On Tuesday, March 7, 2023, the Andrews University Board of Trustees elected John Wesley Taylor (JWT) to serve as the seventh president of Andrews University (and 25th president overall since Andrews University first began as Battle Creek College). He replaces Andrea Luxton, who stepped down on July 1.
A new leader is entitled to make some changes and declare his vision for the college. On July 2, Taylor posted a message titled From the Heart on the President’s Page of the Andrews University website. It is a series of statements that lay out his vision for the University.
His Statements:
A Commitment to Mission
A Commitment to Our Core Values
What Makes Adventist Education Distinctive?
A Statement on Human Sexuality
A Statement on Unity in Cultural Diversity
A Statement on Women in Ministry
Our Observations
Commitment to Mission — “At Andrews University, we unite to help fulfill the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s mission: “Make disciples of Jesus Christ who live as His loving witnesses and proclaim to all people the everlasting gospel of the Three Angels’ Messages in preparation for His soon return.” This is good. The statement was longer, in fact real long, but the above affirmation is a timely reminder of our calling and mission.
Commitment to Core Values — He calls for compassion, integrity and trust, humility, wellbeing, justice and innovation. Those are admirable values. “We will encourage each person to engage in causes that align with the values and purpose of God’s Kingdom...” This means that social justice causes shorn of biblical support, like wokeness, CRT, gay affirmation and cultural Marxism are unbiblical pursuits unworthy of our time.
Hopefully, his reference to justice excludes social justice; hopefully his reference to innovation as a value excludes the mystical experimentation that defined the Ohio Conference between 2005 and 2012. It was all done under the rubric of innovation. I’m sure JWT isn’t into that garbage.What Makes Adventist Education Distinctive? — He gives his vision. It is lofty, with some floridity. He could (and should) have hit some things openly, like gay alliances on campus, the DIE department, and a social justice vibe among some woke teachers. Otherwise, well intended.
A Statement on Human Sexuality — “God established marriage as a lifelong union and as a context for intimate sexual expression between one [biological] man and one [biological] woman (Genesis 2:24). “Within this relationship, sexual intimacy can also serve a dual purpose: for the unity and love between husband and wife and for the miracle of bringing new life into existence (Genesis 1:28).” Amen. This is the will of God for human flourishing.
This quote is also very good “Gender is meant to accord with sex assigned at birth. Ultimately, we are to be faithful stewards of God’s gifts of sexuality and gender identity. In turn, we believe that all people are called to live a life of purity and holiness. We uphold the principle of chastity for those who are unmarried, which is in alignment with the biblical teaching of abstaining from sexual relations outside of heterosexual marriage (1 Corinthians 6:18).” Amen.A Statement on Unity in Cultural Diversity — The diversity part could be JWT trying to mollify the liberals without really giving them anything. It could be that he was forging a path for the university that avoids tantrums by the CRT SJW crowd. I’m sure it is well-meaning, and ought to herald the end of a disastrous five year political DIE (Diversity, Inclusion and Equity) experiment at Andrews. Cancel that department and stick to the biblical notions of unity and harmony (Revelation 14:6), or the cancer will grow deeper and destroy Andrews. You can’t reform Babylon; you must cast it out.
A Statement on Women in Ministry — The good part of this statement is that it affirms the three General Conference decisions on ordaining women (1990, 1995, 2015). That is the first time in two decades that we have heard this affirmation from Andrews University.
The bad part is that JWT includes a reference to Junia being a female Apostle in this statement.
Uh, no. “Greet Andronicus and Junias, my countrymen and my fellow prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me” (Romans 16:7). Countrymen. Though we may not know the difference between male and female in much of our twisted western culture, Paul certainly knew the difference, and he carefully instructs the Christian church on the qualifications of church leadership (1 Timothy 3:1-13; 2:12; see also Revelation 2:20).
Everything outside of Romans 16:7 teaches that only men could be apostles, elders and bishops. Considering Jesus’ practice of only appointing men as apostles, there is a significant burden on those claiming Junia was a woman apostle. And that burden simply has not been met. Including it in this statement indicates either poor judgment or the misguided influence of others.
As John Wesley Taylor takes his position at Andrews, he needs our support and prayers. Prayers that Andrews University will step into this opportunity for reformation and revival at our flagship university, prayers for protection, prayers for the grace of God, and prayers for the courage that marked Josiah and Hezekiah.
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