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1957–1999.
16 cm of textual records.
Administrative history
At the 1948 convention of the General Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches a proposal was made to begin a Mennonite Brethren Seminary to train future church workers. In 1955, after years of studies and organization, the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary (MBBS) opened in Fresno, California. The first year of courses were offered at Pacific Bible Institute (now Fresno Pacific College). The following year (1956) the Seminary moved to a six-acre campus on the outskirts of the city.
The Seminary received accreditation by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges in 1972 and from the Association of Theological Schools in 1977. In 1975 after twenty years of support by the U.S. conference, the sponsorship of the Seminary was transferred to the General Conference of MB Churches. At this time the Canadian and U.S. churches were given equal representation on the board of directors.
In 1963 the Cornelius Hiebert Library was built, as a joint project with Pacific College. Other facility additions have included a prayer chapel (1967), housing facilities (1967), additional office space (1970), a library extension (1980), and a new educational wing with classrooms and lounges (1982). In 1974 the Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies was established and the Center for Training in Mission/Evangelism in 1984. MBBS has also established a campus in Langley, British Columbia, to compliment the primary campus in Fresno.
B.J. Braun was the first president of the seminary. He was followed by J.B. Toews, Henry H. Dick, Elmer A. Martens, Larry D. Martens, and Henry J. Schmidt.
Scope and content
The material in this collection consists of minutes and reports from various boards within the school, publicity for the school in the form of pamphlets and newsletters, financial statements, and journals showing students work. The collection gives information on the Campus Expansion that the Seminary was planning in 1979.
Custodial history
The custodial history of this fonds is unclear.
Notes
Volume 777
Textual file list
Volume 777
1. Publicity. – pamphlets. –1950-1990.
2. Publicity. – newsletters. – 1950-1990.
3. Programs. – 1976-1999.
4. Seminary Lecture Series. – 1979-1984.
5. News Releases. – 1979-1980.
6. Weekly Bulletins. – 1979-1980.
7. Seminary Quarterly Bulletin and Presidents Newsletter. – 1979-1980.
8. Board of Directors. – minutes and reports. – October 1979.
9. Board of Directors. – minutes and reports. – February 1980.
10. Board of Directors. – minutes and reports. – April 1980.
11. Faculty Council. – minutes. – 1979-1980.
12. Administrative Committee. – minutes. – 1979-1980.
13. Correspondence and Reports regarding Campus Expansion. – 1978-1979.
14. Correspondence and Reports regarding Campus Development/Library. – 1979.
15. Financial Statements. – 1975.
16. Financial Statements. – 1977.
17. Miscellaneous Reports and Faculty lists. – 1976-1982.
18. It’s Sunrise in World Mission: A Vision Statement from the MBBS. By Hans Kasdorf. – 1984.
19. Seminary Journal. – 1962.
20. Journal of Church and Society. – 1965.
21. Catalogues. – 1971-1975, 1978-1980, 1981-1984, 1986-1995.
22. The Palm Yearbooks. – 1957, 1959, 1961.
