Separated from Minneapolis by the Mississippi River, Bethel College in St. Paul, Minnesota was the location of this year's ASA Annual Meeting. With about 120 in attendance, the meeting featured three keynote addresses by John Kilner; a creation symposium chaired by David Wilcox addressing the question of the scientific adequacy of the Darwinian mechanism; paper sessions on bioethics, sharing and caring, and the history of science; the business meeting; a banquet honoring Harold Hartzler and Robert and Betty Herrmann (and Bob's contributions as ASA's Executive Director); and (last but not least) fellowship among 

Case studies were a new feature of this year's Annual Meeting. Each registrant was randomly assigned to one of five case study groups. Each group met twice during the meeting to make recornmendations on how to handle the scenario described in their case study. The studies dealt with the implications of genetic factors in crime, the separation of Siamese twins, removal of feeding tubes in comatose patients, medical treatment for anencephalic babies, and plagiarism in research.

Ethicist Jim Peterson, faced with the inevitable yet in tolerable task of summarizing the bioethical case study groups, gave a clear and informative presentation on bioethical issues along the lines of the studies. Jim is from Wingate C. in North Carolina, the state in which next year's  Annual Meeting - at Montreat-Anderson College in Montreat - will occur.

The 1994 Annual Meeting theme, "Bioethics: Promise and Perils," was addressed by keynote speaker John F. Kilner, Assoc. Prof. of Bioethics and Contemporary Culture at Trinity Divinity School, Deerfield, IL and Adjunct Prof. of Medicine, Northwestern U. in Chicago, IL. Kilner is also Director of the Bannockburn Institute for Christianity & Contemporary Culture, Bannockburn, IL.

His first talk surveyed a wide range of bioethical questions and his last two talks offered positions on physician-assisted suicide and health-care rationing. Kilner has a Ph.D. from Harvard U. in ethics (1983) with previous academic experience at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Yale U.

In Kilner's first talk, he defined bioethical issues as life (the bio of bioethics) issues - and said that they include both humans and animals. Ethics (the second part of bioethics) is the study of that which is moral, where we need to distinguish between right and wrong. Kilner listed four key factors in making ethical decisions: facts, beliefs, loyalties (past experience), and reasoning. The last factor - reasoning - can be exercised in different ways: a utilitarian approach appeals to consequences, where a principled approach appeals to principles a basis for the authority of the position taken. In recent discussions, Kilner stated that appeals to virtue - the moral character to act on what is right - is a possible third approach to reasoning.

A biblical bioethic, according to Kilnet, is based on Scripture giving us a way of thinking and equipping us to encounter new situations. It is God-centered, reality-bounded (recognizes the limits within which healthy living must operate) and love-impelled; to love God is to live in accordance with the way God intends the world to be. From this follows love for others. Kilner sees the three kinds of ethical reasoning as pieces of the larger biblical framework flowing from how God has created the world to be.

Kilner identified issues needing a biblical perspective. For example, the relationship between patient and physician (or caregiver) can be viewed in different ways: the doctor can be seen as the warrior, in a battle with death; the caregiver can be seen as a parent ("father knows best"); the relationship can be viewed as contractual; or it can be seen as covenantal, based on commitments, norms, and values and not limited to the specifics of a contract.

Another issue Kilner discussed involves methods of communication. What are the limits on confidentiality and truth-telling in relating to patients? "Informed consent" raises issues of force and fraud.

Beginnings-of-life issues include AID (artificial insemination by donor) and AIH (by husband), in vitro fertilization and transplantation, surrogate motherhood and abortion.

Health-care reforms raise more issues. Are health-care rights biblical? Are cost-benefit or cost-efficiency analyses ethical?

Advances in genetics raise questions other than those about eugenics and cloning. Who has the right to know a person's genetic information? Insurance companies? An employer? A spouse?

End-of-life questions include suicide, physician-assisted suicide, determining when it is okay to discontinue treatment, deciding what "alive" means, and assessing whether living wills are helpful, since they may simply create new problems.

Mind-brain issues, once the province of philosophers, have become more concrete and of practical concern in this "decade of the brain." Our brains are most associated with our being in the image of God. When it becomes possible to alter or even effect design of the brain, what are the moral implications?

As a wrap-up to his first talk, Kilner pointed out that for 27 years, John Wesley devoted spare time to healthcare issues, written in his Primitive Physiker. Some of his therapies are up-to-date, while others can be readily discarded.

Humor was sprinkled throughout Kilner's talks. At one point, John noted a certain hospital's slogan: "If you're at death's door, our doctors will pull you through.

The second talk addressed end-of-life questions from three perspectives: health care, patients' needs and Christian faith. He began by turning to basics. Kilner pointed out that medicine has a dual purpose: (1) to sustain life, and (2) to relieve suffering. Physician-assisted suicide accomplishes (2) by violating (1). 'We are not to eliminate suffering by eliminating sufferers," Kilner said. Removal of a physician's commitment to sustain life will radically affect the patient/physician relationship. Kilner argued for care that addresses all aspects of our being, pointing out that, in the category of patients' needs, suffering is not only physical pain but is also itself a threat to our whole being.

Another health-care issue is the assurance that patients have some say in their care. "Living wills are anything but confidence-building," Kilner noted. The patient must act as his or her own physician, making medical decisions ahead of time about situations that are hard to anticipate. The AMA suggests a different approach, in which more general goals (such as "Everything possible should be done... ") are given and a person is designated beforehand to make judgments on behalf of a patient unable to make them.

Kilner argued that what patients today need is more support, not more autonomy. Patientassisted suicide is an example of giving a patient less support and more autonomy. In the Netherlands, where the courts have chosen not to prosecute physician-assisted suicide, several thousand patients were found to have been killed without patient consent.

Finally, Kilner noted that the U.S. was established to avoid excluding religious discussion from the public sphere (by sectarianism), and now that's what we have. Kilner cited biblical references in support of a life-oriented approach. Deuteronomy 30 challenges us to choose life; death is a product of disobedience and is our enemy. Therefore, death is not to he facilitated or feared, though we don't choose it. The relief from suffering provided by death was the greatest temptation Christ faced (sweating blood over it). Suffering can be our ultimate spiritual test, in contrast to utilitarianism's elimination of suffering at all costs, which reduces humans to animals, responding only to pain and pleasure. Our spiritual community provides support to help us endure suffering (Gal. 6).

Kilner argued that respecting the wishes of the patient in informed consent recognizes that consent presupposes a proposal by the doctor and is not decision-making apart from the patient. Informed can be degenerated to mean that the patient was "given a form to sign." Ethical decision-making takes into account the capacity of the patient and the voluntariness of what is offered, requires the provision of adequate information and also makes sure that the patient understands the risks and meaning of the statistics.

Kilner's third talk was on health-care rationing. He argued that due to limited health-care resources, rationing is inevitable, even though it is often -viewed as intolerable. Audience discussion included comments that suggested a political dimension to the issue. One audience member, who has been living in China, recognized the unfairness of rationing medical care by the free-market criterion of ability to pay. Hpwever, he pointed out that in China, where health-care is government controlled, the criterion is political power (who you know), which is even less fair. Other views were also aired. The details of the three keynote addresses can be heard on audiotape (Kilner 1, 11, 111), available for $5.00 per tape (plus postage, and, for MA residents, 5% sales tax) from: ASA Tape Service, c/o The Sanders Christian Foundation, P.O. Box 2094, South Hamilton, MA 01982-0094.

The Executive Director's Corner

It is humbling to sit at this desk while I think about those who have gone on before to pave the way for this organization. From Hartzler to Herrmann and even before, ASA has been served by a train of dedicated people, including numerous members who have given of their precious time to edit publications, serve on commissions or committees, arrange meetings, write articles, speak at meetings, and do so much more.

It was fitting that we remembered Harold Hartzler and celebrated the work of Bob Herrmann at our Annual Meeting banquet this year. These two men have certainly meant a lot to the Affiliation. Now we must continue to build on the foundation and floors that are already in the structure. How high can the building go? That's up to all of us.

When Fred Hickernell called on Valentine's Day eve and asked me to accept this position, it was a jolt into reality. I had twenty-eight years invested in Houghton College and ties to wonderful alumni scattered around the globe. But the Lord did strongly point out the importance of the ASA and its strategic position in our secularized world. Also our family was prepared, since our daughter was established on the West Coast, our son was leaving to start medical school, and the last of our four parents had gone home to be with the Lord.

My wife, Joyce, and I experienced great peace during that week of decision. We also had some close confidants who were praying about our decision. Joyce, who is a nurse, and I decided that the ASA was bigger than both our jobs and jumped through the open window together in faith.

Joyce and I have rented the main floor of a house in Ipswich in the Great Neck area which has a magnificent view of marsh and ocean. We never anticipated that the Lord would provide so wonderfully in this manner. Actually, the house did look rather run down, and that is probably why others did not rent it first. Now the landlord is fixing it up ó trimming and painting ó and we are in the midst of unpacking.

There were times in Houghton during the packing and sorting of 28 years of accumulation that we were tempted to wonder whether we had done the Lord's will, but he always picked us up and carried us during those times.

At first we wondered if we would even be able to find a place to live. Among other possibilities, Carol Aiken checked out a three-bedroom apartment in Gloucester (that's pronounced `Gloster') that was advertised to be "right on the water." It turned out to be an accurate description, since it was on a barge docked in the harbor! Another one we passed on was the house with the small trap-door in front of the fireplace which allowed you to get into the basement.

As a continuing matter for prayer, we have not sold our house in Houghton, as very few houses there were bought this spring. However, we did rent it and these folks are considering a purchase.

Several weeks in the office and the national Annual Meeting at Bethel in St. Paul have been great bonding experiences with the office staff members ó Carol, Frances, and Patsy. Now I can fully appreciate all the things that these people do to get ready for a meeting and how much we should continue to praise the Lord for each of them.

On our way back, all of us experienced long delays because of severe thunderstorms in the Chicago area, where we had to change planes. When my wife and I finally arrived at O'Hare Airport, we were two hours late for our connecting flight to Buffalo. Well, praise God!, that connecting flight was two hours and ten minutes late leaving, so we made it and miraculously the luggage was there, too. We got home at 3 a.m., but at least we were around the next morning when the dish packers arrived to begin our move! Whatever would they have done otherwise?

Well, I'm here and learning new things everyday. I hope to see some of you this fall as I travel around to the various churches for this year's series of Templeton/ASA lectures. I also hope to attend the CSCA Annual Meeting, a special Christian Environmental Council meeting at Au Sable Institute sponsored by the Evangelical Environmental Network, and an institute on "Funding Your Future" by the Foundation for New Era Philanthropy (along with Fred Hickernell and David Wilcox). All of this should add on a few frequent flier miles!

Finally, the other day I picked up my Ipswich resident's Crane's Beach sticker for the car. If you do not know the importance of that sticker, ask me sometime.

Annual Meeting Creation Symposium Thought-Provoking

Four speakers presented papers at the ASA Annual Meeting Creation Symposium, addressing the question: "Is the neo-Darwinian mechanism of natural selection acting on random mutations adequate for the creation of new major biological innovations?" While this question might not have been put to rest, the underlying issues were illuminated by two pairs of speakers.

First to speak was Keith Miller, who provided plentiful fossil evidence for transitional forms, with detailed, up-to-date material, arguing that the fossil record provides evidence for large-scale change. Keith also pointed out how taxonomy is an interpretation of the fossil record, and that this interpretation determines to a great degree how near or far particular fossils are placed in relation to each other. That is, diversity or disparity expressed in the taxonomy is subject to interpretation, allowing for a greater unity in life forms than might otherwise be assumed.

Next, John Wiester presented the view that neo-Darwinian mechanisms are inadequate to account for major biological innovations. He presented three Darwinian predictions for the origin of the animal phyla: (1) ancestral sequences will lead to the phyla; (2) diversity (abundant lower-level taxa) will precede disparity (major inn-ovations in the higher taxa); and (3) the morphological distance between phyla, and their numbers, will increase with time. John's claim is that the fossil record, in which animal phyla appear in the Cambrian explosion, falsifies these predictions because there are essentially no ancestral sequences within it, because disparity precedes diversity, and because 70 or so phyla appear within only a five million year period.

The crux of the issue in this pair of talks was what the fossil record provides evidence for or against. John says major neo-Darwinian innovations cannot be accounted for from the fossil record; Keith says that the extent of diversity is read into the fossil record by the taxonomy, but that comparison of actual fossils shows ereat similarities in diverse phyla.

The second pair of symposium speakers have, for some time, been conversing in a high-spirited way with each other via the Internet. Both are biochemists. Leading off was Michael Belie of Lehigh U. in eastern Pennsylvania, who argued for the irreducible complexity of some biochemical constructs, demonstrating his general point by using the example of a mouse trap. For it to function at all, the essential components must all function together. Biochemical examples of allegedly irreducible functions are cilia and the eye.

Terry Gray of Calvin C. presented hemoglobin as an example of plausible Darwinian self-organization. In some species, the hemoglobin molecule is only "half' of what it is in more advanced species, and Terry offered a plausibility argument for how the half-size version

could evolve into the four-part hemoglobin of mammals, citing Origins of Order by Stuart Kaufman as a example of how progress in nonlinear dynamics ("chaos" theory) could have a bearing on self-organization in biological systems. The crux of the issue was whether functionally complex biochemical entities could become assembled in an incremental process of construction on their own. Mike says no; Terry, yes.

While the Editor could not discern any resolution of the symposium's question, he did note that the talks were truth driven and free of rancor. Four credible examples were given of how Christians in science can hold to a definite position on the issue while showing respect for those with differing opinions and a transcending openness to whatever the final truth of the matter may be. Subsequent discussion between symposium speakers also bore this out, and those attending gained ponderable insights into the questions being discussed.

This year's business meeting covered a wide range of topics. The new candidates for the ASA Executive Council are Marilyne Flora and Sarah Miles, one of whom will replace Past President Betty Zipf, who will be leaving the Council when her five year term ends on December 31. Bob Herrmann reported that ASA's book, Teaching Science, is being translated into German. Walt Hearn has been working on another book, On Being a Christian in Science, for graduate students. Bob has also been coordinating the Templeton/ASA lecture series directed to churches, with three science/faith lectures in each of ten churches. (Perhaps some local sections will nucleate around these meetings in populated areas.) Finally, Bob reported that we have some possible prospects for funding of the long-awaited six-part TV series featuring Harvard astronomer and historian of science, Owen Gingerich.

Ken Dormer reported on AISRED activity. (See October/November 93 ASAN, p. 1, for AISRED background.) Kenyan Christian and scientist George Kinoti organized a symposium where church leaders met with scientists to discuss such topics as emergence from poverty, government corruption, and how the church can provide a godly influence. The picture is that of Christian scientists in Kenya influencing and supporting its church to bring about improvements in society. Daystar U. has allocated 15 acres to AISRED which, with Martin Price's involvement, will be growing experimental plants for and environments. George can now be reached in Kenya through Internet e-mail via Ken Dormer. His address is: g-kinoti@ken.healthnet.org Finally, Don Munro shared some of his experiences during his first month as ASA's new Executive Director, and shared his vision for ASA's future direction.

Known for his book, Issues in Science and Religion, Ian Barbour of nearby Carleton C. attended the 1994 Annual Meeting in Minnesota. Like Bernard Ramm, whose book on science and religion has taken on historic significance, Barbour's book has also been a "classic" of sci/rel and has been discussed among ASAers. Published by Harper Torchbooks, it surveys a wide range of issues in the relationship of science to Christianity.

Ian was also a participant in the C.S. Lewis Conference in Cambridge, England, which occurred shortly before the ASA Annual Meeting. The C . S. Le wis Conference was the topic of several conversations in Minnesota because a number of ASA members attended.

ASAer Participates in Origins Debate at SUNY Stony Brook

BM Dembski, Michael Belie and Paul Nelson, participants in last year's ASA Annual Meeting Intelligent Design Symposium, debated Elof Carlson, Jeffrey Levinton and Michael Simon at the "Symposium on Biological Origins: Darwinian Naturalism vs. Intelligent Design" on 21 Apr. at the State U. of NY (SUNY) at Stony Brook. Each of the six speakers gave their 30-minute presentations, with discussion among the panel members after each talk. At the end, comment cards from the audience were collected. The 41/2 hour event was videotaped and witnessed live by about 300 people, with 60 remaining at the end. The comment cards were mostly from students with a Darwinian/naturalistic viewpoint and the comments were positive in nature, with some expressing a desire to see additional events of this type with more time allowed to discuss the subject matter.

The purpose of this symposium was to explore issues raised by philosophy of science involving origins theories and to provide an appropriate forum for such dialog, particularly as it applies to Darwinian naturalism and intelligent design. The three Darwinians were from SUNY Stony Brook. Elof Carlson, a geneticist by background and prof. of biochemistry and cell biology (and Dean of the Honors College, the sponsor of the event) spoke on "Evolution and Theology: Some Reflections." Jeffrey Levinton, a geologist from Yale and prof. of ecology and evolution, spoke on "Evolution Reigns." Finally, Michael Simon, who has a background in philosophy and law specializing in the philosophy of biology, the social sciences, and law, spoke on "Science, Creationism, and the Law."

The intelligent design side of the argument was represented by three speakers. Michael Belie, biochemist and prof. of chemistry at Lehigh U., spoke on "Molecular Machines: Experimental Support for the Design Inference." William Dembski, probability theorist and philosopher, currently working on theology at Princeton U., spoke on the "Theoretical Basis for the Design Inference." Finally, Paul Nelson, a Ph.D. candidate in philosophy, who specializes in the theological aspects of evolutionary reasoning, spoke on "The Role of Theological Arguments in Current Evolutionary Theory.,,

Paul Nelson's e-mail account of the event noted that at the end, while the panel participants were shaking hands, the Darwinian panel said the evening had been worthwhile. Pat Detwiler, a local sponsor, said that cards turned in by the audience characteristically said: "caused me to consider my views in a new light and "would like to hear more." Nelson plans to continue dialog with Levinton about unresolved issues, hoping to build on their amicable parting.

The three videotapes recording the event are unedited but of good overall quality, and can be obtained for only $10 from Pat Detwiler, 43 Cherry Avenue, W. Sayville, NY 11796; (516) 567-4378.

Science/Christianity E-mail

Word really gets around by electronic mail, or e-mail. The Editor recently received a forwarded e-mail from PSCF editor Jack Haas (haas@faith.gordonc.edu). Jack had gotten a message from James Mahaffy (mahaffy@dordt.edu) about a new e-mail discussion -group on science and Christianity set up by geology graduate student Steven H. Schimmrich

(schinmui@hercules.geology.uiuc.edu) of the Department of Geology, U. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Steve will moderate the list and maintain the file server. For details, including a subscription to

the list, send Steve an e-mail note with your reasons for wanting to take part in the discussion group.

Steve's introductory message contains a bit of cyberspace wisdom:

One major problem with Internet newsgroups is that people often pontificate on subjects they know little about. Remember that humility is a virtue and that there are some real experts on this 'list. Finally, if things do get a little heated, pretend that Jesus subscribes to the list - would you like Him to read your post?

Darwin on Trial's Phillip Johnson (philjohn@gamet.berkeley.edu) has his own newsgroup, "reflector," involved in a protracted discussion between theistic evolutionists (such as Calvin College's Terry Gray) and intelligent-design advocates (including William Dembski, Michael Belie, Walter ReMine, Paul Nelson and many others), with brief appearances by Alvin Plantinga, a leading Christian logician, formerly at Calvin C. and now at Notre Dame U. Most of the discussion is either about philosophy of science as it relates to evolution or about scientific (usually biochemical) details of evolution.

Joseph Carson has been communicating through CompuServe with Paul Arveson, and in response to Jack Haas's PSCF article, "ASA in Transition," remarked that his efforts to publicize the existence of the ASA, or to attract ASAers who are authors to discuss their work on it, have not yielded tangible results. But this may change, Joe notes.

Carson has also become the new leader of the Religion and Science section of the Religion forum on CompuServe. ASA members are being asked to participate in one-time on-line conferences or as "guest lecturers" for a one or two-week period. CompuServe would give them a free temporary ID.

The Christian Interactive Network, which is accessed through CompuServe for $6.00 per month (without the usual connect fees) needs an ASA section, says Carson: "It would only take someone's asking the operator of CIN to get it going .... If it doesn't take, there is little lost, money or time-wise." Joe also downloaded basic information on the CIN, a "Christ-centered ministry dedicated to reaching out into the technology marketplace and providing the Good News of Jesus Christ to a lost 'new' world." Reminiscent of early Christian missionaries Paul and Timothy who ventured into new domains, CIN intends its venture into cyberspace in furtherance of the Great Commission, as a forum for prayer, information, support, education, and the gospel message. CIN is organized as a not-for-profit organization, incorporated in Florida, and provides an interactive forum, education of Christians about cyberspace, and network communications support of world-wide missions.

Founded by Gregory B. Darby, who has been involved in leading-edge computer and cellular communications technology for 17 years, CIN recognizes the importance that this technology is gaining in everyday life. It is also organizing a network of local Christian computer specialists who can assist Christians in accessing the information highway, through an 800 phone number. CIN is offering seminars and audio- and videotaped instruction on cyberspace from a Christian perspective. They are designed for churches, parent meetings, etc. For more information, contact: Gregory B. Darby, Christian Interactive Network, P.O. Box 70808, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33307-0808; (305) 938-6980, (800) 279LORD; fax: (305) 771-8833; e-mail: 72662.2737@compuserve.com

Peter Vibert (vibert@binah.cc.brandeis.edu) manages a mailing list for colleagues in his research area and is wondering whether enough ASA members have access to Internet to make a mailing list or newsgroup feasible, noting that, "I think it could do wonders for ASA if we could all 'talk' to each other more often!" DZ Joseph Carson, Patsy Ames

ASA Managing Editor Leaving

ASA's Newsletter and journal (PSCF) will, unfortunately, not be benefiting from the fine work of Managing Editor Patricia Ames beginning with the next issue of the newsletter and the March 1995 issue of the journal. Patsy is nearing the birth of her second child and will be doing free-lance work from her home in Ipswich. She hopes to have continued contact with ASA. Patsy's parents, Joan and Mack Goldsmith of Modesto, CA attended this year's Annual Meeting. The small-world st6ry is that Patsy was hired at the ASA headquarters by Bob Herrmann, who knew her from church, but she originally heard about the position from Walt and Ginny Hearn. The Hearns are old family friends of Patsy and her parents -Ginny and Mack met in graduate school in Wisconsin! May your family grow and prosper in Christ's love, Patsy!

Chi-Hang Lee, along with Paul Chien of San Francisco and four other U.S. scientists, was invited to give a series of talks in Hong Kong. The lectures were sponsored by a committee involving several organizations and two church denominations, but mainly organized by the Hong Kong branch of Chinese Christian Mission (Petaluma, CA). They have published Phil Johnson's Darwin on Trial in Chinese, translated by three ASA members. ChiHang says, "We were excited to see the first copies freshly off the press two days after we arrived in HK [9 May]." The book carries a preface written by Paul, whose involvement in the translation was motivated by his attendance at the 50th ASA Annual Meeting in Wheaton, IL. The Chinese edition contains brief descriptions of the translators, and Chi-Hang prominently mentions the ASA, though its address was not mentioned.

In one week in HK, six speakers gave a total of 109 talks (mostly in Cantonese), including a series of lectures delivered to more than 1000 people in public buildings. Similar lectures were given on the Chinese island of Macau, once a Portuguese colony. Paul's topic was "New Discoveries in Oceanography". and Chi-Hang's was "From Astrochernistry to Biochemistry." Chi-Hang writes, "In these preevangelistic talks we went over recent discoveries suggesting, but not proving, the presence of a Creator and Designer."

After a talk at HK Baptist C., ChiHang had lunch with mathematician Fred Hickernell, Jr., son of ASA's president, and Carver Yu, whose research with -Thomas Torrance at Princeton was sponsored by the Templeton Foundation.

On the way home, Chi-Hang spent two days in Taiwan and visited his "neighbor," Li-Yang Chang, who was invited by the government to consult on pollution control. (Li-Yang gave a talk on his work at last year's ASA Meeting in Seattle.) At Tung-Hai U., Chi-Hang visited with David Newquist, who teaches physics and courses on science and Christianity. From David he heard of the death of David Adeney, in Berkeley, who was a missionary of OMF (formerly China Inland Mission). Chi-Hang concludes: "All in all this short term mission trip was quite good, despite the almost unbearable high humidity. It's an experience I shall long remember."

Past ASA President Charles Hummel was 1VCF faculty director for many years. Today he lives in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. His new and expanded book, Fire in the Fireplace: Charismatic Renewal in the Nineties, has recently been published by InterVarsity Press. Charlie has been teaching "Epoch-Making Events in Science" in a continuing education program at Eastern Nazarene College near Boston, using another one of his books, The Galileo Connection, as a text. He and his wife, Ann, continue to teach inductive Bible study and group leadership at Lay Leadership Training Institutes run by Episcopal Renewal Ministries.

Harold H. Johnson reports that, although he is now retired from Trinity College, he is enjoying full-time research in mathematics as a crew member on his wife Betsy's boat, as well as flying his own "ancient" airplane. Betsy Ancker-Johnson was an IVCF staff member in the Pacific Northwest in Harold's student days and has a Ph.D. in physics. She became a vicepresident at General Motors and then an Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Science and Technology (1972-76), and was in charge of the Bureau of Standards and the patent office.

Martin Root of Ithaca, NY received his Master's degree in Environmental Science from Cornell U. in 1991 and was accepted in the Ph.D. program in nutrition. He is currently conducting research on the status of vitamin A in China, working full-time as a research technician, and also teaching nutrition at his local community college.

Karl Franklin and his wife have been in Australia for the past three years, where he was Principal of Wycliffe Bible Translator's Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL) South Pacific School. The Franklins have recently moved to Dallas, TX (home of Wycliffe) where Karl has taken the position of International Training Coordinator for all SIL schools, of which there are about ten around the world. Karl has just finished a stay as guest participant at the Australian Linguistic Institute at LaTrobe U., where he taught a course on linguistic field methods.

In the mission field in Papua New Guinea, Bob and Jo Ann Conrad announced that the Bukiyip New Testament is finished, and the first book of scripture in PNG's Arapesh language has been checked by an SIL translation consultant. The book of Daniel was drafted by the Hon. Bernard Narakobi, former Attorney General of PNG.

Oskar Gruenwald has reported an update on his efforts to change the American Political Science Association. (See "APSA Degrades Morally" in the May/June 94 ASAN.) He has received one positive response of moral support from APSA members, and for his minimum ethics code proposal for the APA has received 6 of the required 50 signatures thus far. Oskar opines, "Not a good day for professional ethics." But he notes that our job is to "pray and work for the Lord" whether we win or lose our spiritual battles.

Walter R. ("WOE is me!") Hearn was conspicuously absent from this year's Annual Meeting, recovering from quadruple heart bypass surgery. Three and a half years after his first heart attack, the previous ASAN editor suffered another one in his sleep. As Walt tells it, his cardiologist had both good and bad news: the bad news was that he would need bypass surgery; the good news was that it was not a difficult medical decision to make. Walt is now "thinking in complete sentences" and is working on complete paragraphs. He is again at his writer's desk, but expects that it will be a while before he fully recovers from his latest form of weariness. A letter of thanks to friends for support and prayer demonstrated Walt's familiar sense of humor in action. An illustration of "Walt after surgery" showed the face of a cat wrapped in a towel with all of its fur standing on end, looking frazzled.

Mark B. Wolgemuth passed away on 19 Mar. 1994 at 79 years. Gerald Hess said some kind words about Mark at the ASA Annual Meeting. He was both a student and later a colleague of Mark's at Messiah College. Once a student of H. Harold Hartzler, Mark was a chemistry professor, but later taught geology and would take faculty members on field trips. He amassed a collection of Pennsylvania rocks from his trips around the state. Mark was enthusiastic about promoting Messiah C. and the Christian faith, and was involved in Young Life and Kiwanis. He also was an avid hunter, and occasionally took some good-natured ribbing about it from his academic colleagues. H Jerry Hess

Hugh Ross's new book, Creation and Time (NavPress), received favorable review by another ASAer, Guillermo Gonzalez, in World magazine (7 May 94, p. 2 1). The book picks up on the old- versus young-earth creationist rift. Ross presents a well-researched response to young-earth claims, benefiting from the many debates he has participated in over the years. As an

astronomer, his strongest arguments for an old universe come from the expansion rate of the universe, stellar burning rates and abundances of radioactive elements. One of Hugh's objectives for the book, however, is to reconcile young- and old-earthers. Guillermo believes that he has done a good job of keeping "emotional outbursts to a minimum," being gentle and diplomatic instead. The paperback book is available for $10 (residents add LA and CA sales tax) through Hugh's organization, Reasons to Believe, P.O. Box 5978, Pasadena, CA 91117; (818) 335-1480; fax: (818) 852-0178.

Theologian and president of Ligonier Ministries, R. C. Sproul has entered the realm of science with his seminar, "Scientific Sorcerers: Pulling a Universe Out of a Hat." The seminar explores "the folly inherent in any scientific system that precludes God from its thinking" with a particular criticism that "Modem cosmology begins with nothing and ends with something." This seminar was part of Ligonier's 1994 Orlando Conference on "The Christian & Society: War of the Worlds," 3-5 Feb. Among the other conference speakers were J. I. Packer, James Dobson and Ravi Zacharias. Ligonier's address is: P. 0. Box 547500, Orlando, FL 32854; tel. (800) 435-4343.