A Legacy of Serving the Lord’s Church: The Impact of Pillsbury Baptist Bible College

I didn’t know too much about Pillsbury, but I learned a lot about it from the articles. It’s unfortunate that the school could not recover from it’s past errors, because all of the Pills. Alums that I’ve met have been wonderful people that I could easily count as friends.

I’ve not read these articles, but as one who is in the loop on some of what has gone on, I would say it is far to early to speculate on the precise reasons why the school closed. I know some would argue the school had sufficiently “recovered” from its past errors.

To be sure, this is one of those events that will serve as an excellent topic for a doctoral dissertation: An Examination of the Factors Which Contributed to the Closing of Pillsbury Baptist Bible College.

Thanks to my friend Jon P for these articles. Having lived thru 21/2 years of Pillsbury’ s history (and glad for every day of it and for the friends made and kept; and proud of my degree), Jon’s accounting rings true to me.

I transferred to PBBC from BJU in Jan ‘68, the middle of my soph year…and stepped into the Cedarholm controvesy very wet behind the ears (me, not Cedar). My general recollection when the fan was hit is the daily experience of little knots of students/pastors/parents/faculty/whoever scattered all over the commons whispering about the latest rumor: who said what, who is on whose “side,” what will happen tomorrow, what will happen when E Robert Jordan gets here, who do you believe, is there really going to be a new college, and on and on. Not a lot of “book larnin’ ” went on those last weeks, obviously.

My home church in Illinois was split…those going back to Pills and those going to the “miracle” were divided closely. I actually visited Watertown and was wavering a bit. Good advice from Doug Bookman and Jim Lutzweiler that summer tipped me back to P, and I had two more good years with some great profs like a young Larry Pettegrew…and shaking hands with the incoming Dr Rammel as I got my degree and left in 1970.

Jon nails it in saying the ‘68 controversy was whether the school would be board run or president run (always the rub, isn’t it?). The personalities out front were fascinating…RV Clearwaters, as board chair, was ever gruff, unmoveable, and not a little fear-inspiring. And when the president’s house was put off-limits to students, the image of “Doc’s” side was complete. If you’re thinking Darth Vader, you’re close.

Counter to that was Cedarholm. Tall, imposing, booming voice, personable, and the best glad-hander I ever saw. And he had connections seemingly in every Baptist church in the midwest, and never forgot a name or face. Playing a bit of the “victim,” it is not surprising that he could get Maranatha up and running so fast. (Note: I have no axe to grind with MBBC, no issues, and also no regrets that I didn’t go there; I wish the school nothing but God’s best!).

I followed the outplaying of the Pillsbury saga after that from my little pulpit in Alexandia, MN and now in Plymouth. I have my own evaluation of the developments and endgame…they don’t differ from Jon’s much.

Thanks, Jon, a nice job. Its sad to see my alma mater consigned to history, but for sure the ripples redound to the edification of many…me for sure.

Always a Comet,

Jim McLeish

[Matthew Olmstead] I’ve not read these articles, but as one who is in the loop on some of what has gone on, I would say it is far to early to speculate on the precise reasons why the school closed. I know some would argue the school had sufficiently “recovered” from its past errors.z

I think that the author of the articles demonstrates that the school had begun to recover, but that far too much damage had been done for it to survive. I met my first Pills alum in the late 90’s, and I never had any reason to believe that there was trouble until literally the day it’s closing was announced.