A History of the Mennonite Brethren Church, Ja Toews

n, Sask., assumed responsibility as president of Pacific Bible Institute. Under his leadership the school expanded rapidly. The curriculum was organized into a Bible college program. For a number of years the institute offered four- and five-year programs granting the Bible college Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Theology degrees. In 1952-53 enrollment reached 134 day-students and fifteen evening students." With the reorganization of the educational program of the United States Conference in 1954, Pacific Bible Institute entered into a period of transition. The new unified Board of Education defined the nature and scope of each institution under its jurisdiction. The theological offer- ings of Pacific Bible Institute were curtailed in 1955 when the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary was established in Fresno. The Th.B. course was transferred to the seminary and there expanded into the B.D. program. In keeping with the unification and coordination policy, the institute now offered a three-year course leading to a diploma in Bible and a two-year course (junior college) in liberal arts. R. M. Baerg served as acting president during the interim period (1953-1955). From 1955 to 1960 B. J. Braun served as president of both schools: Pacific Bible Institute and Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary. By 1959 the classroom building on the new campus was ready for occupancy. A year later the name of the school was changed to Pacific College. That same year Arthur J. Wiebe became president of Pacific College and has given effective leadership to the growing institution since then. In 1961 Pacific College became the first church-related junior college in California to receive accreditation from the Western College Association. The new (Hiebert) library building, with special accommodations for the seminary, was constructed in 1962. Because of a sharp decrease of enrollment in the Bible institute division, this program was phased out. An increasing number of students, however, have selected a B.A. course with a Bible major. By 1965 Pacific College had developed into a full four-year liberal arts college and was accredited as such by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). Pacific College has experienced a steady growth in attendance; from 212 in 1964-65, the student body has increased to 447 in 1971. In 1972 the graduating class of the college numbered 104 students — the largest in its history.' 8 276 HISTORY OF THE MEN NONITE BRETHREN CHURCH In its latest catalog the school is identified as an Anabaptist- Mennonite college which seeks to recapture the faith and life of the early Christian church, placing central emphasis upon the Lordship of Jesus Christ for the totality of life, the authority of the Scriptures for all matters of faith and ethics, the Christian life as a life of discipleship, the Christian church as a fellowship of redeemed people, the voluntary nature of faith and th