BY JONATHAN GALLAGHER, United Nations liaison director, General Conference

n what was termed "a sobering report on a vital subject," General Conference education director C. Garland Dulan (pictured above) presented the conclusions of the Commission on Higher Education on October 14.

Spelling out the drift in other formerly religious colleges, Dulan highlighted the pathways through which institutional "orthodoxy" moved to "pluralism," and ultimately resulted in a purely secular institution.

"With the increasing percentage of non-Adventist teachers and students, we're seeing a creep from being primarily Adventist to moving in a different direction," he stated. The Commission found "diminished emphasis on religion courses for all students, chapel attendance questioned, with less emphasis on revivals, mission, and evangelism." All this, said Dulan, adds up to a situation that needs to be addressed, since "expressions of religious vision are gradually disappearing."

Statistics revealed the increasingly non-Adventist aspects of the church's higher education system. The percentage of non-Adventist students rose from 18 percent in 1990 to 32 percent in 2000, and was projected to be 45 percent by 2010. Non-Adventist faculty was just 4 percent in 1990, but rose to 16 percent in 2000, and by 2010 was expected to be 28 percent.

Added to this picture of increasing non-Adventist involvement was the declining relative support of the church in terms of finance. While on average the General Conference contributes an equivalent of nearly 25 percent of its annual tithe income for higher education, many educational institutions do not see the church as a primary source of income. Appropriations generally account for just over 11 percent of operating income for educational institutions.

Commission recommendations include: graduate level courses on Adventist history, theology, and philosophy of education; a yearly retreat for institution board members on Adventist educational philosophy; seminars on the integration of faith and learning; and further study on the impact of non-Adventist students and faculty.

GC vice president Ted Wilson in opening up the matter for discussion commented that the projected 28 percent non-Adventist faculty figure is "a glaring statistic we need to reverse."

Trans-European division president Bertil Wiklander spoke of his appreciation for the report, and wondered about its implementation. He also pleaded for recognition of "varieties of experience" around the world, pointing as an example to Middle East University, which, that because of low numbers of Adventist members in the region, would inevitably have a high percentage of non-Adventist students.

"We need to concentrate on cultivating a culture on our campuses that reveals what the Adventist ethos and mission is all about," he continued. "Just taking a course can be very superficial-there needs to be constant dialogue." He also spoke of the importance of strengthening the understanding of Adventist education among parents and pastors.

Cindy Tutsch, associate director of the White Estate, commented that "if we are not intentional in adopting the recommendations of this report, our students will continue to experience loss of faith."

Richard C. Osborn, Pacific Union College president, noted that the trends towards secularism would still be a "huge problem even with 100 percent [Adventist] students and faculty." He also expressed concern over how large church commissions could make an impact without local implementation, and recommended the involvement of the wider constituency. "You cannot create culture change in a top-down approach," he stated, adding that "we should begin to share these recommendations with local areas. We have already spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on this commission; we need to make it worthwhile for culture change."

Responding, Dulan commented that this was "not an education department problem but a world church problem," and invited wide input, for "when the rubber meets the road, we have to ask 'What are we going to do about it?'"

Ella Simmons, provost and vice president for academic administration of La Sierra University, declared the "need to recognize that there is a shortage of Adventist teachers for our colleges and universities. Looking at the age of some of our faculties, I believe the problem is greater than the figures suggest," since many would be retiring in the near future. She recommended intentional recruitment of recent graduates as an effective way to ensure a supply of Adventist teachers.

B. Lyn Behrens, president of Loma Linda University, called the report "challenging and sobering," adding that the world church must take it very seriously." Restricting her remarks to just one area, she appealed for "the integration of faith, learning, and life, seeing this as a means to an end. If we strengthen the application to living, it will transform our church," she affirmed.

GC president Jan Paulsen expressed his thanks to the commission, which "arose from the awareness of the problem." "We need to take practical steps to address these issues," he continued, asking that division administrations place this item on their agendas for year-end meetings. "We all care about the church, but we care more personally and profoundly about our young people," he concluded.

The report and recommendations were voted as presented, and further actions will be taken at the executive's spring meeting in 2004.