Does Gardner Matter?

     Establishing a College mattered a lot to our founder, The Rev. H. C. Gardner. The passion he had for training leadership is described by Walter Froese in his history of the Church of God movement...

“H.C.Gardner championed vigorously the cause of establishing a Bible School of the Church of God in Western Canada. At the Ministerial Assembly at Lashburn in November of that year (1932), he enthusiastically talked about the benefits of establishing a Bible School.”
- Rev. H. C. Gardner (Sounding Forth the Gospel on the Prairies p.44)

     Formed to provide a centre for Biblical studies, the College now also provides excellent training for those working with children and youth. The Early Childhood Development program is licensed with the Private Vocational Schools division of Alberta Learning. The CYCW program is developed according to the Child Youth Care Association of Alberta.

     Gardner is a member college of the National Association and the Alberta Association of Career Colleges. The College endeavours to maintain the passion of its founder to develop followers of Christ by providing a faith learning community. Regardless of their program, all students are challenged to grow in their faith. All are encouraged to attend and participate in the chapel services and the various ministry opportunities the College provides.

     Many students in the Early Childhood Development and the Youth Care Worker programs have joined with the Theology students in the FIRM ministry trips to churches and at care homes in Camrose.

Gardner Matters to Church Leadership

     Reporting to the General Assembly Meeting of the Church of God in Western Canada in 1998, Dr. Gilbert Stafford emphasized the importance of maintaining the distinctive's of the church and the importance of the College in that role...

“During the Gardner discussion I found myself thinking at several levels. As a way of getting into this subject, I ask the following rhetorical question: Why not simply disband as the Church of God in Western Canada? There are lots of other Christian groups in Western Canada. Why not just disband and join them?"

" If you were to do that you wouldn't have to worry about Gardner and other organizational issues any longer. It is obvious that you don’t want to disband, and I’m glad. What this means, then, is that you are convinced that there is a special place in God’s economy for the distinctiveness of the Church of God in Western Canada."

“I would list the following subjects that should be covered in the spiritual formation of your pastors, teachers and leaders. 1) the history of the Wesleyan-holiness movement; 2) Church of God history; 3) the history of the Church of God in Canada; 4) the doctrinal understanding of unity and holiness; 5) doctrinal understanding of conversion, the instilling of the Holy Spirit and entire sanctification; 6) doctrinal understanding of the kingdom of God and eschatology; 7) the theology and practice of foot washing; 8) structures and issues in the Church of God; 9) worship and hymnody heritage.”
- Dr. Gilbert Stafford