Report of the
Board of Higher Education
Since the 112th Annual Conference, the Board of Higher Education has met four times. It has taken action to carry out its mandates to form the Pinebrook Educational Foundation and initiate its work, to establish a Bible Fellowship chaplaincy at Biblical Theological Seminary, to create and offer a course in Bible Fellowship history and polity, and to promote BFC internships through the Seminary.
The Pinebrook Educational Foundation
The Board of Directors of the Pinebrook Educational Foundation for the past year has consisted of the following members:
Term expiring in 1998: Raymond R. Dotts, Jay H. Fasnacht
Term expiring in 1997: Robert C. Newman, Keith W. Johnson
Term expiring in 1996: Stephen C. Cassel, Valeria S. Boyer
The BHE has elected, subject to ratification by the 113th Annual Conference, Valeria S. Boyer and Stephen C. Cassel, terms expiring in 1999.
The report of the Pinebrook Educational Foundation is appended to the report of the Board of Higher Education.
Denominational Involvement in Biblical Theological Seminary
The Board continued its efforts to establish a Bible Fellowship presence at Biblical Theological Seminary. It has concentrated on devising and winning approval for a course on the distinctives and history of the Bible Fellowship Church, securing the services of an individual who would be the BFC Chaplain at the Seminary, and working out the procedures for developing a BFC internship program.
1. The idea of a course on BFC polity is acceptable to the Seminary, which will pay the salary of the instructor if enough students are enrolled. It is our intention to offer it during the spring term of the 1996-97 academic year for 2 credits. The Board is consulting with the Ministerial Candidate Committee to write the syllabus and select an instructor.
2. The Board has been in contact with William W. Mull as its chief candidate to be the BFC Chaplain at the Seminary. Discussions were proceeding in earnest until the time of Bill’s accident in December. The Board proposes that the chaplaincy begin in the fall term, 1996-97, or as early after that as a chaplain is able to assume the duties. Further, the position entails four hours, one day a week, for thirty weeks. The remuneration for this work is to be $40 per visit to the campus, or a total of $1200 for the academic year.
3. The BHE has been in consultation with the Seminary about a BFC internship, using the current Seminary program for interns. A brochure describing the internship has been prepared.
Further Work
At the time of the 113th Annual Conference, the Board can announce that, under the direction of the Pinebrook Educational Foundation, funds are being gathered to promote higher education within the BFC and offer financial aid to its members. The Board has begun communicating with the churches to solicit participation in these efforts. Financial aid, however, will not be available until funds can support it. Again, the Board will solicit applications for financial aid at that time.
Resolved that the Annual Conference ratify the election of Valeria S. Boyer and Stephen C. Cassel to the Pinebrook Educational Foundation, terms expiring in 1999.
The Board of Higher Education: Raymond R. Dotts, Chairman; Robert C. Newman, Vice-Chairman; George K. Monroe, Secretary; Stephen C. Cassel; William G. Schlonecker; John C. Studenroth; and David J. Watkins
Pinebrook Educational Foundation
The Board of Directors of the Pinebrook Educational Foundation met four times in 1995. The Board dealt with a number of matters which are described below.
Several gifts were given to the Foundation for the purpose of establishing a bank account to handle operating expenses.
Plans have been made for the transition of endowment funds and a revolving loan fund from Pinebrook Junior College to the Foundation. Asset values of the endowment and revolving loan funds becoming available to the Foundation approximate $57,000 and $2,500, respectively. We expect the transition to be completed in 1996.
Other Board actions included:
a) Development of a formal investment strategy for assets of the Foundation.
b) Development of a letterhead for the Foundation featuring a logo which includes the Berean Bible School Campus on Hall Street, Allentown, and the Stroudsburg and Coopersburg campuses of Pinebrook Junior College.
c) Approval of loans aggregating $20,000 from endowment funds to Pinebrook Junior College. Repayment of the loans is to be made upon sale of Pinebrook Junior College properties. To date, $10,000 has been loaned to Pinebrook Junior College at 8% interest per annum.
d) Establishment of the Berean Bible School Scholarship Endowment Fund for the purpose of assisting descendants of Berean Bible School Graduates.
e) Preliminary development of a fund-raising letter for distribution to pastors and treasurers of Bible Fellowship Churches.
f) Preliminary development of forms for application for student aid and determination of financial need.
g) Preliminary development of a Pinebrook Educational Foundation information brochure.
The Pinebrook Educational Foundation: Raymond R. Dotts, Chairman; Keith W. Johnson, Vice-Chairman; Jay H. Fasnacht, Secretary/Treasurer; Valeria S. Boyer; Stephen C. Cassel; Robert C. Newman