Columbia Bible College (Abbotsford, British Columbia)
Encyclopedia
Columbia Bible College is an institution of higher education in Abbotsford, British Columbia
. The college states that its mission is to prepare people for a life of discipleship, service and ministry. Theologically, Columbia Bible College is evangelical
Anabaptist
and is operated by two regional Mennonite conferences, British Columbia Mennonite Brethren
and Mennonite Church British Columbia
. Columbia is accredited by the international Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE), and is registered with the British Columbia Private Career Training Institution Association (PCTIA).
In 1946, the Mennonite Educational Institute
moved its high school to a new building in Clearbrook, and Bethel returned to its South Abbotsford campus. Under the leadership of J. F. Redekop, principal from 1944, the school gained the additional support of East Aldergrove, McCallum Road, and Arnold M.B. churches.
In 1955, the Bible School Society (consisting of the six supporting churches) purchased land in Clearbrook
and erected what is presently the old wing of the classroom building. This became the Mennonite Brethren Bible Institute (M.B.B.I).
In 1960, the British Columbia
Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches accepted the responsibility for the operation of M.B.B.I. A record enrollment of 96 was established in 1961-62. The first dormitory was built on the campus in 1962. Increasing enrollments led to two additional dormitories: Redekop Hall in 1966 and Centennial Hall in 1967. A new wing with chapel, classrooms, and music rooms was also added in 1967.
In 1970, Mennonite Brethren Conference of B.C. and the Conference of Mennonites in B.C. entered into a five-year working agreement to operate one Bible school. M.B.B.I. merged with Bethel Bible Institute, which was the Conference of Mennonites’ school, and the new school was renamed Columbia Bible Institute (C.B.I.). To accommodate the 189 students enrolled, a new dining room/ student lounge complex was built.
) on the premises of the Bethel Mennonite Church. Twenty–two people enrolled in the tuition free classes at Bethel, which were taught by three instructors without pay.
A society was formed which operated the school for three years (1941–1944), until the Conference of Mennonites in BC assumed full responsibility for the institute. A 4 acres (16,187.4 m²) tract of land was purchased in Abbotsford next to West Abbotsford Mennonite Church, and a dormitory for women was built. In 1947, the administration building was erected. In 1951-52, enrollment increased to 61 students and a dormitory for men was built. The women's dormitory was renovated in 1963. A teachers' residence was erected in 1964.
When attendance diminished in the sixties and the facilities needed improvement, a special Bethel Bible Institute Study Conference on the future of the school was held in May 1967. After prayerful discernment and much dialogue with the Mennonite Brethren Conference of B.C. in 1968-70, the Conference of Mennonites decided to close Bethel and merge with M.B.B.I. in nearby Clearbrook. Bethel Bible Institute then became Columbia Bible Institute.
4 year Bachelor of Arts Degrees
majors:
2 year Diplomas
majors:
1 year Certificates
Abbotsford, British Columbia
Abbotsford is a Canadian city located in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, adjacent to Greater Vancouver. It is the fifth largest municipality in British Columbia, home to 123,864 people . Its Census Metropolitan Area, which includes the District of Mission, is the 23rd largest in Canada,...
. The college states that its mission is to prepare people for a life of discipleship, service and ministry. Theologically, Columbia Bible College is evangelical
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
Anabaptist
Anabaptist
Anabaptists are Protestant Christians of the Radical Reformation of 16th-century Europe, and their direct descendants, particularly the Amish, Brethren, Hutterites, and Mennonites....
and is operated by two regional Mennonite conferences, British Columbia Mennonite Brethren
Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches
The Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches is an association of Mennonite Christians with origins in southern Russia. It is part of the larger Mennonite Brethren Church and shares some common history with the US Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches.-Background:A small group of...
and Mennonite Church British Columbia
Mennonite Church Canada
Mennonite Church Canada is the conference of Mennonites in Canada, with head offices in Winnipeg, Manitoba.The first Mennonites in Canada arrived from Pennsylvania in 1786. The majority of the Mennonites that migrated to Canada over the next 150 years came directly from Europe...
. Columbia is accredited by the international Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE), and is registered with the British Columbia Private Career Training Institution Association (PCTIA).
Mennonite Brethren Bible Institute
The Mennonite Brethren Bible Institute began in the South Abbotsford Mennonite Brethren Church in 1936 and was called the South Abbotsford Mennonite Brethren Bible School. In 1943, a suitable building was moved to the South Abbotsford church site and the school was renamed Bethel Bible School. Three Mennonite Brethren churches - South Abbotsford, Clearbrook, and Matsqui - joined to support Bethel, which had 34 students that year. The introduction of a high school program led to a temporary relocation of Bethel to a private site in Clearbrook in 1945.In 1946, the Mennonite Educational Institute
Mennonite Educational Institute
Mennonite Educational Institute is an independent school consisting of four day schools — a preschool, elementary, middle, and secondary school — in the city of Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada...
moved its high school to a new building in Clearbrook, and Bethel returned to its South Abbotsford campus. Under the leadership of J. F. Redekop, principal from 1944, the school gained the additional support of East Aldergrove, McCallum Road, and Arnold M.B. churches.
In 1955, the Bible School Society (consisting of the six supporting churches) purchased land in Clearbrook
Clearbrook, British Columbia
Clearbrook is a neighbourhood of the City of Abbotsford, British Columbia, located in the western portion of the city in the vicinity of Clearbrook Road. The area was originally known as Sandy Flats or West Abbotsford, and was located in the Poplar district of the Matsqui Municipality...
and erected what is presently the old wing of the classroom building. This became the Mennonite Brethren Bible Institute (M.B.B.I).
In 1960, the British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches accepted the responsibility for the operation of M.B.B.I. A record enrollment of 96 was established in 1961-62. The first dormitory was built on the campus in 1962. Increasing enrollments led to two additional dormitories: Redekop Hall in 1966 and Centennial Hall in 1967. A new wing with chapel, classrooms, and music rooms was also added in 1967.
In 1970, Mennonite Brethren Conference of B.C. and the Conference of Mennonites in B.C. entered into a five-year working agreement to operate one Bible school. M.B.B.I. merged with Bethel Bible Institute, which was the Conference of Mennonites’ school, and the new school was renamed Columbia Bible Institute (C.B.I.). To accommodate the 189 students enrolled, a new dining room/ student lounge complex was built.
Bethel Bible Institute
Bethel Bible Institute grew out of the concern to establish a Bible school to meet local and provincial church needs amongst the Conference of Mennonites in British Columbia. In 1939, Rev. N. W. Bahnman announced the opening of a Bible school in Coghlan (now AldergroveAldergrove, British Columbia
Aldergrove is a small town within the jurisdiction of the The Township of Langley, a municipality within Greater Vancouver. Located at the southeastern edge of both Langley and Greater Vancouver, and nearby to the metropolitan area of Abbotsford, British Columbia just east, Aldergrove has a...
) on the premises of the Bethel Mennonite Church. Twenty–two people enrolled in the tuition free classes at Bethel, which were taught by three instructors without pay.
A society was formed which operated the school for three years (1941–1944), until the Conference of Mennonites in BC assumed full responsibility for the institute. A 4 acres (16,187.4 m²) tract of land was purchased in Abbotsford next to West Abbotsford Mennonite Church, and a dormitory for women was built. In 1947, the administration building was erected. In 1951-52, enrollment increased to 61 students and a dormitory for men was built. The women's dormitory was renovated in 1963. A teachers' residence was erected in 1964.
When attendance diminished in the sixties and the facilities needed improvement, a special Bethel Bible Institute Study Conference on the future of the school was held in May 1967. After prayerful discernment and much dialogue with the Mennonite Brethren Conference of B.C. in 1968-70, the Conference of Mennonites decided to close Bethel and merge with M.B.B.I. in nearby Clearbrook. Bethel Bible Institute then became Columbia Bible Institute.
Columbia Bible Institute (C.B.I.)
The decade of the seventies was one of growth and expansion for Columbia Bible Institute. To accommodate a record enrollment of 233 students in 1972-73, four extra housing units (mobiles) were added. In 1975-76, a third year was added to the curriculum and a new record enrollment of 266 was reached. In 1976, a three-story, apartment–style dormitory was constructed. Two years later, the apartment complex was sold, and 5 acres (20,234.3 m²) of land adjacent to the existing campus were purchased for use as an athletics field and for possible campus development. In 1988, a three-story men's residence was completed. An office, administration and library complex was constructed in 1992. An Athletics Centre was built in 2001, home to the "Bearcats". It features 2 full size courts and seating for 1200. The Student Centre was built in 2004, including a new kitchen and dining room, several student lounges, a career and health/wellness center, student life offices, and a recreation room.Historic covenant
The working agreement between the Mennonite Brethren and the Conference of Mennonites at C.B.I. was studied from time to time with the desire to make it a partnership in equality, not merely a partnership in operation. In 1982, this co-operative effort was expanded into a covenant whereby the Mennonite Brethren invited the Conference of Mennonites to unite in the ownership and development of C.B.I., not merely its operation and governance. At the June 11, 1982 joint convention, the Conference of Mennonites responded to the Mennonite Brethren invitation by affirming a continuing covenant of togetherness in working in God's kingdom. Thus, the first inter-Mennonite Bible Institute in North America was established to actively promote and teach a strong evangelical Anabaptist/Mennonite theology as reflected in the school's Confession of Faith and confessions of the supporting conferences.Columbia Bible College Act
On June 26, 1987, the B.C. Legislative Assembly passed the Columbia Bible College Act, giving Columbia the right to grant theological degrees.Programs
Columbia Bible College offers the following degree, diploma and certificate programs:4 year Bachelor of Arts Degrees
majors:
- Biblical Studies
- Caregiving and Counselling
- Intercultural Studies
- Outdoor Leadership
- Worship Arts
- Youth Work
2 year Diplomas
majors:
- Biblical Studies
- Caregiving and Counselling
- Early Childhood Education
- Intercultural Studies
- Outdoor Leadership
- Worship Arts
- Youth Work
1 year Certificates
- iCert - (Certificate in Christian Studies)
- Quest - (Adventure Discipleship Program)
- EA - (Educational Assistant Program)