When you arrived at IBL in 1986, what struck you first?
I clearly remember two things about my first few months at IBL. On the one hand, there was a pervading sense of uncertainty about IBL's future. Students were more and more reluctant to attend a non-accredited school. The spectacular growth the Quebec churches had experienced in the '70s and early '80s, had come to a grinding halt, and there was not as much of a need to train pastors. Concerns were often raised about the mission of the Bible institute. On the other hand, I was struck by the great potential for this school. Most of our pastors did need further training in one form or another, our young people did not have access to biblical education, and most of our laypeople had never been exposed to in-depth theological training.
What do you retain from your experience at IBL?
My time at IBL has been invaluable.
First, there are the friendships I have developed over these years. My colleagues, Jean Theoret, Martha Wall, Francoise Vanier, Annie Brosseau (editor of Le Lien) and Debby Martin-Koop (MCC representative in Quebec) have been great people to work with. I will miss them. The students have been wonderful. One of the great advantages of working for a small school like IBL is the possibility to get to know all the students on a personal level.
Second, my experience at IBL has been invaluable because of the diversity of the ministries we have to be involved in. Over my ten years at IBL, I have been involved in all the tasks inherent in running an educational institution: publicity, program development, public relations, recruitment, student counselling, teaching, writing and even fund-raising as interim president a few years ago. Our relationship with the Universite de Montreal has also been a great learning experience for me.
Third, I leave IBL with the conviction I have been involved in an institution which is needed and makes a significant difference in the life of a young church. IBL has given me the opportunity and the privilege to make a difference, and for that I am very grateful.
What role does IBL play on the Quebec scene?
We have to consider that question on different levels. For the Quebec Conference of MB Churches, IBL plays a vital role. Through IBL, the Quebec Conference has had access to highly qualified people who have contributed in very concrete and significant ways to the life of the churches. Over the years, IBL has been both a catalyst and a stabilizing force in the MB churches. In my opinion, IBL has now become so central to the life of the Quebec Conference that if this institution were to close, it would have a disastrous impact on the Quebec MB work.
IBL is also having a more and more important role on the Quebec evangelical scene. Our unique relationship with the Universite de Montreal puts IBL in a position to represent the evangelical community and thus gain greater credibility for a movement which is still too often perceived as a cult. Because of this association with the university, IBL is also called to become a major biblical and theological training centre for young people who wish to think through their faith and discover God's plan for their lives. In addition, it is important to note that in the past few years, IBL has attracted an increasing number of students from the different cultural communities in Montreal. For example, we have had Cambodian, Haitian and Hispanic students, many of whom are pastors from various evangelical denominations who wish to upgrade their theological education. IBL is in a position to influence profoundly the theology and the life of the church in these ethnic communities.
What would you consider to be the major challenges of the evangelical Church in Quebec?
Because the evangelical church is so diverse, that is a very difficult question to answer, and I have this gnawing suspicion that whatever I say today will no longer represent my thinking a month from now. In any case, at this point, there are two things the evangelical church in Quebec must work on. First, we need to rediscover the vitality and relevance of the Christian faith and the legitimacy of the Christian community, and do so without falling into emotionalism and sectarianism. Because evangelicals represent a very small proportion of the Quebec population, many of them struggle with what it means to hold to the Christian faith and to participate actively in a church. Some of them resolve these tensions by withdrawing altogether from the churches. Others find refuge in a form of Christian anti-intellectualism and a search for the miraculous that too often leaves them even more disappointed down the road.
Second, I am profoundly convinced that the leaders of the evangelical movement in Quebec must rediscover the biblical text and develop a sound biblical theology. The Quebec evangelical movement is still too much under the influence of American theological fundamentalism. Although we have now in great part given expression to the Christian faith in terms of our culture, we are still struggling to find relevant answers to the real questions our contemporaries are asking. I certainly do not claim to have the answers to this difficult problem, but I am convinced that if we honestly and sincerely expose ourselves to foundational texts like the Genesis creation account, we may discover some surprising ways to retell the gospel story.
What are IBL's greatest challenges for the near future?
Like all other educational institutions, IBL will face the challenge of increasing its financial support base. Quebec is a very difficult mission field, and we do not see spectacular results. In such a context, it is always difficult to keep a high level of interest. IBL's existence will increasingly depend on the support of people who have a vision for what a ministry like this can do in the long run, instead of looking strictly at short-term results. Fortunately, so far, IBL has been blessed with this kind of supporters through the Canadian MB Conference.
IBL also has the formidable challenge to convince more young people to invest some of their time in biblical and theological training. This is an essential task, yet not an easy one because of the context these young people find themselves in.
Finally, IBL will probably have to develop a complete two or three-year program to serve the growing number of pastors who wish to upgrade their education. At this point, the one-year certificate IBL offers with the university is not wholly adequate. This also will require our prayers.