Below is a list of Frequently Asked Questions regarding the closure of CBC which we are updating as necessary. If you have a question that are not answered below please submit an inquiry through the contact us page.
Last Updated March 1, 2007
After 66 years of rich and creative ministry the board of Covenant Bible College is recommending to its two members, the Evangelical Covenant Church of Canada and the Evangelical Covenant Church, that it discontinue the program in any form and on all campuses effective May 31st, 2007. All assets including all real property currently owned by Covenant Bible College International and its affiliated corporations will be sold and applied against indebtedness and other liabilities of the corporation. While the decision comes in the form of a recommendation to its two members: due to mounting operating debt, continued decline in student applications and donations, it is expected the members will affirm the proposed action.
How did we get to this point?
Like all small colleges, CBC has maintained a delicate fiscal balance between student tuition and fees, and charitable donations. As our student numbers have dramatically decreased over the past few years, despite budget cutbacks including campus closures and staff layoffs, we have incurred an unmanageable level of debt. In early January when, despite our best efforts, our student numbers were projected to be down even again this fall and with charitable donations declining as well, we realized we were facing a projected accumulated operating debt of over 1 million US by May 31st, 2007. To balance the budget this year would take a 50% increase in our donations. As we've done our research (analyzing the trending in application rates, donor giving, and year end financial statements) and prayed over our ministry, we've come to realize we simply no longer have enough students or a broad enough donor base to continue the ministry.
It seems like CBC is the best kept secret in the Covenant, why haven't we done more to get the word out, so more students will apply?
Actually, while CBC is unknown in many areas, we are very well known in others across the US and Canada. The hard truth is that while our rich 66 year history and our increased recruiting efforts have given us strong connections to many churches, camps and conferences, those students that are aware of CBC are still choosing not to come.
If we have students that have applied for this fall, why couldn't we run it just one more year?
Actually we've had one more year. Due to the grace of our major creditor National Covenant Properties we were able to disciple 105 more students this year. But because of the continued decline in applications and now donations as well, we are out of time and options. It is no longer economically feasible to run CBC.
We ran CBC with one campus and a handful of students 15 years ago, why can't we just scale back, downsize to one campus and do it that way again?
It simply cost more to run our program than it used to. Mortgages, the cost of technology, utilities and food, the rising cost of student recruitment (just to generate the same number of applications) are just a few of the factors that have caused our actual cost per student to more than double over the last 9 years. And, our projections show if we ran our program next year, it would cost 3 times as much per student than it did in 1998, even after significant cutbacks and layoffs. We are not alone in this, the 4 reasons commonly cited for small college closures are true of us as well: declining enrollment, tuition increases greater than the rate of inflation, rising program costs, and increasing debt.
Why didn't anyone tell us it was this bad?
While over the past 12 months we have been open with our constituency through mailings, email, website, church visits and alumni gatherings, about our financial shortfalls (actual and projected) and declining application rate, it was not until we compiled our December 31st student and charitable donation numbers that we realized we clearly would not have the necessary funds for this year, nor the minimum number of students for fall. Consequently, to avoid incurring further debt and jeopardizing any chance of full repayment of our obligations, we've needed to move quickly and decisively.
Why didn't we do a financial appeal to the whole American denomination?
The leaders of the ECC, ECCC and CBC considered presenting an appeal to the entire denomination but we chose not to for the following reasons:
- The financial needs of CBC are so great that while an appeal would undoubtedly help in the short run, it wouldn't make a decisive and long term difference. This is due, in part, to the fact that our current model is simply no longer a sustainable one. Therefore by continuing we run a very high risk of being in the same or a worse financial place by this time next year.
- While it is true that a denominational appeal would expose a whole new group of people to our ministry, their first impression would be the dire straits in which we find ourselves. The reality is, people tend to give generously to what they already know and love more than whom or what has the greatest need. While certainly new money would come through such an appeal, Fund raising professionals and fund development literature consistently state that the big gifts and even the "miracle" gifts come from those who are already supporters and close to the particular ministry asking for support. And these gifts are seldom a surprise to the ministry. This has been our experience as well. Those close to CBC know of our need and have given generously. We've presented our need to those best in a position to help through our mailing list with over 5,500 names, our email newslist of over 4000 contacts and through church and donor visits.
What happens to current students?Both CBC Canada and CBC Ecuador will continue their ministry through the end of the academic year. In a sense the entire community, students and discipling staff, will commence on the graduation weekend.
So what happens to the mission of CBC to disciple young adults?
This is an important question. Undoubtedly the mission of CBC is as valid as the day it began in 1941, but this particular form is done. While the need to disciple young adults is still clearly there, CBC will no longer be in a position to meet that need.
Where is God in this?
Right where God has always been: above and below us, within and without. The closure of CBC is not a sign that God is displeased or has withdrawn his blessing. To everything that lives there is a cycle of birth, life and death. We tend to see God in the miracle of birth and in life as it flourishes, but not so clearly in the end or conclusion of something that was vibrant and significant. To everything there is a season. How remarkable that God would grace us with 66 years of significant ministry through CBC (and The Worship Center.) And, while this particular ministry is over, God continues to call the church to new ways and means of discipling young adults.
How can I be kept informed of what is happening over the next few months?
If you email us through the contact us page we will answer any questions you might have.
Behold what manner of love the Father has given us to us, that we may be called the children of God.
I am very grateful for the rich history and incredible impact of CBC over its 66 years of ministry, and in particular this last season of growth. In the late 80's and early to mid 90's there were a number of closures and mergers in the Canadian Bible college world. In the CBC story the late 80's found the CBC Board considering "closing the doors". However, under the vision of a new president, with the energy of a new team and relevancy of a revamped program, CBC ended a second enrolment cycle and entered into a new season of growth and expansion. Now, while it is wise stewardship to close the college, it is ours to celebrate and be grateful for the gift of this third and last season of CBC's life which gave opportunity for many more students to be discipled. In fact there were more grads in this last 17 year cycle, than in the first two cycles combined. While I do not mean to minimize the loss that we feel with closing the college, it truly is remarkable the many lives, communities and churches that have and are being changed through the ministry of CBC and its graduates.
~Paul Lessard - Strathmore, AB - March 2007
What is next?
The Evangelical Covenant Church of Canada has established Discipleship Initiatives in the legacy of CBC. Click here for information on these initiatives.