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What happened to Piedmont?

Salty

Salty

20,000 Posts Club
Administrator
Piedmont began as Piedmont Bible Institute
then became a college.
Later they replaced Bible with Baptist
Then it became Piedmont International University
Now they became Carolina University.

So why the change to "International"
and they why the change to Carolina.

Also, when I lived in W-S - the sports teams
were known as "Preachers"

When and why the change to Bruins?

For what it is worth - When Bob Jones university inaugurated intercollegiate sports
in 2012 - they also are known as the Bruins.
 
Salty

Salty

20,000 Posts Club
Administrator
Chad Whiteley said:
Carolina was chosen by the leadership and alumni. Piedmont University already exists, and it helps to alleviate confusion.
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Seems like Baptist Bible College (PA) had a similar situation when they wanted to change to Summit U - so they used Clark Summit Univ
 
Salty

Salty

20,000 Posts Club
Administrator
Paul from Antioch said:
Didn't TN Temple Univ in Chattanooga TN merge with Piedmont?
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Yes, in fact both founders and stated that if one school failed - the other would be there to bail it out.
"Established in the mid-1940s, the two universities have a connection that stretches back to their founders, Dr. Charles Stevens and Dr. Lee Roberson, officials said. "The forefathers were close friends who echoed each other’s founding visions. Remarkably, Dr. Roberson once told Dr. Howard Wilburn, then president of Piedmont, 'Dr. Stevens and I were great friends, and we established Piedmont and Tennessee Temple within months of each other. The two of us had a gentlemen’s agreement that if either school ever faltered, the two would come together.' Others have also cited Dr. Roberson making mention of this agreement."

Tennessee Temple University To Close After Almost 70 Years
 
C

Chad Whiteley

Member
Paul from Antioch said:
Didn't TN Temple Univ in Chattanooga TN merge with Piedmont?
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Yes TTU was one of the several merging schools that ultimately resulted in Carolina University. CU applied for regional accreditation this year and they've started several innovative work based degree programs. I'm expecting to see awesome things come from the school in the future.
 
T

TheOldJudge

Member
There was a splinter group that formed from Piedmont in the summer of 2009 when it began to chart the course of evangelical stances and broader interdenominational appeal. Grace Baptist Bible College in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, was formed largely by former faculty and students of Piedmont who had "had enough," as they say. A quick glance at their website shows that they hold to the hardline Fundamentalist stance that used to characterize Piedmont in years past.

www.gbbcnc.org

Take a look at the opening paragraph of their "History" page.

History/Campus - GRACE BAPTIST BIBLE COLLEGE (gbbcnc.org)
 
C

Chad Whiteley

Member
I graduated from Carolina University with my PhD in 2020. I am not aware of any doctrinal positions that have changed in the last few years.

There are many fundamentalists who simply can't work with anyone. I'm not sure if it's a control issue, but it's part of the reason why so many good colleges are closing. The alumni simply can't support anything that doesn't agree with them on ever jot and tittle 100% of the time.

I'm proud of Carolina University, excited about their degree programs, and not sure why another college in Winston-Salem is necessary.

TheOldJudge said:
There was a splinter group that formed from Piedmont in the summer of 2009 when it began to chart the course of evangelical stances and broader interdenominational appeal. Grace Baptist Bible College in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, was formed largely by former faculty and students of Piedmont who had "had enough," as they say. A quick glance at their website shows that they hold to the hardline Fundamentalist stance that used to characterize Piedmont in years past.

www.gbbcnc.org

Take a look at the opening paragraph of their "History" page.

History/Campus - GRACE BAPTIST BIBLE COLLEGE (gbbcnc.org)
Click to expand...
 
T

TheOldJudge

Member
Chad Whiteley said:
I graduated from Carolina University with my PhD in 2020. I am not aware of any doctrinal positions that have changed in the last few years...I'm proud of Carolina University, excited about their degree programs, and not sure why another college in Winston-Salem is necessary.
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Oh, of course, Sir! Please do not think that I was denigrating the reputation or the heritage of Piedmont. It is a very good school that has provided a home to many students and alumni of multiple Bible colleges that have closed. Among Fundamentalists, this is a unique ministry that makes Carolina University stand out from its peers and is one of the main reasons why I respect the school.

My information on the Grace schism comes from a personal friend who was influential in helping the infant Bible college begin operations. His statements seem to indicate that those who started Grace Baptist Bible College felt that Piedmont's broadening academic offerings and widening appeal in Christian circles were leading to the weakening of the traditional Fundamentalist stance of "secondary separation." Men like George W. Dollar (who, ironically, was once a vice-president at Piedmont) insisted that Fundamentalists must practice secondary separation, or "militant separatism," in order to truly bear the name; thus, hardliners would believe that Piedmont in the last fifteen years has "left historic Fundamentalism."

Please understand that I am not trying to be rude. Your point on the viability of two conservative ministerial schools in the same city is absolutely correct. It is also true that you have every right to be proud of the school that trained you. I feel similarly regarding my alma mater, even though some hardline Fundamentalists do not think that they are truly "fundamental" anymore, either.

Congratulations on your PhD! God bless you in your ministry!
 
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