I have it on good authority that the Adventist Accrediting Association plans to approve accreditation for La Sierra University at its October 9, 2013 meeting (as per the recommendation of its review team that conducted a “Focused Visit” to La Sierra University from April 16-18, 2013).
The argument is that LSU has made significant improvements as to how it teaches the topic of origins in its science and religion departments and has even hired two creationists to teach in the biology department to make sure that the Adventist position on origins is given appropriate consideration.
LSU’s current biology faculty can be seen at:
http://lasierra.edu/biology/faculty-and-staff/
Personally, I would like to know who the “two creationists” are that were hired by LSU’s biology department? and if they are actually supportive of and promote the Adventist position on a literal 6-day creation week? or any arguments opposed to the neo-Darwinian story of origins? If so, I would love to see some of the lecture notes and/or handouts along these lines.
Unfortunately, as far as I’m aware, no such support for the Adventist position on origins is being presented at LSU in either the biology or religion departments. And, I don’t see this situation changing any time soon. Certainly the new hire, Dr. Raul Diaz, is not at all supportive of the Adventist position on origins. Also, the department chair, Dr. Lee Grismer, who is very much opposed to the Adventist notion of a literal 6-day creation week, isn’t going to be leading out in any effort to actually promote the truth of a literal creation week over mainstream Darwinian story of origins (Link).
I have been unable to directly contact Lisa Beardsley-Hardy, the director of the General Conference’s Education Department, for her thoughts on this issue.
