BIO:Alva J. McClain 1888-1968

   Alva J. McClain, the founder and first president of Grace
Theological Seminary and Grace College, was born in Iowa and later grew
up in Sunnyside, Washington. Shortly after his marriage to Josephine
Gingrich in 1911, he and his wife were saved under the preaching of Dr.
L.S. Bauman. He had been at- tending the University of Washington, but
removed to Los An- geles, where he attended the Bible Institute of Los
Angeles and sat under the teaching of Dr. R.A. Torrey.

   Upon graduating from Biola, he enrolled in Xenia Theological
Seminary and completed work for the B.D. and Th.M. degrees--following
which he was called to the First Brethren Church of Philadelphia, where
he served from 1918 to 1923. During the pastorate he taught at the
Philadelphia School of the Bible. Because of ill health, he resigned
and removed to California, where he finished his work for the A.B.
degree at Occidental College, graduating as valedictor- ian. Later he
was awarded the honorary degree of LL.D. at Bob Jones University, and
the D.D. degree at the Bible Institute of Los Angeles.

   In 1925 and 1926, he served as professor of Bible at Ashland
College. In 1927-1929 he taught Christian theology at the Bible
Institute of Los Angeles. In 1930, the first gradu- ate school of
theology in the Brethren Church was organized at Ashland College under
his leadership, where he served as its first academic dean and
professor of Christian theology.

   In 1937 Grace Theological Seminary was organized un- der his
direction, and as first president and professor of Christian theology,
he served from 1937 to 1962.

   Dr. McClain authored many short treatises, but will be remembered
for his monumental work on Christian theology, The Greatness of the
Kingdom, one of seven volumes he had projected concerning the entire
scope of Christian faith. He will long be remembered as scholar,
theologian, educator, master teacher, and Christian gentleman.
