A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

5 have been marked by moderate but steady growth in physical facilities as well as in continuous improvements in TRAINING KOK LIKE AND SERVICE 273 the curriculum and in the quality of instruction. Already during the first year as a conference school Tabor was accredited again as a junior college. A new phase in the development of the school began in 1942 with the appointment of P. E. Schellenberg as president and the resumption of a four-year liberal arts program. The return of servicemen to the campus after World War II swelled enrollments to their highest point in the school's history, with 422 in 1946 (including academy and special students). In 1947 a program was set up to meet state requirements for the Secondary Teacher's Certificate. The termination of the Academy Department two years later also marked an important milestone in the school's educational progress. After Schellenberg's resignation from the presidency in 1951, two men served in this capacity for short terms: J.N.C. Hiebert (returned missionary from India) from 1952 to 1954, and F. C. Peters from 1954 to 1956. The College of Theology When Tabor College was founded in 1908 the study of the Bible was regarded as the core of educational activity. The Bible Department from the first provided unity, direction and purpose for the entire college program. It was not until 1924, however, that a Collegiate Bible Course (which led to the degree of Bachelor of Theology) was introduced. After the reorganization of the school in 1934-35, the Bible Department was expanded. In 1938 the Bachelor of Religious Education (B.R.E.) was added, and four years later the Graduate of Theology (Th.G.) degree was introduced. In 1944 the Bible Department was finally organized as a separate school of theology on a seminary level, offering the Bachelor of Divinity (B.D.) program. This program continued until the conference decided to move the seminary to Fresno in 1955. Since then Tabor has had a typical college Bible Department which is integrated with the liberal arts program. 4,1 Students in the Bible Department have benefited greatly from the services of outstanding teachers. In earlier years men like H. W. Lohrenz, P. C. Hiebert, P. P. Rempel, D. E. Harder and H. F. Toews gave guidance and instruction to many students who have become pastors, teachers, and missionaries in the conference program. In more recent years P. R. Lange, A. H. Unruh, D. Edmond Hiebert, C. F. Plett, Lando Hiebert, Orlando Wiebe, and Clarence Hiebert have helped to promote biblical training at Tabor College. The spiritual impact of Tabor College and especially of its Bible Department, on the educational and missionary endeavors of the M.B. Conference can hardly be overestimated. It has been the chief training ground for church leadership for several generations. 4 ' 274 HISTORY OF THE MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH A New Era In Chapter XIII the "constitutional cri