General Information

Catalog and Student Handbook

The Independent Baptist College, located in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, offers its students all the advantages of metroplex life: good job opportunities, cultural and social events, sports and entertainment and a religious milieu to challenge and sharpen their faith. Our area is surrounded by excellent educational institutions which make available abundant opportunities for learning and research. In addition, more than thirty independent Baptist churches within driving distance of the college available to enrich and develop the student while attending IBC. Ideally located, IBC is easily available to all major parts of the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. The college campus is situated on eleven distinctive acres that give a quiet and private atmosphere. Classes are conducted in the educational facilities of the sponsoring church, Spring Valley Baptist Church.

PHILOSOPHY OF OPERATION

The Independent Baptist College, from its inception, has sought to enroll students from independent Baptist churches whose theology supports total autonomy of the local church. To fulfill this commitment and maintain the theological position, its trustees must be nominated and elected to the Board of Trustees from persons who represent these students and these churches.

To affect the theological position and the purposes of the founders, benefactors, alumni, and the sponsoring organization of the college, trustees must be nominated from the qualified membership of the sponsoring organization of the college. The trustees are elected to have Christian laymen as well as ministers who are in accord with the objectives of the college. An effort is made to elect as trustees, leaders who broadly represent the supporting constituency, from the professional, industrial, labor, and vocational areas in order to obtain within the membership of the Board of Trustees the breadth of experience and understanding essential for leadership of the institution.

The terms of service shall be for three years. Members are elected in a manner so that one-third of the board is elected in a given year. Members may be elected to fill vacancies at any time. Members may be re-elected to serve more than one term.

The Board of Trustees in its annual meeting shall elect members and organize itself for its work. Officers of the Board of Trustees shall include the chairman, vice-chairman, and secretary.

THE MISSION OF INDEPENDENT BAPTIST COLLEGE

The mission of the Independent Baptist College is that its students acquire the basic knowledge, commitment, and skills necessary to enable them to serve as pastors, missionaries, or other effective church workers in independent Baptist churches.

INSTITUTIONAL OBJECTIVES

In light of the mission of IBC, we desire that those students who complete one of the Biblical Studies programs be well-rounded Christians who are able to:

Commit themselves to God's inspired Word as the guiding standard for counsel, belief, and conduct.

Demonstrate competence in communicating the Biblical message to others.

Show a willingness to serve others by actively engaging in Christian ministry appropriate to their preparation and calling as an independent Baptist.

Cultivate a maturing relationship with God through prayer, and by a continual development of Christian virtues and dependence upon Him.

Apply the tools and skills gained in the various programs to effectively minister in independent Baptist churches.

Establish and maintain proper interpersonal relationships according to Biblical standards within the church family and society in general.

Recognize how acquired theological principles guide the believer in the formation of a Biblical world view.

Appreciate the need of a healthy body as well as a sound mind and spirit.

ABRIDGED STATEMENT OF FAITH

We Believe...

In the verbal and plenary inspiration of the Scriptures using the KING JAMES VERSION as our official classroom text. The Trinity of the Godhead, consisting of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, equal personalities of the same essence.

The virgin birth of Christ, His sinless perfection, His vicarious death, His bodily resurrection, His present continuing mediatorship, and His personal premillennial return to the earth.

In the work of the Holy Spirit, who is co-equal with the Father and the Son, is to convict the sinner and the erring Christian, to instruct, and to guide God's children. He regenerates and seals the born again in Christ. He is a restraining force upon the present world system.

That Adam was created perfect and by his own choice fell from his perfect relationship with God and brought death on all mankind. Man is now totally depraved and incapable of pleasing God apart from divine grace.

That all men are sinners and can be saved only by grace through faith apart from works and when so saved are eternally Secure.

That believers in Christ are God's elect.

That the church is a local, visible body of baptized believers covenanted together to carry out the work of Christ on earth which He began to do during His earthly ministry.

That the commission of the church extends to the uttermost part of the earth to evangelize, to baptize by immersion, and to teach all things that Christ has commanded.

That the church is autonomous and completely free of all other organizations.

That Satan is a reality, is the Prince of this world and that since his fall he has with all his powers and abilities sought to work against the God of heaven.

The bodily resurrection of the saved at the coming of Christ, and the conscious eternal punishment of the unsaved, all of whom will be resurrected after the millennium.

*Abridged from the Orthodox Baptist Confession of Faith.

FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF IBC

Independent Baptist College is a faith ministry of the Spring Valley Baptist Church. Only a portion of the College's operating expenses are met by student tuition and fees. The remainder of the operating costs are met by support from the sponsoring church, like-minded supporting churches and interested individuals. This is done in order to make the cost of an education affordable to the largest number of students possible.

If you are interested in the education of workers to serve Christ through independent Baptist churches and would like to include IBC in your church missionary budget, give a special offering, or include the school in your will, please contact the office for further information.

EXTERNAL AGENCIES, CERTIFICATION, AND RECOGNITION

TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY VETERANS AND WAR ORPHANS

This agency has the responsibility for evaluating schools and programs in Texas for the Veterans Administration. The Independent Baptist college is approved under Public Law 358 for Veterans Educational Assistance and Public Law 633 for War Orphans Assistance. Prospective students who are eligible for either of these programs, should contact the nearest Veterans Administration office for details and to initiate a claim for these benefits. Included in this catalog are the course program outlines, school calendar, regulations concerning absences, tardies, interruptions and re-enrollment, grading system, progress and conduct policies, a schedule of tuition, fees and other charges. At the time of initial registration, veterans will be asked to sign a statement stating that they are aware of the policies of IBC and that they agree to comply with these policies.

Proportional refunds of tuition will be made to the veteran in case of failure to enroll or in case of withdrawal during the semester according to the following statement. In the event the student fails to enter the course or withdraws, the amount charged to the student for tuition, fees, and other charges for a portion of the course shall not exceed the approximate pro rate portions of the total charges of tuition, fees, and other charges that the length of the completed portion of the course bears to its total length.

STUDENT and EXCHANGE VISITOR INFORMATION SYSTEM (SEVIS)

IBC has applied to SEVIS so that non-immigration students may attend this college. In order to be accepted as a student at IBC the foreign applicant must meet the same admission requirements as all other students and have sufficient financial resources to live and study in this country. IBC requires that it is the applicant's responsibility to demonstrate proficiency in the English language. An acceptable score on the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is required. The TOEFL is given several times each year by the Educational Testing Service, Box 899-R, Princeton, New Jersey, 08540, USA. The "Identification Code" number for IBC is 6310. This number should appear on the Score Report Request Form which will accompany the examination.

LIBRARY

The growing library of the Independent Baptist College is housed in the church building. Its 12,000 plus volumes and other resources help support IBC's fields of Biblical and theological study. A full-time librarian is available to help students and faculty in material location, check-out and returns.

Students may check out materials for periods of up to three weeks, with the privilege of re-checking the same material as many times as needed. All items other than books may be checked out for only a week. In addition to our library volumes, area colleges and seminaries have been cooperative with our students using and borrowing books from their libraries. Also, all Fort Worth city residents have access to the immense Fort Worth Public Library system.