(Cross-posted from Orange County Progressive)
Dana Rohrabacher's earmarks in the omnibus spending bill include $428,000 in two separate earmarks for the avowedly fundamentalist Vanguard University for science and nursing education.
Vanguard is proud of their association with the Assemblies of God, a denomination that
believes strongly that God has declared great displeasure and opposition toward homosexual conduct." Homosexual orientation is not genetically determined. Ministers and psychologists are successfully treating homosexuality with success. Members are encouraged to reach out to homosexuals in love, so that they may repent and receive forgiveness. Churches practicing a gay-friendly theology of compassion are lowering God’s holy standard to mankind’s preferences, and this is an abomination in God’s sight.
Sounds like the kind of place where they really could use some money for science education, but with the many pressing needs in the district, why is money being allocated to a fundamentalist college?
Vanguard's application includes a "Christian Experience Essay" and requests a Pastoral Reference
On a separate sheet of paper, answer the following questions completely in your own words. One page maximum per question.
Type-written essays required. Essays will be evaluated on content as well as form and style.
- Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal savior? If so, describe how you came to know Christ and explain how your relationship with Him impacts your daily life and morality.
- Describe your present and past involvement in church and ministry activities.
Faith Confession from Vanguard's website.
As a Christian comprehensive university of liberal arts and professional studies, informed by its evangelical persuasion and Pentecostal heritage, VU affirms the following confession of faith. We believe:
* The Bible to be the inspired and only infallible and authoritative Word of God.
* That there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.
* In the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in his virgin birth, in his sinless life, in his miracles, in his vicarious and atoning death, in his bodily resurrection, in his ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in his personal, future return to this earth in power and glory to rule over the nations.
* That the only means of being cleansed from sin is through repentance and faith in the precious blood of Christ.
* That regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential for personal salvation.
* That the redemptive work of Christ on the cross provides healing of the human body in answer to believing prayer.
* That the baptism in the Holy Spirit, according to Acts 2:4, is given to believers who ask for it.
* In the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a holy life.
* In the resurrection of both the saved and the lost, the one to everlasting life and the other to everlasting damnation.
And after a scathing report, Vanguard is currently having trouble with accreditation and finances.
From the Register College Life Blog:
A decision about the accreditation status of Vanguard University has been postponed until June, to give the university time to put into effect some of the changes that accreditors had been requesting, the college said late Monday night.
Vanguard officials had asked the Western Association of Schools and Colleges to delay any decision on its future until its next quarterly meeting, so that the university can make some required changes in how it’s governed.
The commission wants the university of 2,000 students to show it can operate with an independent board of trustees, and to demonstrate how it will get out of a severe financial jam that reports say was caused by previous mismanagement.