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'{{Short description|Independent Baptist Bible college in Lancaster, California}} {{Third-party|date=July 2019}} {{Infobox university |name = West Coast Baptist College |image = Westcoastbaptist.jpg |motto = Training Laborers for His Harvest |established = 1995 |type = [[Private school|Private]] |affiliation = [[Independent Baptist]] |president = Dr. [[Paul Chappell]] |head_label = Executive Vice President |head = Dr. John Goetsch |vice-president = Dr. Mark Rasmussen |dean = Daniel Blehm |city = [[Lancaster, CA|Lancaster]] |state = [[California]] |country = [[United States|USA]] |campus = 80 acres |mascot = Eagle |colors = Cardinal Red and White |accreditation = [[TRACS]] |sporting_affiliations = [[NCCAA]] |website = {{URL|https://wcbc.edu}} |}} [[File:Dr-paul-chappell-with-graduate.jpg|thumb|Dr. Paul Chappell with 2009 Graduate]]'''West Coast Baptist College''' is an [[independent Baptist]] [[Bible college]] in [[Lancaster, CA|Lancaster]], [[California]], offering graduate and undergraduate degrees. West Coast opened in 1995 and is a member of the Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools ([[TRACS]]), having been awarded Candidate Status on October 27, 2015; then approved for Accredited Status on April 18, 2019. This accreditation is not retroactive to those who graduated prior to 2015.<ref name="wcbc.edu">{{cite web|url=https://wcbc.edu/academics/accreditation|title=Accreditation - West Coast Baptist College|website=wcbc.edu}}</ref> == History == In July 1986, [[Paul Chappell]] became the pastor of Lancaster Baptist Church in Lancaster, California.<ref>{{cite web |title=About Us |date=11 July 2017 |url=https://www.lancasterbaptist.org/about}}</ref> In 1988, the church raised an initial $50,000 for the down payment on the first twenty acres of property located on the east side of town. In 1995, [[Paul Chappell]] and Lancaster Baptist Church approved the beginning of West Coast Baptist College. West Coast Baptist College started with [[Paul Chappell]], John Goetsch, and Mark Rasmussen. In December 2014, the administration of West Coast Baptist College announced their intention to apply for national accreditation with [[Transnational Association of Christian Colleges and Schools]].<ref name="wcbc.edu"/> On October 27, 2015, West Coast Baptist College was awarded candidacy status as a Category III institution by the TRACS Accreditation Commission. On April 17, 2019, the institution was awarded accredited status by the TRACS Accreditation Commission, and was affirmed 10 more years of accreditation on October 24, 2023. This accreditation is not retroactive to graduates prior to 2015 and cannot be used outside of the approved TRACS Christian college list. Many colleges and universities within the United States do not accept [[TRACS]] accreditation and will not allow credits to transfer.<ref name="wcbc.edu" /> ==Academics== West Coast Baptist College is a conservative Bible college focused on training students for ministry. The school offers: *Bachelor degree of Religious Education with concentrations in Pastoral Theology, Church Ministry, Evangelism, Missions, Ministry Leadership and Administration, Office Administration, Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Church Music, Music Education, Biblical Counseling, and Visual Arts.<ref name=":2">{{cite web |title=WCBC Academic Programs |url=https://wcbc.edu/academics/programs/bachelors-degree}}</ref> *Master's degree of Religious Education with concentrations in Biblical Studies, Biblical Counseling, and Christian Education<ref name=":2" /> ==Campus== [[File:West-coast-baptist-college-revels-building.jpg|thumb|Revels Educational Building]] The campus of West Coast Baptist College contains seventeen major buildings extending from Lancaster Boulevard to Avenue J, and are shared by both Lancaster Baptist Church and Lancaster Baptist School. ==Beliefs== West Coast is a [[Baptists|Baptist]] Bible college. West Coast Baptist College believes the Bible is the inspired Word of God. It believes in the [[trinity]], in the [[Deity of Christ|deity]] of Jesus Christ, and in Salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone. West Coast emphasizes the importance of the local church. It believes the Bible is preserved for the '''English-speaking people''' in the [[King James Version]]. WCBC rejects all other translations of the Bible. <ref name="WCBC Doctrinal Statement">{{cite web|title=WCBC Doctrinal Statement|url=https://wcbc.edu/about#doctrines|work=wcbc website}}</ref> ==Athletics== West Coast Baptist College is a member of the National Christian College Athletic Association.<ref>{{cite web |title=the NCCAA |url=https://thenccaa.org}}</ref> The college has intercollegiate men's basketball and women's volleyball<ref>{{cite web |title=WCBC Athletics |url=https://wcbc.edu/athletics}}</ref> ==Campuses== * Main Campus (4010 E Lancaster Blvd. Lancaster, CA) * Online == Controversies == West Coast Baptist College has taken a public stand against abortion in all forms. Their doctrinal statement states "We believe that human life begins at conception and that the unborn child is a living human being. Abortion constitutes the unjustified, unexcused taking of unborn human life."<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web |title=WCBC Doctrinal Statement |url=https://wcbc.edu/about#doctrines}}</ref> In September 2021 the college campus hosted a anti-abortion event featuring Kirk Cameron.<ref>{{cite web |title=See Kirt Cameron Live in Lancaster | website=[[Facebook]] |url=https://www.facebook.com/events/west-coast-baptist-college/see-kirk-cameron-live-in-lancaster/109821681345733/?paipv=0&eav=Afa-JvSLAdU9V_4WoC0SZ8gbIEG3RDksvuQDNgk-Vqh13_Gzz_vBN9sfHTgW4pvtbzo&_rdr}}</ref> In addressing homosexuality, Executive Vice President, Dr. John Goetsch preached a message at WCBC stating "There is no place for crude or vile attitude toward those living in this sin." He also said "Every person on this planet deserves respect and dignity".<ref>{{cite web |title=John Goetsch on Homosexuality |url=https://www.bitchute.com/video/fOOZAAv5MOet/}}</ref> Pastor Steve Anderson of Faithful Word Baptist Church in Tempe, Arizona, argued strongly that Dr. Goetsch's position was too accepting.<ref>{{cite web |title=STEVEN ANDERSON SNAPS AT JOHN GOETSCH STANCE ON SODOMITE LIFESTYLES |url=https://www.bitchute.com/video/fOOZAAv5MOet/}}</ref> In their doctrinal statement, WCBC says "any relationships or activities involving homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, transgenderism, pedophilia, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery, or pornography are sinful."<ref name="ReferenceA"/> Yet, everyone deserves respect and dignity. In early 2013, Jeremy Whitman, who had been a youth pastor, personal assistant to [[Paul Chappell]] and a pillar of Lancaster Baptist Church since the early 1990’s, had a mental health crisis deemed by Lancaster Baptist Church to be caused by his “spiritual struggles.” <ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Chappell |first=Paul |title=Remembering a Dear Friend |url=https://paulchappell.com/2014/01/23/remembering-a-dear-friend-jeremy-whitman/ |website=Paul Chappell|date=23 January 2014 }}</ref> The church and pastoral family continued to “support” Jeremy. On January 19, 2014, Jeremy shot himself and another man in what is believed to be some type of dispute over a romantic partner.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dilworth |first=M |title=Victim Suspect ID'd in Fatal Car to Car Shooting |url=https://theavtimes.com/2014/01/21/victim-suspect-idd-in-fatal-car-to-car-shooting/ |website=The Antelope Valley Times|date=21 January 2014 }}</ref> A blog post was released by Pastor Paul Chappel a few days later stating the church had done all they could to support Jeremy.<ref name=":0" /> == Athletics == [[File:WCBC-Basketball-Game.jpg|thumb|WCBC Men's Basketball]] WCBC has a men's basketball program and a ladies volleyball program. They are a member of the [[National Christian College Athletic Association]] (NCCAA), [[Association of Christian College Athletics]] (ACCA) and [[Pacific Christian Athletic Conference]]. In the 2007-08 season, the West Coast Baptist College athletics received notoriety from the local newspaper. They followed their journey winning season to the national finals. In 2011-2012, they won the NCCAA Regionals against Portland Bible. In February 2012, they defeated [[Korea University]] 105-101.<ref name="NCCAA Division II Regional Champions">{{cite web|title=NCCAA Division II Regional Champions|url=https://www.wcbc.edu/articles/nccaa-division-ii-regional-championship|work=WCBC News}}</ref> ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * [https://www.wcbc.edu West Coast Baptist College] {{Colleges and universities in Los Angeles County}} {{NCCAA Division I West navbox}} {{College Sports in California}} {{Authority control}} {{Coord|34.695297|-118.057552|type:edu_globe:earth_region:US-CA|display=title}} [[Category:Independent Baptist universities and colleges in the United States]] [[Category:Educational institutions established in 1995]] [[Category:King James Only movement]] [[Category:Seminaries and theological colleges in California]] [[Category:1995 establishments in California]]'