Bible schools, colleges and institutes are mainly sponsored by the EVANGELICAL Protestant churches in Canada, although 2 Catholic institutions exist in Alberta. The first 2 Bible schools in North America were begun by the Canadian founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, A.B. Simpson (Nyack, NY, 1882) and by evangelist D.L. Moody (Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, 1887). The Toronto Bible Training School (later Ontario Bible College), established 1894, the first permanent Canadian Bible school and the third in North America, was modelled on Moody's institute.

The purpose of Bible schools, institutes and colleges is to prepare students for Christian ministries through biblical and practical training. Most were founded by evangelicals reacting against the "liberalism" of established theological colleges. These church colleges trained ministers at a graduate level, whereas Bible schools and colleges were primarily post-secondary institutions for laity involved in the local church or in foreign and home missionary work.

Evangelicals suggest that these institutions represent a resurgence of Protestant spirituality in reaction to secular humanism and agnosticism, and a return to the central concern of Christian education: the implementation of Christ's commission "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."

Social scientists draw attention to economic and social factors, noting that the great periods for the establishment of Bible schools and colleges (particularly in western Canada) followed the Great Depression and WWII. For instance, William ABERHART, fundamentalist radio preacher and charismatic founder of the Social Credit Party, started the Prophetic Bible Institute in Calgary in 1929.

No single term describes the variety of Bible institutions. All offer Bible-centred day and evening programs, teach evangelical theology, stress Christian service (SUNDAY SCHOOL teaching and personal evangelism), promote overseas and home missions and encourage personal devotional piety. Bible colleges offer 4-year undergraduate degrees in theology, whereas Bible schools or institutes generally offer only 3-year diploma programs.

The term "Bible training schools" appears to have been applied only to a few schools in the early 20th century. Although many Bible schools or institutes have faculty with baccalaureates, a considerable number have some faculty who are essentially self-taught clergy or returned missionaries without extensive formal education. The colleges, in contrast, require faculty to have bachelor or even postgraduate degrees, and have maintained generally higher academic standards.

Since 1959 about 40 Canadian Bible schools and colleges have organized as the Association of Canadian Bible Colleges (incorporated 1968) to foster higher standards of learning. Most Bible schools and colleges offer 4 categories of specialization: General Bible (theological), Christian Education, Missions and Church Music. Some also offer a pastoral program leading to the ministry. This Bible-centred curriculum (the Bible is, in fact, the "textbook") is augmented by structured programs requiring students to participate regularly in Christian service. Also, virtually all of these institutions originally emphasized biblical prophecy from a premillennial and dispensational point of view (see MILLENARIANISM).

Since 1894 more than 120 Bible institutions have been established in Canada, including part-time day or evening schools with under 10 students and full-time institutions with enrolments up to 900. It was only after 1920, however, that the movement burgeoned across Canada. In total, 69% of the institutions have been in western Canada, 22% in Ontario and Québec, and 9% in the Maritimes. In 1960, 47 Bible schools and colleges reported 3417 students, and in 1996 the ACBC reported 37 schools belonging to the association, with a total enrolment over 5426.

Most Bible schools and colleges have a direct denominational affiliation, but approximately 15% are interdenominational (operated by an independent board of directors). MENNONITES have the largest number, followed by PENTECOSTALS, HOLINESS CHURCHES, BAPTISTS, the Church of Christ, the Church of God (Anderson, Indiana), the Missionary Church, and the Christian and Missionary Alliance.

Some of the interdenominational institutions such as the Prairie Bible Institute (Three Hills, Alta), the Briercrest Bible Institute (Caronport, Sask) and the Ontario Bible College (Toronto) have achieved national and international attention, especially through missionary endeavours. The Prairie Bible Institute, the largest Bible institution in Canada (with a peak enrolment of 900 in 1949), was also one of the largest and most respected in North America.

Two Roman Catholic Bible institutions opened in Alberta in 1984. The Catholic Bible College of Canada, located in Canmore, was endorsed by the Western Conference of Bishops and provides programs to assist its lay pupils to explore the scripture in the light of the faith and doctrine of the church. John Paul II Bible School, located in Radway, is influenced by the Charismatic movement in the Catholic Church and is, therefore, evangelical in its orientation.

See also CATHOLICISM.