The following was brought to attention today via e-mail. O…

CUAG

About this Entry
Posted by: CUAG Original: 2/17/2005 5:26 PM Views: 26 Comments: 19 eProps: 24 Read Comments Post a Comment Back to Your Xanga Site

Who gave the eProps?
2 eProps from: jamiehiggins Revelee rescuecbc randomthoughtsofchad karnold5612 lupe13570 EUAlum iThinkRight dhealy2003 BigHaldy83 nateandkira7 BroadSwordFire 0 eProps from: bmikeyc DavidRBetzer

Read or Post Comments

Thursday, February 17, 2005

The following was brought to attention today via e-mail.

O F F I C E O F T H E P R E S I D E N T

M E M O R A N D U M

TO: All Faculty, Staff and Students

FROM: President Robert H. Spence

DATE: February 17, 2005

In 1953, the General Council of the Assemblies of God, convening in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, authorized the establishment of a national college of arts and sciences: Evangel College. Opening in the fall of 1955 with 93 freshmen, Evangel joined a sister institution, Central Bible College, also located here in Springfield, as colleges that were owned and governed by the General Council of the Assemblies of God.

Central Bible College has an outstanding history of preparing pastors, evangelists, and missionaries for full-time service in the church. Evangel, on the other hand, was established primarily to help prepare lay leadership for service to the church and to the world. Over the years, Evangel and CBC, as well as the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary (established in 1972) have had numerous opportunities to cooperate and collaborate in a variety of ways.

We live in a time when governments, businesses, and churches are being asked to explore opportunities for possible joint venturing and partnership in an effort to achieve more efficient operations or to realize economies from cooperative ventures. At the present time, our General Council leaders are reviewing many areas of their operation internally and externally for these same reasons.

Since 1977, several studies have been conducted by the General Council to explore possibilities of combining programs or campuses of Evangel, CBC, and AGTS. In each study, the questions that arose had to do with benefits that might be received by maximizing resources and reducing redundancies. In the summer of 2003, the Executive Presbytery of the Assemblies of God chartered The Commission to Study General Council Schools. That Commission, chaired by Dr. Robert Cooley, presented its report to the Executive Presbytery in January 2005.

Question: What does the report recommend?

The Commission recommends that Evangel University be utilized as an existing framework to unify the General Council schools into a “university conglomerate.” The conglomerate would include a College of Arts and Sciences, a Conservatory of Music, a Bible College, a Seminary, a School of Graduate Studies, and a School of Continuing and Distance Education.

What is the decision-making process pertaining to the Commission’s report?

The Executive Presbytery has received the report and may consider it in their March meeting. The Executive Presbytery could approve, amend, or reject the report. If the Executive Presbytery approves the report, it would then be referred to the General Presbytery for consideration. The General Presbytery, a body of more than 200 church leaders from all parts of the nation and the world, is scheduled to convene in Denver August 1-2, 2005.

The General Presbytery could approve, amend, or reject the report. If the General Presbytery approves the report, it would then be referred to the General Council for consideration during the Council’s business sessions, August 3-5, 2005. The General Council in session with voting members, consisting of licensed and ordained Assemblies of God ministers and official delegates from Assemblies of God churches, would then make the final decision regarding the Commission’s report.

All of us have a keen interest in the discussions that are taking place and will be engaged in the coming weeks. It is imperative that we guard against entertaining and circulating unfounded rumors. As an academic institution, we are dedicated to pursuing the truth. As a Christian university, we are dedicated to knowing the Truth. We want to focus on facts. Understandably, we are dealing with emotional matters, but I am confident that we can do so in a manner that is pleasing to the Lord. I encourage faculty, staff and students to join with me in making this a matter of consistent and urgent prayer.

RHS/cs

Please discuss your thoughts on this.

Posted 2/17/2005 5:26 PM - 26 views - 19 comments

recommend
recs0
give stars
votes0
share
email
sent0

Give eProps or Post a Comment

19 Comments

:) I received the e-mail in my box this morning, and was quite relieved to finally hear something straight from an authority figure. The idea of a conglomerate school makes sense, as it would draw from more resources while still retaining the specialized environment that each program needs. I can also appreciate the fact that there WILL be people voting on the issue, but I do believe students whould let the faculty and administration know their opinion in a healthy, respectable way (hint: referring to school Presidents by simply their last name and questioning their integrity [despite the fact that they may have questioned ours] is not a good way to do it). The administration is not a Pharisee who is manipulating the people of God--it is a governing body that is trying to do what is right. Granted, no governing body is perfect, and I would have liked straight-forward information sooner. Bottomline, the A/G does have a problem with gossip. A handful of people ALWAYS know the facts before the body...and the body ALWAYS tries to figure the facts out before we're told any (myself included). I don't know exactly what went on at the CBC chapel that has some people all riled up, but if controversy is taking the place of pursuing God whole-heartedly, then NONE of us are ready for any type of ministry, because ministry is FULL of controversy. I personally need to make sure I balance my opinion and interest in the GC with the trust that they are elected officials who are pursuing right on behalf of me.

Posted 2/18/2005 9:44 AM by jamiehiggins - reply

From the Springfield News Leader...

Evangel, seminary, CBC may merge

Assemblies of God proposal comes as a surprise to Evangel students.

<TABLE cellSpacing=5 cellPadding=0 width=300 align=right border=0> <TBODY> <TR> <TD align=middle>
<TD valign="top">Click here for photo gallery --> <TR> <TD align=left>


<TR> <TD align=middle>  By Linda Leicht and Kathleen O'Dell
News-Leader

© 2005, Springfield News-Leader

-->The sprawling campus of Evangel University could get even bigger if a proposed merger with two other Assemblies of God schools in Springfield is approved.

Evangel students recently received a letter from the university president, Robert H. Spence, outlining a commission's proposal that Central Bible College and the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary merge with Evangel as a "university conglomerate." The university newspaper, The Lance, featured the story on its front page Friday.

The plan is still being studied, but it has already led CBC President M. Wayne Benson to announce that he will not seek a renewal when his contract expires at the end of May.

Student body vice president Jason Wood of Springfield, a senior studying government at Evangel, said the information was new to him.

"I was surprised at how the first time anybody heard about the commission was when it issued a report," said Wood. "The students, faculty and staff were not consulted. ... It makes you feel left out of the loop. Usually students are consulted. I was definitely surprised."

Paul Logsdon, media representative at Evangel, said that the commission's report came out of the Assemblies of God headquarters.

"None of the college presidents were involved in the research, development or writing of the report," he said.

Spence could not be reached for comment.

The Lance article puts a 2008-'09 target date for the merger of the three schools, based on a commission proposal that will be considered by the Assemblies' Executive Presbytery, made up of the 17 top executives in the organization.

Julene Turnage, spokeswoman for the Assemblies, said the proposal, which is still in the "study stages," is on the EP's June agenda. If approved, it would then go to the General Presbytery in August, and if approved by that body, to the floor of the General Council in Denver that same month. There, delegates and pastors from around the country would vote on the proposal.

"At any of these stages it can be aborted," said Turnage.

A similar proposal was brought to the General Council in 1989 and was rejected, she said.

Some students dubious

According to the Evangel article, the new school would be composed of a college of arts and sciences, a conservatory of music, a college of continuing and distance education, Central Bible College, AGTS, and a school of graduate studies.

Some Evangel students don't like the idea.

"The two schools (Evangel and CBC) are on completely opposite poles when it comes to programs," said Wood.

CBC trains ministers and missionaries. Evangel is a liberal arts university.

"It's difficult to see how those two would mix," said Wood.

Freshman Josh Wiblin of Parkersburg, W.Va., likes the idea. "It would be nice — more students, a bigger school, more opportunities."

Sophomore Timothy Goode of Hurricane, W.Va., is willing to go along with it as long as the school keeps the name Evangel. The Lance article said a proposed name change could be Central University of the Assemblies of God, but that staying Evangel University is more likely.

"We would gain a lot of resources," said Goode. "And let CBC students have the opportunity to pursue some other vocational opportunities."

CBC enrollment down

How a merger would affect the three schools involved is unclear, but it may have already had an impact on enrollment at CBC, said Benson. While enrollment has been growing over the past three years, there was an unexpected drop in the student census this year that may have been due in part to rumors about the merger, he said.

"Some parents expressed that the study on the Springfield schools created a certain amount of uncertainty on the future of CBC," said Benson.

The school was experiencing financial struggles when Benson arrived in 2001, but he said the $1.75 million deficit he inherited has been eliminated, and the school's long-term debts significantly reduced. Fall enrollment was 850.

The school has also been recommended for North Central Accreditation, expected in May.

"We're thrilled about it," said Benson.

But he will not be at the school after it gains the accreditation. In light of the proposal, Benson has asked the school's board not to consider him for a second term as president.

He will continue working "110 percent" until his contract expires on May 31, and then intends to assist the next president as needed.

Benson referred any questions about the proposed merger to the leadership of the Assemblies of God.

"I will allow them to be the spokespeople for it," he said. "They have the vision."

Thomas Trask, general superintendent of the Assemblies of God, did not immediately return a call from the News-Leader.

'Uncharted waters'

Byron D. Klaus, president of AGTS, said he and the presidents of the other two institutions have had access to all the reports the commission produced, with the complete report provided to them in January.

"In one sense, that report had no surprises," said Klaus. The idea of combining the three schools, all owned and controlled by the General Council of the Assemblies of God, is a way to provide "broader offerings and expertise over the long haul."

While Klaus sees things in the report to commend it, he called the proposal "uncharted waters" that will have to be studied: "The reality is going to be worked out by real people."

For students such as Evangel senior Rachel Peet of Washington, Mich., questions revolve around tuition, cramped dormitories and full parking lots.

"It brings up a lot of questions for me," said Peet.

For Klaus, the questions have a broader range.

"Could I be a part of something that my grandchildren will thank me for?" Klaus pondered.

"Unless I can be part of something like that, I'm not interested."

Posted 2/20/2005 12:25 AM by Revelee - reply

wow, you really know a lot about the ASSemblies don't you? Be careful with those people, they can turn on you, chew you up, and spit you out if you don't watch yourself.

Posted 2/25/2005 1:38 AM by bmikeyc - reply

CBC has its own anti-merger website. It includes the whole Commission "report", as well as CBC critique of it.

http://cobalt.junct.com/cbc/

Posted 2/26/2005 7:26 PM by savecbcandevangel - reply

Dear fellow cuag-ulators,

We in the evangel and agts community are deeply sorry that our A. of G. leadership put a gag order on your board of administration regarding the CUAG report. What’s really bad is when they told your boa they couldn’t talk to the students and alumni about it. I mean, your school is the one that the report recommends be trumped by our school! Dude!

Rumor has it, one of the first things they mention is “we’re a mature fellowship so we need a mature university.” What an insult to both our schools! Like CBC is 80 years old and that’s not mature? and eu is doing its 50th anniversary and that’s not mature? Do they think we’re stupid? And since when did mature church denomination equal university? Bible colleges and church denominations—I thought they went together? Oh, wait a second, we want to be like the Lutherans and Methodists and Presbyterians that are all throwing out the bible and ordaining homosexuals for the pulpit.

The report basically says that CBC should be moved to evangel “under the university model.” This is so bogus! We don’t even do the same thing. You guys train ministers, we train lawyers, doctors and business people. That’d be like having the engineering school at Rolla adding a beautician school to the campus. Yeah right! Schools get known for awesome education when they stick to what they do best.

Ya know what’s really sneaky though? If everyone’s so mad about this merger thing, bro Trask will tell our big a/g dudes to go to his plan b. Plan b is that if he can’t convince all of the schools’ students and alumni to do the whole enchilada, he’ll use merger 101 on us: promise everyone they get to keep all their stuff (the campus, their own administrators and especially their mission); all he’ll ask for is a single board of directors. Harmless right? Not! Take a look at another report that’s floating around right now by one of our own eu faculty: hostile takeovers all start with a single board and a promise that everyone gets to keep their own thing. Then bam! The new single board follows econ 101 and your bible college is voted into a religion department. Nice huh? There goes our denomination’s minister training, there goes the bible, and there goes our denomination. Hello Lutherans, Methodists and Presbyterians. May we have one of your “special” ministers preach in our empty pulpits?

We heard that your prez said you “don’t know what the final report will look like.” Exactly! You do know what our library copy looks like and that’s the only thing that’s in writing I’d say. Over here in eu’s biz department, our Profs tell us not to believe anything unless it’s in writing! And our copy of the report says you’re sunk. If I was in your shoes, I’d write to my pastor, my general presbyter, my executive presbyter and any big a/g dude that has an address and tell ‘em your righteous mad. And the issue ain’t about CBC; it ain’t even about our denomination. It’s about bible colleges and the gospel man! And what’re they thinking? How could our big a/g dudes even consider an idea like tankin’ our national bible school? Tell ‘em to drop plan a and plan b or we’ll vote ‘em out at general council!!! I always wanted to see Denver anyway. By the way, I’m writing my big a/g dudes cause we don’t have enough space to stuff you guys in! Ha!

And above all, pray people. God ain’t stepped down off the thrown last time I checked. http://www.geocities.com/rescuecbc/mainpage.html

Posted 3/1/2005 9:28 AM by rescuecbc - reply

Visit randomthoughtsofchad's Xanga Site!

try this out...www.junct.com/cbc

Posted 3/1/2005 9:13 PM by randomthoughtsofchad - reply

My belief is that if this is such a good idea that the study and the report would have been completed in openess and in the light of day. Here is what the bible says,

John 3:19, 20 and 21

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. [3] 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

But we do have a promis from God

Luke 12: 1, 2 and 3

In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. 3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.

Thank you for this and other web sites where we can Proclaim this issue from the housetops.

Ken

Posted 3/2/2005 9:04 AM by karnold5612 - reply

im sorry, but combining is an awful idea. we at cbc are focused specially on ministering as pastors, of all sorts, missionaries, and christian school teachers...while eu is a good school, it is not as focused on ministry as we are, and therefore combining all of the schools together will not help each school with its own focus, but will help lose the purpose of the individual establishments. besides all of this, the fact that in twenty years, after this happens (assuming that it will), when ppl dont know what cbc is, what good will the degree, the diploma be to those who have already graduated? none, it will hold little social (meaning within the body of believers) value, and especially moreso the longer we go without the knowledge of these individual schools...it all boils down to this, if i wanted a degree in a liberal arts major, i wouldve gone to eu, but i wanted, i was called, to go into the ministry, therefore i go to cbc...i do not want to go to a school if when i graduate, my hardwork will be in vain...argh, this topic frustrates me....grrrrrrrrrr

Posted 3/7/2005 1:22 AM by lupe13570 - reply

Whoa posts. Be careful about comparing this situation to John 3. While I agree that the report should have been made public much sooner and the entire thing should have been handled differently, implying that the Commission is evil is going a little over the top.

Posted 3/9/2005 2:24 PM by jamiehiggins - reply

I'm sorry, but it is evil to perform a study where none of the involved parties are studied. Then the only thing it can be is a numbers game and a money game. Ask any faculty, staff, students, or alumni at any of the three institutions and you will no that it is NOT wanted.

Posted 3/10/2005 11:20 PM by EUAlum - reply

I know that it is not wanted. I'm an EU student and I sure as heaven don't want to combine. Our missions are different. I guess your post depends on your definition of "evil." :) The study was objective, and in a situation like this subjective areas should have also been "studied"---We agree on that. But that also wasn't the Commission's ASSIGNMENT. Their JOB was to look at the school in a financial and obective perspective and propose a solution to the many problems based solely on those findings. Key word--propose. If objectivity was all that mattered, then the A/G wouldn't have the system of accountability that it does. It is my hope that at GC this year they will take into account everyone's avid disagreement with the merge and vote it down. If they do not take our opinions into account, then I would consider using the word "evil." As an English major, the word has too many incantations to use right now. The study was not rooted in Satan. It was poorly conducted and handled.

Posted 3/17/2005 10:36 AM by jamiehiggins - reply

I hope you realize that the merger has been put on hold, but by no means has it been killed. In fact, you will have to put up with merger rumors for 2 years while new committees are formed. These committees have not been given the task, "Should we merge?" but "How can we make the merger work." Don't believe me? Read this:

STATEMENT REGARDING

COMMISSION TO STUDY GENERAL COUNCIL SCHOOLS

Wednesday, March 16, 2005

The Executive Presbytery approves in concept the recommendation of the Commission regarding the unification of the Springfield schools and extends the work of the Commission to Study the Springfield Schools over the next biennium. The Commission will oversee the work of two task forces dealing with governance and ministerial education. These will be selected from within the three schools and their boards of directors for the purpose of engaging in a collective effort to implement the principles expressed in the Commission's report and the recommendations that would not be dependent upon any specific structure. During this time of strategic cooperation, the Commission, in consultation with the task forces, shall develop a final prescriptive recommendation for governance and a program of enhanced ministerial education. To ensure both deliberateness and timeliness, the final governance and enhanced ministerial educational program recommendations shall be presented to the three governing bodies of the General Council: the Executive Presbytery, the General Presbytery, and the 2007 General Council.

Posted 3/22/2005 9:40 PM by savecbcandevangel - reply

It's an interesting debate. I can't imagine why anyone would actually want to merge the schools. Since we now know this won't be decided until 2007, we've got some time to mobilize some opposition. This includes writing letters, getting incoming students to protest, and hey, if you know any former alum, call them up and tell them what's going on. The school really does rely on them for financial support, and given the hostilities between CBC and Evangel, I doubt if any alum would give money after the merger. Hostilites will play a major factor in the vote--just think about how many pastors graduated from the two schools. They'll never vote for this thing!

CBC's chronic lack of money-managing skills are a major problem (especially BANKRUPTCY!!!). Just because you're an excellent pastor does not mean that you will make a good president of a university. President Spence is an exception. He's done a remarkable job with Evangel.

Overall, sounds like a pretty stupid idea. That's because it is.

Posted 3/27/2005 12:19 AM by iThinkRight - reply

I do not want to be an alumni of a school that doesn't exist. If the schools are to merge, I should hope that they'd keep Evangel's name since it is the largest of the three institutions.

Posted 3/29/2005 3:36 PM by dhealy2003 - reply

So, you tell me to have guts but you don't even have the guts to have your real name on this Xanga.

Posted 4/7/2005 12:09 AM by BigHaldy83 - reply

What's amazing to me is how little information is being shared on this subject. I know a little about it, and I can tell you that there are many statements on this blog that are inaccurate. For instance, all three schools were informed and involved since the beginning. Whether or not the representative from the schools shared that information is another story.

I can tell you this, there are a lot of people that are praying for God's will in this situation. I think this needs to be our stance as Christians. We can share our emotions all we want, but have we heard from God? What is God's will? Could it be that God wants the three AG Springfield schools to come together as a sign of unity to the community, the state, other institutions, etc.??

Maybe we should look at Scriptures like 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 where the Bible talks about unity within the diversity of the body of Christ. Could it be that the whole situation is coming about because the three schools need to show unity? There will still be diversity, and there will always be because Evangel, CBC, and AGTS (not to mention Global) have different purposes and serve different sectors of the AG community. What we need to show is the unity of the Body of Christ.

Posted 4/15/2005 10:52 PM by mdiver - reply

I'm writing to clear up the misinformation that CBC has financial trouble, I am a student and employee at CBC, CBC has been in the black two years running now, and has just come out of major debts and is currently as I type working on many various projects around the campus to improve the school.

CBC is more than able to do well on it's own, it has recovered from past financial errors and is in the black moving on at full steam ahead. A financial argument is the least important when talking about the merger, money should always take the back seat when something spiritual is at stake.

The facts are most important, and the fact is CBC and EU exist for different purpouses and there must be some other reason for the big push to merge the two. Everything I read about this and hear from liable sources continues to ask why is there a 'need' for the merge because CBC is stable, as well as EU. CBC produces more ordained and liscensed ministers than any other AG college combined. CBC students do not need a 'better education' they need a specialized biblically saturated education to prepare them for ministry. Think about it folks!!!

Posted 7/15/2005 4:52 PM by nateandkira7 - reply

Could someone please explain the concept that if the two schools merge then the training for ministry will go down the tubes? All of a sudden, all of the cutting edge thinking that we're supposed to be employing so that we can reap a last days harvest is being ignored in favor of that wonderful argument..."That's the way we've always done it!" Take a look at our movement, if it wasn't for the ethnic churches in the A/G USA, our fellowship would be dying. Yea, lets turn out more Bible school trained pastors so that they can go out and pastor one of our failing churches....good Idea! Yea, lets put out more Bible School trained pastors whose churches don't do a thing to support missions around the world. Let's stop pretending that the product that's coming out of CBC is setting the world on fire. Our movement is in desperate need of revival. Who really cares where the pastors get trained as long as they have a heart for God and are anointed for service in the real world.

Regarding Missions....one of the reasons put out there to keep from doing the Merger..."CBC trains pastors and MISSIONARIES"....well, lets examine that....Where is the largest unreached part of our world? That's right, the 10/40 window. How many "MIssionaries" with CBC diplomas are they letting in that region? How many professionals with real world job skills are they letting in.....a lot. If we're serious about reaching the 10/40 window with "Missionaries" than maybe equipping them with real world professions and skills that should be a requirement for ministry in that region. I really don't think the Muslim world gives a rip about whether we send them someone with class experience in "Chrisitan Education Leadership" or straight A's in "Systematic Theology". Are those classes important? Of Course! What's more important is being STRATEGIC in our training and equipping the last days soldiers. We don't send soldiers into battle in Iraq with the same weapons that we did in the 40's, why are we so intent on sending soldiers into the spiritual warfare that rages around the world with 1940's, 1960's, or 1990's training?

I've asked one of the leaders of the opposition to the merger..... What percentage of CBC grads are still in full time ministry after 10 years vs. what percentage of ministers that trained at Evangel's Bible Dept. are still in full time ministry after 15 years? I'm a graduate of CBC but I did 45 hours at Evangel when I was starting out. I'm not convinced that an argument will be able to be made, once the facts are examined, that a dedicated school for ministry training is more effective than a ministry training school within the context of a larger University.

Let's not be reactionary....let's be strategic. Let's not be traditional....let's be on the cutting edge of world evangelism.....let's not keep the old sacred cows from the altar if they need to be offered up to God in exchange for fresh anointing on our lives. God, Please help us.

Posted 8/27/2005 7:51 PM by DavidRBetzer - reply

Politics suck. However, since the bride of Christ continues to be the consumed by such things, I suggest we at least keep the schools seperate.
I for one don't want to be an alumni of Evangel University for AG World Domination. Secondly, I already have a degree from a Christian College not AG related, why would I want a seminary degree from another "liberal arts university with a seminary attached?" Third, it does no one any good to have a seminary degree from an institution that doesn't exist anymore, it's educational suicide and everyone knows that. Please, do us all a favor (especially since the evangel students have nothing to worry about because it's their name we would keep) and allow the schools to be seperate, and unique. That is what draws people to them in the first place. I for one, would transfer schools if we merged, because again, who wants to have a $50,000+ sheet of paper from an institution that no longer exists?

Posted 5/23/2006 3:39 PM by BroadSwordFire - reply

Choose Identity

Xanga Network

Anonymous (Sign up for free!)