Academic Freedom

In the past couple weeks there has been renewed discussion about academic freedom in the context of some recent discussions online (see Shawn Brace’s post and David Asscherick’s letter to Jan Paulsen). This seems to be a perennial debate within Adventism as well as in other denominations. In fact there is quite a bit of literature available on the topic (see, for example, George Marsden’s The Soul of the American University: From Protestant Establishment to Established Nonbelief (Oxford University Press, 1996).

So, should an Adventist professor who no longer believes in the Advent message teach at Adventist University? I’m not talking about someone who comes from a different “brand” of Adventism where their interpretative emphasis differs from yours. I’m talking about the core beliefs of Adventism (as defined by the 28 Fundamental beliefs).

As a pastor I’ve had to wrestle with this issue as several students in my congregation consider various colleges, including Adventist colleges. While they are talented young people the question has arisen will their faith be strengthened at one of our Adventist colleges? The tipping point came recently when a church member who recently returned from a visit to one of our colleges and said that from their perspective, as they sat in a Sabbath School class led by professors, that they no longer believed in the Adventist message. Their faith wasn’t strengthened and they were led to doubt. My worry, as an Adventist pastor, is how can we lessen rather than lessen the distance between a constituency that demands one thing, but as a scholar (I earned my Ph.D. in Adventist Studies from Andrews University) I can also understand the importance of academic freedom.

My personal perspective is that Adventist colleges need to have faculty who are committed to the Adventist message. I had a professor who while I was in school had impeccable academic credentials but the students knew that he didn’t attend church and was teaching in an Adventist college because it was familiar territory–the son of a prominent Adventist educator in another region so this individual was essentially a “cultural” Adventist. The person was comfortable in territory that was familiar and stayed in the system by meeting the status quo (teaching classes where students didn’t complain and publishing an occasional article or two).

Personally, as I try to counterbalance these two areas of my life (the pastoral versus the academic) I have to wonder if they have to be mutually exclusive. Can it be complimentary? I hope so. Right now as a pastor I want to know that when I recommend to a parishioner contemplating college that they will come back to my church in four years (or wherever else their life journey may take them) with their faith strengthened. For me that is the primary purpose of Adventist education–otherwise they can get all of the requirements taken care of and perhaps even attend a more prestigious university outside of our denominational system.

This last week as I put a post on my Facebook page within a couple hours I had over 40 posts about academic freedom and how to find a balance with the area of personal faith. It seems to me that Adventists in the rank and file want to hear not only about all of the academic credentials and achievements that are accomplished but they also want to hear stories of lives changed and how students who attend our schools become not only upstanding citizens who give back to a free-market economy, but also how they make an impact on the Adventist church through nurtured faith.

A Providential Encounter

This morning I am sitting in my church office. I usually spend some time in my church office after I finish up at home with breakfast doing some paperwork, devotions, and today I am waiting for a mentor to call me. I have two mentors in my life, experienced pastors and individuals whom I respect, who I keep in touch with on a regular basis. Today while I was waiting for my phone to ring I had my office phone ring. I answered it hastily thinking maybe the person had dialed my church office instead. The person turned out to be someone who had dialed the wrong number. Before he almost hung up he asked, who is this again? I said I am Pastor Campbell, pastor of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 

“What church?” he asked.

“The Adventist Church, the one across from the Holiday Inn Express,” I replied.

We then started to have a conversation about how his grandfather was an Adventist minister but he had been a black sheep. Now at the age of 91 he said he was dying of cancer. I listened and offered to pray with him. He said he didn’t need anyone to convert him so I told him that I just wanted to pray for the blessing of Jesus in his life. He said that was fine and he needed that right now.

Before the end of the conversation he invited me to come over and visit him. As he paused ready to hang up he asked me, “why do you think I called your number? I needed to talk to you today.”

I believe in providential encounters. In this case it was pressing one wrong digit that caused the phone to ring in my office. A chance encounter? No way. I believe the Lord wanted me to talk and minister to him today. Would you please join me in praying for this individual? “Lord,” I pray, “please use me and anyone else to impact this man’s life for your kingdom. Amen.”

Back to Blogging (and announcing the arrival of David)

The last month I’ve tried to take it easy because on April 14, 2009, our second child, David William Campbell, was born! He weighed in at 7 pounds, 6 ounces, and measured 19 1/2 inches.

There is something profound about holding a newborn baby, your child, in your arms. There is a certain amount of pride (sanctified of course), joy, nervousness as you think about all that life has in store for him. But mostly just joy. It was hard not to beam from ear to ear as I watched my daughter (now age two) hold our son for the first time. Attached is a picture for you to enjoy.