For Immediate ReleaseContact: Larry Becker, executive director of university relations(951) 785-2460; E-maillbecker@lasierra.edu

La Sierra University Board of Trustees AffirmsUniversity’s Support for Church’s Creation Doctrine

The La Sierra University Board of Trustees has reaffirmed the school’sfoundational commitments as a Seventh-day Adventist institution of higher education with particular focus on the Church’s official doctrineof creation. The board’s first action supported the university’s responsibilities tothe Church through:

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Committing to a spirit of open inquiry and discussion in theuniversity’s classrooms and laboratories.

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Inspiring, challenging, and supporting the university’s faculty intheir sacred academic work.

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Affirming that both academic responsibility and commitment toAdventist beliefs are important parts of a vibrant university, asarticulated in Ellen White’s statement “It is the work of trueeducation to…train the youth to be thinkers and not merereflectors of other men’s thought.” (

Education

, p. 17).In a second action, the board called for scientists and administrators inAdventist higher education to work together with Church leadership ina study group. This group would propose a college curriculum fulfillingthe General Conference Executive Committee’s call for a scientificallyrigorous affirmation of a literal, recent six-day creation. The studygroup would obtain assistance from the Geoscience Research Institutein forming model course outlines in life and earth sciences. Thesecould inform curricular revision throughout Adventist higher education.Additionally, the board requested that a research project be launchedto study the spiritual development of Adventist students in highereducation throughout the North American Division, with specialattention to students in the sciences. It recommended that La SierraUniversity’s John Hancock Center for Youth and Family Ministry, homeof the ValueGenesis research project, coordinate the program incooperation with the North American Division Office of Education. The actions voted at the board meetings of November 11-12, grew out