Thailand with demands for the arrest and prosecu­ drugged by local authorities,but never charged with tion of the pirates. Bransonconcluded by urging the any crime; a university professorinEl Salvador al,ldience to take the part of the responsive remnant who was abducted and tortured by the police, and by lobbYIng .public officials to act on behalf of the then forced to sign a phoney confession to prevent obQatpeople. his keepers from chopping off the ears of his 18:­ · ... Alex Kucharski recounted the sacrifice of Maxi­ month-old son; a Catholic bishop in China who was l11i!M~m Kolbe within the confines of Auschwitz sentenced to 10 years in prison for maintaining ·pd~~)fl·<::flmp. Kl,lcharski, who was arrested by the "subversive" ties with the Vatican; a former Justice '~~f~poin1940,became friends with Father Kolbe, Minister of Malawai and his wife who have received ~lQ:rfuer missionary to Japan, as they hauled rocks the death sentence for expressing political ideas in tog¢~her forthe camp's roads. Then,in July of 1941, opposition to the government. Amnesty Interna~ a prisoner escaped from Auschwitz and, as was the tional assists these prisoners of conscience by pub- . custom, the guards randomly selected 10 other prisQners to die in retribution. As one of the 10 · stepped forward, he exclaimed "My wife and children-'l won't see them again." Father Kolbe The All Union Church of True and Free immediately requested to tak:e his place,explaining Adventists in the Soviet Union believe to theS:S.commalider that he had no family. "Sijrprisingly/the

12 Odyssey of an Adventist Creationist

by Roy Benton

Hare: That's right: "the man with the r. P.E. Hare} one of eyebrows." I was the youngest of four D the two original sci­ children, all born in Burma. However, my entists in the Geoscience Research Institute was earliest memories were of California where interviewed by Roy Benton} consulting editor for Dad was in conference work. After moving Spectrum and chairperson of the Mathematical to Takoma Park, I finished grade school at Sciences Department at Columbia Union College. Sligo Elementary School and attended Takoma Academy. I finished college at Benton: Please tell us about your back­ Pacific Union College, with a chemistry ground. Have you always been a Seventh­ major in 1954, and went to Berkeley for a day Adventist? master's degree, then taught at Pacific Hare: I am a third generation Adventist. Union College in the chemistry department My grandfather, Robert Hare, was a poet, for three years before going on to the teacher, evangelist, and editor. He immi­ California Institute of Technology (Cal grated to New Zealand from Ireland in the Tech) for my doctorate in geochemistry, 1860s, and was a boat builder in his 20s when which I finished in 1962. I stayed on one year Stephen Haskell came through as a mission­ as a postdoctoral fellow and thenjoined the ary. Robert Hare was one of the first Geophysical Laboratory at the Carnegie Adventist converts. He went to Healdsburg Institution of Washington, where I have College in California, married my Ameri­ been since 1963. can grandmother Henrietta Johnson, and Benton: In what ways are you active as a returned to New Zealand and Australia for church member? the rest of their careers. They even served Hare: I enjoy working in the church. For for a time on Pitcairn Island. several years I helped out in Sabbath Schools My mother's parents-J.E. Fulton and for college age and earliteen youngsters. At Susie Newlon-were also students at Sligo Church I am at present an associate Healdsburg College and went to Fiji as head elder, as well as one of the Sabbath pioneer missionaries. In fact, the college in School superintendents. Fiji is known as Fulton College still. My Benton: Can you tell us what attracted mother and father met at Avondale College you to your career in geoscience? and went to Burma as missionaries for Hare: My interest in science goes back to 20 years. my Takoma Academy teachers; one was Benton: Your father is Eric B. Hare who Robert Hatt, who I believe is still teaching y:JIsJ1!4-IDf ies-that::we-all gt;~~l!E-Wi~h ~ . !h~ES'!E8H!EaX~!S~ <\114. g~neral ~:fi,:nce Volume 15, Number 2 47 from him. I can't think of a more we Adventists wondered, "Why wasn't it outstanding teacher that I had, and that valid .,,,when it gave ages greater than 6,000 includes some Nobel Prize winners at years! Berkeley and Cal Tech. Lester Harris, then An interesting paper Hoen gave discussed a Columbia Union College biology teacher, scientific errors in denominational publica­ was another motivating force. He took time tions, including the Seventh-day Adventist to take us on camping trips and introduced Bible Commentary, which came out the me to the world of rocks and fossils. In next year, 1953. Fears were expressed that college I took a chemistry major as well as scientific accuracy might suffer because of several physics and math courses. I recall the pressure of deadlines and lack of review discussions on the age of the earth in atomic time. Interestingly, it was considered un­ physics class when we covered radio­ fortunate that only one person's philosophy activity. I think that these topics interested me in the geological problems that the I was answering questions that people . church faced. Benton: How did those come up? hadn't even thought of asking as yet, Hare: It was quite clear to me in some of and so I decided to lie low, keep the conversations during my college days studying, and do more research. that people like Harold Clark, Frank Marsh, Ernest Booth, and other stalwart Advent- (that of George McCready Price, the ists, had gone into science and religion issues pioneer Seventh-day Adventist geologist from the biological side. While I was in who was the most prominent creationist of college, new developments such as the his time but who never encountered Carbon radiocarbon dating method had become the 14) would appear in the Commentary when center of conversation; it seemed to me that some of the science teachers, for instance in order to provide answers, a physical Clark, who had been studying Genesis for rather than a biological scientist was years, were completely ignored. So the 1952 needed. I felt that my commitment to the conference recommended that all Com­ church, my background, and my interest in mentary manuscripts be critically previewed ~ --- - science would help me make some by qualified scientists. +­ significant contributions to the church. At the 1956 Quadrennial Session of '1 The radiocarbon method was showing Adventist science teachers, the biology ages far in excess of 6,000 years for organic subgroup recommended to the college material and this, of course, was causing administrators that the General Conference great consternation. It figured prominently approve the idea, and in 1958 Frank Marsh, at the 1952 Seventh-day Adventist college a biology teacher at Emma.nuel Missionary teachers' convention. Among the papers College, and I were selected to begin what given at this meeting were several on the later became the Geoscience Research Insti­ j process for dating ancient objects with tute. Within about a year Richard Ritland 1 Carbon 14. R. E. Hoen, a long-time joined us. Marsh and Ritland were both at + chemistry teacher at Pacific Union College, Berrien Springs, Mich., while I continued acted as a moderator at a roundtable my doctoral program at Cal Tech. discussion on the subject. The Adventist Benton: At first, did you have any inkling science teachers recognized that the Carbon that the church's traditional positions were .14 method gave dates that were almost in any danger? always in harmony with the historical dates Hare: Not really. In fact, I felt that if we determined by counting tree rings, etc. could interpret the scientific evidence from 1 Since it was quite clear that in many cases a different point of view, we would find ! -311~_t;~~t4}~letbod·gf4Clt~J:ig ~~~~that_~~e5e;fY.eumos~ .. ,

1 48 SPECTRUM

church's traditional views. I felt some of the it seemed to indicate ages for organic ma­ views might need to be modified somewhat, terial in the millions of years. but not completely replaced. Benton: When you came to your first Benton: Is it fair to say that the areas preliminary results, how did this affect you which you pursued as a graduate student and as a scientist and as an Adventist? researcher were in many ways governed by Hare: The results were so consistent that the Adventist agenda on the question of I was forced to conclude that all fossils were science and religion? not the same age, that there was indeed a Hare: No question about it. In 1956, while I was still teaching at Pacific Union College, I wonder if Ellen White really I read an article entitled "Paleo-biochem­ intended for her statements on science istry" in Scientific American which showed . that amino acids in the proteins of mollusk to be the last word or ultimate truth . shells and bones were still present even in very old fossil shells and bone. The idea definite progression in time with various intrigued me, because if these materials fossil layers. I thought, "There must be some were as old as they were claimed to be, then way of harmonizing this data with our the presence of relatively unstable organic scriptural views. I remember feeling, "It material might be very difficult to explain. may be that we are going to have to reinter­ On the other hand, if all or even most fossils pret some of our traditional concepts in were formed as a result of the flood, one order to make the two harmonize." It was should be able to show as well that the clear that a single event like the flood was organic material, no matter what strati­ completely inadequate to explain the graphic layer the fossil is found in, would geologic record. This, of course, did not fit have substantially the same sort of pattern with what George McCready Price had since it was all essentially the same age. said. We constructed new models, and Later, for my dissertation at Cal Tech I ironically, found ourselves repeating the studied a sequence of fossil shells and efforts of 19th-century scientists who first showed that there was clearly a progression seriously challenged the flood model as in the pattern of amino acids that correlated geologic evidence began to accumulate in closely with the age determined by the early 19th century. radiocarbon methods. We later developed Benton: Did you find that exciting, or techniques which are now used in probably a painful? dozen laboratories throughout the world. Hare: It was painful, there is no question Benton: So the reason for your research about that. But I also found it exciting. I was that you wanted to evaluate Carbon 14 remember reading in Ellen White that and other dating methods, particularly as God's word in nature and God's word they applied to organic, or living things? in Scripture shed light on each other if we Hare: That's correct. The question read them both correctly. always arose: what inherent problems do Benton: Was that excitement shared by these age-dating methods have? When we your colleagues at the Institute? talked about radiocarbon dating (which Hare: Ritland had reached somewhat seemed to show a convincing progression of similar conclusions a few years before I had. ages), we looked for weaknesses. But my Marsh started with traditional interpreta­ independent method (relying on amino tions of the Spirit of Prophecy and then acids) ended up corroborating the Carbon 14 looked to science as a support or vindication technique, which scientists considered reli­ of those views. able up to about 20,000 years. In fact, my Benton: When and why did you leave the method raised additional problel11s. hecause Institute? Volume 15, Number 2 49

Hare: I actually moved back to Berrien dent method for time-dating which sug­ Springs to join the Institute in 1961, a year gested that the earth and life on the earth are before I had finished my degree, and had set very old if this evidence is taken at face up a laboratory and was doing work for my value. dissertation. Frequently, Ritland and I found Hare: That's right. The method doesn't Ellen White statements on science on our provide dates different from other methods desks, left there by Frank Marsh, with which so much as it confirms what other methods our scientific findings were supposed to have already concluded. For example, at harmonize. I left partly for that reason and first we had assumed that even if the also because it seemed the purpose of the inorganic part of the earth may be billions of Institute was to reinterpret results already years old, the organic materials might date published rather than to do original only from creation week some thousands of research, which was what I was most years ago; yet the evidence for the antiquity interested in. George McCready Price had of organic materials is really as strong as it is been heavily criticized for doing all his for inorganic materials. One of the greatest geologizing from an armchair and never evidences for this antiquity-and something once going outside and hammering off which I never see written up in any of the fossils and rocks. We had said that we would creationist literature today-is the depth of be different; we wanted to see the evidence the biological sediments on the ocean floors. firsthand, to find out how serious the Benton: This is something that you have problems really were. Soon after the directly studied. Institute began, fieldwork became a real Hare: Yes, the deep sea sediments. In hallmark of what we wanted to do. Even many areas of the earth's ocean floors there before Ritland joined us he took Marsh on a is an accumulation of tiny single-celled field trip on essentially the same route that shells which actually grow near the ocean almost all other Institute trips have followed surface where there is photosynthesis going SInce. on. After these forams live out their cycle, Benton: When you decided to take a their tiny shells rain down just like snow leave of absence did you feel evangelical onto the ocean floor and can accumulate to about your views on creation and geology? an enormous thickness, even kilometers­ Hare: One of the reasons I left the thick blankets of sediment. Consider what Institute was based on the fact that my those enormous accumulations of biological evangelical fervor on these points was material imply: a vast period of time. As you dampened by the people that I came in touch go down the column of sediments you get with. I would say, "Look at this data!" and I radiocarbon (Carbon-14) dates of 10,000 would often be met with hostility. I was years when you are hardly down more than answering questions that people hadn't even a meter and there are kilometers still to thought of asking as yet, and so I decided to account for which are too old for lie low, keep studying, do more research, radiocarbon dating. develop methods and only answer questions 1 Benton: "T00 old for radiocarbon , people asked me. I did not rule out the possibility that I would rejoin the Institute at dating" means older than, say, 50,000 years by anybody's count? some future time if it was mutually agreeable. Hare: By anybody's count the total age is Benton: But you kept studying amino probably millions of years and that is just on acids. Isn't that true? our modern ocean floors. Some people would Hare: Well, that became my pet area, like to argue that these are washed in . . . because it looked very promising. Benton: ... when they are trying to ...... BetlkH!; . ¥QU gtW-do~:..a-ne~rindepen- maigteig f?- A222 !!?:22SI?, .. 50 _ SPECTRUM Hare: Right. But the fact is that some of like that. It was an interesting exercise, these are on top of flat-topped mountains which certainly taxed our equipment to the that were eroded at the surface of the ocean very limit. once upon a time, but because of movements Benton: You have spent a lot of time in the earth's surface have sunk now to thinking about the Geoscience Institute. below the surface and these accumulations Some say that any such institution operated are on top of these flat-topped mountains by the denomination inevitably has its which means they must have formed after answers decided in advance, and then sets they sank. I t is very difficult to imagine out to support them. They think that truly these as being washed up on top of the table, scientific research on these topics must be if you will. In addition, the oxygen 18/16 done by independent scholars in universities. isotope ratio in these foram shells tells you Do you think Adventists should try to the temperature the surface water was when operate such an institute? the organism lived. These ratios all cor­ Hare: Looking back, I think it is a good relate from different areas as diverse as thing that the Institute was established. the North Atlantic and the Caribbean and Back in 1960, Richard Ritland and I went to r-eveal alternating warm and cold periods the annual Geological Society of America occurring worldwide. The idea of them meeting, the first Seventh-day Adventists being washed in just begs the question. who had ever gone to one. For some years They had to grow somewhere. we were the only two that ever went. But it Benton: You were instrumental-no pun wasn't long before a few others came, and intended-in developing supersensItIve now we may have 20 or 25 Adventists going. equipment that was able to detect smaller The last several years we have had an levels than ever before of certain amino Adventist fellowship group that meets acids. before the meetings start. I consider this a Hare: Yes. Our instrumentation has sign of progress. become very sensitive and, more recently, When I was with the Institute, more than portable. We can even run it off the battery once I was accused by people of starting off of a car, and it has been used in some remote with the answers and then trying to twist my places for geologic mapping, determining laboratory data to match them. They said relative ages in deposits, and the like. our situation at the Institute was analogous Benton: Speaking of remote places, you to a tobacco institute (supported by tobacco were well-known in some circles as being companies) which does research on cancer one of the first to examine some of the rocks and its assocIatIOn with smoking. I that were collected from the moon. Why? remember not being very happy about that Hare: Before the Apollo project we had accusation, but there is an element of truth been looking at minute amounts of organic to it, because the sponsoring organization of matter in fossils, rocks, and sediments, and an institute is obviously going to expect we had developed very sensitive instru­ some degree of support and not answers that mentation. One group working.on the lunar differ widely from what the group wants to samples was interested in looking for any hear. possible organic material or residues of Benton: Certainly a lot of change has organic materials. taken place at the Geoscience Institute. The Benton: What did you find? head of it today obviously holds that the Hare: We found carbon, nitrogen, and inorganic material of the earth is very old, a hydrogen materials, but not what we position that was probably unthinkable to interpreted as in situ amino acids. There was many of the people involved in the founding certainly something there, probably of the Institute. Do you feel that there has from solar wind and cosmic been in the church's or at Volume 15, Number 2 51 least in its tolerance of divergent positions, in order to make any progress one has to over the last 25 years? jump this hurdle with Ellen White. It helps Hare: No question that there has been an to remember that she also said, "Scripture increase in t"olerance. Some of us feel that it and science shed light on each other.'" has been too slow or too little; but there is no Benton: Still, it must come as some relief "question that it has happened. If you to find apparent confirmation of what you compare typical Adventist views of, say, 25 had already been thinking. years ago, there is a much broader range of Hare: Yes. Now, when I find she was views that are accepted today. Even 25 years borrowing liberally from her contempo­ ago there were some who felt that the raries in areas other than science, I wonder if earth's inorganic materials were very old; she really intended for her statements on even Price during some stages of his career science to be the last word or ultimate truth. believed this. I think she would be appalled at the way her statements have been used by many. Benton: There has been a lot of debate in Statements such as "In the beginning the popular press over the last few years God created the heavens and the earth" concerning " crea tion science" and the stand on their own. We don't need to public schools. In fact there was a trial in worry about how science is going to Arkansas at which several Adventists vindicate them. testified, including some from the Institute. Should "creation science" be taught in public schools? Benton: Certainly one very large factor Hare: I would like to see it taught in a " that looms in the science and religion debate historical context, emphasizing, "How did in the Adventist Church is the role of Ellen these different concepts develop?" rather White and the effect of subsequent than, "Are they scientific?" I also would Adventist history upon the discussion. What like to see evolution taught, not as ultimate if it turns out that she got some of her ideas fact or law, but as a working model. Most of about science-for example, the earth being the high school and elementary textbooks 6,000 years old-from her 19th-century con­ are taking out statements that lead you to ~ temporaries? Can there be room for a wide believe evolution is the last word. I would diversity of Adventist opinion that is true to not like to see creation taught from a science the Bible and yet different from the views standpoint. For one thing, there is such a we have held in the past that can bring wide diversity of views among creationists. people like you back into the public life of "Scientific creationism" usually represents the Adventist church? a very extreme view-a 6,000-year-old Hare: I definitely think that's coming, earth and a very definite set of conditions and I base that on the fact that those of us that gave rise to our geologic framework. who came across some of these problems 20 Then, at the other extreme, we have the years ago when we read Ellen White's atheistic dogmatic view of evolution, which statements on geological subjects concluded includes spontaneous generation of life, and that she was incorporating accepted con­ represents, I feel, too extreme a view. Truth temporary scientific material. For example, lies somewhere between these polar posi­ her views on 'volcanoe.s and coal,' and tions. There's room for study; the more 'fossils, trees, and animals much larger than diversity we allow, the better. any that now exist' were once popularly Benton: Even as a church? accepted concepts. Like a pendulum, it's Hare: I would like to see the Geoscience easy to swing from one side to the other, and Institute sponsor more open group discus­ ~_lh!~ worries me a hit. It makes it sound as if sions, rather than' ust askin " 52 SPECTRUM flood do this?" or "How did the flood do creation and earth history. If a person rejects that?" They should consider, "To what any role for God in the history of the uni­ extent can a creationist also believe III verse, he does so by choice and not from evolution? " some overwhelming scientific evidence. If a Benton: The Institute should act as person comes to the conclusion that life has facilitator rather than final arbiter? been around on the earth for three billion Hare: Yes. They spent a number of years years or so and makes a serious attempt to on flood models, and that's fine, but they find a creation model to harmonize his ought to also consider some alternatives, religious views, we should encourage him because in the history of science and religion rather than denounce him as an evolutionist! conflicts very rarely does it turn out that our Let's widen the circle and keep him in it. original ideas are correct. They have to be Perhaps together we can come closer to modified frequently. truth. Benton: When it comes to the question of Benton: Stephen Gould is an eminent ongIlls, would you call yourself a crea­ naturalist and is also a very popular tionist? spokesman for the theory of evolution. He claims that no "creation scientist" has ever come up with anything but small chinks here By anybody's count the total age is and there in an otherwise fairly compre­ probably millions of years and that is hensive, undeniable main body of theory just on our modern ocean floors. . . . which suggests that human life on this earth has evolved. Is that accurate? Hare: I wish 1 could answer that simply; Hare: That's hard for me to say because unfortuna tely, the words "creation" and my own views have changed considerably "creationist" have been misused. Because of over the years at different stages. At one that, the "scientific creationist" view has stage I thought, well, creation week had to been interpreted so narrowly that I hesitate do with man and the domestic animals as we to identify myself as one, though I do believe know them, and the whole geologic record in a personal creator-God who created life, preceded what I would call creation week. and that life is more than just chemistry and But the evidence for early man seems to be physics. On the other hand, I don't feel growing; the dating element is difficult to comfortable identifying myself as a mech- explain away; is early man of the anthro- anistic evolutionist either, because too many pologist related to Genesis man? I have a lot times people think you believe in the of questions but few answers in this area. spontaneous generation of life-that some- But Gould is correct in that most crea- thing occurred by pure chance to produce tionists have attacked evolution rather than what we see today. There isno question that provided a theory of their own. Evolution or -there has been a lot of change. All creation is a false dichotomy because evolu- 'evolution' really means is change, in a tion in and ofitself indicates that everything strict sense. There's a real need to study progresses without any intervention, and possible views that attempt to harmonize the mathematical improbability of mole- our religious and scientific concepts. cules getting together to form proteins and The real issue, as I see it, is the role of God cells is pretty impressive to me. Under some in the universe (past, present, and future), conditions in the laboratory you can make and that cannot be determined by scientific amino acids out- of carbon monoxide, me- methods. Each individual by some act of thane, ammonia, water vapor, and those faith must make a choice. All of us see and kinds of things. For example, by adding interpret evidence differently. We must be enough energy such as ultraviolet light to p!-epftre

by F. E. J. Harder

, , I n the beginning God ... in six days the Lord made heaven and earth created the heavens the sea, and all that in them is . . . [Theante~ and the earth." If I should ask, "Do you cedents of "them" are heaven, earth, the sea (Exodus 20:11.)] believe that declaration to be true?" I suppose you would unanimously say yes. IfI We must not overlook the fourth day of should then ask, "Do you believe that creation week which specifically describes statement refers to the ex nihilo fiat creation the making by fiat of the sun, moon, and of the entire universe in six literal days stars (Genesis 1:14-19). about 6,000 years ago?" I assume you would Finally, if we diagram the literary struc­ ture of the creation narrative, it appears that j~s.t as unanimously say no. If my suppo­ SltIons are correct. we have all made some Genesis 1:1 is a summary of what follows very basic accommodations relative to a and that Genesis 2:1 is a summary of what literal reading of Genesis 1:1-2:3. has gone before. Of course, most of us want Throughout the Old Testament the to separate in time the creation of the phrase, "the heavens and the earth," is used heavens and their hosts-the sun, moon, and as the nearest Hebrew equivalent to our stars ( at least the stars) from creation week. term, "universe." The earth is that on which Some would also subtract from the activity man stands. "Heaven" is all there is beyond of creation week the stuff of the earth and the earth. Sometimes the expression is ex­ the dark deep. However, we must recognize tended to "the heavens, the earth, and the that we do so on other than biblical grounds sea" to include not only the sea on which and that we encounter difficulty in making ships sailed but also the primordial "deep" our interpretations compatible with a literal over which the Spirit of God hovered, reading of Genesis 1:1-2:3. There are those moved, or strove in the act of creating. who hold that divine revelation of truth is indivisible. This view insists that theological Thou are the Lord, thou alone; thou hast made heaven truth is not revealed aside from the scientific the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. . . or historical context within which it is (Nehemiah 9:6). embodied. This is what many mean by Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all "plenary inspiration"-that there is no hu­ their host. [After six days of creating (Genesis 2:1.)] man element in the revelatory process. Others hold that truth is divisible. Ac- F.E.]. Harder, now retired in Walla Walla, Wash., cording to this view, a Bible writer may formerly served in the General Conference as exe- reveal truth about God without having cutive secretary of the Board of Higher Education complete or accurate knowledge about and before that as chairperson of the department science or history. In other words, an idea cc_~.ation at Andrews UniversitY-...... I¥a~;;~e.JJ1J.e.~hc:!()I()gic:ally. bl:lt .not neces- m Volume 15, Number 2 55

sarily true in every detail of express~on. view, it stands or falls with a human Ellen White was clear on this matter: concept. In rapidly changing times such as ours this means that Christianity is liable to The Bible is written by inspired men, butitis not God's mode of thought and expression. It is that ofhumanity. rejection before it has had a hearing. God, as a writer, is not represented ... God has not put Himself in words, in logic, in rhetoric, on trial in the Bible. The writers of the Bible were God's penmen, not His pen. (E.G. White, Selected Messages, Vol. 2, p.21) he doctrine of cre­ T . ation does not stand Poets and artists may give very effective by itselfbut depends upon and elaborates the portrayals of truth in symbols which do not redemptive activity of God in history. What stand up under close scrutiny. A minister makes it so ultimately vital is that funda­ may be a true representative of God and mentally it is Christological and eschato­ teach divine truth without himself being a logical. scientist, historian, or even theologian. Did The beginning: not Jesus teach theological truth within a vehicle which was false theologically? For In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). example, there is the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31). The Psalmist The end: uses the mythic imagery of the Babylonian Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first epic in which Marduk creates heaven and heaven and the first earth had passed away. . . . earth by slaying Tiamat, goddess of chaos. And he who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new.... I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Thou didst divide the sea by thy might; beginning and the end (Revelation 21:1-4,14,12). Thou didst break the heads of the dragon on the waters. Thou didst crush the heads of Leviathan .... Between the beginning and the end stands Thine is the day, thine also the night; the central affirmation of the Christian fai th: Thou hast established the luminaries and the sun. Thou hast made summer and winter (Psalm In the beginning was the Word, 74:13, 14, 16; 17). and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Those who seek to destroy the value of All things were made through him, Genesis 1 assume that truth must be total and and without him was not anything made that was indivisible. If this premise is accepted, the made .... discussion of the creation narrative must In him was life, and the life was the light of men. remain in the realm of science. It is not good The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. . . . apologetics to admit the premise of the And the word became flesh -and dwelt among us full attacker without critically questioning it. If of grace and truth. . . . this premise is not agreed to-if theology To all who received him, who believed in his name, and science are not necessarily bound to­ he gave power to become children of God.... (John gether-then Genesis 1 can be discussed as a 1:1-4,14,12). theological statement. The opening imperative of the three The Bible student should not be satisfied angels' messages proclaims the judgment of with any explanation which makes the the eschaton in the context of the original Scriptural record even apparently depen­ creation: dent upon the changing views or findings of science. For careful thinkers, using science, Fear God and give glory to him, for the hour of his history, or philosophy as bases for Christian judgment has come; faith is becoming increasingly less effective. And worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the fountains of water (Revelation 14:7). Such an approach allies the Christian faith with the destiny of human theory. When From the beginning of the world to its £bE~~!P~qjs~d;~~~_~~~~~_~_~.~~~~_~_~~~~~~?~.~~~~~~~= " "- -- " .... --- ...- .... -._-.- ... _.- -.... _-_. __ ._-- -" ... - -_ .. _.. - ., .. --" '--'-'._-.-' --- ..._-- ... --_ ... : __ ._-_ .... _--_ .. _- -_.--- .... --.------.-=--- .. -----.--~ .. -----.~-=----.--.---- .. - ---. __._-- .. 56 SPECTRUM ing activity of God in Christ are proclaimed Sabbath because the Son of God declared by the doctrine of creation: himself to be Lord of the Sabbath and He (Christ) is the image of the invisible God ... because Jesus of Nazareth reaffirmed the for in him all things were created in heaven and on holiness with which he had invested it as the earth, visible and invisible. . . . Creator. I keep the Sabbath because I look All things were created through him and for him. forward to entering God's rest as described He is before all things, and in him all things hold together (Colossians 1:15-17). in the fourth chapter of Hebrews: And God rested on the seventh day from all his ymbolizing this en­ works ... tire process is the So then there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of S God; for whoever enters God's rest also ceases from his divinely ordained Sabbath. In the beginning: labors as God did from his (Hebrews 4:4,9, 10). Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all I repeat again, I believe in a seven-day the host of them. . . . creation week, although my concept is So God blessed the seventh day and hallowed it, because on it God rested from all his work which he flexible respecting what may have been had done in creation (Genesis 2: 1 ,3 ). included in it. This is a faith statement for which I neither seek nor expect scientific At the end: confirmation, and for which I know of no · . . as the new heavens and the new earth which I scientific disproof. However, if it were ever make shall remain before me, says the Lord . . . undeniably demonstrated to be untenable, I From new moon to new moon, and from Sabbath to can't conceive of any possible change that it Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before me, says the Lord (Isaiah 66:22, 23). would make in my theology or religious practices. Even ifI admit that the world was Between the beginning and the end: not created in six days, I would still keep the You shall keep my sabbaths, for this is a sign between seventh-day Sabbath. me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the Lord, sanctify you. You shall keep the Sabbath, because it is holy for you. . . . I f Christianity is not (Exodus 31:13-15). dependent upon con- I keep the Sabbath as a memorial of crea- temporary scientific discovery, it follows as tion and of the Creator's becoming one with a corollary that the value, authenticity, or his created beings. I keep the Sabbath as a authority of a divinely inspired messenger witness to my faith in the Creator's sanctify- must not be made dependent upon his or her ing activity in creating a new heart within inerrancy in science. me. I keep the Sabbath as a foreshadowing of A prophet is one who sees things that do Sabbaths to be celebrated when the heavens not lie in the domain of natural sight and and the earth will be created anew. hears things which human ears don't ordi- I do not keep the Sabbath because of the narily hear. If he or she speaks in the realm thousands of years I may think have passed of the ordinary, the contribution of inspira~ since it was instituted. I believe in a seven- tion lies not in a repetition of that which can day creation week-irrespective of where be known by natural means, but rather in an such a week may fit into the astronomers' apprehension of its spiritual significance, or light-year scheme, or into the geologists' of its providential nature, or of its place in fossil strata. Yes, I believe in a literal the divine plan, or of how God's will is creation week, but that is not why I keep the. thereby fulfilled or revealed. The problem Sabbath. of distinguishing human error from divine I keep the Sabbath because God blessed truth raises the basic question: how do we and hallowed it. I keep the Sabbath because distinguish any truth from error? How can God imbedded within his eternal law an we know anything for sure? ufle~.t:tWe(J*:n-mm::an:ho:::do~-ef!J4et.~tb1fe:=;:;;:::::::;:;IAdj~.;;;;;;.t1 .. :tf~·;s;~~~ ... ~.'.~'.~ ...... ~:~~J~k~!!§· S;;;;:. ·itil;q· ~~ .. ;g... i?;.. _.~.~it~i{}~a[!:.: d!:!!h~~!k. :;;;:;;;;;~~=!:= Volume 15, Number 2 57 conforms to related evidence, is coherent, came from Judah: Thus says the Lord, Because you and is consistent with the operation of have disobeyed the word of the Lord . . . your body shall not come to the tomb of your fathers. . . And rational processes. This can be a compli­ as he went away a lion met him and killed him cated achievement, even respecting mun­ (I Kings 13:21, 22, 24). dane questions. It becomes even more The fact that one message of the old prophet complex when applied to pronouncements was in error-even a deliberate lie-did not on matters outside the realm of ordinary sense perception. There are no simple, mean that the Lord never spoke by him. The very next time he claimed to be speaking for definitive answers to our problem, but we God he actually was, and his message was have been given some helpful guidelines. quickly verified. If you say in your heart, how may we know the word This example raises another question: which the Lord has not spoken?-when a prophet ~peaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does how does one validate a prophet-given not come to pass or come true, that is a word which message not subject to ordinary criteria of the Lord has not spoken ... (Deuteronomy 18:21, evidence? The first declaration of the lying 22). prophet was of this kind-"An angel said to This is an application of the principle of me . . . bring him back. . ." How could coherence. When a prophet speaks about this be tested? It could be tested simply by matters that can be tested by natural means another application of the principle of co­ of discovery, what he says is subject to such herence-that is, coherence with previously test. If there is no coherence between confirmed revelation. The Judean prophet validated fact and the message, then that had seen ample assurance that his com­ message was not from God, irrespective of mission to Bethel was of divine origin. The how truly this prophet may have spoken for representation made by the old prophet did God in the past, or how fully he may not cohere: it was inconsistent and con­ represent him in the future. tradictory. It was a word that the Lord had This principle is illustrated in I Kings 13. not spoken. In obedience to a divine command, a Representative of various scriptural con­ prophet went from Judah to rebuke the firmations of this principle are: heresy ofJeroboam. Also in obedience to his Don·'t listen to a prophet who asks you to follow gods instructions, he declined the invitation of you have not known, even though he works miracles the king to have dinner with him and began to substantiate his mission (Deuteronomy 13:1-3). his return journey immediately after de­ The well-known "To the law and to the testimony" livering his message and seeing it confirmed test (Isaiah 8 :20 ). before Jeroboam by several miracles. Upon Paul brands those who forbid practices which God has being overtaken by an older prophet he previously approved as "deceiving spirits ... taught again obediently refused his invitation to by demons ... hypocritical liars" (I Timothy 4:1-3). supper. To this the old prophet said: Even though we recognize that all human I too am a prophet as you are. And an angel said to me apprehensions of truth are partial and may by the word of the Lord: Bring him back with you to appear contradictory at first sight, a careful your house so that he may eat bread and d~ink water study of all related factors should reveal a. (I Kings 13:18). basic harmony in spite of illusions with The record says that he lied. But the respect to some details. younger man deferred to seniority and did If,.while standing at the edge of a pond, I that which he had refused to do even at the thrust a stick halfway into the water, my request of the king. That evening at the eyes will tell me that the stick is bent. When table: I retrieve it, I will see that it is straight again. The word of the Lord came to the prophet (the lying So I formulate the proposition: putting a j ..... pr~E4~t!J:~ ••. :.:~.::~h2Jie ~Ciie(Lto. tk!: p?~r .. 8~{)~~#2:-.·· ..· .• stj c:tla rt__ 'r-~i~.t

returning it to the air straightens it. The the ability to exercise patience. There should trouble with that is that I didn't use all the be careful model-building and theory de­ available evidence. If I put the stick back velopment. These are philosophical en­ into the water and slide my hand along its deavors and must be subjected to philo­ entire length, my sense of touch tells me that sophical challenge, criticism, review, and it hasn't been bent at all. Now the evidence revision. Of course, the attacks should of my two senses is inconsistent-there is no always be directed at the philosophy and not coherence. Not until I get more evidence at the philosopher, and the philosopher with respect to the nature oflight and learn should not identify himself so inseparably that it is refracted when passing from thin to with his philosophy that this becomes im­ dense matter, for instance, from air to possible! water, will I by a rational process achieve The doctrine of creation and the flood harmony of the data and arrive at truth. narrative are not primarily concerned with It is the coherence principle that gives us genetics, species variation, fossil deposits, or trouble with Genesis 1. How can the concept the geologic column. They are above all a of a seven-day creation week be harmonized revelation of God, the nature of humanity, with the apparent evidences respecting ori­ and God's redemptive activity. Nearly one­ gins found in the natural world? (Of course, third of Genesis 1 and more than half of the there is even a problem of the creation creation record of Genesis 2 are devoted to account in Genesis 1 being consistent with the creation of humanity. All of the third Genesis 2 where the creation of man is chapter deals with humanity's failure and placed before the creation of vegetation God's continuing concern for humanity, instead of three days la ter. ) To find harmony which sets the theme for the rest of the between the biblical and natural data will Bible . . require continuing intensive study of all relevant factors in both-I repeat, both- F or a few moments let sources. Too much of the time we have us go back in our assumed that we totally understand the imagination to that day when the God of Scriptural materials and that it is up to our heaven skillfully fashioned the clay of Eden scientists to make the data from nature fit into the intricate design of a human body. As the Procrustian biblical bed we have so we watch, the Creator pauses, apparently uncriticially inherited, and in which we viewing his handiwork. Actually he is look- seem to be so comfortable. ing beyond at the consequences that would I suggest that creation is a fundamental, follow. Is he counting the cost? vital doctrine, a religious afffirmation about He sees the day this man will hide from the sovereignty of God, his· redemptive him in fear, and because of His rebellion will activity, and the absolute dependence of his have to be evicted from the Edenic home. creatures. As such, it merits the broadest and He views the stained feet of Cain on ground deepest investigation by theologians con- wet with the blood of his brother. He hears cerned with proclaiming the everlasting the filthy clamor emanating from the gospel. To the extent that the doctrine thoughts of mankind so degenerate that relates to discoveries in the natural world, it every imagination is only evil continually, requires cooperative studies between theo- followed by the horrible spectre of the logians and scientists, both respecting the flood. He looks far beyond to a night when others' dedicated scholarship and neither he himself will lie in a stinking Bethlehem trying to usurp the role of the other. barn, a helpless offspring of and fully For such ongoing research and dialogue to identified with the descendants of this inert be fruitful requires mutual respect, humil- form before him. He anticipates the pain of ity atlOtliei~'~f te:axk$ait)' ___ aJui===all~thetnighk;w41~~il~~t. ~!90d in Volume 15, Number 2 59 agony and be betrayed by the kiss of a friend. creation is like unto it, for it is not primarily He feels the thrust of nails being driven by concerned with peaceful wolves, tame lions, men whom he had come to save through the harmless snakes, luscious vineyards, pearly hands that have just formed their first gates, and golden streets. Rather, the new father. creation fulfills the design for the fir~t Then, momentarily, he recoils-not from creation, culminating in universal recogni­ the suffering but from that dark abyss that tion of God's sovereignty, the acknowledge­ could signify eternal separation from his ment of the triumph of man through the heavenly Father. Is this lump of clay worth grace of the Word made flesh, and a that? But then the troubled brow is replaced celebration of the ultimate union of creature by a majestic smile as the Creator of heaven with Creator. and earth stoops, and in tender love embraces that cold form of clay and bestows Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth. the kiss of life, transmuting it into a creature I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, of whom thePsalmist would sing: "Behold the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, Thou has made him little less than God, and they shall be his people, and dost crown him with glory and honor and God himself will be with them Thou has given him dominion over the works of thy hands; And he who sat upon the throne said, Thou hast put all things under his feet (Psalm 8:5, 6). "Behold I make all things new.... He who conquers shall have this heritage, That is at the heart of the doctrine of the and I will be his God first creation. The significance of the second and he shall be my son" (Revelation 21:1-7).

Statement of Affirmation We, the participants of the 1983 Geoscience Field process into a long, indefinite period have no place in the Conference, affirm our belief belief system of our church. (See 2 Peter 3:3-6.) 1. In the validity of the scriptural record as an 6. That there is fundamental agreement between authentic and historical description of the origin of our God's book of nature and the revealed Word when they world. We rejoice in the creative power of God, and with are correctly interpreted. the psalmist declare, "The Lord, he is God: it is he that 7. That the creationist/catastrophic model best ex­ hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and plains that information derived from revelation and the sheep of his pasture" (PsaJm 100:3). . science. At the same time we recognize that limits of 2. That the biblical record requires a short chronol­ understanding and a personal belief system characterize ogy of approximately 6,000 years in contrast to tens of all approaches to interpreting data touching on the earth's thousands or millions of years. past. We further believe in the value of scientific study as 3. That the Old Testament narrative of a global flood a method of approaching natural phenomena, a premise is supported in the New Testament by our Lord, who that underlies denominational sponsorship of the Geo­ compared earth's final destruction to that of Noah's day. science Research Institute. It is spoken of also by the apostle Peter, who reminds us of Participants "the longsuffering of God [who] waited in the days of C.E. Bradford, vice-president of the General Conference for the North American Division. Noah, while the ark was preparing, wherein few, that is, G.W. Brown, president of the Inter-American Division. eight souls were saved by water" (Matt. 24:37-39; I Peter L.L. Butler, treasurer of the General Conference. Go]. Christo, president of the Southern Asia Division. 3:20). . W.T. Clark, president of the Far Eastern Division. E.A. Hetke, secretary of the Southern Asia Division. 4. In the importance of honoring the seventh-day B. Heye, president of the Eastern Africa Division. Sabbath as a memorial of a literal Creation week in B.R. Holt, executive editor, Ministry magazine. R.J. Kloosterhuis, president of the Africa-Indian Ocean Division. accord with God's Ten Commandments, the Sabbath E. Ludescher, president of the Eure-Africa Division. being a vital element of God's last appeal to the world, K.J. Mittleider, president of the Trans-Africa Division. E. Oliveira, vice-president of the General Conference. calling every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, to G.W. Reid, associate editor. ADVENTIST REVIEW. "worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, D.J. Sandstrom. secretary of the Eastern Africa Division. W.R.L. Scragg, president of the northern European Division. and the fountains of waters" (Rev. 14:7). J.R. Spangler. director, Ministerial and Stewardship Department of the General Conference. G.R. Thompson, secretary of the General Conference. 5. That secular, humanistic theories such as the G.S. Valleray, secretary of the Africa-Indian Ocean Division. F.W. Wemick, vice-president of the General Conference. evolutionary model or those theories intermediate be­ N.C. Wilson, president of the General Conference. tween Creation and evolution that extend the creation J. Wolff. president of the South American Division. Responses

model characteristics. For this reason I believe the model Responses To AAF represents organizational overkill that will be slow, cumbersome, and ineffective. Report on Second, the proposed constitution moves away from a world church to an autonomous conference unit claiming Church Structure to be an integral part of the world church, yet deriving its power solely from the constituent churches which it recognizes as its highest authority. World policies of the A Conference President: No church are optional and all church leaders above the conference level are non-voting guests. This is actually a o the Editors: When I was congregational form of government with a conference T first invited to meet with flavor, very little different from what Southern Baptists the Task Force on Church Structure, I accepted because have now in their convention structure. Both Old and of my great interest in finding ways to expand lay in­ New Testament church models support recognized volvement within the church. However, the task force authority beyond the local congregation. concluded that lay participation could best be facilitated Third, this structure destroys meaningful and effective by modifying existing church structure. In fact, church leadership. Proposals brought to sessions must be structure is not the major factor influencing lay involve­ presented with no indication of leadership thinking. ment in the church's mission. Committees systematically exclude full-time church A careful look at other churches organized along the workers who are in the best position to be knowledgeable lines of the model shows less, not more, lay involvement on the issues and know the background of qualified in the outreach of the church than is shown in the present people. For instance, the nominating committee is Adventist Church. The model draws heavily on United composed of two-thirds laypeople, most of whom will Methodist, United Presbyterian, and Lutheran organiza­ have little or no information beyond their own tional concepts; yet these are churches in decline, perceptions, what they read in compiled material, and accomplishing far less, in almost any category you wish to have gained from campaign speeches. compare, th,m the Adventist Church does. You may have Four commissions or-boards operating between sessions greater percentages oflay members involved in operating with self-contained power and authority are actually in the church, but what is it all accomplishing in reaching charge of all conference operations and activities. The people for God's kingdom? president is simply· a figurehead coordinator surrounded I have great respect for the integrity, good intentions, by part-time lay members who control everything. Try as and wisdom of the Task Force members and find myself in I might, I cannot imagine what criteria would be used to agreement on many of the ideas proposed in the model. evaluate the president's job performance. He is simply an But I am strongly convinced the proposed model advisor to committees, and is not even included on the constitution, as a whole, will destroy many of the present board of information. The fact remains that even in the strengths of this church. I have time to mention just a few governmental approach on which this model is based, in of the many examples that illustrate my concerns. order to have a dynamic, moving organization, there must . First, the hidden agenda, behind this proposed be strong leadership given sufficient authority to get the constitution is the assumption you cannot trust clergy or job done. Responsibility without authority is the ultimate teachers to lead the church, even when they are devoted frustration for leader and people. to it full time. I see reflected an accumulation of all the In this model no one person is really in charge, setting failings of leadership through the years wrapped up into direction. The potential is strong for competing one composite picture of a leader who is not responsible, chairpeople struggling for power and sending the fair, or trustworthy; who controls the press; oppresses conference in many directions at once. ministers; and deceives the laity. I submit that the norms Fourth, the Adjudicatory Commission is a contra­ are nowhere near .this composite model. Leaders do not diction to the whole concept of an "open church" where need the heavy restraints and the divided powers "each (member) will have a meaningful role in the proposed in order to successfully lead. As a pastor, I decision-making process. " Here are seven people serving worked under five different presidents in three different six-year terms, making their own rules and regulations, ·.conferences,none -of whom reHected the composite •,determining their own juxi:sdic:t!9n.J:w:i!:ltin the·. broad Volume 15, Number 2 61 framework of the constitution) with more power than the influence on the very church to which they have devoted local churches who elected them. Seven people can veto their lives. Instead of increasing lay involvement, few the membership decision of a 5,000-member congrega­ church members will be interested in serving under these tion. They have more power that the 16-member conditions. Why trade our present success for a formula executive committee, more power than the constitution that is bound to prove less successful? committee, more power than the board of information. They have access to any and all information they deem necessary, and hold the final determination as to what Thomas]. Mostert documents can be published. These seven people make President of the decisions that are final and beyond appeal. Southeastern Califorina Conference. Fifth, I have saved my greatest concern over this model constitution until last-running several candidates against one another. Picture, if you can, the church run- ning a political campaign. For two months, candidates for 46 positions will campaign. That means a minimum of92 people, and as many as 100 or more, engaged in personal appearances at our churches, spending thousands of The AAF Task Force Replies dollars on mailings, wooing members, (especially those with money and influence), courting pastors and church To the Editors: Pastor boards for access to pulpits and other meetings. Two Mostert makes a general months of debates, with focus on researched weaknesses cntIcism of the Task Force: its work, he says, was of opponents, putting others down, criticism, division, motivated by distrust of church leadership. The Task choosing sides, and backroom deals. Force did not distrust individual clergy. Rather, it "It's unavoidable," said John Sears, who was campaign recognized that when humans (even clergy) occupy manager in 1976 and 1980 for Ronald Reagan. "You can't positions of authority they may well, unless checks are have a race without attacking opponents, and to the placed upon theit power, misuse their authority. Mostert degree that the attacks are sharp, people hurt each other." is 100 percent correct in asserting that "leaders do not Charisma will be more important than commitment need the heavy restraint and divided powers of a constitu- and the controversial issues will be set aside. Large centers tion in order to successfully lead"-unless, of course, they are bound to dominate the process, and minorities who lead organizations that purport to be representative. are unknown and without money won't stand a chance. Pastor Mostert is right in the short run; centralization of Imagine the atmosphere at the session: sessions will be power may well make the church more efficient and known for their political infighting rather than for effective. But in the long run, if representative structures focusing on the spiritual objectives. are to be maintained, meaningful checks and balances are I find the whole picture out of harmony with heaven's absolutely necessary. Without them there is a great principles oflove, humility, and unselfishness. How could danger that office holders in the organization will a dedicated leader committed to Romans 12:10, "Be arrogate to themselves as n;lUch power as possible, all in devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one the name of furthering the mission of the church. another above yourselves," possibly go around the In its infancy, the church's mission evolved from lively conference bragging about himself and criticizing his exchanges between individuals spiritually bound together opponents? Will a hundred people involved in this process by the expectations of 1844 and the experiences that end up with the unity Jesus prayed for in John 17? Will immediately followed. Different and incompatible mis- leaders critical of one another be able to work together sions often grew side by side. As the movement became later? Or will we end up with warring camps, as have more institutionalized, it appears that strong leaders other churches that use this process? Others survive either assumed offices within the organization or were because they are basically congregational and need not driven out. The high credibility of Ellen White was used work together in between elections. That is not God's by denominational leaders to strengthen their own plan for this church. What little you gain in openness you positions. more than lose in divisiveness! Pastor Mostert seems to assume that the church now It has been suggested one way to avoid the campaign has a mission which exists independent of the laity, that aspect of the electoral process is to not announce the the mission of the church is actually dependent upon the names until the session. Such a solution is both impossible abilty of its leaders to wield political power. From this and in conflict with the openness so important to church perspective, it is easy to understand his fear that life. . decentralization of power wll destroy effective leader- Although I commend the Task Force for their many ship and thereby weaken our mission. Pastor Mostert hours of research, discussion, thought, and improvements ignores the fact that God's church has never been solely of the document as it developed, the government-based dependent upon organizational office holders for leader- model is more subject to manipulation and control by a ship. The checks and balances in church structure the Task few than what we have now. It will cause an administra- Force proposed will ideally facilitate the emergence of tive nightmare less effective in accomplishing our mission more of the prophetic, non-institutional leadership the than what we have now. Adversary relationships will church desperately needs. abound. Unity will beimpossible.Career church workers When Mostert makes more specific criticisms he sets will=4>~.e£€~te~cle":;'1lm:Ew~le ,!t =m! ~J.en;;;;m~~:::;aaln~aml~fSiS::l5i~,_=t-te--~-·-"€l- te--:ff-~t:;;:;;======i~=+== 62 SPECTRUM

hypothetical disasters resulting from implementation of As important as the independence before God of the the task force proposals. For example, Pastor Mostert membership, is the equal need for an independent clergy. paints a horrifying picture of political campaigning, with The ideal church government is that which the Holy dozens of candidates running about, tearing each other Spirit can most easily control. Those aspects of our down in a divisive process terribly destructive to the present form of church government which may make it church. Perhaps if Mostert examined the existing too responsive to a church leader's manipulation, also can political processes in other churches he would be assured make it more responsive to the Holy Spirit's guidance. that his fears are groundless. Besides, does he seriously Those procedures which presently make the church contend that backs tabbing, divisiveness, and backroom structure seem unresponsive to the membership may also deals are.not now a part of present Seventh-day Adventist help protect us from a politicised and fawning clergy. church politics? In other churches, opening the political A clergy who as individuals have felt God's call to His process has reduced rather than increased destructive service, validated by the membership who also see politicking. evidence of that call, must be allowed a lot more freedom Mostert makes another specific charge. Unfortunately, to direct and lead the church than we would allow, say, his statement that the seven-member Adjudicatory Com­ the officers in charge of a consumer's co-op. mission has too much power because it can veto the The ache for a purified and God-directed church must decision of a 5,OOO-member congregation is simply not tempt us to solve an apparent lack of the Holy Spirit inaccurate. The commission can review only the decision by substitution of democratic procedures and expanded of a local congregation to disfellowship. If the commis­ lay participation, as "the next best thing." Let us leave sion disagrees with the congregation, the congregation is him a system that he could relatively easily control, and not forced to retain the person as a member in the local concentrate on removing the abusers or abuses of that church. Rather, a member can be given membership in the system. conference church. Administrative reactions to the John B. Hoehn, M.D. evangelical movement in the Seventh-day Adventist Mwami Adventist Hospital Church have amply demonstrated the need for such a Chipata, Zambia safeguard. The modest structural changes proposed in the model constitution come with no guarantees, but they are predicated on the belief that legitimate authority in the A North Pacific Layperson: Yes church rises from the most basic unit-the member. The task force insists that changes are needed if church o the Editors: Hats off to administrators at all levels are going to truly represent the T the AAF Task Force for its membership. Pastor Mostert has hurled the loaded term masterful work in developing a model constitution. It "congregational" at the proposals of the Task Force. speaks to the heart of basic issues and is to be seriously While the model constitution is less hierarchical than the considered at this time when the church is searching for present structure, it is far from being congregational. The ways to increase participation and accountability at all proposed constitution actually makes proposals that levels of denominational organization. Forms of structure emphasize the power of the local conference con­ can be argued successfully from many angles. However, stituency, not the individual congregation. participation and accountability, the lifeblood of every As Pastor Mostert must well know, the Task Force has excellent organization, are not optional. not proposed congregationalism. Actually, what he The relationship that most often exists between church objects to is the Task Force taking representative administrators and laypeople is suggested by the old government too seriously. The Task Force has suggested rhyme: concrete ways Adventism can achieve what the Church -"Mother may I go to swim?" Manual says the denomination has already committed "Oh yes, my darling daughter. itself to: "a representative form of church government." Hang your clothes on yonder limb, It is the hope of the task force that the church will truly But don't go near the water." become what it claims to be. Plenty of support is voiced for the idea that laypeople E. Nathan Schilt are an asset to the church-and indeed they are. The Member of AAF church's papers speak warmly of "dedicated laymen." Task Force on Church Structure Just give them a financial, baptismal, or subscription goal to reach, laypeople will make their pastors look good almost every time. More often than not they do it Hospital Administrator: No willingly and unquestioningly. In these situations, no one ever suggests the need for a constitution, representation, or for adjudication. o the Editors: This is not However, along comes a Merikay who asks for more T to discourage the desire of than words of support, who asks only that she be given the Task Force to improve the discharge of God's affairs what the policy already states is hers, and the church

on earth, but the call to "open" the church raises some adminis tra tors cry" foul! " Making good those promises of '(I apprehension. I fear any changes that would tend to make support is where the current administration falters, not on the clergy more subject to popular opinion and current making the promises themselves. The Task Force Report ~m-thal!.thex:a!readya~e~ providt;sanother IQ9k at what those promises are or Volume 15, Number 2 63 should be; the primary weakness of the church today is the erIy, accountability IS academic and hiding behind poli­ lack of understanding and trust between administration tical skirts is unnecessary. Trust should be mutual in order and laypeople. to build accountability. Developing this trust requires Our church administrators-even on a world scale­ increased lay participation at all levels of the organiza­ are far too often the same age, were reared in the same tion, particularly the union and division levels, by tapping communities, have spouses who were college roommates, the resources that are vital for an organization whose and children who are married to their colleagues' mission it is to tell the Good News and to nurture those children. They don't have to listen to each other in doing the telling. committee because they have been sitting together in a The time is ripe to revise the system. Perhaps the best variety of committees for so long that they know each "model constitution" of all can be found in 1 Corinthians other's thoughts. The local congregation, on the other 12. Paul's homely illustration of the human body is hand, is a far more heterogeneous group. They are obvious and yet profound. The head cannot go anywhere bankers, farmers, market analysts, advertising execu­ without the feet, and if the feet hurt, the head certainly tives, engineers, teachers, researchers, economists, car­ knows it. Paul reminds us that the nose is of no more value penters, insurance salesmen, and secretaries. They were than the hands and "if the whole body were an eye, where born in different places, educated in different schools, were the hearing?" have spouses who have yet another whole set of different How long will those in the pew continue to distrust backgrounds. Some are fourth- and fifth-generation church administrators? How long will church adminis­ Adventists, but some have just been baptized. trators continue to call them "just laymen?" While the members of the local congregation share an intense love of the church with their administrative Len Harms brethren, their participation and expertise are not sought Vice chairman, North Pacific Union by those same brethren, and if given are not appreciated, Commission on Church Structure let alone used by the brethren. A typical committee has administrators who have known each other for years but who don't know the laypeople sitting on the committee. On the other hand, the laypeople sitting on a committee Chastizing A Beloved Son: are frequently younger than the administrative brethren, their spouses are completely unknown to anyone the Oliveira on Weiss administrators or their spouses know; perhaps the lay­ people have been Adventists for only 10 years. Maybe o the Editors: After a they weren't educated in Adventist schools and they now T stormy night, some people work for companies none of the administrators have ever enjoy the beauty of a sunny morning, while others com­ even heard of. A typical layperson might be awed by the plain about the mud left behind by the storm. When Dr. committee itself and not know how to speak in Adventist Weiss visited his home country after an absence of 30 cliche. Of course the administrati.ve brethren reason that years, he failed to see the bright aspects of a church moti­ since laypeople work in "outside firms," they will not vated by a strong sense of direction and purpose. understand the workings of the church; consequently, He failed to see the beauty of a church on fire with a they cannot be taken seriously around a boardroom contagious sense of mission, in which the family is still a table. A very simple example of Adventist administrative monolithic unit (the divorce rate is almost zero), homo­ thinking is that the reason given why the General sexuality is almost unknown, and our historical theologi­ Conference does not turn over its books for an audit by an cal views remain unchallenged. independent Certified Public Accountant firm is that He failed to appreciate the wonderful work performed "outside firms" don't understand our financial structure. by dozens of dedicated physicians, among them his own Constitutions have mandated "lay representation'; at brother, who serve the Lord with intense dedication for all levels of church structure for many years. But, Donald the same salary as a regular worker. It would be a source J. Davenport did not become a household word for lack of ofinspiration for him to see them working tirelessly in our lay representation on various boards and committees. He institutions without being affected by the materialistic became a household word because representation does not philosophy of monetary reward. mean the same as participation. Too often those who were It appears that he also failed to grasp the widespread chosen as representatives came after the fact. The money influence of the Granix Food Factory and its vegetarian was already sent-all that was needed was a vote in favor restaurants which comprise one of the most successful recorded in committee minutes. Which all brings me to financial operations of its kind in our denomination. Is it the point. Good policies exist. Good constitutions exist. possible that a man like Dr. Weiss, with his bright The words that are written and spoken are just fine. But perceptions, is more concerned with mud than with the attitudes and entrenched traditions cannot be changed by sunshine? the typestrokes on paper. Neither can accountability be While it is true that our lay members in Argentina have legislated. Accountability is comparable to keeping the little participation in the decision-making process of the law-supreme love of God makes the law no burden. church, Dr. Weiss overlooks the important fact that they Trusting church administration makes accountability a are so involved in the church's mission that they have no by-product, not an issue. desire to spend time on administrative problems. Lest there by any misunderstanding, accountability is a Evidently Dr. Weiss wants to see more hands on the _JW~-:w.ay. street. ILw:e. execute oucresPc0nsihiliti.es prop.- ~~=J TllJjf.t~e.!:b:9.~~2 ,;eH-~ r5:~Il:f4~fkthe:llumbe-r-c(}f--lla.ruls.~1l I 64 SPECTRUM

the oars. Is he implying that there is need to reduce the The church has, unfortunately, consciously fostered speed at which the ship of Zion is moving forward in his and promulgated, over all these decades, a totally false, country? If so, he will find that the members will not "Virgin Mary" infallibility for Mrs. White. The firing of agree. They are more concerned wi th the dynamics of the an honest biographer, in an inept attempt to throw doubt church than with its mechanics. on his research, will surely compound the problems Inhis article, the author mentioned the name of Elder already resulting from the previous course of action. John Livingstone, who was his Bible teacher at River Graybill is to be commended, instead of censured, for an Plate College more than 30 years ago. While it is true that honestly researched and scholarly study of a church his knowledge on righteousness by faith was inaccurate, prophet. 1 we owe him a tribute of respect and affection because he As the spate of adverse evidence against E.G. White was able to mold and inspire a generation of preachers escalates to a cumulative flood, the dissident members who are still proclaiming the gospel with power and among us find ready ammunition for their assertions that contagious conviction. they have been fraudalently used. Those of us who are We do not deny that in Argentina some faithful church loyal, mainstream Adventists cannot refute their allega- members, because of their high regard for God's law, feel tions. ' uncomfortable with the idea that we are saved by the Most Adventist laypeople are mature enough to accept doing and dying of Christ alone. But is the church in the fact that the church's prophet had feet of clay. What Argentina unique on this important point? How many we cannot stomach is the dismaying discernment that the church members in North America or other places have a official church body is engaged in a massive cover-up and real understanding of the meaning of Christ's completed whitewash of the now well-documented evidence. Just as atonement on Calvary? If Dr. Wejss believes that the loyal Republicans deplored Nixon's devious dealings majority oflay members in the North American Division during Watergate, so loyal Adventist laypeople repudiate are free from legalistic influences, 'we must conclude the lack of candor on these matters by the church body. that he is living confmed in his theological ivory tower, Watergate was disastrous.for Nixon. We fear that a less completely isolated from grass roots realities. than open and candid approach by the brethren, will be I am positive that Dr. Weiss is capable of describing in a equally disastrous for the church we love. more fair and accurate way the accomplishments of our If, as it now appears, we have labored for many decades church in his home country, Argentina, the cradle of our under misconceptions about Ellen G. White, it is certainly message in South America. In writing this response to his high time that the authentic, true facts emerge. article I have no intention of being defensive or apolo­ getic. I am not from Argentina. My only purpose is to Robin A. Vandermolen, M.D. correct as much as, possible the distorted image of the Glendale, California church in Argentina as presented by one of its beloved sons. Enoch Oliveira Vice-president of the General Conference and former President of the South American Division Outrage At Graybill's Departure

o the Editors: In an an­ T cient barbaric age, the messenger who brought bad tidings about the tide of the battle to the king was promptly killed. Ronald Graybill, has been a respected member of the General Conference­ affIliated, Ellen G. White Estate. Over many years, he has had daily access to the archives of White memora­ bilia. Drawing on a wealth of research material, he has recently written a biography of Ellen White, as part of a doctoral dissertation for Johns Hopkins University. At last, we have an authentic, well-documented bio­ graphy that reveals a flesh and blood woman, with all her foibles and human frailities. The General Conference, like the ancient kings, has not looked kindly on the adverse information ,contained in the biography. They have fired Graybill. What next? Will the General Conference mandate a new version of the Scriptures, with the frailties of the prophets carefully expunged? 'sm~-x:ensot-:the.ctt~:;;pf~~:t'!;jhswh~eb~au;r;;:;:::::==:.:;:;;:=~~=~==~======~====~~:::±== Spectrum Advisory Council

Charlene and Floyd Anderson Claire and Richard Knierim Lucille and Alan Anderson Ruth and Edward Komarniski Julie and Charles Bensonhaver Albert and Elizabeth Koppel Ramona and Len Bierlein Doreen and Irwin Kuhn Ben R. Boice Verla and Alvin K wiram LeJean and Allen Botimer Karen and Mel Lake Neridah and Bernard Brandstater Anita and Robert Lang Betty and Bruce Branson Roberta and Bradley Litchfield Mary and Floyd Brauer Ewald Lonser Merrilyn and Ray Brown Heidi and Richard Ludders Marilyn and Robert Burman Thelma McAdoo Harold S. Campbell Irene and Kenneth McGill Dos and Molleurus Couperus Marguerite and Robert Marsh Eryl Cummings lola and Julius Martin Walter Cummings Neva and Bill Meek Elsie and Raymond Damazo Ken and Mary Moe . Thelma and Lloyd Dayes Jacqueline and Robert Moncrieff Mary and James Dunn Lyla Neumann Mary and Wilfred Eastman Valerie and Glenn Patchen Juanita and Richard Engel Marilyn and Daniel Patchin Nancy Engeset Sharon and Thomas Pello Janine and Wilmer Engevik Cecilia and Ernest Plata Mary and Rene Evard Verna and Winslow B. Randall Lois and Walt Fahlsing Martha and Alfredo Rasi Erika and Jim Fallbeck Arlene and Merlin Reeder Marjorie and Albert Farver Carole and Gordon Rick Karen and Ronald Fasano Anieta and William Rippey Beth and Jack Fleming Thais and James Sadoyama Joy and Gerry Fuller Ursula and Donald Shasky G. Elaine Giddings Gordon and Lovina Short Joyce and David Grauman Grace and Walter Stilson Nadine and Gordon Hale Carlene and Leonard Taylor Deanne and David Hanscom Dort and Nancy Tikker Cheryl and Milford Harrison Dorwin and Faye Tompkins Sally and Robert Hasselbrack Lou Anne and Thorvaldur Torfason Donald Hawley Maredith and Rudy Torres Hanna and Hjaltar Helmerson Ken Tucker Claudette and Jack Hennemann Nancy and Robin Vande~molen Margaret and Wilfred Huse Nancy and John Vogt Marjorie and John Jacobson Ella Mae and Harold Wallar Liv and Eugene Joergenson Carol and Bruce Walter Dorothy and Bernarr Johnson Karla and Kenneth Walters Genevieve and Paul Johnson Janice and Harry Wang Katie and Richard Johnson Barbara and Rodney Willard Marga and Elton Kerr vicki and Chuck Woofter Dorane and William King Morton Woolley

The Spectrum Advisory Council is·a group of committed Spectrum supporters who provide financial stability and business and editorial advice to insure the continuation of the journal's open discussion of significant issues. For more information, contact: Raymond S. Damazo, Chairman (206) 454-2722 Office 855 106th Avenue N.E. (206) 455-4522 Residence Bellevue, WA 98004