Report of the
Board of Higher Education
Since the 114th Annual Conference, the Board of Higher Education (BHE) has met three times, for a total of thirteen times since its inception in the fall of 1994. It has continued to oversee the work of the Pinebrook Educational Foundation (PEF) and has sought to establish working relationships with Biblical Theological Seminary (BTS) on several fronts.
The membership of the BHE has varied somewhat this year, with Alan H. Russell being elected by the Annual Conference to complete the term of George Monroe, and Donald T. Kirkwood being appoint-ed by the BHE to fill out the year 1997-98 until Annual Conference following the resignation of Carl Martin to take a non-BF church in Western Pennsylvania.
The Pinebrook Educational Foundation
The Board of Directors of the PEF for the past year was as follows:
Term expiring in 2000: Keith W. Johnson, Robert C. Newman
Term expiring in 1999: Olivia Barnes, Stephen C. Cassel
Term expiring in 1998: Raymond R. Dotts, Jay H. Fasnacht
The report of the PEF is appended to the report of the BHE.
Working Relationships with Biblical Theological Seminary
The BHE has been working on putting together three projects involving BTS: (1) a BFC chaplain that would visit BTS regularly to counsel students and encourage some of them to consider service with the BFC; (2) a course in the history and doctrine of the BFC to be offered at regular intervals at BTS; and (3) an internship program in which BF churches would take pastoral interns from BTS.
1. The BHE has approached a number of current or retired BFC pastors to see if they would be willing to function as a chaplain at BTS, coming to school as often as once a week or as rarely as once a month. Just recently, retired BFC missionary Ronald W. Hoyle has agreed to serve in this capacity.
2. A course THS560 The Bible Fellowship Church was offered for two hours credit at BTS during the spring semester of 1997, but withdrawn when registration was insufficient. Richard E. Taylor and Calvin T. Reed were to have been the instructors. A part of the problem was lack of publicity in the BFC (from which it is anticipated most of the enrollment would come, we have postponed offering the course again until the fall of 1998. Both instructors would like to teach the course next time it is offered.
3. The machinery for BF churches getting interns from BTS is already set up, and can be used by interested churches at any time. Brochures were printed and handed out at the PED Retreat two years ago. They have now been undated with changes in the membership of the BHE and contact person for the internships and are to be handed out at this Annual Conference.
Other Ways of Promoting Higher Education in the BFC
The BHE has spent some time at each of its meetings this year trying to do some brainstorming on this subject. Can we interface with the BFC Board of Christian Education and local CE committees to encourage BFC young people to attend college? Can we help prospective college students prepare for the challenges they will face, particularly if they attend secular colleges? Can we help BFC people who are college students or graduates to think through how they can use their education to best serve God? Could we develop some seminars along these lines that might be presented at BF churches with large youth groups, at regional BFC youth activities, at Sno-Glo? Could we encourage the development of theology courses for our lay people? Seminars for seekers or skeptics? Train local church resource people for responding to various cults? Could we inspire and assist BFC pastors and churches to minister to college students and international students in their areas?
Brothers, pray for us, that the Lord might help us to use our desires and gifts to strengthen the BFC in outreach to the many intellectuals in our society who have never heard a clear and convincing presentation of the good news about Jesus.
Resolved, that the Annual Conference ratify the election to the Pinebrook Educational Foundation of Raymond R. Dotts and Jay H. Fasnacht for terms expiring in 2001.
Board of Higher Education: Robert C. Newman, Chairman; Raymond R. Dotts, Vice-Chairman; John C. Studenroth, Secretary; Stephen C. Cassel; Donald T. Kirkwood; Alan H. Russell; and David J. Watkins.