Difference between pages "Olivet Church (Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada)" and "Grace University (Omaha, Nebraska, USA)"

From GAMEO
(Difference between pages)
Jump to navigation Jump to search
m (Added some additional information about the early years.)
 
(added italics)
 
Line 1: Line 1:
 
__FORCETOC__
 
__FORCETOC__
 
__TOC__
 
__TOC__
−
[[File:OlivetMChurch.jpg|400px|thumbnail|right|''Olivet Mennonite Church, ca. 1968.<br />
+
[[File:Grace University.jpg|400px|thumb|''Grace University, 2017.<br/>Source: Grace University website'']]
−
Source: [http://www.thereach.ca/photo/p22763 The Reach P22763]''.]]
+
Grace University (first known as Grace Bible Institute, and in 1976 as Grace College of the Bible), Omaha, [[Nebraska (USA)|Nebraska]], was organized for the purpose of training Christian workers in an inter-Mennonite context. The organizational meeting was held on 1 June 1943. The ten ministers in attendance included August Ewert, Albert Ewert, Albert Schultz, Peter Kliewer, Paul Kuhlmann, Harold Burkholder, John Barkman, [[Suckau, Cornelius H. (1881-1951)|Cornelius H. Suckau]], Solomon Mouttet, and John Tieszen. The Board of Directors included leaders from six Mennonite conferences. The student body increased from 23 in 1943 to 325 by 1955. The 1955 enrollment consisted of young people from 20 denominations, 24 states, and 5 foreign countries. Sixty-five per cent of the student body was Mennonite at that time. In 2007-2008 there were 440 undergraduates enrolled from 24 states; 317 of these from Nebraska. Twenty-three denominations were represented; 17 students identified themselves as Mennonite.
−
[[File:Olivet.jpg|400px|thumb|right|''Olivet Church, 2007.<br />
 
−
Source: David Giesbrecht'']]
 
−
Olivet Mennonite Church began in late 1959 as a daughter congregation of [[Clearbrook Mennonite Church (Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada)|Clearbrook Mennonite Church]]. Members from Clearbrook Mennonite Church wanted an English-speaking church for themselves, their children and community. On 17 January 1960, Olivet had their first gathering with 75 attendees in the Farmer's Institute on Clearbrook Road. Henry D. Penner was the first pastor. For the following 17 months Olivet members worshiped at the [[Mennonite Brethren Bible Institute (Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada)|Mennonite Brethren Bible Institute]] (now Columbia Bible College). On 11 September 1960 the Olivet Mennonite Mission Church (the original name of the church) was officially organized as a church with 52 charter members. The congregation joined the [[Mennonite Church British Columbia|Conference of United Mennonite Churches of British Columbia]] in 1960.
 
  
−
The congregation purchased property on Langdon Street in central Clearbrook (now [[Abbotsford (British Columbia, Canada)|Abbotsford]]). The basement for Sunday school work was finished first and work progressed rapidly with the upper floor completed in 1963. The first service in the new church was held on 3 December 1963.
+
The Grace Bible Institute was accredited by the Accrediting Association of Bible Institutes and Bible Colleges—Collegiate Division. It offered the degree of Bachelor of Arts with a Bible major. The liberal arts courses were fully accredited by the University of Nebraska. The Institute was classified as a professional school in that it was primarily devoted to the training of young people for full-time Christian service. Grace Bible Institute, as an inter-Mennonite school, affirmed its stand as true and loyal to the time-honored Mennonite doctrines.
  
−
By 1967 the church was self-supporting and changed its name to Olivet Mennonite Church. As families with young children joined the congregation the education facilities were found to be inadequate and in 1972 an education wing was added.  In 1980 the sanctuary was widened to provide more room for the growing church family. Again, most of the work was done by voluntary labor. By 1985 the membership had increased to 349.
+
Over the years Grace also expanded physically through the construction and purchase of additional facilities. These included Suckau Chapel (basement, 1949; main floor, 1957); Schmidt Hall (1962); Harold D. Burkholder Center (1967) which includes the Jim Classen Gymnasium (2003); and the Donald J. Tschetter Academic Building (1975). In 1977, Grace purchased the St. Catherine’s Hospital Center for Continuing Care, adding building used for dorms and administrative purposes. In 2003 a gymnasium as was added.
  
−
An active membership saw a variety of programs, events and trends. Numerous volunteers served in service and missionary projects. Solid Bible study happened in sermons and care groups, especially in the Bethel Bible study series and in Wee College (preschoolers). There were youth programs, various worship styles, choir and even an attempt at an early Sunday morning worship service. The Church Board consisted of the deacons, an elected executive and the department heads.
+
In 1995 Grace Bible Institute became Grace University with three colleges: Grace College of the Bible, Grace College of Graduate Studies, and Grace College of Continuing Education.
  
−
The 1990s into the 2000s were difficult years for the church. For a variety of reasons, the unity and good will that existed during the period of growth was weakened, and the church was unable to maintain its forward momentum.
+
On 3 October 2017 the university announced it would close at the end of the 2017/18 academic year. Enrolment drops led to deficit financing. In fall 2017 only 33 freshmen students enrolled, with 298 students for the 2017/18 year.  
  
−
On 11 December 2004 the 40 year-old sanctuary of Olivet Mennonite Church was ravaged by fire. The church suffered enough damage that it needed to be demolished and rebuilt. During this transition period, Olivet Mennonite Church held its services at Columbia Bible College just as it did when the first church building was under construction. The church offices and youth programs were located in empty portables at the local Dormick Park Elementary School. Olivet completed their new building in 2007 on the same site as their previous sanctuary.
+
According to the ''Mennonite World Review'', although Grace's Mennonite identity declined significantly in recent decades, Grace University influenced many Mennonite pastors and educators, especially in the former General Conference Mennonite Church. Historian Paul Toews wrote in ''Mennonites in American Society, 1930-1970'' that Grace was intended as a school for General Conference Mennonites "of fundamentalist bent."
−
 
 
−
The church board and several pastors had for some time expressed concern about the perceived failure of [[Mennonite Church Canada|Mennonite Church Canada]] and Mennonite Church British Columbia (BC) to clearly state their position on homosexual related questions that were raised at regional conferences. In the absence of satisfactory answers to these concerns, the Olivet Mennonite Church decided to withdraw from Mennonite Church Canada in 2006 and from Mennonite Church BC on 12 November 2007. In an open letter to Mennonite Church BC and the congregation, the pastor and associate pastor stated that they could no longer support or accept the Mennonite position on nonresistance.
 
−
 
 
−
The placing of the Israeli national flag in a prominent position in the church as evidence of congregational support for the current nation of Israel was done without congregational discussion or approval. These events and decisions were of great concern to many members as they were now separated from the Mennonite family. Many members quietly left to join other churches in the community.
 
−
 
 
−
The current congregation is called Olivet Church and is not affiliated with any specific denomination. After several years of discussion between the conference and the church, the MCBC conference, at a special delegate session on 5 November 2011, voted to transfer title of the church property from the conference to the congregation.
 
 
= Bibliography =
 
= Bibliography =
−
''Canadian Mennonite'' (23 June 1961): 10; (24 November 1961): 20.
+
Grace University. "An Important Announcement from Grace University." Web. 3 October 2017. https://www.graceuniversity.edu/an-important-announcement-from-grace-university/.
−
 
 
−
''Canadian Mennonite'' (22 July 2005); (17 December 2007).
 
−
 
 
−
''Churches in Profile''. Conference of Mennonites in British Columbia, 1978: 85-89.
 
−
 
 
−
Dueckman, Amy. "MC B.C. Relinquishes Title to Olivet Church: Former Congregation Had Left MC B.C. in 2007." ''Canadian Mennonite'' (28 November 2011): 17.
 
−
 
 
−
''Echoes 39-64: The Conference of United Mennonite Churches of British Columbia''. Abbotsford, BC: The Conference, 1964: 25.
 
−
 
 
−
''Mennonite Reporter'' (31 May 1976): 15.
 
  
−
''Olivet Mennonite Church, 25th Anniversary Album 1960-1985''. Olivet Mennonite Church, 1985.
+
Grace University. "Grace University History." Web. 15 April 2008. http://www.graceu.edu/Catalog/GeneralInfo/Mission.htm.
  
−
''Pictorial Directory of the Olivet Mennonite Church''. 1974, 36 pp.
+
Grace University. "Statistical Information." Web. 15 April 2008. http://www.graceu.edu/Catalog/Directories/StatsInfo.htm.
  
−
''Pictorial history and directory published in 1982'', Mennonites in Canada collection, [https://uwaterloo.ca/mennonite-archives-ontario/ Mennonite Archives of Ontario].
+
Huber, Tim. "Nebraska University with Mennonite Roots to Close." ''Mennonite World Review.'' Web. 12 October 2017. http://mennoworld.org/2017/10/12/news/nebraska-university-with-mennonite-roots-closes/.
  
 +
Wikipedia. "Grace University." 22 March 2012. Web. 22 June 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_University.
 
= Additional Information =
 
= Additional Information =
−
'''Address''': 2630 Langdon Street, Abbotsford BC V2T 3L2
+
==Presidents of Grace==
−
 
+
{| class="wikitable"  
−
'''Phone''': 604-853-2139
+
! President !! Years
−
 
+
|-  
−
'''Website''': [http://olivetchurchabbotsford.ca/ Olivet Church]
+
| Paul Kuhlmann (acting) || align="right" | 1943
−
 
+
|-  
−
'''Denominational Affiliations''':
+
| [[Suckau, Cornelius H. (1881-1951)|Cornelius H. Suckau]] ||  align="right" | 1944-1950
−
 
+
|-  
−
Conference of Mennonites in British Columbia / [[Mennonite Church British Columbia|Mennonite Church British Columbia]] (1961-2007)
+
| Harold D. Burkholder || align="right" | 1950-1955
−
 
+
|-  
−
[[Conference of Mennonites in Canada|Conference of Mennonites in Canada]] / Mennonite Church Canada (1961-2006)
+
| Joseph W. Schmidt || align="right" | 1955-1960
−
 
+
|-  
−
[[General Conference Mennonite Church (GCM)|General Conference Mennonite Church]] (1962-1999)
+
| D. J. Unruh (interim) || align="right" | 1960-1961
−
=== Olivet Church Leading Ministers ===
+
|-  
−
                                                     
+
| Waldo E. Harder || align="right" | 1961-1971
−
{| border="1"
+
|-  
−
|-
+
| Robert W. Benton || align="right" | 1971-1984
−
!Minister
+
|-  
−
!Years
+
| Warren E. Bathke || align="right" | 1984-1993
−
|-
+
|-
−
|Henry D. Penner
+
| Neal F. McBride || align="right" | 1993-1997
−
|1960-1966
+
|-  
−
|-
+
| James P. Eckman || align="right" | 1997-2012
−
|Abe Buhler
+
|-
−
|1967-1975
+
| David M. Barnes || align="right" | 2012-2016
−
|-
+
|-  
−
|[[Born, Henry C. (1920-2002)|Henry C. Born (interim)]]
+
| Bill Bauhard (CEO) || align="right" | 2016-2018
−
|1975-1977
 
−
|-
 
−
|[[Neufeld, David P. (1919-1982)|David P. Neufeld]]
 
−
|1977-1981
 
−
|-
 
−
|Lowell Gerber (interim)
 
−
|1981-1983
 
−
|-
 
−
|Art Willms
 
−
|1983-1985
 
−
|-
 
−
|Lowell Gerber
 
−
|1985-1987
 
−
|-
 
−
|Henry C. Born (interim)
 
−
|1988-1989
 
−
|-
 
−
|Peter Penner
 
−
|1990-1994
 
−
|-
 
−
|Jim Ratzlaff
 
−
|1995-2005
 
−
|-
 
−
|Herb Neufeld (interim)
 
−
|2005-2006
 
−
|-
 
−
|Randy Thompson
 
−
|2006-2009
 
−
|}
 
−
=== Olivet Church Membership ===
 
−
                                             
 
−
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;"
 
−
|-
 
−
!Year
 
−
!Members
 
−
|-
 
−
|1960
 
−
|52
 
−
|-
 
−
|1965
 
−
|90
 
−
|-
 
−
|1970
 
−
|162
 
−
|-
 
−
|1975
 
−
|230
 
−
|-
 
−
|1980
 
−
|277
 
−
|-
 
−
|1985
 
−
|349
 
−
|-
 
−
|1990
 
−
|334
 
−
|-
 
−
|1995
 
−
|281
 
−
|-
 
−
|2000
 
−
|215
 
−
|-
 
−
|2005
 
−
|192
 
 
|}
 
|}
−
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=October 2016|a1_last=Neufeld|a1_first=Henry S|a2_last=|a2_first=}}
+
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=Vol. 2, pp. 559-560|date=October 2017|a1_last=Burkholder|a1_first=Harold D.|a2_last=Steiner|a2_first=Sam}}
−
[[Category:Churches]]
+
[[Category:Colleges and Universities]]
−
[[Category:Mennonite Church British Columbia Congregations]]
 
−
[[Category:Mennonite Church Canada Congregations]]
 
−
[[Category:General Conference Mennonite Church Congregations]]
 
−
[[Category:British Columbia Congregations]]
 
−
[[Category:Canadian Congregations]]
 
−
[[Category:Independent Community Congregations]]
 

Revision as of 20:58, 16 October 2017

Grace University, 2017.
Source: Grace University website

Grace University (first known as Grace Bible Institute, and in 1976 as Grace College of the Bible), Omaha, Nebraska, was organized for the purpose of training Christian workers in an inter-Mennonite context. The organizational meeting was held on 1 June 1943. The ten ministers in attendance included August Ewert, Albert Ewert, Albert Schultz, Peter Kliewer, Paul Kuhlmann, Harold Burkholder, John Barkman, Cornelius H. Suckau, Solomon Mouttet, and John Tieszen. The Board of Directors included leaders from six Mennonite conferences. The student body increased from 23 in 1943 to 325 by 1955. The 1955 enrollment consisted of young people from 20 denominations, 24 states, and 5 foreign countries. Sixty-five per cent of the student body was Mennonite at that time. In 2007-2008 there were 440 undergraduates enrolled from 24 states; 317 of these from Nebraska. Twenty-three denominations were represented; 17 students identified themselves as Mennonite.

The Grace Bible Institute was accredited by the Accrediting Association of Bible Institutes and Bible Colleges—Collegiate Division. It offered the degree of Bachelor of Arts with a Bible major. The liberal arts courses were fully accredited by the University of Nebraska. The Institute was classified as a professional school in that it was primarily devoted to the training of young people for full-time Christian service. Grace Bible Institute, as an inter-Mennonite school, affirmed its stand as true and loyal to the time-honored Mennonite doctrines.

Over the years Grace also expanded physically through the construction and purchase of additional facilities. These included Suckau Chapel (basement, 1949; main floor, 1957); Schmidt Hall (1962); Harold D. Burkholder Center (1967) which includes the Jim Classen Gymnasium (2003); and the Donald J. Tschetter Academic Building (1975). In 1977, Grace purchased the St. Catherine’s Hospital Center for Continuing Care, adding building used for dorms and administrative purposes. In 2003 a gymnasium as was added.

In 1995 Grace Bible Institute became Grace University with three colleges: Grace College of the Bible, Grace College of Graduate Studies, and Grace College of Continuing Education.

On 3 October 2017 the university announced it would close at the end of the 2017/18 academic year. Enrolment drops led to deficit financing. In fall 2017 only 33 freshmen students enrolled, with 298 students for the 2017/18 year.

According to the Mennonite World Review, although Grace's Mennonite identity declined significantly in recent decades, Grace University influenced many Mennonite pastors and educators, especially in the former General Conference Mennonite Church. Historian Paul Toews wrote in Mennonites in American Society, 1930-1970 that Grace was intended as a school for General Conference Mennonites "of fundamentalist bent."

Bibliography

Grace University. "An Important Announcement from Grace University." Web. 3 October 2017. https://www.graceuniversity.edu/an-important-announcement-from-grace-university/.

Grace University. "Grace University History." Web. 15 April 2008. http://www.graceu.edu/Catalog/GeneralInfo/Mission.htm.

Grace University. "Statistical Information." Web. 15 April 2008. http://www.graceu.edu/Catalog/Directories/StatsInfo.htm.

Huber, Tim. "Nebraska University with Mennonite Roots to Close." Mennonite World Review. Web. 12 October 2017. http://mennoworld.org/2017/10/12/news/nebraska-university-with-mennonite-roots-closes/.

Wikipedia. "Grace University." 22 March 2012. Web. 22 June 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_University.

Additional Information

Presidents of Grace

President Years
Paul Kuhlmann (acting) 1943
Cornelius H. Suckau 1944-1950
Harold D. Burkholder 1950-1955
Joseph W. Schmidt 1955-1960
D. J. Unruh (interim) 1960-1961
Waldo E. Harder 1961-1971
Robert W. Benton 1971-1984
Warren E. Bathke 1984-1993
Neal F. McBride 1993-1997
James P. Eckman 1997-2012
David M. Barnes 2012-2016
Bill Bauhard (CEO) 2016-2018


Author(s) Harold D. Burkholder
Sam Steiner
Date Published October 2017

Cite This Article

MLA style

Burkholder, Harold D. and Sam Steiner. "Grace University (Omaha, Nebraska, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. October 2017. Web. 23 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Grace_University_(Omaha,_Nebraska,_USA)&oldid=154891.

APA style

Burkholder, Harold D. and Sam Steiner. (October 2017). Grace University (Omaha, Nebraska, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 23 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Grace_University_(Omaha,_Nebraska,_USA)&oldid=154891.



Hpbuttns.png

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 2, pp. 559-560. All rights reserved.


©1996-2024 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.

Retrieved from "https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Olivet_Church_(Abbotsford,_British_Columbia,_Canada)&oldid=154891"