Charis Bible College

As you prepare for service in the Kingdom of God, please understand that a vital part of your ministry will be the development of a disciplined life that honours God. The policies and guidelines presented in this handbook are designed to encourage discipline in your life and ministry.

The view regarding law in a grace college is irrelevant when our intent is about presenting a higher standard of excellence to the world. We see you as future ministers and world changers; therefore, these stated policies were put in place after much consideration and prayer.

We expect each student will follow the guidelines in this handbook and respect those in leadership who are committed to serve you by equipping you for ministry.

Although grades will be given for each class, the emphasis will always be on spiritual growth and maturity. Grades are given to help students assess their own progress in these areas. Many people have failed in life because they did not realize the importance of faithfulness and integrity in all areas of ministry.

A = Excellent     90 - 100%
B = Good           80 - 89%              50% - Academic
C = Average      70 - 79%              25% - Attendance
D = Passing       60 - 69%               25% - Student Ministries
F = Failure 0 - 59%

We expect and encourage honesty when taking tests. We will help you to stay honest by giving you a verbal warning and if necessary separating you from the other students during a test if dishonesty is observed.

If an athlete enhances their performance; by using means not available to all competitors it is considered unfair, in the same way, if a student has access to previous tests or other students’ work to do their tests, then likewise, it will be seen as unacceptable and completely negates everything that God would want to do within you.

It is a student’s responsibility to take tests on the day they are given. All tests will be taken at the end of each module which consists of 8 lessons; after 4 lessons there will be a discussion group, and a test review after 8 lessons, prior to taking the written test. If you pay attention to the date of the test it will enable you to set aside sufficient time to revise.

The only legitimate reason you have to miss a test is if you are absent with prior permission of the Director. The first day back after you have missed a test or tests, you must go to the administration desk and re-schedule taking the test you have missed before returning to class.

Failure to take a test by walking out of class will result in a automatic zero.
Not having time to study is not a valid reason to miss taking a test. If you are in class you will be expected to take the test with the resulting grade.

Some homework assignments will be given throughout the year and there will be one grade deduction for every day your homework assignment is late unless prior arrangements have been made with the Director.

At Charis Bible College we want you to have a healthy, positive insight into the true nature of God through a living relationship with Him as well as the confidence to know that you can go out in to all the world and do just as Jesus did. This is why CBC is more than just an academic study of God’s word but an invitation for God to flow through you and out to others with authority.

The 1st Year programme consists of three 10 week terms starting at 9.00 am and finishing at 1.00pm Monday to Friday. It is essentially a DVD teaching course with some live teaching on an increasing amount of relevant subjects designed to equip you for ministry.

On your arrival at CBC you will be placed in a team led by several of the apprentices. The team will consist of 1st and 2nd year students and will be the vehicle for all your “inhouse ministry hours”.
The student ministry programme is intended to produce a lifestyle of servanthood through the motivation of love. Therefore students are encouraged to be involved in more than just the minimal requirements, and to excel in their ministries as ambassadors of Jesus Christ. Students should display integrity, accountability and faithfulness to the people and the tasks given to them. Please remember, true servants will have a willing attitude and will seek to do “as to the Lord”.

Ministry hours are mandatory for all students at CBC and they will be accumulated by serving as a member in one of the student teams.
The teams will have placements within the college environment and serve in the domestic or production areas. The domestic tasks will include making sure that all the college areas are kept clean and tidy, vacuuming and mopping where necessary and on the whole creating a clean and safe place for the students to learn. The production tasks will include working in admin, helping out with mail-shots both for CBC and AWME, copying CDs and general office and production duties.

Ministry hours can also be accumulated by serving in your local church, and in order to register the relevant hours you might give out of the college time you will have to obtain a “Ministry Hours Form” from the reception and fill it in and have it signed by an apprentice in your team.

It is a requirement for graduation that you have taken part in one of the CBC sanctioned mission trips. These trips are taken in small groups and a range of possible trips may be offered, both locally and internationally.
Only those who have their tuition current and have earned enough mission points will be eligible to go. If the student does not have the mission points accrued for the trip it may be possible to arrange with the Director to personally pay for the difference.
A non-CBC sanctioned mission trip is NOT eligible to meet this criteria.
Individuals wishing to take mission trips outside of the CBC Programme and during term time must seek permission from the Director.
Graduates of Charis Bible College-UK will be allowed to participate in mission trips with Director’s permission, providing they have met graduation criteria and have adequate finances to pay for their own flights and expenses.

The mission point system has been designed to encourage participation and teamwork. They are accumulated through a variety of ways and are saved and turned into currency designed to fund your own mission trip. Mission points are collected through fund raising events, primarily the “walk-a-thon”, which is the main fundraiser for the college as a whole. We encourage you as individuals to increase your mission points by serving at conferences and through any fundraising ideas you might want to use.

The mission points are only a guide to determine a student’s participation and teamwork in fund raising activities.
You can earn mission points in the following ways (approximate points):

2 points for every recorded letter sent out for a walk-a-thon.
1 point for every pound donated and sent in for your walk-a-thon support.
100 points for chairing a committee, 50 points for co-chairing.
100 points for recruiting a new student to attend Charis Bible College in Walsall.
Helping, serving and hosting at Charis Bible College events and fundraisers.
Hosting visitors at conferences.

Driving visiting students and speakers to events or field trips.

Attendance is taken seriously at Charis Bible College. We believe attendance reflects a standard of excellence needed for going into ministry. Please take the time to familiarize yourself with the following:
Class time: Classes begin at 9am sharp! All students will be required to attend Monday to Friday, 9am to 1pm.
Attendance Point System: Each class (including chapel) is worth 1 point, so you can earn 4 points for each day, and 20 points per week. Your attendance grade is calculated by expressing the total number of points you have earned as a percentage of the total points available each term.
Out of respect for the instructors teaching the course, as well as the other students, we ask that you be in class on time. If you are not in your seat when the second bell rings, 3 minutes after the first bell, you will be considered late and you will be automatically marked absent. Leaving class early will also result in an automatic class absence.
Students will only be given an excused absence by applying in writing to the Director. Excused absence is NOT given when absent for work requirements or sickness. An example of an excused absence is for a parent to stay away due to attending the needs of their sick child, or attending a family member’s funeral or memorial service. If you are in doubt please see the Director.

For security reasons, identity badges must be worn at all times whilst you are on the college premises. Please be careful not to hide them under clothes, but keep them always on view.
Students not wearing their badges will be fined £1 per day (this will be donated to the Mission Fund). The cost of a replacement badge is £2.50.