~News Item
As we reported in January, controversy is roiling in the architectural department at Andrews University (which admittedly sits on stolen land). A website has been set up by Alumni of the SAID department to address their concerns.
A non-Adventist (Episcopalian) teacher in the Architectural department at Andrews made multiple disparaging comments to students about Seventh-day Adventist doctrines. Andrew von Maur reported these comments to administration, which triggered a complaint from the non-Adventist teacher (Mark Moreno).
According to this open letter by Daniel Bacchiocchi, it seems that the core problem represented by Prof. Moreno´s complaint against von Maur is rooted in the Diversity, Inclusion and Equity (DIE) department.
It appears that Moreno paints himself as a member of an "oppressed group" because he is a non-SDA on a majority-SDA campus; promotes his "victimhood" by accusing Andrew von Maur of religious persecution; and applies for the "protection" of AU Administration. Likely result: coddle Moreno and fire von Maur.
We are told in this letter that Moreno is on the DIE Council and thus of course close to the University´s VP for DIE. We are also told that Moreno is out recruiting non-SDAs for the SAID, with the full support of the Provost and new SAID Chair. One of the male recruit candidates is allegedly married to his husband....(see below).
Daniel Bacchiocchi is a professional builder, alumni of SAID and a son of well-known Italian Seventh-day Adventist theologian, Samuele Bacchiocchi. Here is his open letter to alumni, board members and administrators at AU:
“Dear Friends,
Though it’s obvious that many have grown fatigued with the ongoing conversation regarding the developments at AU SAID… I feel impressed to lean in for one last time. I ask your patience as I express some final sentiments.
To my fellow SAID alumni,
I am a generation apart from most of you and have the benefit of reflection from an extended journey of trials, failures, and renewal. Collectively your generation put AU SAID on the map and you have given us all much to be proud of. While many of your voices have echoed support for the existential concerns raised, some have indicated their displeasure from the lack of collegiality and ecumenism. Some would argue that our objective should be to pursue harmony, peace, and compromise for the good of mankind… to make all feel accepted within the world they choose. Yes, as we are all sinners who have fallen short of the glory of God, we must treat all with love and compassion, no matter their journey. Yet, we can never compromise on our core beliefs, for SDA, our mandate is to proclaim the gospel and prepare a world. This will often run afoul of modern ideology.
A day is soon approaching where peace will not be an option. The war that has been waging for 6,000 years is soon to conclude. Your generation is poised to have a front row seat. The lie being told is that “man” can be trusted to change the world for the better. To nullify the centuries of systemic inhumanity, brutality, and callousness. Versus choosing to be the change that leaves the world a better place, some believe that the world must be changed to suit their enlightened and progressive ideology. Often, this ideology has created self-elected arbiters defining intolerance, hate, and compassion. Convinced of the legitimacy of their cause, ends justify the means, and only laws and policies that further predetermined outcomes are applicable. Opposition is censored or canceled (or labeled misinformation), and only a single narrative is allowed to be communicated.
This ideology spawns two camps, the victims, and the perpetrators. For to have been victimized, there must be a group committing the victimizing. The outcome, as observed by many, is not an enlightened compassionate society, but a polarizing and toxic environment, where often those that can, vote with their feet. Seeking communities, schools, and employment away from the oppressive and restricting ideology.
Fellow alumni, I conclude that though we are called not to judge, we must discern the truth by “their fruits”. A God led journey develops a humble compassionate spirit. Though often refined by fire, blessings do follow. If we draw near to Him, then He will draw near to us. The sequence of actions taken at the AU SAID will prove to have either been God led, or from humanistic ideologically. The truth will be apparent soon enough.
I pray that each of you seek God’s guidance on your journeys and that we will soon unite to witness the handiwork of the universe’s greatest Architect.
To the AU Administrators,
AU has been identified as the SDA Flagship School of higher learning. It began rooted in the fundamental SDA beliefs of “Restoring in man the Image of his Maker… to promote the development of body, mind, and soul, that the divine purpose in his creation might be realized”. However, many institutions originating as faith-based schools of higher learning have undergone a continual progression from confirmation of biblical truths to a culturally conditioned enlightenment. I know of several individuals who entered Loma Linda medical school as generational SDA Christians, only to leave as atheists. The age of enlightenment has ushered into higher education: evolution, environmentalism, socialism, gender interchangeability, gender fluidity, war on men, critical race theory, LGBTQIAS+, intersectionality, and indebtedness (to name a few). Mankind’s reliance on its own wisdom has placed itself at the center of the universe; working to conform the world into an ecologically minded, humanistically tolerant, and religiously estranged society. Immense pressure exists for educators to succumb to Culturally Conditioning their philosophies, each believing that they are but advancing the pendulum a nano-meter to merely adapt to current societal challenges.
We wake to find that the world as a whole (as led by higher education) has been drastically changed. Educators have put “bits into the mouths of men” and pointed them away from God and toward mankind as the solution of its decline. These pressures have breached the walls of SDA higher education and at times, the efforts to perpetuate the biblical mandate of education is no longer an institutional focus, but an individual one.
The issue that began this series of communications stemmed from the interplay among SAID faculty over the role and value of SDA religion and working policy at SAID. A recounting of the historical events goes like this:
The Dean of AU CHHS appointed a non-SDA SAID faculty member to Assistant Dean of CHHS, the SAID faculty expressed their concern over its violation of working policy. Their concerns were not well received within the AU administrators.
That Assistant Dean retired from AU SAID and took a position at another institution. The departure of that faculty member has been attributed by AU Administration as a function of un-collegiality on the part of Andrew van Maur. No evidence has been provided or recorded in personnel files of Andrew contributing to the departure of the faculty member or having violated any working policy in the interplay of events.
Another non-SDA SAID faculty:
o Expressed discomfort and offense with students expressing personal testimonies at the start of studio classes and repeatedly pressured SDA faculty to alter the approach to starting class.
o Challenged the historical reformation and SDA position on the role of the papacy and its teachings in biblical and world history. This was done repeatedly in front of students in class.
o Openly challenged the SDA position on the state of the dead in front of students.
o Engaged SAID students in a discussion of the value of praying to Mary (leaving many SAID students quite disturbed).
Andrew von Maur did engage in a dialogue with SAID non-SDA professor, ultimately questioning his suitability within an SDA institution.
Non-SDA professor made allegations of being victimized by SDA faculty, identifying as an oppressed religious minority.
Administrators issued a letter of warning to Andrew for his actions.
Andrew filed a grievance against the warning letter. The grievance was strongly rejected by the Dean and the Provost but resulted in its withdrawal from his personnel file. However, administration continues to express its displeasure about Andrew's actions. The Provost has accused Andrew of religious persecution at Andrews University.
Non-SDA professor continued to make allegations of victimization.
Administration alleges impropriety on Andrew’s part but has not documented any violation to working policy or law.
Non-SDA professor recently attempted to informally recruit, for open SAID teaching positions, two non-SDA individuals, one an openly gay male married to another male.
Recently, the Provost provided a working policy interpretation, arguing that certain working policy provisions giving preference to SDA candidates, during a faculty search, are not applicable; implying that non-SDA candidates could be considered immediately.
Non-SDA professor continues to serve on the diversity/equity/inclusion committee, in whichever capacity it serves.
One must pause to ask, to what degree is SDA Higher Education still committed to the tenants of Christianity, the Reformation, biblical truths, and the charge of SDA to proclaim the Three Angels’ Message? Being an SDA… has no greater remanence than any other faith. It is in the act of proclaiming the everlasting gospel, sounding the alarm of false worship, and calling God’s people away from the church/state support of the beast that defines the remnant. The reformed churches who once united on defining the Papacy as Babylon; now seek to Reform their religions into harmony with it. Pope Francis has recently declared that Catholics and Protestants “were now enjoying a relationship of ‘true fraternity’ based on mutual understanding, trust, and cooperation.”
Is the embrace of humanism and harmony what God is asking of us? If it is, would we not see His blessings abound within this framework? Is the flagship of SDA higher education experiencing God’s blessings? As the trendline of enrollment continues to drop, is this simply attributed to cyclical or industry wide circumstances, or have we deviated from our mission?
AU Administrators, I regularly lift you up in prayer as you have a daunting and publicly visible task of leading our flagship institution. I would encourage you to continue with university wide days of prayer and fasting and seeking God’s will for AU.
To the AU Trustees,
Not too many years ago, the AU board members would spend several days prior to each board meeting engaging with students and faculty to gain greater understanding into the inner workings of AU. Today the board meeting is an accelerated half day event with little exposure to campus culture and sentiment.
In my career path, I had the privilege of working for a health care institution whose CEO recognized the importance of corporate culture in delivering successful outcomes. Staff, as well as physicians were cultivated into a culture of compassionate care. Every role played a part in providing exceptional care and its employees took ownership of its outcome. One would hardly pass a fallen paperclip without stooping to pick it up. Despite our challenging payer mix, of lower than typical private insurance, our then small sized organization defied the trends of other healthcare institutions of similar size for a very long time.
Every institution, especially those of higher education has a culture. As cultures focus on humanistic ideology, they begin to become polarizing and toxic. As a member of the AU corporation, I have voted for many of you to serve in your present roles. I would encourage all of you to understand AU beyond the reports on programs, enrollment, and financial performance, and understand it from a cultural perspective. Why are faculty drawn to and away from AU? Where are the AU faculty sending their children to school? Why do students choose AU? Why have students transferred to and away from AU?
In Closing,
I hope to have communicated as a messenger and not a judge. Existential threats don’t occur in a vacuum or a microcosm… they are the result of significant shifts that often occur over long periods of time. Solutions are not to treat the symptoms but understand the origin. Though alternative narratives to that of AU administrators have been labeled as misinformation, we are all guilty of sin and not beyond reproach. Only God can judge what is truth and time will reveal it to all.
It is my sincere hope that from a greater degree of engagement, and a careful examination of the facts, the refocus from our beloved institution will correct any wrongs with its dedicated and respected professors before it is too late.
Yours in Christ,
Daniel Bacchiocchi”
Andrews University is also choosing a replacement for Andrea Luxton. A good choice could bring needed revival and reformation to the school, a bad choice will enlarge the nest of this woke invasive species at Andrews.
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