Summary
Community Bible Study, Inc. ("CBS") is a non-denominational ministry established in 1978 for the purpose of writing, editing, printing, recording, translating, teaching, and distributing Bible lesson materials, and training and coordinating volunteer Bible study leaders. CBS's provides non-denominational Bible studies for people of all ages and all levels of Bible knowledge. It concentrates on the essentials of the Christian faith, not individual church doctrine. CBS aspires to make every man, woman, and child feel cared for, loved, and comfortable regardless of their background, education, church involvement, race or status. Each Bible study leader is trained for his/her role. Regional and Area Directors, Teaching Directors, Associate Teaching Directors, Coordinators and Children's Directors must attend one of four regional training sessions. In addition, CBS holds leadership retreats, area retreats, and workshops on an ongoing basis for spiritual enrichment and role training. As of January 2000 there are 353 classes in 37 States (248 day, 93 evening, 12 Teen). Enrollment in these classes is approximately 47,350 adults, 17,800 children and 1,030 teens). This organization is a nonprofit. Contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. It is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).
Contact Information: [ Back to top ]
| Mailing Address: | 790 Stout Rd.,
Colorado Springs, CO
80921-0921 |
| Website: | www.communitybiblestudy.org |
| Phone: | (719) 955-7777 |
| Email: | You need to enable javascript to see the email |
Organization Details [ Back to top ]
EIN: 510233462
| CEO/President: |
Mrs. Camilla Seabolt |
Tax Deductible: |
Yes |
| Chairman: |
Mr. J. Winston Chapman |
Fiscal Year End: |
June 30 |
| Board Size: |
15 |
Financial info from: |
Audit |
| Founder: |
Floyd and Lee Campbell |
Member of ECFA: |
Yes |
| Year Founded: |
1975 |
Member of ECFA since: |
1996 |
Community Bible Study, Inc. ("CBS") is a non-denominational ministry established in 1975 for the purpose of writing, editing, printing, recording, translating, teaching, and distributing Bible lesson materials, and training and coordinating volunteer Bible study leaders. CBS's provides non-denominational Bible studies for people of all ages and all levels of Bible knowledge. CBS concentrates on the essentials of the Christian faith, not individual church doctrine. CBS aspires to make every man, woman, and child feel cared for, loved, and comfortable regardless of their background, education, church involvement, race or status.
CBS Bible study leaders are volunteers who feel called by God to their roles, and give of their time and talents out of love for Him. Each leader is trained for his/her role. Regional and Area Directors, Teaching Directors, Associate Teaching Directors, Coordinators and Children's Directors must attend one of four regional training sessions. Their Servant’s Team trains other class leaders at the beginning of each class year. In addition, CBS holds leadership retreats, area retreats, and workshops on an ongoing basis for spiritual enrichment and role training. CBS holds a Teaching Directors Conference each year to thank teachers for their service and commitment to the Lord and to give teachers and Area Directors more training.
As of January 2000 there are 353 classes in 37 States (248 day, 93 evening, 12 Teen). Enrollment in these classes is approximately 47,350 adults, 17,800 children and 1,030 teens).
This organization is a nonprofit. Contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. It is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).
Community Bible Study expresses its mission as follows:
To make disciples of Jesus Christ in our communities through caring, in-depth Bible study, available to all.
Program Accomplishments [ Back to top ]
- CBS hosts 592 classes (352 day classes, 156 evening classes, 48 teen classes, and 26 InPrison classes).
- They have classes in 42 states and their enrollment is 65,000 adults and teens (not counting InPrison), and 21,700 children.
- CBS training was moved from Birmingham, AL to Dallas, TX for all three regions, and recently moved to the National Conference Center in Washington, DC area.
- Many changes are in the process of being made - CBS is updating the look of printed materials, providing ongoing training of leaders at all levels, giving more assistance to teachers in the field, reorganizing the National Service Center, and updating technologically. CBS International (CBSI) has ministry in 11 new countries. Classes are held in a total of 61 countries. There are 1,243 classes around the world with over 25,000 people attending.
- The National Service Center was sold in June 2004, and temporary offices are now located in Herndon, VA. A contract for a new building located near the National Conference Center is in process and plans for building are being started.
Statement of Faith [ Back to top ]
Community Bible uses the following to express its statement of faith:
We believe the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, is divine revelation and the inspired Word of God inerrant in the original manuscripts. Its teaching is the final authority for all Christian life in matters of faith and practice.
We believe in the unity of the Godhead, eternally existing in three Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and yet identical in nature; all-powerful, all-knowing, everywhere present, and unchangeable; infinitely perfect in love, truth, righteousness, justice, goodness, grace, and mercy.
We believe Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is both fully God and fully man, two natures in one Person. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He performed miracles to manifest His deity, lived a sinless life, suffered, and died as a completely satisfactory sacrifice for the sin of the whole world. He arose from the dead on the third day and His bodily resurrection guarantees the resurrection of all who beliceve in Him. He ascended to the right hand of God the Father where He reigns over the universe and intercedes for believers, and will return to earth to establish His kingdom.
We believe man was created in the image of God but fell into disobedience by a voluntary decision and, as a result, became separated from God, and therefore spiritually dead and subject to physical death. This fallen nature was transmitted to all humanity, except Jesus Christ, who lived a sinless life. The blood of Jesus Christ was shed for our redemption.
Only those who receive Jesus Christ by faith are forgiven, born of the Holy Spirit, and thus become children of God. Faith alone is the condition of salvation, but good works and righteous living shold accompany such faith and furnish evidence of its existence.
We believe that Holy Spirit indwells and seals every believer at the moment of saving faith. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and, during this age, to convince men of sin, regenerate the believing sinner, and indwell, guide, instruct, and empower the believer for godly linving and service, We believe all Christians should witness for Christ in His power and study the Bible with His help.
We believe the Church, composed aof all who genuinely believe in and accept Jesus Christ as Savior, is united together into one body, of which He is the Head. As members of the Church, it is our reponsiblity to keep the uniity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, supporting the local church and loving one another with pure hearts.
Community Bible Study began as an answer to a women’s group’s heartfelt prayer that the Lord would provide effective Bible Studies for people in the Washington, D.C. area. The first Community Bible Study class began in the fall of 1975 at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Bethesda, Maryland. Lee and Floyd Campbell taught the Gospel of John to the first class of over 500 women.
One year later, another day class began in Alexandria, Virginia, and the first evening class started in Tysons Corner, Virginia. In 1977 classes began in California, Colorado, and Tennessee. In 1978 classes opened in Alabama, Michigan, Minnesota and Illinois. In 1979 Texas and London, England had classes. Without any advertising, publicity, or human planning, classes spread throughout the United States. As of 2000, there are approximately 350 classes in 37 States in the United States, and several hundred international CBS classes. CBS International was incorporated in 1992.
The Washington, D.C. metropolitan area has 15 classes. The Gospel of John, which was the first course written for CBS, has been supplemented by some 24 other courses that can be combined in various ways to create many individualized 30-week courses.
This organization has not offered MinistryWatch.com with specific needs to be posted on the profile. At such a time that MinistryWatch.com receives a response from the ministry, it will be posted immediately.
Research Analysis
Transparency Grade [ Back to top ]
| Transparency Grade of : A |
| Criteria category | Grade | Other Comments |
| Timeliness: | 100 | |
| Financial Information: | 100 | |
| Foundational Clarity: | 100 | 5/21/2009 12:46:21 PM: Descriptive information was abundant and thorough. |
| Level of Cooperation: | 100 | 5/21/2009 12:46:14 PM: Pro-actively gave out information. |
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MinistryWatch.com 5 Star Financial Efficiency Ratings [ Back to top ]
| Ranking Category | Rating | Overall Rank | Leadership Training Sector |
|---|
| Overall Efficiency Rating |  | 68 of 353 | 3 of 14 |
| Fund Acquisition Decision |  | 11 of 353 | 1 of 14 |
| Resource Allocation Decision | | 147 of 353 | 5 of 14 |
| Asset Utilization Decision | | 167 of 353 | 9 of 14 |
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MinistryWatch.com’s Take
March 2003
By Dan Wray, Research Fellow
"What Saith the Scripture?"
Community Bible Study (CBS) exists to advance the study of Scripture, in groups, in neighborhoods, in cities, throughout the country and internationally, "to make disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ in our communities through caring, in-depth Bible study - available to all." CBS is an interdenominational ministry based in Colorado Springs CO, CBS’s purpose is to offer comprehensive supervised Bible study to people of widely ranging backgrounds and age groups – from children to seniors – from a tradition of mainstream historical Christianity, without inordinate emphasis upon denominational distinctives, to the end that God gets glory in the effort.
God and Country
Originally conceived as a ministry of women to the seat of American government, the District of Columbia, study of the Gospel of John was begun at Fourth Presbyterian Church, Bethesda, Maryland, in 1975. Registration quickly topped 500, and coed classes and teachers were added as organized studies expanded to Virginia, California, Colorado, Tennessee, Alabama, Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois and Texas. International classes extended in 1979 to London, England. In 2008 118,000 students in the US and 26,000 international students of all ages participated in CBS weekly studies, involving individual and group course curricula developed by recognized professors, Bible scholars and pastors, and ranging from Biblical character studies to book analyses with mainstream doctrinal emphasis. CBS sponsored courses vary from 6 weeks to 30 weeks, with additional course material available for local church use in Sunday School departments and church sponsored Bible studies.
Helping Hand
Envisioned from the outset as a compliment to church ministry, CBS openly encourages class participants to join themselves to biblically sound local churches and become involved in servant-leadership. CBS Regional and Area Directors and Coordinators are nationally trained and, in turn, conduct local Class Leader training annually. Continuing education is offered in ongoing Leadership Councils, with local workshops and regional Leadership Conferences and Teaching Director Conferences providing spiritual enrichment, technical training, and opportunities for revitalizing individual commitment. A full range of training materials, as well as a Servant Team Manual have been developed by CBS and are updated as necessary. With a stated purpose of glorifying God in Community Bible Study among all ages groups, CBS offers a model for mission-success in ministry to the family of God.
Faithful funding
Community Bible Study is funded entirely by charitable donor contributions. Course costs include $25 individual registration fee and approximately $2 per week for 30 week course curriculum. All individual participant-contributions exceeding $85 are receipted as tax deductible charitable contributions. National and local leadership involvement is voluntary and training is provided by CBS free of charge. Initial startup costs for fledgling study groups are also provided until they can be assumed by class participants. CBS is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability and has an exemplary financial history, born out in independent annual audits.
First Teacher
CBS’s first teacher was Lee Campbell, soon joined by her husband, Floyd "Corky" Campbell, Stanford MBA (‘55), distinguished businessman and visionary, pioneering in the development and use of credit cards, mass marketing and computer services. After starting his own successful business in 1973, Campbell joined his wife in the teaching ministry of CBS as it became necessary to add qualified men to the class instructor role. While a measure of CBS’s organizational success doubtless owes to Campbell’s leadership, he was more than just a businessman, vigorously affirming that professionals and business people willing to confess faith in Christ bear responsibility for bringing the tincture of Christian "salt and light" to professional disciplines. Campbell served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of CBS and retained leadership influence until his death in 1997.
Doctrinal mainstream
CBS purports to be interdenominational, theologically conservative, affirming a deliberate effort to position in the center of mainstream doctrinal teaching. While not conspicuously evident, traces of early Presbyterian influence suggest that this doctrinal mainstream may have its wellspring solidly within the tradition of Reformed thought. Accordingly, strong emphasis is placed upon the priority of Scripture, Tri-unity of the Godhead, the Person and nature of Christ, the nature of man, the reality of sin, moral responsibility and judgment, and the grace essentials at the vanguard of Reformation Theology. CBS’s doctrinal statement contains little by way of eschatology and course descriptions of prophetic Scripture inform that interpretive difficulties will be presented without bias. Course writers and editors represent a balanced cross section of evangelical thought from such schools as Dallas Theological Seminary, Princeton Theological Seminary, and Wheaton College, as well as numerous state universities. While notables include Dr. William Counts, Rev. Timothy Crater, Dr. Erwin Paul Rudolph and Dr. Ronald B. Allen, a degree of denominational diversity among lesser known contributing scholars may provoke questions from some.
Effectual, fervent prayer
Prayer was instrumental in founding the ministry of CBS and continues to be an essential part of ministry at all levels, in addition to encouraging newsletters, and progress and personnel updates. Web visitors may preview study course descriptions, communicate with CBS staff by e-mail, as well as research the ministry’s storied history. Scripture bears witness to historic zeal among first century Christians, determined to teach and preach Christ "daily in the temple, and in every house" (Acts 5:42). Times have changed, but the message and motive have not, as Community Bible Study endeavors to glorify God in our day with the study of His Word.