Dr. John L. Carson

Gold Campaign To Secure Erskine's Present And Future

Ask Erskine College and Seminary President Dr. John Carson about why the upcoming Gold Campaign is important and he’ll tie it directly to his own job performance.

“I take a personal responsibility for the success of the campaign,” said Carson. “What we achieve here will mark how significantly I have performed in securing not only Erskine’s present, but also its future.”

The college is kicking off what is expected to be largest capital campaign in its history with a gala event Oct. 23.

College officials view the Gold Campaign as being about “people building Erskine and all it stands for,” Carson said.

“We strive for excellence – for gold – in all that we do, in our academic excellence and our Christian commitment,” he said.

Carson said what transpires at Erskine as the campaign unfolds will have the appearance of human success, but that’s not all.

“We must constantly remind ourselves that God is the ultimate builder in every project,” he said.

The campaign is an offshoot of the college’s strategic plan adopted in May 2001.

The strategic planning process included the various constituencies of Erskine, including alumni, parents of students, Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church representatives, major contributors, faculty, students, staff, trustees, community leaders, representatives from other denominations, educational professionals and auxiliary support groups.

“The reality of what students experience and how they develop within this household is paramount,” Carson said. “The challenge exists for young adults to grow in their understanding of the world and how Christians respond to the world’s needs.”

That was the kind of thinking that was evident during the strategic planning process.

“All along the way, at every point, Erskine’s mission was dominant,” Carson said. “The overarching questions were always based on Erskine can best fulfill its mission of Christian commitment and excellence in learning.”

Erskine Board Chairman John Moore called the planning process “intensive.”

“A lot of the strategic planning items had dollar signs attached to them,” Carson said. “The top priorities were decided by the board.”

Those priorities will make up the components of the campaign.

Carson said the campaign components, which will be outlined in detail Oct. 23, are not “one person’s fancy,” but the culmination of ideas and plans from Erskine’s constituencies that were included in the decision-making process.

“This campaign is critical in accomplishing many of the major strategic plan items, such as new music program facilities, increased college and seminary scholarships and an enhanced missions and service program,” Moore said.

Carson said, “Building and maintaining Erskine’s physical house is important. However, the most important thing Erskine builds is not its physical plant but well-educated and godly students. Erskine’s people – its students, faculty and alumni – are its real house, its true concern.”

Moore said, “Erskine College is striving to be more aggressive in offering Christian based higher education experiences, and the campaign will provide the funding to take these efforts to a new level.”

The college and seminary are “blessed with many unique opportunities to advance their Christian mission statement and this campaign will provide the funding to take these efforts to a new level,” he said.

It will take a strong team effort to make the campaign a success, Carson said.

Overall responsibility for the campaign is in the hands of Lee Logan, Erskine vice president for development who has served the college for 30 years.

Carson said Logan has the support of “countless alumni and friends” of Erskine.

“His leadership will be vital for the campaign’s success,” the Erskine president said.

Dr. Jay West, vice president for institutional relations, is another key member of the campaign team, as are the Rev. Neely Gaston, vice president of Erskine Theological Seminary, Athletic Director Chip Sherer, Director of Alumni Affairs Ralph Patterson, Special Assistant to the President Bobby McDonald, Major Gifts Officer Knox Bridges and Director of Development Wendy Edgar.

Carson also cited the importance of the campaign’s volunteer leadership.

Joe and Kathy Black of Buena Vista, Colo., are serving as co-chairmen of the Gold Campaign.

Joe Black is a former executive at Milliken and Co. and a member of the Erskine College Class of 1969, and Kathy Black is a member of the Erskine College Class of 1970.

Robert and Cheryl Moultrie of Atlanta, Ga., are honorary co-chairmen of the campaign.

Erskine’s capital campaign has been named the “Gold Campaign” in part because gold is one of the school’s colors, but also, Joe Black said, “because of the association of gold with being refined, pure, the best, the finest – as in the ‘gold standard.’”