It’s hard to believe I’ve visited my last school already! What an amazing…probably once in a lifetime experience this has been. I am grateful to Paul Corts, to my three friends, as well as my two kids Jim & Eva Marie and their spouses Lyla & Brandon who have made this possible…..
My time today began with Mark Strom picking me up for breakfast at the Falls Café in Waitakere City. The old growth trees that gave up their lives for the siding and interior doors and frames were magnificent. The outdoor table, warm sun, and gorgeous wind made our long talk a breeze (sic!) Mark
comes from business….consulting with Kinsey, and opportunities for speaking to many groups about his passion to bring the message of Christ to a world that is often not listening. He is an aussie, who suffered seriously in youth from asthma, by his own admission didn’t do well in school, drove truck, was a biker, got into lots of trouble, but was eventually won over to formal education…first at Westminster Seminary and then with a doctorate in social history. His thesis on Paul as a unique agent of cultural transformation sounds fascinating. His coming to Laidlaw (then Bible College of NZ) with a mandate to make major changes is a story of vision and courage on all sides. Laidlaw changed its name 
in part because in secular NZ the “Bible” name disadvantaged some grads. It was refreshing and inspiring to hear Mark’s vision for liberal arts, and especially his understanding that this comes with challenges in convincing many in the church that this is not “liberal” in the usual sense but quite orthodox. He faces many of the same challenges I felt I faced at Greenville so we could have talked the entire morning away without much trouble! We even came to see a common embrace for “paradox” and the need to accept the ambiguity of so much of what we believe, while affirming without question our passionate faith in Christ. The “rebranding” of BCNZ to Laidlaw was the topic most of the day with several of his staff. Given that NZ has only 5-7% involved in church at all, the task of educating those who are in churches to this idea will be/is challenging. The college has a core curriculum that requires 4 “papers” (courses)…one each in Biblical Theology, World View, Spiritual Formation, and Ways of Knowing. Despite his distinctively reformation seminary education, his approach to these is not strongly reformed. Laidlaw has 4 schools (Theology, Mission/Ministry,Counseling, and Education). Mark wants to add Humanities (on the model of Oxford’s Philosophy, Politics, and Economics degree). He closed 8 or 10 campuses leaving only Auckland and Christchurch. State subsidy is huge (like Southern Cross…and perhaps even MORE so here in NZ than there in Australia! Amazing! They PAY students’ fees and even pay them to go to school!) One downside is that the government puts a cap on how many can be enrolled. 60% of their funding is government with 40% from fees. They do worry that government funding for the institution directly may weaken…tho the trend for funding the students is becoming more generous. 50% of their admin staff is needed just for administration of the government money though!
They no longer require residency. They have a headcount of 1200, with about 500 FTE of which 300 are in the Auckland campus….with others in Christchurch AND their distance learning program (400FTE). (These figures may not square….got them from 2 different people)
Among the needs….Mark says to find high quality faculty to start the new Humanities degree with a VERY strong quality…otherwise the universities (LC is NOT a university) will laugh at them. Martin Sutherland (AVP) says he’d like to see a program developed as a CCCU “Bestsemester” program here in Pacific Studies. We discussed the apparent reluctance of CCCU add such programs but I encouraged them to develop a program that could be marketed to CCCU students all over. One idea that emerged here that I support wholeheartedly is that the CCCU REINSTATE it’s old policy of endorsing good programs offered by its members/affiliates. If enough other schools send students over a short period of time that should qualify them to be listed. It’s easy and would help MANY affiliates in marketing their programs to other CCCU campuses. Martin also liked the idea of web sites for retirees, for SWAT teams, and even the idea of an informal academic audit.
Glen Teal is a semi-permanent consultant regarding property development. Although many I met said the campus was “tired” (and it is a bit of a rabbit’s warren of smallish buildings pushed together) the main building with library and admin offices was very nice.
Their main physical asset is the land of their campus however. It’s large and very well located. Glen is working to attract businesses to develop buildings on it for their own ventures….partnering with them and drawing revenue for operations. It’s a great idea. But one issue to be resolved is that while there seems to be consensus on moving from a Bible school model to a liberal arts (“liberating arts”) model as they rebrand, there is still no decision about whether to deliver this primarily as a residential campus the way it is usually done in the US. THAT in turn will determine HOW the academic portion of the campus is developed as partners use space for commercial ventures. It may even mean moving the campus and leaving this property for complete development as a revenue source. I enjoyed talking with David, Diane, and Rod at lunch
….Journalism (?), Education, and Theology. What great conversation it was!....and great food too! The caterer was very proud of his creations. Also enjoyed a good talk with Matt…their elearning specialist….they are doing some very good stuff with Moogle as their portal and with course packets that are the SAME for the course whether offered online or in classroom. This assures quality. I saw the DVD material, the Moogle interface, and even the interface used in Adobe Connect Pro…which is VERY nice. Met with Joel and Andrew….to discuss the same challenge of marketing the rebranding. They were concerned with the challenge of getting old constituents to understand this change without concluding BCNZ had gone down the slippery slope to liberal theology. Ah what a familiar worry! We discussed strategies for doing this that rely on articulation of the mission from Mark, videos of him, testimonials students who have come through the change and “get it.”
Thanks Esther for making such good arrangements and keeping me SO busy today. And thanks for letting me take your picture....I gather that's a rare occasion! :-)Mark and I went to dinner in a friend's restaurant now turned café….he’s an American dealing with the slumping economy….talked of Mark’s love for cabinetry, early work as a guide in the Australian Blue Mountain crevasses, and of our families….two of his in Australia. We also talked of his “surprise” role as a national representative of the Christian church in the bi-cultural treaty originally drawn with the Maori. What an honor to speak as THE Christian institution in the nation. Mark is surely articulate and able to do this well. I must say that Laidlaw will be an exciting place to work over the next few years…and surely one to keep an eye on!
I am looking forward to chapel tomorrow, then by early afternoon off to catch a LOOOONNNNNNGGGG flight to LA.
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