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By SAMUEL H. SUTHERLAND, D.D.
A Report on the New Accrediting Association by the Dean of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles
W ITHIN the last year there has taken place in the United States the most significant development in the Bible Institute movement since its inception half a century ago. For the first time in history, representatives of forty of the leading Bible Institutes and Bible Colleges met in conference to discuss and deal with their mutual problems. Early in the year, at Winona Lake, Indiana, January 29-31, the first conference was held, followed by another, October 14- 16, the results o f which were most gratifying. It was an im pressive gathering o f men who throughout the country are not only regarded as great educators, but who are also re spected as outstanding Christian leaders. Purpose These educators stated their motive as follows: “ Our first aim must always be the glory of God, which translated into the language o f education, means the highest academic standards within our power to attain, consistent with the sound development o f Christian character and faithful prepa ration for a Spirit-filled ministry, as we transmit our heri tage in the Word of God to the next generation.” The practi cal purpose o f these conferences was the formation o f the Accrediting Association o f Bible Institutes and Bible Colleges.
their four years o f work, especially in Bible, languages in cluding English, history, philosophy and psychology. In seek ing a change in this situation, the Accrediting Association is not asking for blanket recognition, but only fo r credit on the basis o f equivalency, that is, credit for subjects which overlap the college curricula. It is the hope and expectation o f the Accrediting Association that graduates o f schools which are members o f the Association will be able to have their credits transferred to recognized Christian colleges at full value on a basis o f equivalency. To accomplish this pur pose, Bible school courses must be standardized. Standardization The standards adopted by the Accrediting Association com pare favorably in a general way with those o f liberal arts colleges. There is no desire on the part o f the Association to enforce these standards in an arbitrary fashion. Space will not permit us to go into much detail as to the standards adopted by the Association. The mention o f a few highlights may make clearer the task o f this organization. Naturally, the most important decision has to do with Doctrine Bible Institutes and Bible Colleges holding membership in the accrediting organization must subscribe to the following doctrinal statement: We believe that there is one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible, authoritative Word o f God. We believe in the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicar ious death and atonement through His blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father and in His personal and visible return in power and glory. We believe that man was created in the image o f God, tempted by Satan and fell, and that because of the exceeding sinfulness of human nature, regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely necessary for salvation. We believe in the bodily resurrection of both the saved and the lost; those who are saved unto the resurrection of life and those who are lost unto the resurrection o f damnation. Other Requirements The type of instruction and the amount o f outside study re quired for each school will be considered in giving accredita tion. All standard educational methods including research work, seminar type of instruction, and other acceptable forms will be considered in giving accreditation. The regular mem bers of the faculty must have at least an M.A. degree or its academic equivalent. As to the library, there must be a minimum o f 5000 well-chosen books, properly catalogued. A minimum of $1.00 per student must be spent annually in the purchase of books, or the equivalent received by donation. Furthermore, the school must have completed at least seven years o f continuous operation as a Day School following the date o f its incorporation as a Bible Institute or Bible College. Evidence must be provided that the school is on a sound financial basis. In addition, there must be adequate and comfortable facilities for efficient training and housing o f students. (Continued on Page 29) THE K I N G ' S B U S I NE S S
Presidents and Deans of leading Bible Institutes and Bible Colleges
Necessity Years ago, a Bible Institute course was all that was thought necessary to fit young men and women for the ministry and other forms of Christian work. But, with increasingly higher educational standards in the world, Bible Institute students are feeling the need for higher education, and are entering colleges and universities. There they have had the ex perience of having their work in Bible schools greatly dis counted. This situation has led to a demand for recognition for the years spent in Bible Institutes, particularly on the part o f Christian colleges. The Christian colleges cannot be blamed in the matter. Those whose standards are high are members of educational associations; if they allow credit too easily, they jeopardize their standing with these associations. In some cases, these Christian colleges have been allowing almost two years’ credit for four years o f Bible Institute training, but this has been done only by validation, or by the students’ taking examinations in the subjects that they had completed during
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