The issue of what students at La Sierra University, a Seventh-day Adventist-owned tertiary institution in Riverside, California, learn about the origins of life on Earth is being resolved, said Ricardo Graham, LSU board of trustees chair and president of the church's Pacific Union Conference.

Graham told the Adventist Review in a May 19 interview: "I am very, very hopeful of a resolution very, very soon."

The controversy centers on the presentation of evolutionary theory as an explanation of origins. Some La Sierra students and alumni have complained that the school presents evolution in opposition to the Genesis account of creation, which the Seventh-day Adventist Church has affirmed as part of its "Fundamental Beliefs" statement.

When one student, Louie Bishop, handed out fliers on campus to protest the lectures without official permission, he was placed on "citizenship probation" by school administrators and initially not allowed to register for fall 2009 classes. Among other items, critics said a new 2009 class announced by the school as "guiding these [freshman biology] students through the ongoing dialogue between faith development and scientific investigation" presented and endorsed views contrary to the church's beliefs.

The class, "General Biology Seminar 111A," will be reviewed, Graham said.

Asked what church members can expect from such a review, Graham said, "The thing to look at will be a particular adjustment in that class. I think that the body of believers should be able to see something significant happening ... I think there will be some adjustments," which he hoped would take place "prior to the beginning of school next fall."

Graham added, "Our students are important; their parents make great sacrifices to send them to a Seventh-day Adventist school to get a Seventh-day Adventist education."

He said, "I hope that in this entire discussion and throughout our continuation of this process that our members will remember all the positive aspects of this wonderful Seventh-day Adventist educational institution."

Graham's statements followed two days of meetings with La Sierra administrators and trustees. The first, on May 12, was an annual constituency meeting, held, Graham said, to focus on a "report of the activities of the institution, plans of the institution and filling vacancies of the board of trustees." The following day, LSU trustees met to handle business matters.

The constituency meeting, generally a public forum for Adventist institutions, was closed to the public this time. Three visitors were granted the right to attend and speak: Ella Simmons, a general vice president of the Adventist world church; Garlan Dulan, the world church's Education Department director; and Larry Blackmer, Education director for the church in North America. Both Simmons and Dulan served as provosts of La Sierra earlier in their careers.

"Each one of them gave statements underlying the concern the world church has, recognizing La Sierra is a [Pacific] Union school," and not directly affiliated with the church's world headquarters, Graham said. "Dr. Simmons spoke very forthrightly about the need for LSU to address this issue; Dr. Dulan shared that concern and so did Dr. Blackmer. Dr. Simmons expressed her concerns about what was circulating about La Sierra."

Speaking with the Review, Simmons shared her view of the situation: "My expectation is that LSU would be a model for the church and the world in that it is positioned to demonstrate to the world how the highest in academic knowledge and perspective can be united harmoniously with the foundational elements of our faith. My fear is the possibility that La Sierra, as with all of our colleges and universities, could move away from our Christocentric perspective."

Graham noted that LSU president Randal Wisbey affirmed the school's desire to remain a part of the Adventist movement.

"Dr. Wisbey said clearly it was the desire, plan and intent of LaSierra to remain an entity supportive and in line with the Seventh-day Adventist Church," Graham said.

In its news release on the meetings, La Sierra briefly mentioned the discussion regarding biology curricula and noted the discussion lasted 90 minutes, reporting, "While many expressed support and appreciation for the university's commitment to provide a comprehensive science education to its students, some delegates voiced concerns about how the church's understanding of Biblical creation is included in the biology curriculum.

"Our commitment to provide an exceptional Adventist university education happens each and every day at La Sierra University," the news release quoted Wisbey as saying. "In our classrooms and laboratories, our dedicated professors give their lives to fulfill their God-given mission of serving this church in higher education. And they do so by providing outstanding teaching in an environment that values academic integrity and deep spiritual commitment."