Faculty Statement on Creation
A REAFFIRMATION OF CREATION

September 8, 2004

Introduction

The Faith and Science Conferences that have taken place in the church during the past three years (2002-2004) have shown the wide range of views that exist concerning the origins of life and the early chapters of Genesis.

Despite the fact that the Seventh-day Adventist Church has had a long-held fundamental belief concerning creation, a small but vocal group has:

a. called for a reinterpretation of the longstanding Adventist understanding of creation and the flood and proposed a view that is constructed upon evolutionary presuppositions.
b. argued that the lack of specificity in Fundamental Belief #6 allows for a number of mutually exclusive views to coexist in the Church.

In response to the present focus on origins in the Church, we, the faculty of the School of Religion, Southern Adventist University, offer this reaffirmation of creation with recommendations to be considered by the organizing committee and officers of the General Conference.

Affirmations
According to Scripture:

1. We affirm the primacy of Scripture in all areas of inquiry whether science or other disciplines because it is the inspired Word of God (Is 40:8; 2 Pet 1:19-21; 2 Tim 3:16).

2. We affirm that Genesis 1-11 is a historical, literal, and reliable account since the description found therein is reaffirmed throughout the OT (Exod 20:11; Neh 9:6; Job 26:7,13; Psa 8:3; 33:6; 96:5; 102:25; 104:24,30; 115:15; 121:2; 124:8; 134:3; 136:5; 146:6; 148:4, 5; Prov 3:19; 8:22-30; Eccl 12:1; Isa 37:16; 40:12,26-28; 42:7; 43:7; 44:24; 45:11-18; 51:13,16; Jer 51:15; Zech 12:1); also, every NT writer and Jesus Himself, explicitly or implicitly affirm the historicity of Gen 1-11 (Matt 19:4, 5; 24:37-39; Mark 10:6; Luke 3:38; 17:26, 27; Jn 1:3; Rom 5:12; Acts 17:24-26; 1 Cor 6:16; 11:8-9, 12; 15:45-48; 2 Cor 11:3; Col 1:16; Eph 5:31; 1 Tim 2:13, 14; Heb 11: 3, 7; 1 Pet 3:20; 2 Pet 2:5; 3:5-6; James 3:9; 1 John 3:12; Jude 11, 14; Rev 14:7).

3. We affirm that by His word, God created all things out of nothing (ex nihilo) (Gen 1:3; Ps 33: 6, 9; Jn 1:3; Heb 11:3).

4. We affirm the supernatural creation of a perfect and good world in six, consecutive, contiguous, literal, 24-hour days (Gen 1; Ex 20:11) and that creation was complete at the end of creation week (Gen 2:1-2).

5. We affirm that the six-day creation of life on earth took place recently, a few thousand years ago (Gen 5, 11; 1 Chron 1:1-27).

6. We affirm that all things were created by God, both in the heavens and the earth, visible and invisible (Col 1:16).

7. We affirm that death was the result of sin (Rom 6:23), and that therefore there was no death before sin (Gen 2:16-17), and there will no longer be death in the new heaven and the new earth (Rev 21:4).

8. We affirm that death came into the world by the first man, Adam (Gen 3:6; Rom 5:14; 1 Cor 15:22), and that after introducing evil into the world there was a tremendous increase of wickedness (Gen 6:1-4).

9. We affirm that a subsequent catastrophic, global flood was sent by God as a judgment against wickedness (Gen 6:5-7) “so that all the high mountains everywhere under the heavens were covered” (Gen 7:20-21), and that this flood destroyed all flesh except that which was preserved on the ark (Gen 7:1-3; 2 Pet 2:5-7).

10. We affirm the gift of the Spirit of Prophecy as manifested in the ministry of Ellen G. White to this remnant movement and her specific reaffirmation of the biblical doctrine of creation as taught by the Scriptures: specifically, a literal six-day creation; God’s rest on the seventh day; a universal, global flood; and her reaffirmation of a short chronology of “about 6,000 years.”

11. We affirm that, when properly understood, Scripture and nature are harmonious in their witness to the creation and flood.

12. We affirm the interlocking nature of the doctrine of creation with these doctrines: Scripture, nature and character of God, nature of man, Great Controversy, atonement, remnant and mission, unity of the church, gift of prophecy, law of God, Sabbath, stewardship, Christian behavior, marriage, Second Coming, death and resurrection, and the new earth.

Denials

1. We deny that the creation story is parable, saga, metaphor, myth, or any other literary category insofar as they are construed as mutually exclusive to a literal and historical account.

2. We deny any other theory of origins involving millions of years for the development of life, and the evolution of humans from non-human primates as taught in natural evolution, theistic evolution, and progressive creation.

3. We deny the view that a literal and historical account of Gen 1-11 is not essential to the belief system of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

4. We deny that death was part of God’s original creation or that it will be part of God’s new creation.

5. We deny that the biblical flood was only local or that the covering of the high mountains only involved water in a solid state.

6. We deny that Ellen G. White is to be understood only devotionally in the area of origins.

Recommendations
Based on these affirmations and denials, we recommend that:

1. The General Conference consider initiating an appropriate process which would enable Fundamental Belief # 6 on creation to speak with greater clarity, regarding the historicity and timing of Gen 1-11.

2. The leadership in our church employ only educators and pastors who are committed to the teachings of Scripture as understood by the Seventh-day Adventist Church and establish procedures that would encourage academic honesty, integrity, and accountability in this regard.

3. The Church continue to foster ways to educate its membership regarding the value and importance of the doctrine of creation.

Ron E. M. Clouzet, D.Min., Dean and Professor of Ministry
Stephen Bauer, M.Div., Associate Professor of Religion
Jack J. Blanco, Th.D., Former Dean and Adjunct Professor of Theology
Norman R. Gulley, Ph.D., Research Professor of Systematic Theology
Michael G. Hasel, Ph.D., Professor of Near Eastern Studies and Archaeology
Douglas Jacobs, D.Min., Associate Professor of Religion
Greg A. King, Ph.D., Professor of Biblical Studies
Judson Lake, D.Min., Th.D., Professor of Pastoral Theology
Donn W. Leatherman, Ph.D., Professor of Old Testament Studies
Carlos G. Martín, Ph.D., Professor of Evangelism and Missions
Edwin Reynolds, Ph.D., Professor of New Testament Studies
Phillip G. Samaan, D.Min., Professor of Applied Theology and Evangelism
Douglas A. Tilstra, M.Div., Associate Professor of Religion

There is a growing concern amongst parents and students about which Adventist professors teach and believe in the historicity of Genesis 1-11. Over 5,600 Adventists have called for full disclosure of what is being taught in our universities and colleges.

We feel it is vital parents and prospective students know and understand what they will be taught. It is in this spirit of transparency these professors have answered the following questions:

1. Do you believe and teach God created the heaven and earth in six literal 24-hour days a few thousand years ago?

2. Do you believe and teach that life has only been on earth for a few thousand years and that God destroyed the earth with a worldwide catastrophic flood?

____________________

Southwestern Adventist University
Jorge E. Rico, D.Min., Ph.D.
Pastor and Associate Professor of Religion Department of Religion

I firmly believe the Bible does clearly provide enough data to support a 24-hour literal creation as well as the destruction of the earth by a flood. I also believe life on this world has been going for few thousand years only. I do take the both the Bible and EGW’s views on creation and the flood serious and I do not apologize for this.

Andrews University Theological Seminary
Richard Davidson
Old Testament Department

I believe and teach God created the heaven and earth in six literal 24-hour days a few thousand years ago. I believe and teach that life has only been on earth for a few thousand years and that God destroyed the earth with a worldwide catastrophic flood.

Oakwood University
Londa L. Schmidt, Ph.D.
Professor of Biological Sciences

I believe in an omnipotent God who is not only all powerful but a master designer of all things. I have always taught the origins portions of my classes comparing the textbooks claims and their inability to prove anything and Genesis 1 and 2, going over each using a scientific rationale why they should be as described and in that order and why I believe the textbook claims are not tenable; also I stress that no one today can prove any of the theories on origins out there, but at least to me the Genesis story makes a lot of more sense in view of the molecular unity in all living organisms. I believe in a six day (24 hr periods) literal creation of all life on this earth and tell the students how God prepared me so that when I had to defend that belief against some of the premier molecular evolutionists in order to be allowed to take my “candidacy oral exam” (similar to the comprehensive exams given in the US, but no second chances and completely oral in front of a 5 member panel) to become a doctoral candidate in Molecular Biology at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland (then and now one of the top for this field and the first institution to even offer such a course of study). My examiners agreed that “your views of ordering in nature are feasable” but did not change their minds.

The exact time lapse is not disernible from the Holy Scriptures, which are His love letter to us. Personally considering the way humans are destroying the earth I do not believe it has had a chance to be in the form we know it, even in “ancient” times. The discrepancies found in archeological digs as to the modernity and or “old age” of the bones can be easily explained by the quick layering of stones, gravel, etc. during a flood event. Most cultures in the stories of their origins have a major flood event and I believe this is becuase there really was a planet wide flood in the time of Noah as described in Genesis. Such a flood explains the geological layers as found today in gorges and other places. As one geologist once put it “we use a rubberband to measure the age of things”. God does not measure time as we do but He knows we need time lines therefore He has given us plenty of evidence. All things were created at His word – He spoke and it was.

Loma Linda University
Roger Seheult, MD
Assistant Clinical Professor, Medicine, School of Medicine
Assistant Clinical Professor, Physician Assistant Sciences, School of Allied Health Prof

I believe that God created the world about 6000 years ago in 6 – literal 24 hour periods and rested on the seventh day.

Southern Adventist University (Added 10/5/09)
Edwin Reynolds, Ph.D., Professor of New Testament
School of Religion

Do you believe and teach God created the heaven and earth in six literal 24-hour days a few thousand years ago? Yes, I do.

Do you believe and teach that life has only been on earth for a few thousand years and that God destroyed the earth with a worldwide catastrophic flood? Yes, I do.

Southern Adventist University (Added 10/14/09)
Dr. Robert Montague
School of Business

As a Seventh-day Adventist, I believe that the fourth commandment, written with God the Son’s own finger, is correct as it states in part, “for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea and all that in them is.”

Dr. Richard D. Brown, Chair of the Department of Health and Natural Sciences

Source: President’s Blog (Southern Adventist University)

September 09, 2009

I received a note from a pastor the other day asking where Southern Adventist University stood in relation to the issues related to SDA fundamental belief #6 Creation. (All the beliefs are found at: http://www.adventist.org/beliefs/fundamental/. Sometimes when you are so close to a campus you assume that everyone knows what you know. That is too much to assume and so let me share what I do know. Southern Adventist University faculty who work with our students through the School of Religion and in the Biology Department fully support and teach “In six days the Lord made “the heaven and the earth” and all living things upon the earth, and rested on the seventh day of that first week.” This belief and teaching is fundamental to the Three Angels Messages (Revelation 14:6-14) and to the message and mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and Southern Adventist University. Should you wish further information you may wish to note a statement on the School of Religion website: https://www.southern.edu/religion/Pages/facultystatementoncreation.aspx (Read Original)

Gordon Bietz, President of Southern Adventist University

This is a Sacred Assignment

Our faith is strongest when it is based on a relationship with God and not a set of beliefs or datasets of scientific evidence. Indeed, the complexities of addressing origins issues in an academic environment are many, but faith must be our final point of reference.

As faculty in the biology department at Walla Walla University, our goal is to offer students a thorough, balanced and scientifically rigorous exposure to, and affirmation of, our historic belief in a literal, six-day creation. At the same time we are challenged to adequately prepare these students to think and work in a scientific community where evolution is the dominant paradigm. We welcome this challenge! (Full Article)

Source: Oct 2009 Vol. 104, No. 10

Our Privilege and Responsibility

“Walla Walla University is founded on Christian teaching and values as understood and appreciated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.”

That first sentence in our Philosophy of Education Statement emphasizes our privilege and responsibility for providing students with wisdom that transcends academic achievement. (Full Article) 

Source: Oct 2009 Vol. 104, No. 10

Source: Michigan Memo

By Jay Gallimore

Adventists have always shown a keen interest in science. After all, the God of the Bible is the God of creation. Unlike some other denominations, we have not promoted a separation between faith and science. In our view God uses true science and true faith to work together to reveal Himself to His children. From the revelation of Scripture we know that the world and nature have been heavily damaged by sin. Therefore, empirical evidence alone is not able to give us a clear picture of truth. So when there is a seeming contradiction between Scripture and science we have chosen to trust Scripture.

This has served us well. For instance, about a hundred years or more ago our teachings on health were not supported by the scientific community. Nevertheless, we trusted divine revelation. Today, our teachings on health are being increasingly affirmed by science.

Our colleges and universities are confessional educational institutions. Secular universities by their very nature are humanistic. However, Seventh-day Adventist universities and colleges confess the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, and the Bible as the highest authority. We believe God is the author of wisdom and knowledge. However, we sometimes hear the argument that our schools should have academic freedom like the secular schools.

No one is against academic freedom. Yet all academic freedom has a context. In secular universities it is “human reasoning.” In confessional universities it is “divine reasoning.” For the secular, “human reasoning” is the final court of appeal because that is what they trust. For confessional universities, “divine reasoning” is the last word because that is what we trust. This means academic freedom in a confessional university is viewed in the context of our faith in God and His divine revelation in Scripture. If we do not understand and support this criterion, then it is only a matter of time before our confessional schools of higher education will become secular like other universities that started out as institutions of other denominations.

While there can be advantages of having some teachers receive training at secular universities, there is also a danger. Secular philosophy will sometimes piggy back undetected into our schools and thinking. This is why some ancient Christian communities were very careful in choosing which of their young people would go to the universities of their day. They wanted to glean true knowledge but not the error.

They wanted educators who could use Scripture to separate the true from the false. Similarly, as Adventists we must ensure that a deliberate screening process is in place for those who teach or desire to teach in our Seventh-day Adventist institutions.

It is my belief that, by and large, most of our science teachers are creationists, not evolutionists. Many are doing a great job of helping young adults understand arguments on both sides. Where there are appearances of contradictions between science and inspiration they are teaching students to trust divine revelation. This is wise because history is full of examples of how science ends up confirming facts of faith that it once denied. It is also reasonable in a world where science keeps changing its theories. Waiting on God has always brought large rewards. Unlike human reasoning in connection with science, God and Scripture never change.

Adventist parents should be able to trust their colleges and universities to build the faith of their young people. They should not have the additional burden of trying on their own to figure out whether their youth are going to be taught evolution rather than creation. They are already paying sacrificially for private Seventh-day Adventist education. In addition, church members support our schools with additional millions of dollars annually. Certainly, administrators and teachers have a sacred responsibility to make our schools safe for the faith we confess.

With sorrow I must inform you that that is not always the case. In a recent Adventist World issue, Dr. Angel Rodriguez, Director of the Biblical Research Institute of the General Conference (GC), affirms that there are professors in our schools “who no longer believe that God created everything in six literal days” (Adventist World – NAD/July 2009). Adventist students taking classes from these teachers are being taught the evolutionist view. Dr. Rodriguez rightly identifies this situation as “outrageous.” We appreciate his and the Adventist World’s courage in speaking out. While these teachers cannot be labeled atheists, they do fit the definition of “theistic” evolutionists. This means that they believe that Genesis is not true, and that God used evolution to “create” life over hundreds of millions of years. This of course is the Roman Catholic and liberal Protestant view.

At the church-sponsored Faith and Science conferences of 2002–2004, leading Seventh-day Adventist scientists and theologians, among other points, affirmed the following:

1. We affirm the primacy of Scripture in the Seventh-day Adventist understanding of origins.

2. We affirm the historic Seventh-day Adventist understanding of Genesis 1 that life on earth was created in six literal days and is of recent origin.

In light of this, one would have thought that evolutionary professors among us would have had the integrity and intellectual honesty to resign from Adventists schools. Sadly, that has not been the case. In the business world you would be promptly fired if you worked for one auto manufacturer but promoted the cars of another on company time. And neither company would question your exit. Why? Because there is just no respect for that kind of dishonest behavior in the business world. Adventist parents trust Adventist professors to build their children’s faith. So when an Adventist professor takes Adventist tuition money but proceeds to promote anti-biblical evolutionary theories and destroy faith, righteous indignation is certainly an expected reaction.

Yet, how wonderful it is when we see our children graduate from an Adventist school with a strong vibrant faith in God and the three angels’ messages. What joy and gratitude fill our hearts for such Adventist teachers and schools. Such professors and schools are held in high esteem by parents, youth and church leaders.

Recently, our General Conference President, Dr. Jan Paulsen made a printed appeal in the Adventist Review (July 9, 2009): “We reaffirm the Seventh-day Adventist understanding of the historicity of Genesis 1-11: that the seven days of the Creation account were literal 24-hour days forming a week identical in time to what we now experience as a week; and that the Flood was global in nature.” Dr. Paulsen went on to plead with all Adventist teachers and institutions to continue to uphold and advocate that position.

It seems possible that this appeal happened in part because an Adventist physician (and graduate of Adventist schools) sent an open letter to the GC officers. This letter, sent just a few months ago, appeared to give substantial evidence that theistic evolution is being promoted at least in some places of higher education. Eventually his letter, along with others, and more revelations created an electronic fire storm.

Then certain independent magazines began to defend the alleged right of Adventist universities to teach evolution. While not surprising, it adds credibility to the concerns that in some places evolution is being taught as the preferred worldview. The rhetoric by these magazines and their supporters toward those who defend the Church’s Genesis position is appalling, as well as revealing. Can one have a high Reformation view of Scripture and simultaneously abandon the Genesis record of creation?

Let me say again that I believe most of our colleges and universities are supportive of our fundamental beliefs. There are many blessings for our youth at these institutions. Nevertheless, parents and students should remain vigilant. I have been assured by Dr. Keith Mattingly, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, that Andrews University, while making students aware of the evolutionary arguments, is committed to teaching that creation, as revealed in Genesis, is the true understanding of origins.

One does not have to be an astute theologian to understand that the biblical doctrine of creation supports the whole understanding of sin and redemption, the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the seventh day Sabbath, the authority of the Bible, and the list goes on and on. They all stand or fall together.

In light of the GC president’s appeal in the Adventist Review, and the article in the Adventist World addressing this issue, the Michigan Conference Executive Committee has also reviewed the issue (and this article) and has given it their support. The GC leadership has made a clear appeal to be faithful to the Genesis view of origins. We will be watching to see if the institutions involved produce a positive, correcting response.

This is a defining moment in the history of our Church and its institutions of higher learning. We have a responsibility to the members, parents and students of the Michigan Conference who we encourage to go to Adventist higher educational institutions. We do so, on the premise that youth will be instructed in the spiritual teachings of this Church. Hopefully, we will not have to be more specific and public about this matter than is found in this article. But if the situation does not change, we may find our responsibilities to Michigan members putting us in the same position as Ellen White and other church leaders in their day. When one institution flagrantly strayed after patient appeals, they took the right action of informing their membership.

For all faithful Seventh-day Adventists, teaching evolution as the preferred view of origins in an Adventist college or university is an awful betrayal of sacred trust. If tolerated, it will become a powerful destructive force undermining Adventist churches and schools. The salvation of our youth is a precious responsibility—one we cannot and must not abandon!