bible-colleges-Washington

History of WBC

By Joe Felim

Washington Bible College was established to provide an opportunity for the study of the Word of God. The vision of its founders is perpetuated in the statement that “first emphasis shall be upon Bible courses.” In the early twenties three Bible institutes existed in Washington DC. The American Home Bible Institute placed its emphasis on correspondence courses and home Bible study. The Washington School of the Bible stressed Bible training to prepare full-time Christian workers in this country and abroad. In 1938, three schools merged to form Washington Bible Institute. The merger was completed in 1940, and Mr. Glenn W. Wagner was elected to be the first president.

Mr. Wagner served as president until 1944, when he resigned to work with the service men serving in World War II. Mr. George A. Miles was elected to the presidency in 1945. In 1956 the name was changed from Washington Bible Institute to Washington Bible College, and the school was accepted into associate membership in the American Association of Bible Colleges. Washington Bible College is an accredited undergraduate school that offers a one-year Bible Certificate, a two-year Associate’s degree, and a four-year Bachelor’s of Arts degree.

Two years later, WBC began a three-year graduate school - Capital Bible Seminary (CBS). The Seminary came into existence in 1958 to provide seminary education on the East Coast in a nondenominational and biblical atmosphere, and to take advantage of undergraduate biblical education by building on the Bible, theology, and Greek curricula provided to Bible majors and minors. A curriculum subsequently was developed to meet the needs of both secular college and Christian college graduates. Capital Bible Seminary is an accredited graduate school and accepts students that already possess a B.A. or a B.S. degree regardless of the discipline studied. The Seminary offers a Biblical StudiesBiblical Studies, a Master of Arts in Christian Counseling and Discipleship, a Master of Arts in Ministry Leadership, a Master of Divinity degree, and a Master of Theology degree. Students entering the Seminary do not have to have previous Bible college training. Bible college graduate applicants have a possible option of Advanced Standing. Certificate, a Certificate in Christian Counseling and Discipleship, a Master of Arts in

In 1984, George A. Miles retired from the presidency, and Dr. Harry E. Fletcher was appointed to be the third president. He served for seven years, before resigning in 1991. Dr. John Sproule became the fourth president in 1992. Due to poor health, Dr. Sproule resigned in 1994, and Dr. Homer Heater was appointed the fifth president. In 2005, Dr. Heater retired from the presidency and returned to the classroom as professor at WBC/CBS and Dr. Larry Mercer became our sixth president.

The two schools operate under one organizational structure. They share the same governing board, president, institutional advancement offices, business office, and library. The two schools are located on the Main Campus in Lanham, Maryland. In addition to the main campus, the College and the Seminary also offer courses at a variety of extension locations.