Clearwater Christian College closing
Message from the Board of Directors: Clearwater Christian College closing
“In order to address the challenges of declining enrollment, increased debt, and lack of significant endowments or other revenue sources, the board and administration of Clearwater Christian College thoroughly investigated a variety of short term and long term viability options. Unfortunately the related due diligence process did not yield a resourced solution to the operational stress points of the college which could ensure completion of another academic school year.”
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http://www.bju.edu/news/2015-06-08-ccc.php
The Bob Jones University family is greatly saddened by the closing of Clearwater Christian College. We have great respect and appreciation for what Clearwater—through the people who have served there—has accomplished in the lives of thousands of students. We admire them for faithfully providing graduates solid academic preparation from a biblical perspective for nearly half a century. Their graduates excel in the marketplace and in ministry, both here in the U.S. and around the world. The ministry of CCC will continue through the lives of those they served.
Our hearts go out to each member of the Clearwater community. We are praying for you—students, faculty and staff—as you look to the Lord for His provision.
Steve Pettit
President
I think there are a lot of opportunity for Christian education/discipleship in this changing environment. Instead of looking at the community college as a competitor to the Bible College, why not structure online or modular Bible classes so that a BA degree from a Bible college could be awarded in conjunction with an AS degree from the community college once the proper requirements are met?
I also see a need for seminaries to look at where they attract students from and how they will continue to focus on training while recognizing that the majority of their students may not be coming from a Bible College background.
Most important of all, I hope local churches will see how important discipleship really is, as they equip saints for the work of the ministry as they use the gift of pastor/teacher that Christ gave them. No doubt Bible College and seminary have a role in equipping the saints as well and we should be thankful for that role, but the closing of so many Bible colleges is a reminder that local churches are so very important and that they should not look to others for the primary discipleship role. Perhaps if so much was not being spent on Bible colleges, then the congregation could spend that money on hiring another pastor to help train the members. Of course he would have to have been trained somewhere.
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