Although the relocation of Master's College and Seminary (MCS) from Peterborough to Toronto is a highly-visible sign of change, more sweeping transformations are shaking the institution formerly known as Eastern Pentecostal Bible College (EPBC).

Underlying it all is a revolution in its philosophy of theological education. According to the college's president, Evon Horton, the old EPBC model was based on classroom education, while the new MCS paradigm is "a local church-equipping model" based on mentoring and instilling the institution's core values (CW/June 10).

There are strong proponents both for and against the changes at MCS. One person who has misgivings about the underlying premise is Randall Holm, who graduated from EPBC and taught at the college until he resigned in 2000. He regrets the dismantling of a 60-year-old institution that he maintains served its constituency well.

"Master's represents a significant paradigm shift in educational philosophy that occurred in a very short time. What studies were done to demonstrate this was workable?" he asks. "Will students be better served by this model?"

Holm, who now teaches at Providence College and Theological Seminary in Otterburne, Manitoba, also questions if veteran senior pastors will have time to mentor students, and if the college's expected emphasis on faculty members taking part-time positions on the ministerial staff of churches will necessarily make them more effective teachers.

In Holm's view, an implication that full-time academic faculty are out of touch with practical ministry is part of an increasingly anti-intellectual sentiment in segments of the charismatic renewal movement, which is devaluing the need for biblical and theological scholarship.

At this point, it is unclear precisely how some of the college programs will operate in September. As of press time, no faculty or detailed course descriptions were listed in the online catalogue for the upcoming academic year. It is also unknown how many returning students will enroll at the new premises, because on-campus pre-registration in Peterborough was cancelled.

Current MCS faculty members cannot comment on any college-related issues because of a letter dated November 28, 2002 from Rick Hilsden on behalf of the board of governors. In it, they were told the proper process for expressing any concerns about the operations of the college and the changes being made was to speak to the college dean or council.

The letter continued, "As a minister and an employee, it is your spiritual obligation to contribute to the health and environment of the college. Therefore, it is inappropriate to express concerns outside of the prescribed process such as the classroom, individual students or members of the supporting constituencies."

Faculty considered

When asked by ChristianWeek how the administration has helped faculty with the transitions at the college, Horton replied, "We worked hard to make it easy for the faculty to work closely with [the dean] to listen, help and enable them to work through the issues."

The administration wants faculty to take a year to think about relocating, he adds, so they were given a "significant" travel allowance and schedules that will allow them be at the Toronto campus one or two days per week to teach two courses, while the remaining two courses can be taught online or in another location.

Ron Powell, a faculty member who resigned effective May 31, disagrees with the underlying educational philosophy. He argues the new schedule will result in the infrequent presence of professors at the Toronto premises while the college makes the case that a major reason for moving is increased prospects for mentoring relationships.

Underscoring that point, recent graduate Bonita Abrams stresses "the accessibility of the faculty outside of class for instruction, counsel and prayer, the fellowship with other students and the whole sense of community" was a key component in her education at the Peterborough campus.

Powell had served as the youth ministry program supervisor at EPBC/MCS since 1994, with the exception of a two-year pastorate. He spoke with ChristianWeek before he assumed his new position as director of youth ministries at Northwest Pentecostal Bible College in Edmonton.

Powell also contends that the $4,000 one-time payment offered to remaining faculty to subsidize moving to the GTA or make the 250 kilometre round-trip commute from Peterborough is inadequate to cover the significantly increased costs.

Process and accountability

However, Powell says he and other faculty members are more concerned about issues of process and accountability than the relocation.

He emphasizes that his resignation was not a reaction against the move, but because "in good conscience I could not continue to serve under the present administration because of my lack of confidence in its leadership."

He cites as his key concerns "a lack of process in appointments to the college faculty and staff, a top-down labour-management structure, a tight control on information and no assurance of job security."

Another previous faculty member, Tim Foster, says he has strong opinions about the way changes in the college were implemented, but was prohibited from commenting on the advice of his lawyer.

Foster, who is unable to move away from Peterborough due to the needs of his handicapped daughter, received notice of his termination in April 2002. Any severance was conditional on his signing a clause that stated he must keep confidential any and all information about Master's College.

Foster spent eight years at the college, most recently as director of distance education. Although he was previously a PAOC minister for 14 years, he terminated his credentials with the PAOC and no longer attends a PAOC church.

Until now, the former dean of the college, Nil Lavallée, had not publicly spoken about why he suddenly left his position in February 2002. Lavallée spent nine years at EPBC/MCS and agreed to speak with ChristianWeek to outline his concerns. Because he resigned and received no severance, he was not required to sign a confidentiality clause.

Glorified Sunday school

In Lavallée's view, MCS has gone "from one of the finest in North America to nothing more than a glorified Sunday school. Academic standards are de-emphasized, people are mistreated and the end justifies the means.

"In my opinion, you have individuals in leadership at the district levels who have not done their research, who have not consulted with the right people, who have little if any academic experience making decisions," he says. "They rushed through changes that had a major impact on an institution that had built a reputation for being of high quality."

Lavallée retains his PAOC credentials and his membership in a PAOC church, but now teaches in the French department at St. Peter's Secondary School in Peterborough.

For Lavallée, the critical issue has never been the college's relocation to Toronto, but rather "the lack of proper planning, mistreating of people and the ‘dumbing down' of the education."

He contends that "there seems to be a leadership style that does not tolerate any questions or divergent opinions. Frankly, it is very scary that these types of things can take place with such ease and lack of outcry from the constituency."

Checks and balances

Whatever opposing voices may charge, the administration of the college asserts it has been empowered by its constituency to make whatever changes it deems necessary to achieve its vision. Horton insists there has been "accountability, checks and balances at every level. The president and executive can't do whatever they want?There is lots of accountability.

"We are in the process of implementing a vision. Whenever vision is implemented, there's never 100 per cent approval," Horton says. "But I believe this is the Lord's vision for the school at this time, and for the PAOC in the future."

Newly-graduated Bonita Abrams says she still cannot understand how "what was supposed to be a vision from God became a source of so much stress and uncertainty in the lives of His people." She continues to have many unanswered questions about the changes transforming her alma mater, but says that she is praying fervently for the college's transition.

"I hope that everything will come together well and that God blesses it, because I want to come back for my 10-year reunion and be wowed by what's happening," she says.

Wendy Elaine Nelles is a writer and editor in Toronto.