Alden Thompson, professor of biblical studies, presented Walla Walla College’s 2003–04 Distinguished Faculty Lecture on Nov. 16. Thompson’s lecture, “Driven Away From the Presence of the Lord: The Longing for Community,” addressed the challenges to community in the modern age.
Thompson also addressed opportunities for Adventism to provide an inclusive community, rather than an exclusive one. He discussed his vision for the Adventist community, which includes being a model of how a diverse group can come together in love and learn to live with differences.
Thompson graduated from Walla Walla College in 1965 with majors in theology and biblical languages. He earned a master’s degree in biblical and systematic theology from Andrews University in 1966 and a bachelor of divinity, also from Andrews University, in 1967. He received a doctoral degree in biblical and Judaic studies from the University of Edinburgh in 1975.
Employed by WWC since 1970, Thompson has served as a teacher as well as vice president for academic administration for four years. He has also served as associate pastor and pastor of churches in Redlands, Calif., and Fontana, Calif. Thompson is the author of two books: Who’s Afraid of the Old Testament God? (Paternoster, 1988, reprinted by Pacesetters Bible School, 2000, 2003) and Inspiration: Hard Questions, Honest Answers (Review and Herald, 1991).
Transcripts of Thompson’s lecture and previous distinguished faculty lectures are available at http://www.wwc.edu/about-us/lectures/.
Alden Thompson Walla Walla College professor of biblical studies, presented the Distinguished Faculty Lecture.
