GENERAL INFORMATION
Within this cultural milieu th e University is call ed not only to respect this diversity, but to reflect it as well, for Christ intends his Church to be a multi-ethnic, multi-cul tural, and multi-national body of believers. We beli eve it is our purpose, therefore, to create an envi ronment in which al l believers, regardl ess of race, color, national origin, gender, age, economic status or physical abil ity, can pursue knowledge and personal development as they strive to become all God intends them to be. In order to maxi mi ze th e lea rning of students and expose th em to the diversity that ex ists in the cu lture at large, we seek 10 foster an understanding and appreciati on of th ose elements in eve ry culture whi ch enhance human dignity and are consistent with scriptural teaching. We are dedicated to expanding opportunities for Ch ris tians of all cultures, and ethnic backgrounds to attend Biola, to be employed here, and to participate in the fellowship and mission to which we are call ed, always keeping in mind our desire to pursue excellence in all we do . We are comm itted to work for the es tablishment of a communi ty composed of believers from every race, culture, and class who are united in their devotion to Jesus Chri st, their obedience to Hi s Word, and in their willingness to se1ve one another. Biola University does not di scriminate on th e basis of race, co lor, national origin , ethnic group identification, gen der, age, or physical or mental disability. However, as a pri vate religious institution, the University reserves the right to exe rcise preference on th e basis of religion in all of its employment practices and student admissions. CHAPEL University chapels and conferences are intended to bring the Biola communi ty together regularly for worship, spiritual nurture and education regarding relevant issues fac ing us in our lives. The overall program brings a unique distinction to the ethos of Biola as a Christian uni versity. Due to the cen tral and significant nature of that ethos, attendance at chapel is required of all students. THE COMMUNITY OF LA MIRADA The city of La Mirada is in Los Angeles County, 22 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles, and is surrounded by such cities as Whittier, Norwalk, Buena Park, La Habra and Fullerton. La Mirada is a suburban residential community with a population of 40,000. Included within the vicinity are several major shopping areas in addition to manyother business establishments. La Mirada is situated near many of the outstanding attrac tions of Southern California. Downtown Los Angeles is a half hour's drive from the campus. Disneyland is 12 miles to the southeast and famed Knott's Berry Farm is six miles away. Within an hour 's drive are such popular beach cities as Long Beach, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach and Laguna Beach. Recreational facilities are easily accessible. An 18-hole golf course lies a mile east of the campus and other parks in the area offer opportunity for activities and relaxation. An hour 's drive will take one into the nearby mountains where winter sports are available.
The existence of the Creation is not expla inable apart from the roles of Goel as the sovereign creator and sustainer of the entire natural rea lm. Concepts such as theistic or threshold evol uti on do not adeq uatelyexplain creation. Though there may be man y fillings of the Holy Spirit , there is only one bap ti sm whi ch occurs at the time of regen eration. The gifts of the Spirit are given to beli evers acco rd ing to the Will of Goel for the purpose of building up the Ch urch. During th e fo undati onal era of th e Ch urch (i.e., the time of Ch ri st and the Apostles) God gave spec ial mani festations of the overtly supernatural and miraculous gifts (e .g., tongues, healings, miracl es) as "signs" that witness to the validi ty of those bearing new canonical revelation (c.f. 2 Cor. 12:12; Heb. 2:3-4). Beyond the founda ti onal era , God in Hi s sovereignty may gran t any spiritual gift and work miraculously for the benefit of His Church at any time. The Bible is clear in its teach ing on th e sanctity of human life. Life beg in s at concepti on. We abhor th e destruction of innocent life through abo rtion-on-demand. Confession before men is viewed as tangi ble fruit of salva tion and not as a qualifying condition for salvation. Biola University does not necessarily denyemployment to persons merely for lack of firm personal convictions on any teaching position in these explanatory notes. However, Biola University does weigh carefull y the understanding and per sonal convicti ons of employment applicants on these points as we ll as the nature of their prospective work assignments, in determining their suitability for employment. TEACHING BIBLICAL STUDIES Academic study of the sacred Scripture differs from other disciplines in a university setting in that the primary text is God's Word, which underscores the importance of making instruction relevant to faith, learning and living. At Biola every effort is made to be academicall y credible, theo logica ll y ort hod ox and practically rel evant. Whether engaged in a critical discussion of the text, or a theological debate about a particu lar doctrine, the discussion must finally come to the meaning for life today. Though faculty members in this department share a commit ment to the convictions reflected in the University docninal state ment, they reflect a healthydiversity regarding other contempo rary issues and interpretation of specific passages. Whether a divergent view is held by others on campus or not, care is taken to represent opposing positions fairly, so that students can decide for themselves in agenuine educational environment. In practice, the task of teaching biblical studies is not lim ited to those within that department. Rather, the integration of Christian thought into all fields of inquiry is the goal of the entire teaching faculty. In this sense it is desired that every course contribute to the development of a Christian worldview for the Biola graduate. DIVERSITY STATEMENT We believe that Biola University has been uniquely situ ated within a geographic region of great diversity in language, culture, and ethnici ty for the purpose of fulfilling its mission of biblically-centered education, scholarship, and sei>'ice.
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