
50 years
Theology Department
Retiring September 1, 2020

Since joining the faculty at Walla Walla University in 1970, Alden Lloyd Thompson has been a devoted voice of reason and faith for the Seventh-day Adventist Church, for his colleagues in the WWU School of Theology, and for his students. Over five decades he has shared his knowledge and understanding of the Old Testament and the subject of inspiration and revelation in the classroom and in books and published works that have been distributed around the world.
In addition to his work as a professor of biblical studies at WWU, he has contributed numerous articles to a variety of publications and has written regular columns for the Signs of the Times, the North Pacific Union Conference Gleaner, and Adventist Today. Thompson’s speaking engagements and writings cover many topics, including the Bible (especially the Old Testament), Ellen White studies, biblical inspiration and revelation, and Seventh-day Adventist church history.
Thompson’s books include: Who’s Afraid of the Old Testament God?; Inspiration: Hard Questions, Honest Answers; Escape from the Flames: How Ellen White Grew from Fear to Joy—and Helped Me to Do it Too; and Beyond Common Ground: Why Liberals and Conservatives Need Each Other.
Thompson graduated from Walla Walla College in 1965 with a bachelor of arts degree with majors in theology and biblical studies. He graduated from Andrews University with a master of arts degree in 1966 and a bachelor of divinity degree in 1967. From 1967 to 1970, he served as a pastor in southeastern California, first for the Redlands Adventist Church and then for the Fontana Adventist Church, and in 1970 he joined the faculty in the WWU School of Theology. From 1972 to 1974 he attended the University of Edinburgh in Scotland where he completed a doctor of philosophy degree in Old Testament and Judaic studies.
Thompson taught at Marienhoehe Seminary in Darmstadt, Germany, in 1980 and 1981 as an exchange teacher. From 1986 to 1990 he served as vice president for academic administration at WWU, and in 1990 he returned to teaching in the WWU School of Theology.
He was a member of the Walla Walla Symphony board from 1986 to 1992, is the recipient of the 1991 WWU Burlington Northern Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Teaching, and in 1993 received the Association of SDA Librarians Literary Award for Inspiration.
Thompson has been married to Wanda Hoffman since 1965. They have two daughters.
One of Thompson’s colleagues described him as “a devout man who, by both word and deed, tries to live out the particulars of his faith … a man who has a long history of demonstrating great concern for students and their well-being and progress … and one who has a great love for the Church.”
Thompson says that the word gratitude best sums up his 50 years at WWU: “For me, gratitude is one of the most powerful of motivators. As I look back on my experience at WWC/WWU, I find myself nearly overwhelmed by a sense of gratitude—first to my teachers when I was here as a student (1961–65), then to my colleagues and students from 1970 on.
“This is a community where we seek to trust one another and where we live in hope of a better world—while seeking to make this world as much like that new world while we wait. I hope and pray that we can work together to keep that vision alive.”
Alden, I have so many memories of my interactions with you as a student--chatting in your office when you were my advisor, weeding together in your flowerbed while doing oral review for the senior exit exam, singing together around the piano in Heubach, sharing stories not as a removed academic endeavor but rather as a way to highlight our unique experiences and find emotional connection with our fellow humans. So often these days I find myself wondering how I came to a certain view--about personality and religious experience, about people mattering above all else--and many times I trace the development of that perspective back to the legacy I received from you. Thank you for modeling a whole-hearted, all-in way of showing up in community and wrestling together as we learn what it looks like to flourish as imperfect human beings in the beautiful, messy world in which we live. I am grateful for you and your family and the many ways you've supported my journey.
—Jody Washburn
Alden, thank you for your many years serving Walla Walla University in different ways. I'm sure you will continue your serve. May God richly bless you in our community in the future!
—Cheri Wolcott
AT! I have appreciated your approach to the Bible and it has helped me tremendously in my own spiritual walk. Your dedication to not only helping students have a basic knowledge of Scripture (memorizing the books of the Bible) but also encouraging us to dig deeper, to see the culture behind the words. I have always looked back fondly on the classes I took from you. Thank you!
—Nick Jones
Hi Dr. Thompson, this is a note from your mischievous student in a Bible class in 2010 who ruined your main point of comparing unkind, mean piano teachers to the vegetable pie analogy in class ... and then pranked you 5 years later by putting a Christmas gift of dollar bills and candy bars by your office door, hahahaha. And yes, my amazing teacher, Mrs. Myrn Corban, had an entire closet dedicated to the weekly treats she handed out as prizes for piano practice, along with her crisp new $1 bills. I'm still not sorry I spoke up that day 10 years ago, haha. I wish you all the best as you retire. Thanks for sharing the ever entertaining and hilarious quotes in class. They made excellent Verbatim material for the Collegian. :)
—Brenna Johnson (Nakamura)
Alden, Congratulations on 50 years of service to WWU!! That is so incredible. During that time your ministry has impacted thousands of students! I've been blessed to have worked with you as a colleague in the School of Theology for just a small portion of your time here---the last fifteen years. I still remember the enjoyable walk and conversation we had when I came on campus to interview--and all the good conversations which have followed in the subsequent years. I appreciate the love you have showed for your students and the deep concern you have for the church. Thanks for being such an inspiring colleague.
—Carl Cosaert
Hello Alden! We've never really met, but over the two years I've worked here at WWU, I've enjoyed seeing you walk to and from campus. We travel a similar route to the university. Though I haven't had personal interaction with you, I have heard from so many of your former students that I feel like I know you...at least a little. Thank you for your years of service.
—Dale Milam
Congratulations on your retirement and, especially, on reaching 50 years of service. That is an unbelievable achievement and you have been such a blessing during those 50 years to WWC/U and the SDA Church more broadly. I will always have very fond memories of team teaching Religion in a Social Context with you for a number of years. That was a real pleasure. It has been an honor to be your colleague and friend.
—Greg Dodds
Alden, since your days as an active Walla Walla student, you have been an effective advocate for ideas and people. You care a lot and that is seen in your passion for sharing concerns you have and advocating for causes and people in whom you believe. Thank you for continuing to be a tireless recruiter for good things.
—Darold Bigger
Alden, "back in the day" I entered your class as a skeptical, irritated and fed-up-to-here Adventist teenager who did not want to be bothered by one more sugar-coated Adventist platitude. I will never forget the moment you leaned over the lectern, your reading glasses at the end of your nose, and peered at us. "We Adventists are a kooky bunch," you said. And I was hooked. I was an Adventist when I entered your class, but I became an Adventist because of your class — the questions, the prodding, the way you presented things so realistically all had significant influence on who I am today. And you made it clear that our imperfect church could evolve enough for us all to be in it.
Thank you, Alden, for your years of reflection and prayer, and for sharing with all of us along the way.
Many blessings to you!
—Jodi Wagner
Alden, it was some time ago I first stepped into your classroom as a student a bit unsure of what to expect. Throughout that quarter and over the years since, I've grown to appreciate you more and more. Thank you so much for your life of service to WWU, it's students and the Lord! You continue to be a blessing to so many!
—Troy Patzer
Thank you, Alden, for five decades of dedication and investment in the mission of WWU. For some years I had the privilege of tracking your work on an annual basis at West Coast Religion Teachers Conference. For the past fourteen years, it has been more up close and personal, which I have appreciated very much. Thank you for teaching my children. Thank you for your interest in our shared piety in the form of worship ... and early morning worship. Thank you for your love for students with challenging questions and for walking them through positive ways to engage those questions. Your personal commitment to WWU, its mission, and its students is exemplary and I congratulate you on five amazing decades.
—John McVay
Hi Alden,
Thank you for your service to WWU. My daughter, Kandyce Unterseher King, said you helped her understand the bible, and really made her think about why she was an SDA. Kandyce so appreciated her time in your classroom.
As a mom, I'm thrilled Kandyce had the privilege of being one of your students.
Warm regards,
—Renee Unterseher
Fifty years is quite the commitment, Alden! Thank you so much for your commitment to Walla Walla University, our alma mater, you have touched so many lives and have left special fingerprints in the lives of your students and in the lives of colleagues, including me.
My favorite memory of you is your prayer right before a test in your class, something like: "Help the students remember what they studied and help them to guess intelligently what they didn't." I have adopted this prayer with my own two kids and we say it always before a test.
Thank you for your caring and giving heart, and blessings in your retirement!
—Claudia Santellano
I remember working for Dr. Thompson in the Theology Department (1993-1996). It was always an adventure. He married my husband and me in 1996.
—Valerie Rexin
Alden, you are amazing! I never saw anyone approach 50 years of service during the time I was at WWU. I'm guessing you hold the record. And you continue to be legendary in the lives of so many of us who have been taught by, and worked with, you. I was just telling one of our AIIAS professors about you yesterday, as he was bestowing a book he wrote on me. Thank you for doing so much writing, that has blessed the lives of so many. May God continue to bless and keep you. You deserve every accolade!
—Ginger Ketting-Weller
Alden, I remember your corner kill shots in Racquetball. Even now whenever we are fortunate to emulate one of your famous shots, we will say your name, with due reverence!
Best wishes always,
—Ken Vyhmeister
Alden, as a fourth generation Adventist, I have been raised with a lot of knowledge of our church. This year I have read two of your books, Beyond Common Ground and Escape from the Flames. Having lived a lifetime in our church with both liberals and conservatives, I found your book about how we need each other, both liberal and conservative, quite positive and refreshing. In the times we live right now, in 2020, if only more people could "love your neighbor as yourself." What a kinder, less stressful and peaceful world we would have.
I also want to thank you for helping me see the growth that took place in Ellen White's life from the beginning of her writings to the later years. It was inspiring to see how she grew from fear to joy. From my childhood of fear based religion to the joy of grace in my own life's experience, it really helped me understand why some of those books written in her earlier years are the way they are.
My husband and I are enjoying your leadership in the Chan Shun Sabbath School class. In all of your teaching and writing thank you for making all of us think. Congratulations on 50 years of service and still serving. Job well done, sir.
—Liana St Clair

Dr. Thompson. Your kind advising as I struggled along my Spiritual path and your Inspiration and Revelation class were instrumental in directing me on my journey towards the Divine. I owe you a world of gratitude. You, like Abraham, were blessed to be a blessing.
—Kelly B. Jones
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