William Tyndale College
Encyclopedia
William Tyndale College, often simply Tyndale, was a nondenominational Christian
college located in Farmington Hills, Michigan
. Named after Protestant scholar William Tyndale
, the college was founded as the Detroit Bible Institute in 1945, and became accredited by the American Association of Bible Colleges in 1954 and North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
in 1988. William Tyndale College closed on December 31, 2004. Its motto was In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; and in all things, charity.
and moved to a temporary location in a former elementary school on Franklin Road in Southfield. DBC relocated to newly built facilities on a 28-acre campus at 35700 W. Twelve Mile Road in Farmington Hills, Michigan, in 1978. As a means of maintaining its historic connection with urban churches in Detroit following its move to suburban Oakland County, the college began offering undergraduate courses in Urban Ministry as well as non-credit continuing education courses at Greater New Mt Moriah Baptist Church. In 1981 Detroit Bible College changed its name to William Tyndale College.
During the years from 1945 to 1980 when it was Detroit Bible Institute and then Detroit Bible College, the school's motto was "The will of God, nothing more, nothing less, nothing else." Numerous students graduated and went on to become pastors, missionaries and Christian teachers. The Detroit Bible College Chorale, a semi-professional group, toured the great lakes area every Easter vacation, bringing the Word of God and the sound of excellent choral music to churches.
Tyndale offered the Bachelor of Theology (Th.B.), Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Religious Education (B.R.Ed.) Bachelor of Music (B.Mus.) and Associate of Arts (A.A.) degrees.
Four presidents led the college: Dr. Roy L. Aldrich, Dr. Wendell G. Johnston, Dr. William A. Shoemaker, and Dr. James C. McHann. Notable faculty who served over the years include Dr. Charles H. Shaw, Dr. Herbert Cocking, Dr. Matthew Parker, and Dr. Henry W. Holloman.
, Moody Bible Institute
and Philadelphia College of Bible. Through the early 1980's, the first two presidents and many of the college's administrators and Bible faculty were graduates of Dallas Seminary. Nonetheless, the student body represented a cross-section of conservative Protestant and independent churches, such as various Baptist groups, Assembly of God, Plymouth Brethren
, Evangelical Presbyterian, Church of God in Christ
, Bible churches, Trinitarian Pentecostal churches, and others. With the appointment of William Shoemaker as president in the mid-1980's, the college began to broaden its theological teaching perspective, a process that was met with mixed reaction from alumni and traditional constituents.
Joe Knollenberg
worked with Tyndale's President James C. McHann to secure almost $1.5 million (USD) in federal funding for the college. In that same year, United States Senator
Debbie Stabenow
and Sen. Carl Levin
also helped the college receive federal funding totaling $461,000. Prior to its closing, Tyndale was held afloat financially by Regent University
for a short time, beginning in 2003.
In 2001, former President McHann and former Vice President W. Howard Burkeen and other school officials acquired a branch of Computer Learning Centers, Inc. and renamed it the NorthStar Institute of Technology. In November 2001, the school was raided under charges that NorthStar improperly provided federal aid to their student through Tyndale. At the conclusion of the case in 2005, Burkeen was ordered to repay the U.S. Department of Education over $300,000. McHann was acquitted of all charges.
Currently, Tyndale's records are now housed at nearby Rochester College
, where some students resumed their studies after Tyndale's closing. Students needing transcript information can go to this link url=http://www.rc.edu/alumni/alumni_transcript.php
Norman Geisler
, Christian apologetic
and president of the Southern Evangelical Seminary
, received a degree from Detroit Bible College in 1955.
Gary Habermas
, Christian apologetic
and professor at Liberty University
, received a degree from DBC in 1972,
Eugene J. Mayhew, Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages, Moody Theological Seminary, received a BREd degree from Detroit Bible College.
Vincent P. Messina, Campus Pastor of Woodside Bible Church, graduated from Detroit Bible College in 1977.
Gilbert E. Patterson
(1939-2007), late Presiding Bishop and Chief Apostle of the Church of God in Christ
(COGIC), attended the Detroit Bible Institute.
Mark D. Powers, President, Pulte Homes Connecticut, Fortune 150, received a degree from William Tyndale College in 1998. Winner of Wall Street Journal Award for Business Excellence, Suma Cum Laude
William L. Rowe
, professor emeritus of philosophy at Purdue University
, attended Detroit Bible Institute.
Jack Van Impe
, televangelist, received a diploma from Detroit Bible Institute in 1952.
Joseph Williams, Founder and President, Christian Association of Prison Aftercare, has a BA from William Tyndale College.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
college located in Farmington Hills, Michigan
Farmington Hills, Michigan
Farmington Hills is a community in southeastern Michigan. It is the largest city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Its population was 79,740 at the 2010 census...
. Named after Protestant scholar William Tyndale
William Tyndale
William Tyndale was an English scholar and translator who became a leading figure in Protestant reformism towards the end of his life. He was influenced by the work of Desiderius Erasmus, who made the Greek New Testament available in Europe, and by Martin Luther...
, the college was founded as the Detroit Bible Institute in 1945, and became accredited by the American Association of Bible Colleges in 1954 and North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools , also known as the North Central Association, is a membership organization, consisting of colleges, universities, and schools in 19 U.S. states, that is engaged in educational accreditation...
in 1988. William Tyndale College closed on December 31, 2004. Its motto was In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; and in all things, charity.
History
The college opened its doors in September 1945 as the Detroit Bible Institute, organized by the Christian Business Men's Committee of Detroit. Classes were held in the Missionary Workers Tabernacle and later at Highland Park Baptist Church and Elim Baptist Church until the first campus was built at 17370 Meyers Road in northwest Detroit in 1950. The institute became a bachelor-degree-granting college in 1960. In 1976, the college sold its Meyers Road campus to Lewis College of BusinessLewis College of Business
Lewis College of Business is an unaccredited institution of higher education in Detroit, Michigan in the United States. It is also the first historically black college in Michigan. Founded in 1928, it currently has about 300 students. It specializes in business-related topics.-References:...
and moved to a temporary location in a former elementary school on Franklin Road in Southfield. DBC relocated to newly built facilities on a 28-acre campus at 35700 W. Twelve Mile Road in Farmington Hills, Michigan, in 1978. As a means of maintaining its historic connection with urban churches in Detroit following its move to suburban Oakland County, the college began offering undergraduate courses in Urban Ministry as well as non-credit continuing education courses at Greater New Mt Moriah Baptist Church. In 1981 Detroit Bible College changed its name to William Tyndale College.
During the years from 1945 to 1980 when it was Detroit Bible Institute and then Detroit Bible College, the school's motto was "The will of God, nothing more, nothing less, nothing else." Numerous students graduated and went on to become pastors, missionaries and Christian teachers. The Detroit Bible College Chorale, a semi-professional group, toured the great lakes area every Easter vacation, bringing the Word of God and the sound of excellent choral music to churches.
Tyndale offered the Bachelor of Theology (Th.B.), Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Religious Education (B.R.Ed.) Bachelor of Music (B.Mus.) and Associate of Arts (A.A.) degrees.
Four presidents led the college: Dr. Roy L. Aldrich, Dr. Wendell G. Johnston, Dr. William A. Shoemaker, and Dr. James C. McHann. Notable faculty who served over the years include Dr. Charles H. Shaw, Dr. Herbert Cocking, Dr. Matthew Parker, and Dr. Henry W. Holloman.
Theological Connections
Although the college was not affiliated with a particular denomination, its early theological identity was tied to the dispensationalism theology that was characteristic of similar mid-twentieth century Bible institutions, such as Dallas Theological SeminaryDallas Theological Seminary
Dallas Theological Seminary is an evangelical theological seminary located in Dallas, Texas. It is known for popularizing the theological system known as Dispensationalism...
, Moody Bible Institute
Moody Bible Institute
Moody Bible Institute is a Christian institution of higher education and related ministries that was founded by evangelist and businessman Dwight Lyman Moody in 1886. Since its founding, MBI's main campus has been located in the Near North Side of Chicago. MBI's primary ministries are education,...
and Philadelphia College of Bible. Through the early 1980's, the first two presidents and many of the college's administrators and Bible faculty were graduates of Dallas Seminary. Nonetheless, the student body represented a cross-section of conservative Protestant and independent churches, such as various Baptist groups, Assembly of God, Plymouth Brethren
Plymouth Brethren
The Plymouth Brethren is a conservative, Evangelical Christian movement, whose history can be traced to Dublin, Ireland, in the late 1820s. Although the group is notable for not taking any official "church name" to itself, and not having an official clergy or liturgy, the title "The Brethren," is...
, Evangelical Presbyterian, Church of God in Christ
Church of God in Christ
The Church of God in Christ is a Pentecostal Holiness Christian denomination with a predominantly African-American membership. With nearly five million members in the United States and 12,000 congregations, it is the largest Pentecostal church and the fifth largest Christian church in the U.S....
, Bible churches, Trinitarian Pentecostal churches, and others. With the appointment of William Shoemaker as president in the mid-1980's, the college began to broaden its theological teaching perspective, a process that was met with mixed reaction from alumni and traditional constituents.
Closure
In 2001, CongressmanUnited States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
Joe Knollenberg
Joe Knollenberg
Joseph "Joe" Knollenberg is a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan. From 1993 to 2009, he was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing ....
worked with Tyndale's President James C. McHann to secure almost $1.5 million (USD) in federal funding for the college. In that same year, United States Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Debbie Stabenow
Debbie Stabenow
Deborah Ann Greer "Debbie" Stabenow is the junior United States Senator from Michigan and a member of the Democratic Party. Before her election to the U.S. Senate, she was a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Michigan's 8th congressional district from 1997 to 2001...
and Sen. Carl Levin
Carl Levin
Carl Milton Levin is a Jewish-American United States Senator from Michigan, serving since 1979. He is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
also helped the college receive federal funding totaling $461,000. Prior to its closing, Tyndale was held afloat financially by Regent University
Regent University
Regent University is a private coeducational interdenominational Christian university located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States. The school was founded by the American televangelist Pat Robertson in 1978 as Christian Broadcasting Network University. A satellite campus located in...
for a short time, beginning in 2003.
In 2001, former President McHann and former Vice President W. Howard Burkeen and other school officials acquired a branch of Computer Learning Centers, Inc. and renamed it the NorthStar Institute of Technology. In November 2001, the school was raided under charges that NorthStar improperly provided federal aid to their student through Tyndale. At the conclusion of the case in 2005, Burkeen was ordered to repay the U.S. Department of Education over $300,000. McHann was acquitted of all charges.
Currently, Tyndale's records are now housed at nearby Rochester College
Rochester College
Rochester College is a four-year, liberal arts college located in Rochester Hills, Michigan. The college was founded by members of Churches of Christ in 1959. Total enrollment for the fall 2011 semester is 1,084 students....
, where some students resumed their studies after Tyndale's closing. Students needing transcript information can go to this link url=http://www.rc.edu/alumni/alumni_transcript.php
Notable alumni
Rev. Dr. Jerry Andrews, senior pastor of First Presbyterian Church of San Diego, received a BREd degree from Detroit Bible College.Norman Geisler
Norman Geisler
Norman L. Geisler is a Christian apologist and the co-founder of Southern Evangelical Seminary outside Charlotte, North Carolina, where he formerly taught. He holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from Jesuit Loyola University...
, Christian apologetic
Christian apologetics
Christian apologetics is a field of Christian theology that aims to present a rational basis for the Christian faith, defend the faith against objections, and expose the perceived flaws of other world views...
and president of the Southern Evangelical Seminary
Southern Evangelical Seminary
Southern Evangelical Seminary is a Christian college in Matthews, North Carolina near Charlotte. The seminary was established in 1992 by Dr. Norman Geisler, a Christian apologist and theologian, and Ross Rhoads, former pastor of Calvary Church and currently the chaplain of the Billy Graham...
, received a degree from Detroit Bible College in 1955.
Gary Habermas
Gary Habermas
Gary Robert Habermas is an American evangelical Christian apologist, historian, and philosopher of religion. He is a prolific author, lecturer, and debater on the topic of the Resurrection of Jesus...
, Christian apologetic
Christian apologetics
Christian apologetics is a field of Christian theology that aims to present a rational basis for the Christian faith, defend the faith against objections, and expose the perceived flaws of other world views...
and professor at Liberty University
Liberty University
Liberty University is a private Christian university located in Lynchburg, Virginia. Liberty's annual enrollment is around 72,000 students, 12,000 of whom are residential students and 60,000+ studying through Liberty University Online...
, received a degree from DBC in 1972,
Eugene J. Mayhew, Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages, Moody Theological Seminary, received a BREd degree from Detroit Bible College.
Vincent P. Messina, Campus Pastor of Woodside Bible Church, graduated from Detroit Bible College in 1977.
Gilbert E. Patterson
Gilbert E. Patterson
Bishop G. E. Patterson was an American Pentecostal-Holiness, Charismatic minister who served as the international Presiding Bishop and Chief Apostle of the Church of God in Christ , Inc....
(1939-2007), late Presiding Bishop and Chief Apostle of the Church of God in Christ
Church of God in Christ
The Church of God in Christ is a Pentecostal Holiness Christian denomination with a predominantly African-American membership. With nearly five million members in the United States and 12,000 congregations, it is the largest Pentecostal church and the fifth largest Christian church in the U.S....
(COGIC), attended the Detroit Bible Institute.
Mark D. Powers, President, Pulte Homes Connecticut, Fortune 150, received a degree from William Tyndale College in 1998. Winner of Wall Street Journal Award for Business Excellence, Suma Cum Laude
William L. Rowe
William L. Rowe
William Leonard Rowe is a professor emeritus of philosophy at Purdue University who specialises in the philosophy of religion. His work has played a leading role in the "remarkable revival of analytic philosophy of religion since the 1970s"...
, professor emeritus of philosophy at Purdue University
Purdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
, attended Detroit Bible Institute.
Jack Van Impe
Jack Van Impe
Jack Leo Van Impe is a televangelist who is known for his half-hour weekly television series Jack Van Impe Presents, an eschatological commentary on the news of the week through his interpretation of the Bible...
, televangelist, received a diploma from Detroit Bible Institute in 1952.
Joseph Williams, Founder and President, Christian Association of Prison Aftercare, has a BA from William Tyndale College.