Robert Macdonald III

Received MS in Geology in 1977 from UCLA
Worked at the US Geological Survey from 1980 to 1994.
Retired in 1994.
Moved to Lebanon Missouri in 2005


Biographical Sketch: Robert Macdonald


My Ambassador experience was an adventure that included many things, from fascination to frustration, and challenging to controversial. Like most students, I started with a physical type job on the paint crew under Elmer Woodie and Warren Krieger. I became a very critical painter from then on, and saw to it that all my paint jobs be near perfect.

During my second year I took Ken Herrmann’s geology classes. Attempting to “reconcile” the long time periods of science and the biblical account, Historical geology as taught at Ambassador College was a combination of “flood geology” modified by Thomas Chalmers’ “gap theory” which was further modified by the Ken Herrmann’s “two flood” model. The resulting highly speculative model included two catastrophes (a speculated catastrophe at Lucifer’s Rebellion, and Noah’s Flood) which accounted for almost all of the geologic record, a Genesis 1:1 creation followed by a re-creation. After taking Ken Herrmann’s geology classes, I went to work for him, eventually teaching both his classes. Dick Burky, a fellow student and AC employee also took these geology classes. Ken Herrmann had encouraged both of us to take geology classes at Pasadena City College which included numerous field trips. After studying the real world as revealed on the field trips (supplementing what was learned in class) as opposed to what others said about it by many creationists, Dick and I concluded that much of what was said about geology in books that were used in AC classes such as “The Genesis Flood”, “The Deluge Story in Stone“ and “Evolutionary Geology and the New Catastrophism” was vastly different from the real world. Neither was the geologic model taught at AC aligned with reality. Though the “gap theory” left much to be desired, Dick and I held onto it as the only way we knew of, to “reconcile” the Bible and science. After Bernard Ramm demolished the “gap theory” in his “Christian View of Science and Scripture”, we decided that we needed to reconsider the “gap theory“ . Subsequently Dr. Hugh Ross with his organization “Reasons to Believe” proposed a model that I believe “reconciles” science and the Bible much better than the “gap theory”.

As we continued our studies, Dick wrote a series of very professional-looking papers showing the geological development of the real world as showcased in the strata of the Grand Canyon and other areas of the Southwest. His choice of the area of study demonstrated an observable sequence that was independent of any piecing together of widely separated sequences according to “evolutionary theory”. He proposed a concept of “developmentalism” or a series of “creative acts” or interventions by God which better explained the change in the fossil record over time better than Darwinian evolution. This concept is similar to today’s “Intelligent Design” or “ID“. His papers covered many facets of what can be learned from a study of the real world including analysis of seven “time indicators” preserved in the geologic record that could not be explained by “flood geology”.

I wrote up a multiage 3/8” thick memo cataloging many details demonstrating that the vast majority of the geologic record necessitates long time periods. Like Dick Burky’s papers I included a detailed study of “time indicators” in the geologic record that could not be explained by the rapid deposition of the geologic strata such as might be produced by Noah‘s Flood. However, unlike Dick, I did not keep a low profile and circulated my memo widely. Thus ensued the “memo wars“! Several memos (3/8 inches thick) were written against the idea that the geologic record representing long time periods were launched by a couple WCG staffers and one layman; however there was no opposition from any AC authority, faculty member, nor minister! I was reviled as an “apostate” by these unofficial sources for believing in a different geological model than the “accepted” one!

However at AC, cooler heads prevailed! Faculty members Herman Hoeh and Ken Herrmann, the perceived authorities on such matters, withheld comment, refusing to take sides. Both agreed that they had neither the knowledge nor the expertise to either affirm nor refute what Dick Burky and I had learned about the slow processes involved in geological history! I have to give Dick a lot of credit for his support. I don’t believe I could have held to my convictions alone. I also appreciated help, support and suggestions from staffer Gene Hughes. I continued teaching both geology courses and conducting field trips on which I pointed out features recorded in the geologic record that could not have been produced by catastrophism or “flood geology“. Not only that but Herman Hoeh gave me the go-ahead to pursue a Masters Degree in geology on “company time“! I took courses at Cal. State LA and started on my MS in geology at UCLA.

However other forces were at work. Budgetary and other considerations forced the closure of the Science Department. Though a diminished version of it later reopened, it was closed permanently after a couple years. By the time I had achieved the minimum educational requirements for my job as an instructor, my job was abolished. However thanks to my military service and the GI Bill, I continued my studies at UCLA, receiving my MS in geology in 1977. Then qualified to work at the United States Geological Survey, I worked there until I retired in 1994. Dick Burky, however went even further in his studies, receiving a PhD in geology. He continues teaching at Cal. Poly well into his 70‘s.

Bottom line: I had spent much time and effort during my AC days in an intellectual pursuit that proved to be, as far as salvation is concerned, a “tempest in a teapot”. During the last few years God showed me that the history of the earth is one of the many, many issues that He does not require us to get correct to be acceptable to Him! “Young earthers“, “not-so-young earthers” and “ancient earthers” like me can not all be correct. It is likely that none of us have it altogether correct! However by God’s grace and mercy, none of us have to be correct! Indeed, if we had to get everything correct, not a one of us could be saved! No, God allows us to get many things wrong and have salvation in Him! I thank God for His patience, grace, and mercy!

I have not been called to preach; nor have I been called to “straighten out“ perceived errors in the theological views of other Christians. God has taught me that I should be ready to give an answer for the faith that He has given me. But beyond that I am just to stand aside and let Him work with each of His children individually. I am resolved to accept and love my brothers and sisters in Christ for where they are with the Lord and who they are in Him!

When I entered Ambassador in 1958 even at the age of 26 I was not certain how to act and react. I looked to the more advanced students as examples. Three months after classes started in December, someone suggested going to the Christmas Eve mass at the a Catholic church in downtown Los Angeles. I had never been to anything like that. I had a car so I took 5 other students there. Though not a formal date, I sat next to a Sophomore coed. Earlier she had eaten an apple and put the core into her purse. The offering plates were passed and she took out her apple core, put it into an envelope and dropped it into the plate. I was aghast, but she was a Sophomore, and she seemed to know what to do! I reasoned that as we were in what we regarded as a "synogogue of Satan", this must be must be a way to show our disrespect! So I sat there and said nothing. I should have stopped her! Wherever you are, Bev, please forgive me for not being a man!