About Us
Lancaster Bible College was founded by Henry J. Heydt in September 1933 as Lancaster School of the Bible. Seven students were enrolled in the original class which met in the Old Convention Hall at West Orange and Pine Streets in Lancaster. In 1934, 1939, and 1941, the school made further relocation moves. On May 2, 1957, Mr. and Mrs. J. Martin Esbenshade presented the school with an eighteen acre tract of land; and after extensive renovations of the existing buildings, the property housed the new campus of Lancaster School of the Bible. Residence facilities constructed in 1963 enabled the School to operate on the new campus. Additional land was later acquired, including a major addition in 1994, so that the current campus comprises seventeen buildings on approximately one hundred acres in Manheim Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
The Degree of Incorporation for the College was granted by the Court of Common Pleas on December 15, 1939. On September 24, 1944, the Corporation resolved that the name of the School should be Lancaster School of the Bible and School of Theology. In 1961 the name was changed to Lancaster School of the Bible. Upon provisional approval to grant degrees from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Education, Lancaster Bible College became the official designation on May 19, 1973. In January 1981, the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) granted permanent approval to Lancaster Bible College to award the Bachelor of Science in Bible degree. In November 1982, the PDE approved a two-year program for offering the Associate of Science in Bible degree. In addition, the PDE granted approval to the College in 1990 for graduates of the professional program in Secretarial Studies to receive an Associate of Science degree in Secretarial Studies and in 1993 for graduates of the Elementary Education Program in the Teacher Education Department to receive the Bachelor of Science in Education degree.
In September 1994, PDE approved LBC’s Graduate School for awarding the Master of Arts in Bible and the Master of Arts in Ministry degrees. The first graduate classes were held in January 1995. Two additional graduate degrees, the Master of Arts in Counseling and the Master of Education in School Counseling, were approved in April 2000.
Professional accreditation with the Accrediting Association of Bible Colleges (AABC) was initiated in 1958. After a site visit the College was approved as an associate member in November 1959. Five years later, in November 1964, the College was approved as an accredited member of AABC. In the intervening years the College’s accreditation has been reaffirmed. The most recent self-study and reaffirmation was in 1997.
In June 1976, Lancaster Bible College received candidacy status with the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA). Following several years of self-study, the Commission on Higher Education of MSA granted accreditation to LBC in December 1982. The most recent self-study and reaffirmation was in 1997.
In the spring of 1982, the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) granted certification to the Elementary Education program of the College. In January 1985, ACSI granted teacher certification for the graduates of the Bible Education (K–12) program and the Music Education/Bible (K–12) certification program. Programs in Guidance Counseling/Bible (K–12), Physical Education/Bible (K–12), and Early Childhood were added to the list of those receiving ACSI certification in 1994. The most recent self-study and program approval was in 1994. The Pennsylvania Department of Education approved the College’s Elementary Education program for certification in May 1991. In November 2001 the Health, Physical Education program received state certification. Graduates of these programs receive dual certification from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and ACSI.
Dr. Peter W. Teague (1999) is the president of Lancaster Bible College. Former presidents include Dr. Henry J. Heydt (1933–53), Dr. William J. Randolph (1953–61), Dr. Stuart E. Lease (1961–79), and Dr. Gilbert A. Peterson (1979–99).