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DoUnaccredited, Local-Church Bible Colleges....

K

ktn4eg

New Member
..... still have a useful role to play?

What I am referring to is whether or not such Bible colleges that are primarily designed for so-called "lay persons" such as SS teachers, etc., who do not plan to be preachers/pastors, etc., can still fulfill a useful educational ministry for a local church?

(NOTE: I respectively request that all of your responses [either "pro" or "con"] stick to the topic of the OP.]

Thanks.
 
Greektim

Greektim

Well-Known Member
ktn4eg said:
..... still have a useful role to play?

What I am referring to is whether or not such Bible colleges that are primarily designed for so-called "lay persons" such as SS teachers, etc., who do not plan to be preachers/pastors, etc., can still fulfill a useful educational ministry for a local church?

(NOTE: I respectively request that all of your responses [either "pro" or "con"] stick to the topic of the OP.]

Thanks.
Click to expand...
If those "bible colleges" are for the lay people at all... then why call it a college where a degree is involved. Is that not serving the flesh? I like the idea of the church training its own leaders for service and ministry. Call it what you like. But advertising it as an institution of higher learning is deceitful.
 
J

JohnDeereFan

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
ktn4eg said:
..... still have a useful role to play?

What I am referring to is whether or not such Bible colleges that are primarily designed for so-called "lay persons" such as SS teachers, etc., who do not plan to be preachers/pastors, etc., can still fulfill a useful educational ministry for a local church?

(NOTE: I respectively request that all of your responses [either "pro" or "con"] stick to the topic of the OP.]

Thanks.
Click to expand...

I sure hope they have a role to play because I currently teach at one.

Greektim said:
If those "bible colleges" are for the lay people at all... then why call it a college where a degree is involved.
Click to expand...

What should we call it?

advertising it as an institution of higher learning is deceitful.
Click to expand...

Why?
 
E

exscentric

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Just some random thoughts:

If for training of laypeople there is definitely a place for church schools. If they are meant to be Bible colleges then they should have faculty that can do the job.

I taught at a 3 year Bible institute and found over the time there that few of the graduates actually entered into full time ministry though some did and did very well in the ministry. The others became active in local churches and seemed to be a tremendous asset. Thus, overall the school seemed to be preparing the students well. This was a diploma, not a degree program and independent of a church though worked closely with local churches.

Since the church is to prepare the saints to do the work of the church it seems that small schools would be quite useful, especially if drawing folks from other churches that may be too small to run such a training program.
 
Greektim

Greektim

Well-Known Member
Salty said:
Higher Ed is anything past college.

Are they advertising they will get a degree, or just a diploma.
Click to expand...
False: "education beyond the secondary level [that is high school btw]; especially: education provided by a college or university"


http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/higher education


As for the diploma... I guess a church can hand those out, although I hear diploma I think of formal education. For me, there is little difference. And the term "college" implies formal education. That is all well and good, but "college" also implies degrees conferred (i.e. titles as well). Can't the church simply educate its people? Give them a document saying they have passed all the courses... whatever. But call it what it is, not what the world has put into place.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Greektim

Greektim

Well-Known Member
JohnDeereFan said:
I agree, but why can't we call it a college?
Click to expand...
Why the need? It really isn't, not in the true sense of what a college is. Colleges confer degrees and titles. Why would a sunday school teacher need a degree and piece of paper that says bachelors of such and such if not just to feed the flesh with titles. Now if they were entering the professional or academic world where such titles are important b/c the education behind the title is important, then very well. But that is not what the OP described.
 
John of Japan

John of Japan

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
If local church Bible colleges and Bible schools have no role to play, then missionaries all over the world are failing. There are many countries which do not much regulate such colleges and schools, and others which have no accreditation system. You in America are incredibly blessed by the educational choices you have.

In other countries such as Japan the government basically lets Christians do whatever we want. At less than 1% of the population we are beneath their notice. On the other hand, there are a few colleges that started out as Bible colleges and are now well-known accredited colleges--and totally liberal in their theology departments.

I've taught in two such church-run Bible schools and am greatly blessed to be able to do so and help people learn to serve God. (For the record, I have a regionally accredited MABS.)
 
G

go2church

Active Member
Site Supporter
Probably not, if they are of the type that are trying to pass themselves off as an actual college, when in reality they are an indoctrination station feeding someone's ego and in a few cases, filling their pockets.

If a church wants to start an institute of some kind to train up workers for the ministry, that's great, but that does not a college make. Just be honest, don't play games.
 
Greektim

Greektim

Well-Known Member
go2church said:
Probably not, if they are of the type that are trying to pass themselves off as an actual college, when in reality they are an indoctrination station feeding someone's ego and in a few cases, filling their pockets.

If a church wants to start an institute of some kind to train up workers for the ministry, that's great, but that does not a college make. Just be honest, don't play games.
Click to expand...
Whole hearted agreement with this post answering the OP.
 
Dr. Bob

Dr. Bob

Administrator
Administrator
Such "colleges/seminaries" had a big role in the small group called "fundamentalists" of previous generations. They were glorified "institutes" offering a smattering of "academic" courses and lots of Bible training.

Some still offer a 1-year program for lay people and doing a good job.

Those that wanted valid Bachelor/Master level programs have in the past 25 years realized that their offerings must be equivalent or better than typical universities. To offer a real degree (not 1-year diploma) they upgraded the course offering and structured a real college-level program.

My conclusions on the op -
(1) Dangerous since education will be limited and "graduate" might mistakenly think they got a REAL education
(2) Dangerous since a grad may feel they are "qualified" to do a work for which they are woefully under-prepared
(3) Dangerous since they cost $$ and paper received (as well as much course content) is worthless
(4) Dangerous since we expose our children to potential "mates" in a college setting (even if they go for just a year/diploma) and may find someone who is doctrinally deviate

(1) Beneficial for Bible institute/local church workers. Usually such churches that sponsor schools NEED "fodder" for workers to use up and build they programs (and discard later)
(2) Beneficial for lay people to take a class or two if a quality prof/class is available
(3) Beneficial because study of the Word brings its own blessing/benefit to the individual
 
P

prophet

Active Member
Site Supporter
Greektim said:
If those "bible colleges" are for the lay people at all... then why call it a college where a degree is involved. Is that not serving the flesh? I like the idea of the church training its own leaders for service and ministry. Call it what you like. But advertising it as an institution of higher learning is deceitful.
Click to expand...

I agree, and would add, that our society worships a false god called "education".
It does serve the flesh, to elevate those who can complete classes above those who haven't, but have years of experience.
Same problem faces companies.
 
P

prophet

Active Member
Site Supporter
Dr. Bob said:
Such "colleges/seminaries" had a big role in the small group called "fundamentalists" of previous generations. They were glorified "institutes" offering a smattering of "academic" courses and lots of Bible training.

Some still offer a 1-year program for lay people and doing a good job.

Those that wanted valid Bachelor/Master level programs have in the past 25 years realized that their offerings must be equivalent or better than typical universities. To offer a real degree (not 1-year diploma) they upgraded the course offering and structured a real college-level program.

My conclusions on the op -
(1) Dangerous since education will be limited and "graduate" might mistakenly think they got a REAL education
(2) Dangerous since a grad may feel they are "qualified" to do a work for which they are woefully under-prepared
(3) Dangerous since they cost $$ and paper received (as well as much course content) is worthless
(4) Dangerous since we expose our children to potential "mates" in a college setting (even if they go for just a year/diploma) and may find someone who is doctrinally deviate

(1) Beneficial for Bible institute/local church workers. Usually such churches that sponsor schools NEED "fodder" for workers to use up and build they programs (and discard later)
(2) Beneficial for lay people to take a class or two if a quality prof/class is available
(3) Beneficial because study of the Word brings its own blessing/benefit to the individual
Click to expand...

Some of these institutions, like the one I went to, and taught at, don't offer much 'Bible' . They rely on the local church, and a daily chapel for this. Methods of church building/evangelism are the ciricculum.

These are a hotbed for doctrinal error.
 
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