George P. Taubman Digital Archives

His Contributions

See Digital Images

George P. Taubman is a prominant figure in the early years of Hope International University. His contributions are varied and signficant.

1. His early relationship to the school at its formative years.
   • Pacific Bible Seminary classes met at his church in Long Beach shortly after its beginning (1930-1933).
   • He was one of the earliest administrators of the school, serving as Dean beginning in 1931 having previously declined the offer to become its second president.
   • He taught classes in Pastoral Problems and Duties of the Christian Minister at the seminary.
2. Commitment to the local church – successful 44 year ministry including
   • Preacher – from 1894 to 1907 and then 1913 to 1939.
   • Evangelist – hired by the Christian Standard to travel to hold lengthy evangelistic meetings in small rural churches all over the Eastern United States (1907-09).
   • Associate Minister and Sunday School Superintendent (1909-1913).
   • Teacher – particularly famous for the largest Men’s Bible class attendance of over 31,000 men on Armistice Day 1923 in Long Beach. Regular attendance reached its peak in the1920s at about 3000 each Sunday.
3. Commitment to Christian Education.
   • Sunday School programs in what ever church Taubman served (in any capacity) grew in significant numbers during his tenure.
   • Men’s Bible School Movement – He was a popular speaker at National and Regional Men’s Bible Class Conventions.
   • Because of his influence, several Men’s Bible School classes were begun with leaders from his class in England, China, and all over the United States.
4. Commitment to missions – under his leadership the Long Beach church was listed among the highest contributors to Missions Societies.
5. His strong commitment to the ideals of the Restoration Movement – and particularly the “Independent” Christian Churches from which the university derives its heritage, mission, and purpose.
   • McGarvey, who studied under Alexander Campbell, was his teacher and mentor at the College of the Bible.
   • Served two years as a Christian Standard Evangelist (1907-09).
   • Became the “spokesman of the west” for the conservative Disciples or “Independents”.
   • His commitment to unity at a critical time in the history of the Movement, is demonstrated in
     • his hosting of the California State Convention of the Disciples (liberal group with which he disagreed) from 1917 until 1929.
     • his sermons on “unity” out-number all other themes on which he preached.
     • his strong commitment to Biblical authority.
     • his national leadership –
       • North American Christian Convention (NACC) he was asked to give key addresses in three of the first five years.
       • Christian Standard – he wrote numerous articles
       • Lookout – he wrote regularly a column on ministry to men.
6. His community leadership
• Memberships in numerous civic organizations
• Members of his Men’s Bible Class included mayors and other high level civic leaders.
• The bust commissioned by the City of Long Beach to honor his contributions to the community upon his retirement in 1939.
7. His leadership through significant historical events
   • WWI
   • Prohibition
   • Women’s suffrage
   • The Great Depression
   • The 1933 Long Beach earthquake

REFERENCES

Kragenbrink, Kevin. 1991. George P. Taubman : "conservative Christian Church evangelist and champion of the men's Bible class movement." Malibu, CA: Pepperdine University, 1991.

[Tiffin, Gerald C. Kathy Stranlund, and Mike Warner, eds.] Framing the Future: The First Twenty-five Years of Pacific Christian College, 1928-1953. Fullerton, CA: Pacific Christian College, [1979].