Comment on Open letter to General Conference by Mike Lynch.
As a historian at an Adventist university helping to prepare students of theology as well as students of education, I attempted over the years to present my subjects within a framework of creationism and divine intervention. After more than 30 years of teaching service, the institution decided to terminate my service “for budgetary reasons”. I don’t think there was any question of displeasure about my Bible-based philosophy of history, but I had become, and continued to remain, involved in some investigations into the university’s under-reporting of earnings to the Social Security authorities, apparently unethical practices related to accreditation of new programs, and other leadership matters involving questionable financial dealings and nepotism. These unfortunate situations subsequently were addressed in a Spectrum article ably written by Tim Puko (Volume 34, Issue 3 • Summer 2006). The present concerns about the teaching of evolution in Adventist institutions had not escalated at the time of our particular woes. Nevertheless, it saddened me when I left teaching classes, that the man who briefly replaced me as the one-man history department, brother of the business manager, was frequently absent due to a drinking habit, lacked a fundamental Christian education, and was admittedly bewildered about the concept of creationism or divine intervention in the context of the classes he undertook to present to the students. It is important to keep in mind that this debate over creation/evolution teaching in Adventist institutions has its ramifications and exercises decided impact in other academic disciplines besides the natural sciences.
