Walter Wilbert Welch (February 7, 1918 – July 16, 2015) was an American pastor and educator. He joined the teaching faculty of Cornerstone University in 1941, becoming president in 1959, and Chancellor in 1985.
Welch was a pastor and held the degree of PhD. He took over the leadership of Cornerstone University as a small college meeting in a church basement, bought a 64-acre (26 hectares) cornfield, and built it into an accredited 4-year Christian liberal arts college.
Cornerstone University citation:
In 1959, with an enrollment of only 148 students, Dr. W. Wilbert Welch became the fifth president, a position he held until 1983. Under his leadership, the Bible Institute finally became a state-approved Bible college in 1963. In its new form, “Grand Rapids Baptist College and Seminary” was thus chartered to offer the Bachelor of Religious Education and Bachelor of Music degrees on the college side.
When told that the university's new clock tower was to be named in his honor, Welch's response was, "I appreciate it, but I don't need it. Maybe the shock of it will kill me."
North Casnovia Baptist Church, Bailey, Michigan1951-59 Senior Pastor: Calvary Baptist Church, Muskegon, Michigan1959-83 President, Cornerstone University (formerly Grand Rapids Baptist Bible College)1990-91 Interim Pastor: Calvary Baptist Church, Covington, KentuckyBiblical Evangelism boardmember [1]W. Wilbert Welch Clock Tower article at WZZM-TV13 siteW. Wilbert Welch Clock Tower article at Grand Rapids PressA Performance Pattern for Pastors and Churches (Grand Rapids: Welch, 2002)The Man Your Church Should Know (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2004) ISBN 0-8254-3941-8Theolog '67 (Grand Rapids: Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary, Spring 1967), editor and contributing authorTheolog '66 (Grand Rapids: Grand Rapids Baptist Seminary, Fall 1966), editor and contributing authorOn file at Cedarville College
Christ's Imminent Return (1982)The Great Tribulation (1982)Just Reminiscing (1981)The Loss of Spiritual Power (1980)Neo-Evangelism: Parts I, II, III (1980)The Importance of Stones (1977)Training Soul-Winners (1973)By Faith, We Understand (1964)Touched to Build (1962)Booklets and pamphlets
A Charge to Keep: The Book of First Timothy (Regular Baptist Press, 1982)The Christian Mission and FundamentalismConduct Becoming Saints – The Book of 1 Corinthians, Part 1, Chapters 1-8 (Regular Baptist Press, 1978)Conduct Becoming Saints – The Book of 1 Corinthians, Part 2, Chapters 9-16 (Regular Baptist Press, 1978)Decisions, Decisions, Will Someone Help Me?Developing a Biblical Perspective Concerning Believers, Demons and ExorcismDoes Biblical Separation Destroy Christian Unity?The Early Church - Problems and Progress: Book of Acts, Chapters 1-13 (Regular Baptist Press, 1976)The Early Church - Problems and Progress: Book of Acts, Chapters 14-28 (Regular Baptist Press, 1976)The Fine Art of Being a PastorThe Trial of Your Faith: The Epistle of First PeterArticles
On file at the Cornerstone University Archives, Miller Library
The Word of God in Our SocietyGrowing Old Isn’t All BadProgramming For ProgressThe Authority of the Word of GodAttractive ChurchesEnjoyable Years for Senior CitizensGod’s Creative Wisdom for the Body or “Beautifying the Bones”These Men Called Deacons—Who Are They, and Why?Consideration For Seeking BalanceGod’s Provisions for His ChurchThe Divine Human Cooperative—How Does God Work?Yes, Christians Do Split ChurchesGod’s Prescription for an Enjoyable MinistryIt Is Time To Refocus On The Sunday SchoolUnderstanding And Resolving ConflictThe Man Your Church Should KnowTo Resign or Not to Resign-That is the QuestionChurch Problems – Normal But Not NecessaryYes, Your Church Can Grow!The Word of God in our SocietyChristian Education and EvangelismPosition Paper Accreditation and Christian CollegesThe Pastor and Church AdministrationNew Testament EvangelismPosition Paper Two, Grand Rapids Baptist College and Seminary and Changing StandardsBaptist HolinessThe Divine DirectiveThe One Who Works in YouThe Fundamentalists’ HourLet’s Have Some DemonstrationsPosition Paper: Creative Days of GenesisPosition Paper: The Use of Translations (green folder)The Rapture of the ChurchThe Two JudgmentsThe Final Destination of the Righteous and WickedLet’s Talk About the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus ChristIs the Bible the Word of God?HeavenWhat is Hell like?The Two ResurrectionsRadio Bible ClassBiblical Evangelist (March/April 2006)“[Paul’s] instruction that the women of the church ‘adorn’ themselves modestly is not part of an ‘anti-attractive’ campaign. In fact, he said they should ‘adorn themselves,’ not detract. Their apparel was to be modest. There was to be no extravagance or undue emphasis placed on a woman’s physical attractiveness.” (A Charge to Keep, pg. 43 RBP, 1982)
1941: Teaching Faculty1959-1983: President1983-2015: Chancellor1991: Interim President