NEWSLETTER

of the

AMERICAN SCIENTIFIC AFFILIATION - CANADIAN SCIENTIFIC & CHRISTIAN AFFILIATION
VOLUME 20, NUMBER 4                                                                   AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 1978

BEYOND HOPE?

With the Elgin office too pushed to publish in early August, the editor brought the Newsletter copy to Hope College and, after scribbling the brief notes below, turned it over to the printshop elves in person. So, unless our offset gets upset at the outset, you're reading this early in September. Poor timing for Annual Meeting news though,which makes us ponder changing our schedule. Actually we're doing a bit better: last year the July news items didn't appear until October.

NEWS FLASH FROM THE ANNUAL MEETING

Attendance at the 33rd Annual Meeting of the American Scientific Affiliation at Hope College: Holland, Michigan, broke the record established only two years ago at Wheaton College. The 1978 Annual Meeting drew 290 participants tohear theologican Clark Pinnock lay out biblical principles for Christian ecological concern, to learn how John R. Sheaffer of Sheaffer & Roland, Inc., applies such principles in engineering large waste-management programs, and to see and hear what other members are doing to exercise "Christian Stewardship of Natural Resources."

In an unusually rich program, field trips and practical demonstrations supplemented lectures and symposia. As is customary at ASA Annual Meetings, not all contributed papers dealt with the convention theme. Members offered papers on topics ranging from prebiotic simulation to the reformulation of physical theory. Many contributed papers did bear on the theme, however, as did two excellent symposia. Pinnock's opening address on Friday evening, urging Christians to "get the facts" before taking action in the "ecological crisis," set the stage for Saturday morning's plenary session, a symposium by the 1977-78 Fellows of the Calvin Center for Christian Scholarship. Five speakers explored "the facts" and their implications after a year of solid digging as a group effort. Then Calvin's Jim Bosscher climaxed the session by driving up in his marvelous "Rube Goldberg" machine for recyclying household wastes. Amazed onlookers watched cans, bottles, and plastic cartons disappear into its growling bowels to reappear as useful raw materials.

A later symposium organized by Larry Walker of Stephin F. Austin State University in Texas opened up the many controversies that rage over management of forests, wildlife, water supplies, and other major natural resources. Clark Pinnock's opening plea was echoed throughout the meeting as genuine differences of opinion,were expressed. In his closing address, after analyzing biblical passages bearing on ecological issues, Pinnock concluded that the most important consideration for Christians in ecological controversies is not so much what position we take as how we treat those who disagree with us.

NEWS FLASHES ON OCTOBER CONFERENCES

At the ASA Annual Meeting, we learned of these upcoming conferences: Genetic Services For The Community, 12-13 October 1978, a 2-day course at the U. of Minnesota of interest to health professionals, social workers, psychologists, ministers, family counselors, and persons active in special education, health education, or mental health centers. Focus: (1) What services are needed by individuals and families affected by genetic diseases? (2) How can such services be made available to those who need them? For information, contact: Dr. V. Elving Anderson, Dight Institute for Human Genetics, 400 Church St. S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455.

Symposium For Energy Saving, 23-25 October, at Cobo Hall in Detroit, Michigan, sponsored by Jordan College (whose president, Dr. DeWayne Coxon, treated the ASA Annual Meeting to both an illustrated lecture and guided.field trip to his college's pioneering solar energy installations). Of interest to'institutional administrators, municipal officials, business executives, architects, engineers, and professors, the symposium will focus on the new federal grants for energy audits and conservation (over $900 million), on practical solutions to energy cost reduction, and on alternative energy use and instruction. For information, contact: Jordan College, Business Office, P.O. Box Y, Cedar Springs, MI 49319. Telephone (616) 696-1180.

Eleventh NIMH Workshop in Mental Health for Clergy, 23-27 October, at Anderson (IN) School of Theology, Focusing on "Sex and sexual life styles" ard "Sexual experience in the process of aging" as important aspects of pastoral counseling. For information, contact: John M. Vayhinger, Workshop Director, Anderson School of Theology, Anderson, IN 46011.

A PLACE IN THE SUN

At the 1978 Annual Meeting it was encouraging to encounter Christians putting their technical skills to work on critical problems of the future: conservation, recycling of resources, and development of alternative energy sources. One of our members has just taken on important new responsibilities in solar energy development. Kennell J. Touryan has been manager of fluid and thermal sciences at Sandia Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico. On August 21, Ken, after 16 years at Sandia, became a deputy assistant director of research & development at the Solar Energy Research Institute in Golden, Colorado. Ken will be in charge of solar R&D programs including materials research, photovoltaics, thermal conversion, biochemical conversion, systems analysis, and resource evaluation.

Ken says that "any ASA members interested in joining SERI or seeking contractual arrangements" should contact him at his new address: Dr. K. J. Touryan, Deputy Assistant Director, Solar Energy Research Institute, 1536 Cole Boulevard, Golden, CO 80401.

MORE ELECTRONS PER PHOTON

More and more of our members are doing research in alternative energy systems. Photoelectric conversion shows much promise but needs much technical ~York. Hubert A. Vander Plas is employed by Varian Associates in Palo Alto, California to work on the AlGaAs/ GaAs solar cell and other III-V solar cell systems. In May Hubert gave a lecture at the U. of Oregon on Varian's research activity plus a solid-state physics seminar. At the 13th IEEE Photovoltaic Conference in June, he presented one paper describing over 23% conversion with a single AlGaAs/GaAs solar cell, and coauthored another describing a two-cell system in which 28.5% conversion was obtained. According to Hubert, that's the highest solar cell conversion efficiency ever achieved!

A "DOWN-TO-EARTH" CONTRIBUTION

Here's another example of a member devoting his abilities to the stewardship of natural resources. Richard S. Barnett, an oil company geologist in the Houston area, has written a short chapter on "Solid Waste Disposal" for the Geologic Guide to the Greater Houston Area to be published in 1979 by the Houston Geologic Society (HGS). Richard's chapter illustrated with maps and photographs by James M. Fagan, will be part of a section on "Applications of Geology to Houston's Problems" put together by the HGS Environmental Committee.

Houston produces 1,500 tons of municipal refuse daily (not counting manufacturing wastes, residues of sewage treatment, or petrochemical wastes). So far, "sanitary landfills" have been the only practical methods of disposal. Richard describes the role of geological considerations in choosing and developing satisfactory landfill sites, and how they fit in with other considerations. Good geological work can avert such hazards as discharges into atmosphere or groundwater. For example, test drillings in the impermeable Beaumont Clay of the Houston area help to avoid the occasional sandy river channels which would permit leaching from the site.

A final word is included on the desirability of replacing "solid waste disposal" with Irsolid waste management." Pointing out that "Houston is not a leader in this respect," Barnett and Eagan think that waste management could become a growth industry in the Houston area. "It will, however, require the application of new personal outlooks and public policies to replace an economy that depends on waste generation with one where waste reduction and waste management are economic." Their conclusion is that although geology will have a limited role to play, geologists "as enlightened scientists and citizens" should help push things in that direction. We're proud of Richard Barnett for using both his scientific and writing skills in that enlightenment.

HOW TO START SOMETHING No. 31. Michael L. Chambers

Michael L. Chambers (3401 Ridge Ave., Springfield, IL 62702) is not only innovative but also a guy who reflects on how things come about. When we saw an article by Mike that perfectly fit the theme of the 1978 ASA Annual Meeting, we asked him how he happened to write it and what happened as a result. We had to condense his story, but here's the gist of it:

While Mike was pastoring the First Christian Church of Collinsville, Illinois, he developed a friendship with a mechanical engineer named Eric Rinderer and eventually baptized Eric into the Lord. Eric's spare-time interest in retrofit solar-energy systems for middle-income people got him invited to an intensive seminar sponsored by the Federal Energy Administration in 1976. After that seminar, Eric made a beeline for Mike' house to share his excitement. Meanwhile, the Lord had been preparing Mike, both intellectually and emotionally, for that conversation with Eric.

First, Mike had read Francis Schaeffer's Pollution and'the Death of Man and been profoundly influenced by its perspective. Also, he had attended the 1973 ASA Annual Meeting at Geneva College and been stimulated by people there (4nd by subsequent writings in the Newsletter and other periodicals) to think about changes in his own life, especially in the areas of ecology and economics. He talked all these things over with his wife Pam and they became open to the Lord's leading them into new adventures.

In the spring of 1976 Mike was taking a course on "The Church and World Issues" at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. Partly as a project for that course and partly to gather his own thoughts on Christian alternatives, Mike wrote a paper on energy conservation from a Christian perspective. Eric provided a large compendium of monographs from the FEA seminar to document Mike's concerns. Eric asked Mike to prepare a version of the paper to share with Eric's colleagues by then working with him on a development project (Bethany Park in Troy, Illinois--"the world's first solar-powered subdivision"). Many of them were real estate developers and lawyers whom Eric wanted to challenge with a Christian concern for ethics and the environment.

In addition to sharing it with Eric's colleagues and fulfilling his course requirement, Mike appropriately got as much mileage as possible out of his paper. A much shortened version of "A Christian Response to the Energy Crisis" appeared in Collinsville TimesExaminer, a newspaper-style bulletin published by Mike's church. The full version was published in a special March 20, 1977, stewardship issue of the Christian Standard, Mike's denominational Sunday school magazine. Arguing from both ecological "facts of life" and Scripture, Mike showed that changes have to be made but acknowledged that Christians are committed "to a person, not a set of regulations."

He suggested certain kinds of questions we need to ask: "Do I really need that second (or third) car? Is it really necesssary to keep my thermostat at 70 or 72 degrees? Must I burn 100-watt bulbs rather than 60-watt? Are the benefits to be derived from the use of a clothes dryer offset by the energy depletion necessary to run it? Must I drive everywhere? How much fuel do I burn in nonessential recreational vehicles? --But sooner or later, much more serious questions must be raised. Christians have often been more a part of the problem of energy prostitution than the solution. This is not becasue they lack values sufficient to cope with the current emergency, but because they fail to act on them!"

Mike hoped to stimulate dialogue and to draw out other concerned people. What react4on did he receive from his congregation and the 60,000 readers of the Standard? None, except for friend Eric in his congregation and a few seminary classmates--not even an irate letter to the editor! Although Mike hopes people were helped by his article, he thinks the total lack of response indicates that "most folks in my brotherhood still are unaware of the seriousness of the problem."

Meanwhile, Mike resigned to devote more time to seminary studies and the Chambers family moved into a cheap but frustratingly energy-inefficient house trailer in Springfield. He and Pam now eagerly look forward to finishing seminary and putting down more permanent roots; they plan to build an energy-independent house as an example to others of what can be done. Meanwhile, their adventure in "cutting down" has put a new kind of joy and freedom in their life, and at least one satisfying development has occurred at the Lakeside Christian Church where Mike is now assistant minister: The chairman of the deacons has gotten the board to hear a proposal to systematically evaluate and modify the church building and grounds toward optimum energy conservation! Mike says the approach to the board was made as much on the basis of money savings as on the basis of the proper response of Christian stewards--but that's a form of stewardship, too.

Mike's recent statement of concern echoes the thoughts of many Affiliation members at the Hope College meeting:
 "My conviction is that, in addition to being an appropriate return for Christians to make to their Lord as an act of worship, careful environmental stewardship and frugal lifestyle will be an increasingly important aspect of witness in the remaining years of this century and beyond. As the pressures mount, economically and socially, especially in our cities, I believe those who can relate that problem to their Christian faith will have a ready audience of those desperately wanting to see a way out. I believe that before many years are past, the issue for many people, even in America (to say nothing of the non-industrial nations and third world peoples), will be on



survival, and Christians must be ready with a considered response that will make sense. I have a great fear that Americans, and especially American Christians with a tradition of independent churches such as ours, willbe ill-suited to make such a response, both because of the insulation provided by our affluence, and because too many Christians have drunk deeply of a frontier American mentality. That mentality includes not only a 11cowboy" approach to economics and the environment but also a stiff obstinence to the necessity of change, particularly when someone else suggests it. By way of contrast, other (even industrial) nations are far better equipped temperamentally to handle such a challenge; consider the Japanese or the British, who are used to making do from a tiny parcel of square feet, and to making considerable sacrifices for the good of the many."

(Our thanks to Mike Chambers for that exhorta-tLon and his contribution to HOW TO START SOMETHING; our apologies to readers for the long lapse in this HOW TO series. Because the value to others of these contributions is enhanced by detail, shorter (and more timely) news items often take precedence. We hope soon to publish some stories we've had to leave "in the hopper" for many months. But we always welcome new contributions to this series.--Ed)

A MORE R011ANTIC APPROACH TO CONSERVATION

Another "all-ASA" wedding reminds us that two can live as ecologically as one--or at least more ecologically than the same two not sharing things. Patricia Cooley, who has nearly finished her M.S. in botany at the U. of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and Gary W. Thorburn, with one more year to go on his M.S. in plant ecology at the same university, were married June 24 in Eastford, Connecticut. Congratulations!

Pat asks if some sort of "family membership" is available in the Affiliation, when both members want to retain their membership but don't need to receive two Journals and two Newsletters and would like to recycle some of that double dues money into some other enterprise. Well, why not? Surely our Affiliation would eschew cupidity rather than shoo Cupid away.

(Some of us remember when it could be truthfully said that "no one who has joined our Affiliation has ever died." The executive council, however, withstood any temptation to advertise membership as a kind of life insurance. But if they'd work out a "family membership" plan we could advertise its availability. We might even drop hints about the number of young people who are finding each other through participation in ASA and CSCA activities. All in the interest of ecology, of course!--Ed)

ANOTHER ASA MEMBER WINS TOP RECOGNITION

Last issue we mentioned John T. Halver of the U. of Washington in Seattle as being probably the first ASA member ever elected to the National Academy of Sciences. Now we learn that another member has been elected to the equally prestigious offshoot of NAS, the National Academy of Engineering. Aldert van der Ziel, professor of electrical engineering at the U. of Minnesota in Minneapolis, is one,of the world's authorities on "noise" in electronic devices. His election to NAE follows many other honors in his productive research career-and Aldert is still going strong.

THE HUMAN PUZZLE

David G. Myers, professor of psychology at Hope College, collaborated with Thomas Ludwig on an Annual Meeting paper entitled "Coping with a No-Growth Economy: Insights from
Psychological Research." David Myers is also the author of the paperback The Human Puzzle: Psychological Research and Christian Belief (Harper & Row, 1978. $5.95), published on July 26.

The Human Puzzle differs from many books on the psychology/Christian interface which lrr-eiate religious thinking to the writings of the old personality theorists." David's book "instead looks at human nature from the versDectives of Dsvcholoeical research and Christian belief." Examined from the two perspectives are the body/mind relationship, the relationship between people's attitudes and their actions, the relationship of superstitious thinking to prayer, and the nature of human freedom. (Our copy arrived just before the Annual Meeting, but on a quick browse-through we liked everything we had time to read.--Ed)

The Human Puzzle is significant also as the first book in Harper's series on "Christian Perspectives on Counseling and the Behavioral Sciences," produced in cooperation with the Christian Association for Psychological Studies (CAPS). In a preface, series editor Craig W. Ellison points out that the books in the series will reflect the views of individual authors, not a CAPS "party line." David Myers's book gets the CAPS series off to a great start.

HOPE COLLEGE MAKES OTHER NEWS

Hope College in Holland, Michigan, has other claims to fame besides the fact that the 1978-ASA Annual Convention was held there August 11-14. A report in the May 12 issue of Chemical & Engineering News described a new course at Hope as an apparently unique experiment in undergraduate education." In that course (Chem 495: The Process of Discovery) three distinguished chemists each spend an intense week at Hope, lecturing on their research but also discussing how they were led into the specific projects they chose to work on. Last year's triumvirate consisted of professors William N. Lipscomb of Harvard, Herbert C. Brown of Purdue, and James N. Pitts of the U. of California, Riverside. The lectures and discussions are taped for future use, according to Michael Doyle, chairman of the Hope College chemistry department and chairman of the new program. The program, funded by a three-year grant from the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Foundation, also offers selected chemistry students an opportunity to spend their senior year in independent research.

CHRISTIAN SOCIOLOGISTS COALESCING

Through David Moberg of Marquette University we learned of a group calling themselves simply the Christian Sociologists. They meet once a year at the American Sociological Association ("that other ASA") meeting and whenever they can get together at regional meetings. They circulate a Christian Sociologists Newsletter edited with great spiritual warmth by Margaret M. Poloma of Akron University. On the seven-person steering committee I recognized at least four members of "our" ASA: Jack ' Balswick, Russell Heddendorf, George Hillery, and Dave Moberg. From the Newsletter I also learned that the Christian Sociologists will be meeting on the evening of September 6 during the American Sociological Association convention in San Francisco (location to be announced in the convention program). George Hillery will speak on "Doing Research as a Christian Sociologist." For more info on the group, contact: Dr. George A. Hillery, Jr., Dept. of Sociology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061.

Meanwhile we've heard from Russ Heddendorf about the somewhat smaller group of sociologists teaching at Christian colleges who have "gotten in the habit" of meeting together once a year after good meetings at Geneva and Greenville colleges. This year the group met at Asbury College in Kentucky, June 8-10, and heard Anthony Campolo discuss the cultural and transcultural aspects of sociology and theology. Next year they plan to meet in late June at Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota. To get on their mailing list, contact Paul Johnson at the Bethel Sociology Department.

ADD A DIMENSION TO YOUR SABBATICAL

The December 1977 Newsletter announced the conception of Berkeley's "New College for Advanced Christian Studies," at least in the fecund minds of its fervid board members (including Cal Farnham and Walt & Ginny Hearn). After months of gestation and some intense labor, New College Berkeley was born this summer. The enrollment of over 100 students from all over the U.S. and Canada and their favorable response indicate that the newborn college is on its way.

Faculty for next summer's two 3-week sessions are almost firmed up, including anthropologist Miriam Adeney from Seattle Pacific U. and theologian Clark Pinnock of McMaster Divinity School (speaker at the 1978 ASA Annual Meeting). The second session will end the day the 1979 ASA ANNUAL MEETING begins at STANFORD UNIVERSITY, only an hour away. Meanwhile, evening courses will be offered during the 1978-79 academic year, including one on "Science, Technology, and Christian Faith" taught by Richard Bube of Stanford.

If a full-time program begins in 1979-80, as planned, it's not too early to begin thinking about spending a year at New College: "We're looking for people of all ages, backgrounds, and vocations, whether recent college graduates or veterans of the working world, homemakers or lawyers--who want to devote a year in Biblical and theological study with particular attention to the matter of relating faith to life and work."

It would be great if some ASA/CSCA members could come to the U. of California in Berkeley for a sabbatical year and participate in the spiritual/scholarly community centered around New College. Given the right people, all kinds of interdisciplinary seminars or other activities could be arranged. Correspondence from potential scholarsin-residence, adjunct professors, or students would be welcomed by David W. Gill, Project Director, New College for Advanced Christian Studies, 2407 Dana Street, Berkeley, CA 94704.

LIFE IN THE REAL WORLD. RESPONSE TO No. 1 (Apr/May 1978, p. 6)

From E. T. McMullen, assistant professor of R&D management, Air Force Institute of Technology, Dayton, Ohio:

"A larger question is whether the government should be in the R&D business at all. From a theological viewpoint, government may be limited only to the role of minister of justice (Gen 9:5-6; Deut 16:18-19; Rom 13:3-4). From a secular viewpoint, an article in the May 20 Economist reports that universities and government labs soak up 25% of R&D funds but inspire only 13% of the major innovations. This implies that R&D monies are better spent by other sectors than the government."

"From the biochemist's viewpoint (when the boss does not see it as an ethical issue), I think he could propose alternatives to or practical reasons for not following the boss's plan. For example, the biochemist could argue that someone might actually audit his performance (e.g., "Need to Improve Administrative Management at the National Center for Toxicological Research," GAO Report #HRD-78-63, March 9, 1978; or "Review of Allegations About Use of Federal Funds at the National Medical Audiovisual Center, Atlanta, Georgia," #HRD-78-98, March 28, 1978), or he could simply ask that someone else spend the money."
"From a principal investigator's standpoint, the best approach (and the alternative I recommend) is to ask for an extension of the grant period in order to spend the remaining money. Such a request is almost always approved (also, grant periods are shortened when the investigator reports he is running out of funds)."

LIFE IN THE REAL WORLD. No. 2

"A science professor with a Ph.D. and a number of years of teaching experience takes a teaching job at an urban branch campus of a predominantly black university in a southern state. The student body on the campus is 99 percent black; the faculty is about 85 percent black, with most of the other 15 percent from India. The science professor, who is white, is treated fairly by his departmental chairman. The chairman, however, is criticized and labeled an "Uncle Tom" for his defense of the professor by black members of the department who resent the presence of whites on the faculty. After three years the chairman resigns because of the hostility from his fellow blacks and the dean appoints the white professor's most avid opponent as the new department chairman. A pattern of intense discrimination, harassment, and intimidation begins.  The professor is passed up for salary increases; students are encouraged to write derogatory letters criticizing his teaching; his name is removed from the summer teaching schedule; he is falsely accused of neglect of duties in memoranda sent to the dean by the department chairman; his research proposal is removed from an NSF Minority Institutions Science Improvement Program proposal without consultation; equipment is taken from his locked laboratory; he is verbally assaulted, threatened with bodily injury, and even shot at while driving his car. The professor perceives his harassment as being clearly on racial grounds. There are many evidences of administrative incompetence at both the branch campus and the main university, charges against university administrators frequently reaching the public press. The university receives federal grant awards; such programs 'must be administered in conformance with nondiscrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin, which provisions are imposed by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964'."

What should a Christian professor do under these circumstances? (And would your advice be different if he were a black professor in a predominantly white school?)

U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS ON ENERGY CONSERVATION

In the April/May issue we directed attention to a free catalog of United Nations publications on energy resources. This time we'll reinforce the theme of the 1978 Annual Meeting with a free catalog from the U.S. government. Write to Consumer Information Center, Pueblo, CO 81009, for the latest quarterly edition of the Consumer Information Catalog. It's a free list of more than 200 consumer publications, many of them also free: "Because of limited stocks, please restrict your order to a maximum of one copy of 20 different free publications."

Among the 20 freebies we requested is an excellent checklist of Tips for Energy Savers (Federal Energy Administration; Energy R&D Administration; a how to manual for low-income people, Save Energy: Save Money!, from the Community Services Administration; and an analysis of the ' Cost of Owning and Operating an Automobile, evidently produced every year by the Federal Highway Administration of the Department of Transportation. Lots of useful information for my 13 cent stamp--or even for the 15 cent, stamp it will now cost you.

HOW TO RECYCLE SOMETHING. No. 20

From the free Consumer Information Catalog of U.S. government publications (see story above), we obtained a (free) pamphlet on what might be considered the ultimate in recycling projects. DHEW Publication No. (NIH) 77-776 is entitled How To Donate the Body or its Organs (for transplantation, medical.education, and research).

Some Christians might want to make their own bodies available for medical teaching and research just to counter our bad press. The church has often been castigated for interfering with anatomical studies on theological grounds. Andrew White included
a bitter section on the conflict of medieval ecclesiastics with "the Father of anatomy," Vesalius, in A History of the Warfare of Science with Theology in Christendom (Vol. 2, pp.31-55, 1895; Dover Reprint). In the 19th century, the archbishop of Canterbury
opposed legal recognition of anatomical needs at a time when an Englishman could become a physician or surgeon only by violating the law. One law punished anyone found procuring a dead body for dissection, but the educational laws required that every candidate should possess a practical knowledge of dissection. The situation produced the outlaw profession of "resurrection" grave-robbing, or "body-snatching" described in many books on medical history. Only after the ressurectionists William Burke and William Hare were discovered murdering dozens of indigents to sell their bodies to Edinburgh surgeons lecturing on anatomy did Parliament pass the 1832 Anatomy Act, making anatomy at last a legitimate science. Whole bodies are still needed for
teaching purposes.

Today, however, doctors also transplant kidneys to thousands of persons who would otherwise.die or be dependent on hook-ups to expensive artificial kidney machines in large medical centers. Corneal transplants restore the vision of thousands of persons going blind from corneal disease, with an almost 95 percent success rate. Bone, skin, and other tissues provide otherwise unobtainable "spare parts" for accident victims. Human pituitary glands are necessary to produce enough human growth hormone to treat certain children who would otherwise be dwarfs, since growth hormone from other primates is not effective.

The pamphlet contains Uniform Donor Cards, which are legal documents under the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act or similar laws. Some states provide that the words "Donor" or "Organ Donor" may appear on the driver's license of a person so requesting. Special arrangements may be made with particular medical schools, tissue banks, or research facilities. The pamphlet suggests contacting the surgery or anatomy departments of  nearby medical school and has other suggestions for anyone interested in recycling human body or parts thereof.

POSITIONS LOOKING FOR PEOPLE

Louisiana Tech University seeks a head for its 200-student Architecture Department. Contact: Joseph W. Strother, Director, School of Art & Architecture, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, LA 71272. (Received 13 June from J. W. Strother, son of retired missionary Greene W. Strother; Christian applicants welcome.)

Wheaton College in Illinois has a faculty position in biology beginning September 1979 or possibly sooner. Teach biology major courses in developmental and vertebrate biology (e.g., endocrinology, histology, parasitology, comparative anatomy) and participate in introductory course sequences in class and lab (7 Faculty and about 40 majors each year). Requirements include Ph.D., interest in continuing research on a limited basis, agreement with college purposes including its doctrinal statement and



behavioral standards. Rank and salary dependent on qualifications and experience; references should include judgments of teaching ability as well as research potential. Inquiries to: Dr. Ray Brand, Chair, Dept. of Biology, Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL 60187. (Received 19 June from Ray, who hoped to meet some candidates at the ASA Annual Meeting.)

Wheaton College also seeks a faculty member in computer science for September 1979. Teach two computer science courses each quarter and provide computer support for entire academic program (present equipment includes a PDP-11, PDP-12, and microcomputer). Requirements include a masters in computer science and proven teaching ability (in a pinch they might consider a mathematician who could teach computer science courses as a sideline). Math department has 4 faculty and about 20 majors in each class. Contact: Dr. R. L. Brabenec, Chair, Dept. of Mathematics, Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL 60187. (Received 11 July.) WASHINGTON-BALTIMORE

We received notice of an evening meeting scheduled for August 1 at Glenn Kirkland's home in Bethesda. Bill Lucas of the Smithsonian Scientific Information fx-change, Inc., was to preview his paper on modern physics, "Soli Deo Gloria," given August 14 at the ASA Annual Meeting at Hope College. Plans for the annual election of local board members were also announced.

Maybe more local sections could focus programs on our national meetings. In Britain, local groups of the Research Scientists Christian Fellowship prepare papers as a group effort in advance of the RSCF annual meeting and often study working papers prepared by other local groups circulated before the meeting. Could we try that? Or how about just encouraging members to write papers and test them out on the local section audience? Or send a student member to the Annual Meeting on a "travel grant" to report on the meeting to the local group afterwards? (Ed.)

OREGON

Dennis Feucht of Portland is leaving the Oregon executive council this year, being replaced by David Willis of Oregon State. Dennis, who has been vice-president and program chair, wonders how other sections spark "fervent zeal" or even "broad interest" in local section activities. He had hoped for a larger turnout than the 30 or so attending the May 13 meeting at the OSU Memorial Union. The program was great, with a variety of significant topics that should have drawn people from area churches to hear the experts. For example, historian Gary Ferngren asked "Is the Age of Miracles Past?" Physicist Wayne Swensen and theologican Edwart Hart discussed "Light" from the viewpoints of both particle physics and the New Testament. After lunch, philosopher Thomas Talbott of Willamette University spoke on "B. F. Skinner and the Concept of Human Agency"; psychologist David R.'Bryen of Portland's West Hills Counseling Center described "The Strange Silence of the Bible in Christian Counseling."

Their "annual meeting" crammed a lot into one day, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. In addition, president Carl Townsend chaired a business meeting with reports by secretary-treasurer Mel Westwood. Further, David Willis gave an informal report on the symposium held in Wheaton this spring on the subject, "Does the Concept of an Ancient Earth Threaten Key Christian Doctrines?"

Jerry Albert of San Diego, California, dropped in on the Newsletter editor when he attended the American Association for Clinical Chemistry meeting in San Francisco in July to give a paper on "Androgen Concentrations and their Clinical Significance in Prostate Tissue." Jerry has taken up running as a form of "cardio-pulmonary insurance," pushing himself along on a training schedule until he's running 50-65 miles a week. He's run one half-marathon (13.1 miles) and is on his way to his first full marathon (26.2 miles) in October for the American Heart Association.

Gary Allen, who works with internationals at the U. of California in Berkeley as a ministry under Campus Crusade for Christ, will be speaking in October at Campus Crusade conferences in Nagaland (if the government of India gives permission to enter an area closed to westerners) and in the Philippines (if the Lord provides about $1,600 for transportation). Gary had an exciting opportunity in June to witness to United Nations Personnel at a special outreach coinciding with the disarmament conference; he had remarkable conversations about Christ with people at the ambassador level from several countries relatively inhospitable to the gospel.

Roger Burgus left the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California, in June to join the biochemistry faculty at the new medical school at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma (where Bob Herrmann is department chairman).

Ann Church of Southfield, Michigan, finished her four months of jungle training at Wycliffe Bible Translators' camp in Chiapas, Mexico (where.anon. is resident anthropol6gist) this spring, and has been tentatively assigned to service as a Wycliffe translator in Mexico.

Lanny H. Fisk of Walla Walla College, Washington, was co-convenor with William J. Fritz (U. of Montana) of a conference reviewing a century of research on the "Fossil Forests" of Yellowstone National Park at park headquarters, 5-8 September. (Sorry we couldn't get the notice out before the conference!) Lanny has been promoted to associate professor of paleobiology in the Dept. of Biological Sciences at WWC, where he continues to do research on the Tertiary record of fossil plants.

W. Mack Goldsmith of Stanislaus State in Turlock, California, has spent the summer at the~ U. ~f Denver doing research partly in the psychology of religion and partly in perception. Mack and Joan have also spent some time teaching and counseling with the ministry shepherded by Gene and Jerri Thomas in Boulder.

Curtis G. Goodson is on leave of absence from the Mission of the Presbyterian Church of America, serving as coordinator of the Center of Teleradiodiffusion of MacKenzie University, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Curtis is staying in Sao Paulo, where he also teaches techniques of communication at the Presbyterian Seminary in Campinas and serves as technical directorfDr the Presbyterian radio program, Luz para o Caminho ("Light for the Way") .

E. Lea Hadden has been at Wingate College in North Carolina since 1975. He is now serving as assistant professor of biology and chair of the Division of Science & Mathematics.

Edwin A. Karlow has left Columbia Union College after seven years for Riverside, 'Ealifornia, where he is now chair of the Physics Department at the La Sierra Campus of Loma Linda University. Ed says he was amused at Joni Resnick's comment (Feb/Mar 1978) about his "Sabbath Problems" (Oct/Nov 1977). Ed insists it was Joni, not he, who equated the Sabbath with Sunday! Although most of his students at Columbia Union

were Seventh Day Adventist, Ed says, "Regardless of one's persuasion about the day of worship, the mathematical metaphors can still be built and solved on any day one would like."

Martin Karsten says "I finally hung up my teaching duds last December." Those were well-worn duds! Martin has taught biology for a total of 44 years, over 30 of them at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He "retired" from Calvin in 1975 but stayed on to teach one course per semester for the next two and a half years. The Karstens bought a condominium in nearby Kentwood, which Martin redecorated himself before moving in on April 1. They've also been helping a Vietnamese family sponsored by their church until the father, an M.D., could find employment.

David Kay was in Beersheba, Israel, in June to participate in an international scientific meeting. An immunologist, Dave has been president of the Washington-Baltimore ASA local section this past year. According to our ace Washington reporter Glenn Kirkland, Dave has just joined the Faculty of the U. of Virginia in Charlottesville.

Lawrence C. Kells completed his Ph.D. in applied mathematics at M.I.T. in June, with a thesis on "Numerical Calculations of Turbulent and Transition Flows." Before he dives into a research career in computational physics, however, Larry is taking two years out to participate in the Scribe School program at Peninsula Bible Church in Palo Alto, California, learning to teach and disciple people in the Scriptures. He says it's great to have his thesis done and be "living normally again."

Glenn Kirkland keeps us informed on ASA activities in our nation's capital. If you visit th;re he can recommend a church where you'll feel right at home. In addition to Glenn's there have been four other ASA voices in the choir, those of Gordon Fish, Jeff Havenner, Dave Kay, and Alan Lemmon (who married Susanna Burkholder Leid in the church on January 21). The church's Long-range Planning Committee, headed up by Frank Brown, has included Roger Shuy and Gordon Werkema among others. Glenn says the church Media Center contains ASA material, you bet--but didn't say which church it is. (We're guessing it's Fourth Presbyterian in Bethesda, right?)

Ian Kling, psychiatry resident at Washington University in St. Louis, helped to organize a symposium at Covenant Seminary on "Becoming a Community of Healing: Evaluating the Biomedical Model." James Jekel, physician and public health specialist from Yale University Medical School, was one of the featured speakers.

John Kohl is another alert ASAer in the Washington-Baltimore local section. Glenn Kirkland sent us a clipping of a little squib in the Washington Star saying that the U. of Maryland's "Free University" was looking for teachers to give non-credit courses "ranging from ballet and languages to hang-gliding and back-packing." John took them up on it and set up a course of biblical instruction.

Eric Miller of Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship's multi-media ministries has been working with his regular team to train students in multi-media communication of the gospel this summer. New shows are continually being produced, as their original 1970 production, TWENTYONEHUNDRED, nears "retirement" after speaking to thousands of non-Christians about Jesus Christ.

Bruce G. Nilson of Mansfield, Massachusetts, recently had an article in Campus Crusade's Worffwide Challenge magazine (May 1978). In "Christianity and Psychology: Where the Twain Shall Meet," Bruce pointed out five specific ways in which Christianity and psychology are compatible, and how the two realms can be successfully synthesized.

John Orchanian of the Bronx, New York, is no longer a caseworker but a high school teacher in chemistry and general science--after praying for three years for such a job. John says there are over 1,000 vacancies in math and science in the New York
City public schools, and that bilingual teachers are especially needed. New York is also hiring public health specialists (at least until the NY equivalent of California's Proposition 13 hits 'em!).

Clifton J. Orlebeke, professor of philosophy at Calvin College in Michigan, spent the summer in a seminar on "The Philosophy of Socrates" with Gregory Vlastos at the U. of California in Berkeley, where Clif managed to encounter Walt Hearn at one of the New College public lectures.

Jack C. Swearengen has been appointed supervisor of Materials Science Division at ~a_n_di-a Laboratories, Limermore, California. Responsibilities of the new division will include studies in joining of metals by liquid and solid state processes, fracture, and hydrogen damage in materials.

Gerald Van Kooten is spending 14 months in Germany, almost unexpectedly. Gerald is a Ph.D. candidate in geology at U.C. Santa Barbara, doing a dissertation on some unusual potassium-rich volcanic rocks near Yosemite National Park. This spring he learned that through the Fulbright-Hays competition he had been awareded a Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst award given by the Federal Republic of Germany. The grant supports Gerald during a 4-month intensive German course at The Goethe Institut in Blaubeuren plus 10 months at the Institut fUr Mineralogie at the Ruhr-Universitat in Bochum. It turns out that central Germany has some potassic volcanic rocks for Gerald to compare and contrast with his Yosemite rocks, so the study isn't entirely a detour. After Gerald and Jan return to Santa Barbara to wind up his Ph.D., they're open to God's leading.

Mary Stewart Van Leeuwen, associate professor of psychology at York University, has been appointed to the Board of Curators of the Institute of Christian Studies in Toronto. The Board of Curators supervises the academic work of the Institute. This summer Mary taught a course on "Christianity and Psychology" at New College for Advanced Christian Studies in Berkeley, California.

A. Kurt Weiss, professor of physiology and sponsor of the Christian Medical Society chapter at the U. of Oklahoma for over 13 years, recently spoke to a packed meeting of the chapter about his personal experience, from his birth in Austria to time in a German concentration camp to his escape to England to his encounter with Jesus Christ in the U.S.A. The Weisses were presented with a silver tray from the CMS group in appreciation of their continued support and encouragement. Kurt is currently on the ASA executive council.

George R. Werkema, who had been president of the Christian College Consortium in Washington, D. C., is now in an administrative post at Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts.

Jerral B. Wimberley of the Southeast Chiropractic Clinic of Portland, Oregon, sent us a program from the Praise Service in memory of their little son Jimmy, who died on Fathers' Day, June 18. Jimmy had been born in 1971 with a genetic condition called Hurler's Syndrome, which caused his heart to fail some months before he died in spite of both medical and chiropractic care. His father Jerral, who has a B.S. from Wheaton College in physics and years of experience in electronics, was led to become a chiropractic physician after seeing Jimmy's improvement through such care. lie rejoice with Jerral and Janet that Jimmy had come to Christ and died a "child of the King."

NOTES FROM THE NATIONAL OFFICE

I have just returned from an outstanding Annual Meeting. It was the largest ever in terms of attendance (at least 290) and program (50 different papers). The facilities were excellent and everyone agreed that the quality of the papers was the best ever. If you missed it, plan now to go to the 1979 meeting at Stanford, August 1013. We will make every effort to produce an even finer program.

This successful meeting highlights what is our most productive year ever. At the start of the year we set 7 goals to work toward which all represented record levels of activity. Weset the goal to have monthly reminders of how we were doing and then set up a specific plan to reach those goals. Through July we are on target or very close on all but one (the sale of back issues of the JASA which was the only goal set without knowing our past history). Here are the current standings:

Year-to-Date: July, 1978


         Actual Goal

Groups Visited by Executive Secretary 25 24

New Members 445 379

New Subscribers 144 145

Letters Dictated by Executive Secretary 629 640

Life Memberships 5 6

Sale of Back Issues of JASA $824 $1,450

Annual Meeting Attedanc"e 290+ 300


To give you an example of how this compares with previous years, we can look at membership and subscriber recruitment. The record number of new members in a single year was 566 in 1976 and for new subscribers was 216 in 1974. Our goals for 1978 are 650 new members and 250 new subscribers - goals that it looks like we will reach for new records.

Finances are improved again this year and for the first year since I have been executive secretary we have not had to make big cuts in our summer activities. Your support is essential to maintain that record. We will experience low income through September and can use your donation now to pay our bills that month. Income from October through the end of the year is sufficient to meet expenses during that period. If you can make a gift as you read this Newsletter it would help us greatly.

Cordially in Christ,


William D. Sisterson

Executive Secretary

ALABAMA
Charlotte D. Hardage, 608 26th Court N.W., Birmingham, AL 35215 MA - Ling. CALIFORNIA Michael Hughes, 5515 Lake Lindero Drive, Agoura, CA 91301 Student Lawrence G. Cool, 2408 McKinley Ave., Berkeley, CA 94703 BS - Chem. Richard R. Ybarra, 1421 N. 10th St., Colton, CA 92324 BA - Psych. David Sumida, 4724 Sanford Drive, Culver City, CA 90230 BS - Physics Mary P. Johnson, 3939 Bidwell, Apt. D493, Fremont, CA 94538 MA - Ling. Wayne P. Johnson, 3939 Bidwell, #D493, Fremont, CA BS - Math Neva A. Hash, 11840 Ebbtide Lane, Malibu, CA 90265 BA - Journ.
Donald K. Leverett, Pepperdine University, Box 1655, Malibu, CA 90265 BA - English
Gary S. Lee, 266 Athol Ave., Apt. D, Oakland, CA 94606 Student
Michael Ingertson, 1994 N. Raymond Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91103 BA - Physics
Timothy S. Ungermann, 5130 Evergreen, Riverside, CA 92507 AB - Chem.
Diana G. Egly, Dept. of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305 BA - Math
Cynthia Harris, P. 0. Box 4343, Stanford, CA 94305 Student & Psych.
Gudm. Gjelsten, Apt. #115, 300 Rolling Oaks Dr., Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 STM - Comm.
COLORADO
William W. Cobern, 1116 13th St. #2, Boulder, CO 80302 MA - Educ.
John R. Greene, 2422 W. Argyle Place, Denver, CO 80211 BA - Biology
Kathy L. Evans, 150 South Cody Court, Lakewood, CO 80226 BS - Biology
Barbara J. Wilkin, 1979 So. Garland Way, Lakewood, CO 80227 PhD - Dev. Bio.
Carl Shoemaker, 4575 Garland, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 Student
DELA14ARE
Debora A. Flanagan, 5527 Limeric Circle, Apt. 26, Wilmington, DE 19808 B.Ch.E. Chem.
GEORGIA Eng.
Al Brady, 1803 Monroe Dr., NE, Atlanta, GA 30324 JD - Law
HAWAII
Edward M. Blight, Jr., 55 Kai Nami Place, Kailua, HI 96734 MD - Med.
ILLINOIS
Jon E. Lam, RR #5, So. Mobile Home, Carbondale, IL 62901 BS Engr.
Carl C. Baker, Jr., Rt. 1, Box 136, Carterville, IL 62918 BS Forestry
Andrew N. Fu, Box 2934, Sta. A, Champaign, IL 61820 BS - Comp. Eng.
Larry A. Roach, 4857 W. Dakin, Chicago, IL 60641 BA - Biblical Studies
Calvin J..Chany 11, 714 Suburban Apts., DeKalb, IL 60115 BS - Chemistry
Steve Figard, 617 South First St., DeKalb, IL 60115 MS - Chemistry
Brian J. Vogen, 403 S. First, Apt. 6, DeKalb, IL 60115 MS Computer Science
Gerald G. Roth, 4621 W. Lynnhurst Dr., Peoria, IL 61614 MA Sociology
William Streicher, 404 W. High #11, Urbana, IL 61801 MS - Ceramic Engr.
David Reese, 315 E. Maple, Villa Park, IL 60181 BS - Biology
Roy M. Rakestraw, Mathematics Dept., Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL 60187 PhD Math
INDIANA
Richard B. Ruth, 544 Liberty Street, Middletown, IN 47356 MDiv - Psych.
Shay Fout, Biology Dept., Lilly Hall of Life Sci., Rm. B-123, Purdue Univ., W. Lafayette,
IOWA IN 47907 HS - Microbiology
Spencer R. Loveland, 6169 Buchanan Hall, ISU, Ames, IA 50013 BS - Meteorology
Daniel D. Pearce, 1435 Arlington, Des Moines, IA 50314 BS - Biology (pre-med)
Rodney W. Sorensen, 444 S.E. Philip #204, Des Moines, IA 50315 BA - Chemistry
Albert E. Baker, 519 8th St. NE, Sioux Center, IA 51250 BA - Biology
KANSAS
Diane Theroff, 1506 Lilac Lane, Lawrence, KS 66044 Student
LOUISIANA
Allan M. Cantwell, 3214 Chapelwood Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70816 PhD - Chemistry
MICHIGAN
Jane Klyn, 125 DeBaar Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49508 BA - Math
Kelly J. Clark, 2915 Woodhams Drive, Kalamazoo, MI 49002 Student
Stephen E. Parrish, 36134 Joy Road, Livonia, MI 48150 BS - Biology
MISSISSIPPI
Richard Field, Jr., Field Clinic, Centreville, MS 39631 MD - Med.
NEBRASKA
Gordon 0. Johnson, 825 22 St., Fairbury, NE 68352 MD - Med.
NEVADA
Deanna F. Murray, 3955 Swenson #204 F, Las Vegas, NE 89109 BA - Sociology
NEW JERSEY
James K. McNeal IV, 915 Shore Road, Northfield, NJ 08225 BS - Chemistry
John Jansen, Jr., 32 Gemeinhardt Place, North Haledon, NJ 07508 Student
NEW MEXICO
Roger T. Stevens, 5301 Rawlings Rd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111 M.Eng. - Systems Engr.
NEW YORK
Karen Fister, 50 Salmon Creek Drive, Hilton, NY 14468 BS - Biology
Daniel P. Knowlton, P.O. Box 193, Houghton, NY 14744 BsPsy - Psy.
Michael J. Smitka, 25-20 Newtown Ave., Long Island City, NY 11102 AB - East Asian Stud.
Frank Wood, North Road, Milton, NY 12597 Student
Robert Kaita, 234-11 Hillside Avenue, Queens Village, NY 11427 PhD - Physics
Robert L. Mathis, Dept. of Geology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY 12181
NORTH CAROLINA BS - Geol.
John Blom, 2801 Wagner Drive, Burlington, N.C. 27215 BS - Physics
OHIO
William H. Noble, 111, 4652 Provens Dr., Akron, OH 44319 BS - Radiology
Robert G. Rhode, Porter Hall/Psych. Dept., Athens, OH 45701 MS - Psych.
Richard J. Mawhorter, Jr., 10584 Latina Court, Cincinnati, OH 45218 BS - Physics & Math
Gail Stratton, 2706 Jefferson Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45219 BS - Biology
John G. McMahon, 802 S. Locust A, Oxford, OH 45056 BA - History & Anthropology
OKLAHOMA
John Lachmana, OK Christian Clge., Rt. 1, Box 141, Oklahoma City, OK 73111 Student
Mark E. Munson, 5712 N14 64 Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73132 BS - Zoology
OREGON
Mary E. Pierce, 1053 NW Thornton Lake Drive, Albany, OR 97321 MS - Counseling
Jay Goldstein, 15097 Hwy. 66, Ashland, OR 97520 Student
David L. Haury, 1704 Garfield Street, Eugene, OR 97402 MA - Biology
PENNSYLVANIA
Vernon L, Asper, 226B Sporting Hill Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 BA - Bio/Chem
Alfred Madeira, 1541 Thompson Lane, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 BA - Chemistry
Randall A. Frey, Box 232A, R. D. #1, Millersville, PA 17551 BA - Chem. & Biol.
Susan L. Cunningham, 100 Ridgefield Road, Philadelphia, PA 19154 BS - Biology
Robert B. Mangold, 1518 Collins Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15221 MS - E.E.
Peter G. Wallick, 988 Mt. Rose Avenue, York, PA 17403 BA - Chemistry
RHODE ISLAND
Richard F. Judkins, 20 Hillcrest Road, Wakefield, RI 02879 MD - Med.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Robert S. Evatt, P.O. Box 64, Central SC 29630 BS - Physics, Math.
TEXAS
Lester Fortney, Rm. 545, Kinsolving Dorm., Austin, TX 78705 BA - Chemistry
WASHINGTON
Mark Plunkett, 20820-70 W. #8, Lynnwood, WA 98036 BS - Biology
Jay N. Swanson, NW 505 Sunset Drive, Pullman, WA 99163 Student
Michael Brose, 6810 18 St. NE, Puyallup, WA 98371 BS - Biology
Jason MacLurg, 3463 6th Ave. W. #2, Seattle, WA 98119 BS - Biology
WISCONSIN
David Kloehn, 138 Breese Ter. #3, Madison, WI 53705 BA - Molecular Biology
Ed Kryshak, 312 Breese Terrace #3, Madison, WI 53705 BA - Biochemistry
CANADA
Don Erling, 384 Rathburn Road, Islington M9B 2M3 B.Ed. - Ed.
Michael Frederiksen, 452 Silverstone Dr. Unit #41, Rexdale, Ont. M9V 3K8 M.Ed.Psych.
Henry Wick, P.O. Box 753, Outremont St. N., Montreal, Quebec H2V 4N9 Lab Technician
FOREIGN (retired)
Jenise A. T. Pereira, Avenida Melo Matos, 38/102A, Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 20.000
Jesse T. Pereira, Jr., Rua Sao Francisco Xavier, 192-801, /Teacher & Student
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 20.000 Ph.D. - Law
Robert C. J. Carling, 14, New Writtle Street, Chelmsford, Essex, England CM2 ORR
Ariel 0. Jimenez Gomora, Cervantes 28, Mexico 13 D.F., Mexico Sec'y Adv./B.Sc. - Zoology


AMERICAN SCIENTIFIC AFFILIATION

5 DOUGLAS AVENUE

ELGIN, ILLINOIS 60120

312 - 697-5466

 September 1, 1978

Dear Members:

Now that the 1978 meetings are history and reflections on its many highlights compete for attention, there is one personal experience that I should like to share with you. It is evidence that sincere discussion between people holding opposing views can reduce misunderstanding--that communication can lead to increased understanding.

Leading up to this experience was the report of a panel discussion of May 2 at Wheaton College on the theological implications of how long ago creation took place.  That event had involved the confrontation of those holding two major positions of creationism, that of a geologically ancient creation, and that of the young-earth, recent creation. The former position was presented by panelists who represented no single organization, although one of them was an ASA member. The latter position, because of the nature of its current image, and because the invitation was given to the Institute for Creation Research, Midwest Center, was represented by two of the prominent spokesmen for the ICR.
The particular highlight that I wish to share with you is that since one of those spokesmen, Pastor Marvin Lubenow, was present at the Hope College meetings we had a chance to have some long conversations, to exchange some ideas, to refine terminology, and thus to clear up some misunderstandings on the part of both of us. Although neither of us convinced the other to change his basic views, I was able to revise parts of the report to reflect his explanations. I found Pastor Lubenow to be a most gracious, Christian gentleman, willing to communicate without a closed mind.

Thus I was encouraged to believe that the bridgebuilding between the ICR and the ancient-creation position (often identified with the ASA) towards which the reported panel discussion was aimed, might indeed be continued between the more open-minded on both sides of the question.

This brings me to the point of this communication: although we seek continuing discussion among Christians, such interaction with reference to those holding opposite views on any subject should be conducted in charitable terms and in a manner becoming to Christians.

A recent communication from ICR director, Henry Morris, alleges that, "'Bridgebuilding', of course needs to proceed in two directions. For at least three decades ASA . and neo-evangelicals in general have been ridiculing those of
us who believe in a young earth and flood geology .... This has been very hurtful."

Whether this charge is true or false, exaggerated or one-sided, or merely the result of misunderstanding, my reply to Dr. Morris in part promised, "to take every possible precaution against any further such expressions appearing in ASA publications. We shall.... continue the 'open forum' style of expression, including different sides of questions debated by Christians, without sarcasm and ridicule against other creationists of which we have been accused...."

Accordingly I am sending this letter to the editors of both our Journal and our Newsletter, and thus to all future authors within their pages, asking them to continue to lead our membership at large with diligent attention to the rhetoric of controversy. Dialogue is more fruitful than dispute; and criticism can be expressed as eloquently in love as in condemnation.

Sincerely in Christ,

James 0. Buswell, III
President