This is Larry Blackmer’s comment from March 14, 2010. -Educate …

Comment on LSU’s public relations man calls Educate Truth ‘attack website’ by Larry Blackmer.

This is Larry Blackmer’s comment from March 14, 2010. -Educate Truth Staff

Response to EducateTruth Website article of March 13, 2010

My comments to the Michigan educators and published on the EducateTruth web site have been taken seriously out of context. The webmaster of EducateTruth emailed me within 48 hours of my comments upset about things he had heard that I said at the meeting that he felt were directed at him. I spent considerable time explaining to him the context of my remarks. Yet he has decided to take selected comments and publish them as part of an ongoing campaign to denigrate La Sierra University. Let me share the same comments I shared with him.

La Sierra University was just one of many issues discussed with the Michigan educators. I prefaced my comments by saying that while there have been things that have happened at La Sierra that I am not happy with, a much more serious issue is how some church members have related to the issue. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ. I believe strongly that we need to support each other and lift each other up, not cannibalize each other.

As Ellen G. White wrote so powerfully, “But how often do professed Christians, by their lack of self-control, open the door to the adversary of souls! Divisions, and even bitter dissensions which would disgrace any worldly community, are common in the churches, because there is so little effort to control wrong feelings, and to repress every word that Satan can take advantage of. As soon as an alienation of feeling arises, the matter is spread before Satan for his inspection, and the opportunity given for him to use his serpent-like wisdom and skill in dividing and destroying the church. There is great loss in every dissension. Personal friends of both parties take sides with their respective favorites, and thus the breach is widened. A house divided against itself cannot stand. Criminations and recriminations are engendered and multiplied. Satan and his angels are actively at work to secure a harvest from seed thus sown. Worldlings look on, and jeeringly exclaim, ‘Behold how these Christians hate one another! If this is religion, we do not want it.’”
The Church’s Great Need, By Mrs. E. G. White, RH, March 22, 1887

I feel betrayed by this website. I have explained the context of my remarks, yet you have taken my remarks and used them in a way that demonstrates exactly what I was speaking against.

I spoke of academic freedom, a vitally important core value on university campuses. I deeply believe that our Adventist universities are the place to discuss controversial topics, including evolution. Our institutions of higher learning MUST teach the concepts of evolution in our science classes. But I believe it should be done in the context of a Biblical, Adventist worldview. I believe our professors should explain the concepts that are held by the world, but also point our students back to the Bible and spiritual values.
There are those that will say that the Bible is not a science book and should not be treated as such. The point is, What do you see as the basis of truth–the Bible or science? I commented that too many times we take academic freedom to mean that “I can say anything I want and no one has the right to question that.” Let me be clear: I believe that in our schools. our parents and students deserve a broad discussion of the issues, including evolution. But we should also bring our students back to the core values of the church.

Regarding WASC accreditation- there was a behind-the-scenes conversation with an official of WASC in which he expressed concern over the church exerting control over La Sierra, particularly in the area of creation/evolution. That conversation was the basis for my comments.

Now let me again be very clear: La Sierra had its WASC visit March 1-3 of this year and it was very successful! WASC evaluates a school on educational effectiveness based on the school’s mission and goals. I answered a question about what would happen if WASC did withdraw accreditation. It was a hypothetical question, and the answer would apply to ANY university or college. My answer was not in any way intended to suggest that WASC was considering a withdrawl of accreditation. Through the questions that were asked of me, the discussion went down a road that was not intended.

Let me say it so there is no misunderstanding: I support La Sierra University. There are things that happen on that campus, as on EVERY campus, that I might wish were different. No school is perfect. But to engage in an on-going attempt to publicly destroy the reputation of the school and the individuals trying to work their way through the issues is only playing into the hands of the one trying to destroy us all. There are many, many, many loyal, faithful, God-fearing men and women on the campus of La Sierra University. Students are finding God there and gaining an education that they will use in building up God’s kingdom. Painting the entire school as a hotbed of liberal, anti-Biblical philosophy is wrong and hurtful. La Sierra is working to address the issues that have been raised. In the campaign of attack against La Sierra, too many people have adopted the current standards of the world, showing an incivility and lack of love that is the opposite of what our Lord desires. We cannot in God’s name destroy each other, no matter how important we believe our cause to be. I ask you to examine your hearts and words and to take seriously this question: What part of this website follows Philippians 4:8?

Let me come back to my original point. We are sons and daughters of God, His children, brothers and sisters in Christ. We need to find ways to support each other and to build up the body of Christ. Followers of the Carpenter of Nazareth with the nail-scarred hands do not use their own hands to throw grenades at each other.

Let us pray together for humility, for gentleness of spirit, and for the love and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ to be seen in our lives and words each day.

Larry Blackmer,
NAD Vice President for Education

Larry Blackmer Also Commented

LSU’s public relations man calls Educate Truth ‘attack website’
@Sean Pitman, M.D.: I concur with your comments. I would also add that Blackmer’s LONG comment was removed because of all the private drama he was throwing in which we had previously worked through privately.


LSU’s public relations man calls Educate Truth ‘attack website’

Larry Blackmer is the Vice President for Education of the North American Division of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. And he got a threatening letter from an attorney purporting to represent LaSierra University?????

To the best of my knowledge he did not receive a threatening letter. This all happened over the weekend so there was no way for letters to be sent. I do not know the nature of the type of trouble he was given. Anything other then what I mentioned in the article is speculation. I was merely relating what he told me.


Recent Comments by Larry Blackmer

La Sierra University Hires Another Darwinist
ADvindicate has also published an article about LSU and Raul Diaz that expands on a few details.

http://advindicate.com/?p=2625


A little-known history about Belief 6
@Eddie: The Bible does not specify an age of accountability (to my knowledge), but the Israelites considered the age of 12 to be the turning point. I wouldn’t base a theology off of tradition though. Also, it’s not our place to judge what happens to those who have not been able to make a decision.


Perspectives from alleged LSU students
@Blodgett: Was there a comment you’d like to add?


At La Sierra, Biology Faculty Affirms Importance of Teaching About Creation in Curriculum
@David Read: And perhaps not something Christ would do. I can understand your frustration though. I’ve been on the verge of quitting this whole thing many times. I’ve been guilty of letting that frustration control and influence things I shouldn’t have said.

I have to remind myself to look at the big picture. In the end all those who are not supposed to be in the church will be sifted out. I pray I am not one of them.


Board of Trustees Addresses Curriculum Proposal
I know from talking to a couple of reporters from Press Enterprise and Inside Higher Ed that Randal Wisbey was effective in shutting down communication between any outsiders and the biology faculty. It appears he made himself the only channel of communication between the board and biology faculty.

I emailed Larry Becker about what bylaw the board members broke that was worthy of dismissal, and I have yet to hear a response from him.

I would also note that board members at other universities appear to be free to talk to the faculty.

Another interesting point. He removes three board members for trying to work on the problem and come up with a solution, and then turns around sort of embraces what they’re doing. He can’t publicly condemn it because everyone can see, whether you agree with what they wrote or not, that it’s a significant step for the faculty to be speaking to the church.

Did he forbid the document from being published? No. If you’re really excited about seeing the biology department making advancements in solving the issue, why are you removing the people who are making that happen. He never did anything like that.

What has Wisbey done to address and fix this issue? Nothing. He’s dragged it out, lied about what’s been happening, and told everyone involved to shut up or get in trouble. What on earth is he trying to do?

Who knows, he might even be a part of the underground movement to sever LSU from the church by using WASC as the big hammer. It’s obvious from one former board member, there was interest in using WASC to manipulate the situation.