2006 PCC staff handbook & rules

I'm thinking, things have changed.

Quite possible. There's probably been considerable turnover on staff in the meantime. Most notably, Arlin Horton retired as president only a few months after this thread started.

If there's been change for the better at PCC, I'd like to hear it from current and recent students whom it affected (and who aren't just cultishly repeating the PR line they're encouraged to say).
 
Ya. Like I said, next summer we plan to be in Pensacola. I want to make a point of attending the Wednesday service.

Despite their past obsession with rules, the Campus Church was where I attended and it is what God used to establish me in the faith. The folks I knew at the time were the genuine article. They're all gone; many of them with the Lord. In addition to taking Mrs. abcaines to some of the best beaches in the world, I want to show her around to see the places where I worked or hung out.

I've been in touch with the chapter president (CMA) in Pensacola, he's retired Navy, so we're also looking forward to meeting fellow CMA folks from other parts of the country. Lord willing, this is going to be an epic trip.
 
If your going to criticize the school at least reference the current handbook


Nothing in their rules seems unusual for a school with Independent fundamental Baptist roots.

They have full page ads in every edition of the Sword of the Lord magazine, did you expect them not to have rules on behaviour and dress.
 
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If your going to criticize the school at least reference the current handbook

You were, of course, aware that this thread is over a decade old, and that the handbook in question was the A Beka personnel handbook, not the college student handbook? And that as such it may still have been relevant?
 
Anyway, sure, let's have a look at a few of these "nothing seems unusual" rules.

Men's hair:

Hair must be neatly combed and tapered (blended/faded) or styled without obvious lines, and kept above the ears, eyebrows, and collar. (15)​

Ah, yes, the "holy haircut," approved by Jesus himself for men at all times and all places, because as the Bible says, "be not conformed."

And I've already gotten myself [checks] 10-25 demerits, not because I'm disobeying the Bible, but because I clip my hair to less than 1/4 inch and there are obvious lines everywhere because I'm not bothering to taper my hairline.

Must be fully grown in and groomed to remain defined and of uniform length, between ¼ and ½ inch, and may not be scruffy, unkempt, patchy, or thin. (15)​

Oh, dear. There's another 25 demerits, because I clip my otherwise sanctified goatee to 1/8" as well.

Plan to start growing facial hair during Christmas or summer vacations as it must meet the guidelines listed below when checking in. (15)​

LOL. You can have a beard, as long as you don't grow one.

As an alternative rule, may I suggest: Mind your own business. I'm [checks ID] an adult, and I'm capable of deciding for myself when I want to grow a beard.

Any music that promotes worldly values or associations in its lyrics or style should be avoided Whether or not the lyrics are Christian, music in the style of contemporary Christian, country, jazz, rock, rap, R & B, or pop is prohibited and may not be listened to on or off campus. (18)​

What I listen to in my headphones, while I'm not in class or otherwise on the clock, is none of their business. It's my heart; I think I know better what will turn it toward the things of Christ.

Unapproved music gains me another 25 demerits (and yes, based on my extensive jazz and classic rock libraries, I'm assuming the maximum penalty on purpose).

PCC represents Christ as a Christian ministry, and the conduct of its students should always glorify the Lord To help maintain this testimony within the community, college standards should always be upheld, even when students are off campus with guests PCC students may not go to bars, clubs, casinos, movie theaters, or other locations that may harm one’s personal testimony. (22)​

It's my personal testimony, not theirs. Again, [checks ID] I'm competent to decide for myself, informed by biblical standards and godly wisdom, what will glorify the Lord or harm my testimony. I don't need PCC to police my testimony for me.

PCC represents Christ; therefore, eating with tax collectors and sinners nets me another 75 demerits. I'm already on probation; now I'm subject to suspension. Oops.

Two methods are used to check out when going off campus. (42)​

No, [checks ID again] unless I'm obliged to be somewhere, I'll come and go as I please. Though that's just netted me another 25 demerits for "irresponsibility."

Goodness, the ordinary business of adulting has just gotten me shipped.
 
To continue:

Students attend Campus Church meetings including Sun morning, Sun evening, and Wed evening services Students also attend the Bible Study Group of their academic classification; attendance is recorded at each location via PCC Card tap or attendance form. (22)​

This is another contentious issue with PCC. Is the Campus Church a duly constituted New Testament church, or isn't it? The general consensus around the Student Voice was that by PCC's own tacit admission--they said it operated "in the spirit of" an independent Baptist church--it wasn't.

I take no issue with a college or seminary having a private chapel, reflecting its own theological standards, and holding midweek services or devotionals, or whatever you want to call it, for students. I'm sure every Bible college does that.

Where I take issue is with their treating Campus Church as though it is a New Testament church, and making attendance mandatory during ordinary worship times. They could be encouraging students to join a local, Bible-believing assembly and taking part in the body there, where there may be a need for, say, nursery workers, Sunday-school teachers, ushers, and so forth. Not to mention just laying down roots in the local Christian community. Instead of building up students in Christian maturity, they are robbing them of church life--which is more than just sitting in chapel, listening to a message--and basically stunting their spiritual maturation by sticking them in a ghetto.
 
Apparently, all the good joke rules are on the same page:

Students are expected to use academic and recreational facilities on the PCC campus and should not go to other college campuses to use their facilities or equipment. (22)​

LOL. When I was in university, I did more research at the other university in town. Their library had a better literature section than my school's. It's laughable that an institution would prohibit its students from seeking out good academic resources off-campus--unless, again, they're trying to keep them in the ghetto.

All told, the current rules aren't wholly unreasonable. Of course, they never were. We can all agree that Christian couples shouldn't seek opportunities to fornicate, people shouldn't advocate for un-Christian viewpoints on campus, or keeping the campus "dry" are all goods.

Are there still unwritten rules that will get you in trouble if you break them? It's a motte-and-bailey fallacy to point to the good and fair rules, and imply that we ought to feel exactly the same about the stupid and unfair ones.

Nothing in their rules seems unusual for a school with Independent fundamental Baptist roots.

I'm sure I'd find a lot of "usual" IFB college rules equally restrictive and ridiculous.

Because sometimes, as one of Dickens's characters once pointed out, the law is a ass.
 
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Their love for the Lord, desire to see souls saved, and personal character would be called into question. They throw down the "Character Card" a lot...an awful lot. If that did not work they would tell them the Bible says they can't sue a fellow Christian...

If the above methods did not sway the soon-to-be-former-employee, they would probably blow a gasket like this:

WCBC Eagle

Usually those pastors defense against criticism was, touch not God's anointed...
 
Bottom line: If you find value in attending PCC, whatever that value is, you'll go there knowing the rules and abide by them even if they seem excessive. It's the same way with the military. For nearly 50 years, the military has been all volunteer. You go, you abide by the rules. If the rules are too excessive by your standards, DON'T ENROLL.

For all it's foibles, the Campus Church was what God used to ground me in the faith. Was it perfect? Far from it, but for whatever reasons, it was what God chose to shape me. I'm a very different person both in maturity and philosophy nowadays. I highly doubt if we were to move to Pensacola, that Campus Church would be the one we would join. We'd likely find some other imperfect church that is a closer fit with our imperfect philosophy.
 
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