LA MIRADA, CALIF. --- Biola University’s ‘Red Book’ will be the guest of honor this Friday, January 9, 2009 for the annual affirmation of the “Workers’ Register and Articles of Faith.” The ceremonial signing will take place in Calvary Chapel at Biola University where the members of the Board of Trustees will reaffirm their commitment to Biola’s mission by signing the book.
The “Workers’ Register and Articles of Faith,” popularly known as the ‘Red Book,’ is signed annually in December by the Board of Trustees at a private meeting. However, this year on the heels of Biola’s 100th anniversary, the event will be open to the public and each signing hereafter will be open to the Biola community. Over the last eighty years Biola’s leaders, such as Louis Talbot, Charles Fuller, Lula Stewart and founder T.C. Horton, have signed the book as an affirmation of Biola’s core values and commitment to the University’s mission.
The ceremony has only been public one other time, twenty-five years ago during Biola’s seventy-fifth anniversary. As Biola enters its second century with a new president, the signing will now be public perpetually in an effort to include the entire Biola community in this fundamental moment to uphold Biola in its deepest convictions.
“The annual signing of the ‘Red Book’ is an outward demonstration of Biola’s commitment to the University’s time-honored biblical heritage, the foundation of Biola’s core mission and values,” said President Barry H. Corey. “This event is of historical significance for the university as a whole as we launch our second century and should be witnessed by the members of the Biola community.”
The book, printed circa 1927, has been signed annually by the Board of Trustees and was originally signed by all employees. However, as Biola grew it was decided the Board would be the only members to sign the book. Instead faculty and staff now each sign Biola’s doctrinal statement upon their hire.
Biola’s doctrinal statement is printed at the top of each page in the book and matches the original doctrinal statement that is a section of the Articles of Incorporation.
This significant and historical ceremony will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 12 am. on Friday, January 9, 2009 in Calvary Chapel at Biola University. The event is open to the Biola community as well as the La Mirada community.