Why Bible Colleges Are Closing…
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Fundamentalism is waning … I presume that most here agree with this …
On the BJU thread Wally lamented that in his view BJU was attempting to broaden its base
[WallyMorris]The “real problem” is the changes current BJU administration are making in order to broaden the appeal and enrollment. These changes slowly but surely are changing the Biblical Fundamentalist nature of the school into something broadly conservative Evangelical.
I am not endorsing his view but consider this:
- If your “customer base” is in decline (and it is! Fundamentalism is in decline!)
- If a school doesn’t broaden its base, the school will decline. (at some juncture reach a tipping point and close)
- Re: BJU: They have already shuttered dorms (don’t have the specifics)
Great comments on some of the successes seen in some of the Christian Schools, that is awesome.
I know there are quite a few Bible Colleges doing well. No one really talks about Boyce College on here, which is the undergraduate school for Southern. It has only been open for about 15 years and I know there numbers are increasing fairly rapidly.
You wrote:
Of course, my experience does not prove Bible college is necessary any more than anyone else’s experience proves Bible college is unnecessary.
I agree. I think Bible Colleges serve a vital purpose, and many young men have and will continue to profit from them. Everybody has to make their own decision, based on their circumstances and context. I always appreciate your remarks about Christian education; after all, you have an Ed.D., so I know you know what you’re talking about on this topic!
Tyler is a pastor in Olympia, WA and works in State government.
I wonder what share of success stories for Christian educational institutions is due to the following factors:
1) For Bible colleges, the closure of other Bible colleges
2) For Christian schools, the ever-worsening conditions of public schools.
R. Scott Clark just posted a great article on #2, btw, on his Heidelblog. It’s quite the read (“Why It Is Reasonable Not To Send Your Children To Public School”).
….is that the old model of “go within a day’s drive of home” doesn’t restrict options as well with 75mph speed limits, airline deregulation, and the internet. Like it or not, Faith and Central are competing with BJU, Maranatha, and Liberty in a way they never had to before.
Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.
I’m speaking from firsthand experience when I say that Baptist Bible Seminary (Clarks Summit) is doing a good job of providing accessible, accredited, quality, dispensational seminary training through the online venue. In addition to Masters training, they also offer a top-notch online Ph.D. program.
Thomas Overmiller
Pastor | StudyGodsWord.com
Blog | ShepherdThoughts.com
[TylerR]I always appreciate your remarks about Christian education; after all, you have an Ed.D., so I know you know what you’re talking about on this topic!
That’s “Mister ED! to you!”
[Jim]:)TylerR wrote:
I always appreciate your remarks about Christian education; after all, you have an Ed.D., so I know you know what you’re talking about on this topic!
That’s “Mister ED! to you!”
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Greg Long, Ed.D. (SBTS)
Pastor of Adult Ministries
Grace Church, Des Moines, IA
Adjunct Instructor
School of Divinity
Liberty University
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