The four-year journey of the Andrews University-run Ellen White and Adventist Studies Graduate Certificate Program ended on February 22, 2024, at a ceremony held at the AIIAS Amphitheatre. For Adventist college and university instructors who don't have doctorates in Adventist Studies, the General Conference Ellen White Estate and Andrews University created the program. The program aims to improve the educational skills of Seventh-Day Adventist Research Directors and archive directors, with an emphasis on Ellen White and Adventist history. The certificate is earned after completing 18 units of 600-level study and is a significant accomplishment for educators seeking to improve Adventist education.
The certificate program was divided into four separate cohorts, covering Europe and North America, South America, Asia, and Africa. The most recent group included twenty college and university representatives from the South Pacific Division (SPD), Southern Asia Pacific Division (SSD), and Northern Asia Pacific Division (NSD), demonstrating the program's wide global coverage. Notable participants who successfully completed the program include individuals from various countries, such as the Philippines, China, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Myanmar, Taiwan, Thailand, and Indonesia.
Dr. Merlin Burt, Director of the White Estate, encouraged participants to deeply engage with the profound teachings of the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy. He also motivated them to enthusiastically share the knowledge they acquired from their group study. He highlighted the fundamental elements of Seventh-day Adventist beliefs, 'Scripture and Salvation,' as the essential foundations on which all other parts are built. Dr. Burt explained the unique beliefs of the Adventist faith, such as the Second Coming, Sanctuary, Sabbath, Spirit of Prophecy, and State of the Dead. He focused on 2 Peter 1:19 to emphasize the trustworthiness of the prophetic message as a guiding light in dark times, comparing it to Revelation 22:16, which portrays Jesus as the 'morning star' appearing in the hearts of believers. Dr. Burt highlighted that the spirit of prophecy helps reveal hidden aspects of the human heart, allowing the 'morning star,' representing Jesus, to rise within Christians and enhance their relationship with the Scriptures.
Distinguished guests acknowledged the program, including Dr. John Wesley Taylor, President of Andrews University, who sent a video message of congratulations. Dr. Jiri Moskala, the Dean of the Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews, gave his comments online, and then Dr. Ricardo Gonzales, Dean of AIIAS Theological Seminary, spoke. Dr. Audrey, Vice President of the General Conference and Chair of both AIIAS and the White Estate Board, led a solemn dedicatory prayer to close the occasion. Dr. Merlin Burt added a personal touch to the celebration by presenting each graduating student with a keepsake, which was a copy of the Ellen White Encyclopedia book, as a gesture of thanks.
Pastor Edgar Bryan Tolentino, SSD Spirit of Prophecy Director, and Pastor Mahaingam Varah from AIU, Thailand, both participants in the cohort, expressed their appreciation for the significant knowledge acquired from the training. They gave Dr. Burt a class gift to show their gratitude for the program's positive influence on their career and personal development.
The program faced substantial hurdles from the beginning. The courses 'Teaching Ellen White' and 'History of Seventh-Day Adventists' were taught by Dr. Merlin Burt and Dr. Denis Kaiser, respectively. They began in late January at AIIAS, despite the recent Taal volcano eruption nearby. This commencement became more complex as it occurred barely two weeks before the beginning of the COVID-19 epidemic.
Classes were suspended for two years due to restrictions and safety concerns. They resumed in January 2023 with the courses 'Historiography' and 'Issues in Ellen White' taught by Dr. Kevin Burton and Dr. Denis Kaiser. The latter part of the program, including 'The Theology of Ellen White' and 'Adventist Studies Archival Research,' took place from February 5–22, 2024. The last Archival Research class included a significant examination of notable archives in the Philippines, such as the Ateneo de Manila University Archives, the University of Sto. Tomas Archives, the Archive of the Congress, and the National Archives.
The program's learning outcomes are strategically designed to equip students for effective research, demonstrating expertise in Ellen White studies, Adventist theology, and history. Participants are expected to develop a deep understanding of Ellen G. White's writings about the prophetic gift and be able to use hermeneutics to interpret them in a way that is both firmly rooted in biblical principles and in line with what the author originally meant. The curriculum further mandates a comprehensive grasp of the substance, key issues, and processes associated with Ellen White and the evolution of Adventist theology. Graduates will contribute to the enhancement of local and regional capacities for documenting the history of God's work in the church within their communities, ultimately qualifying them to teach specialized subjects, such as Ellen White and Adventist studies, at an undergraduate level.
Edgar Bryan Tolentino, SSD Spirit of Prophecy Director