nineteen hundred and forty-six - Amazon Web Services

98 SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
other equipment, as well as rather intricate organization, it is possible for the
students of the Baptist Bible Institute to be given supervised mission experience.
In addition, supervised work in the larger churches of New Orleans is available.
Many ministerial students also serve as student pastors.
It was anticipated that the students of the Baptist Bible Institute would
provide a missionary force for southern Louisiana. Space prohibits the relation
of the achievements of these students. In passing, it may be noted that in the
twenty-eight years of the life of the Baptist Bible Institute, the number of
Baptists in New Orleans has increased from 1,256 to 14,000, and the number
of churches from six to thirty-seven.
CHARACTER OF THE SCHOOL
Dr. B. H. DeMent, who had taught on the faculty of the Southern Baptist
Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, chose that institution as his model
for the new school, of which he became the first president. From its beginning,
the character of the Baptist Bible Institute has been that of a theological
seminary. It has provided a set curriculum, for which degrees could be earned
on the basis of prerequisite college work.
No discussion of the character of the Baptist Bible Institute in the past or
the future would be complete without an emphasis upon the fact that special
classes and special organization are provided for the non-college graduate student.
That is to say that a special reserved section of the school's life belongs
to these students whose academic preparation is limited. They cannot be
crowded out or overlooked.
The Baptist Bible Institute is a member of the American Association of
Theological Schools, and has its Bachelor of Theology, Bachelor of Divinity,
Bachelor of Religious Education, and Master of Religious Education degrees
accredited through the Accrediting Commission of the State of New York. Its
organization is in terms of one school made up of five departments: (1) A
Seminary Department for ordained or licensed men only, offering the Th.B., B.D.,
Th.M., Th.D. degrees. (2) A Religious Education Department, offering the
B.R.E. and M.R.E. degrees. (3) A Music Department, offering a major in Music
for the B.R.E. and M.R.E. degrees. (4) A Missionary Education Department,
offering the B.R.E. and M.R.E. degrees to candidates for the mission fields, or
those especially interested in missions (5) A Christian Training Department,
where certificates are awarded to students, regardless of academic background,
on completion of sixty semester hours of work, which they may in large measure
elect according to their needs.
SURVEY OF PRESENT EQUIPMENT
Total value of buildings and grounds $1,000,000
Total number of buildings 27
Number of student apartments 83
Capacity of men's dormitory 49
Capacity of annex to men's dormitory 9
Capacity of women's dormitory 43
Number of houses 9
Total number of faculty homes or apartments 13
Number of classrooms 8
Dining hall capacity 94
Library capacity 75
Extensive renovation of this equipment has been undertaken in the last
three years.
SURVEY OF PRESENT STUDENT BODY
The enrollment includes candidates for the following awards:
Doctor of Theology degree 16
Master of Theology degree 37
Bachelor of Divinity degree 48
Bachelor of Theology degree 13
Master of Religious Education degree 30
Bachelor of Religious Education degree 16
Diploma in Christian Training 9
Diploma in Music 11