Current thinking in the geologic community accepts and promotes time frames and interpretations of depositional systems that are problematic with respect to the belief system of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Because radiometric dating and order in the fossil record are globally recognized and accepted, they are among the most serious challenges. Only slightly less challenging are phenomena that are time related but more controversial within the geologic community, such as paleomagnetism, cooling of large igneous bodies, varves, reefs and stromatolites, fossil intermediates, some environments of deposition, and some aspects of biogeography.

How should the church deal with these issues? There are two obvious approaches, 1) recognize the problematic areas inherent to each process (poke holes) or, 2) conduct research suggested by understandings of the Genesis account of earth history. While there is some validity to the first approach such as, challenging the interpretation of the distribution of the isotopes in radiometric dating, we typically fall into the trap of nitpicking e.g., arguing over margins of error. The Geoscience Research Institute, using both approaches, has focused on and continues to follow the second approach through the efforts of staff research and providing grants for similar research conducted by non-staff researchers. The advantages to the second approach are numerous: different questions are asked, credibility is established, information is distributed, science is advanced, the geologic community is influenced, new lines of thinking are inspired, and most importantly, faith in the Bible is strengthened.

Are the challenges being met? As research progresses, yes, challenges are being met. In Wyoming, Arizona, coastal Peru, Patagonia, as well as global studies, conventional theories have been successfully challenged and new theories, theories consistent with the Biblical accounts of earth history are gradually being accepted. Research opportunities using this approach are vast. The primary current restraint on more research is a lack of trained researchers committed to this approach, but where limited research has been conducted, there is progress. Consequently, no good reason exists for the Seventh-day Adventist Church to abandon or alter its Bible-based belief system on the basis of current scientific theories.