The Rev. H. Neely Gaston

Gold Campaign To Help Erskine Seminary Meet
Challenges Of Growth And Change

Erskine Theological Seminary, established in 1837, is thriving. While remaining true to the Reformed heritage of its founding denomination, the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, the seminary today serves students from more than 20 denominations.

Now, Erskine Seminary stands ready to benefit from the largest capital campaign in Erskine’s history, the Gold Campaign, which begins its public phase Thursday.

"We are excited about the Gold Campaign," said Erskine Seminary Vice President
H. Neely Gaston. "It will help us reduce our dependence on tuition by raising additional endowment funds — this is one of the goals of Erskine’s strategic plan."

Gaston said the seminary’s enrollment has expanded significantly over the past 15 years, but seminary scholarships and endowed chairs have not kept pace with the school’s growth.

"With increased scholarships and income from endowed chairs, we can redirect our energies toward recruiting world-class faculty and offering programs that will prepare our students for ministry in the 21st century," he said.

An ordained minister in Erskine's founding denomination, Gaston was a sales manager for a cotton gin and farm supply company, a marketing specialist and a production manager prior to entering the ministry. He has a vision for the seminary that awarded him a Master of Divinity degree in 1989.

"Funds from the Gold Campaign will help us advance toward the goal of becoming the premier evangelical seminary in the South," he said.

Gaston, who studies shifting demographics and the impact these can have on theological education, said a projected increase in numbers of second-career students and students who are already serving as pastors will increase Erskine’s overnight housing needs for commuters.

"At the same time, traditional student housing needs are increasing with the pendulum swinging back toward more students entering seminary right after graduation from college," Gaston said. "The Gold Campaign will help us address both overnight and traditional housing needs without diverting funds from an already tight budget."

Gaston looks at larger trends that affect the church in the United States. "Demographics are changing as minorities are approaching parity," he said. "Ministries that once were carried out exclusively overseas are now needed in the urban areas of our nation."

Erskine Seminary must also confront other changes. "The United States is not exempt from the trends that Europe has been facing for the last 50 years," said Gaston. "Churches are in decline and innovative action must be taken to reverse these trends."

Whether changes are encouraging or challenging, Erskine Seminary is prepared to deal with them. "We are focused on preparing persons for ministry in traditional pastoral settings, while at the same time preparing them for ministry in an ever-changing world," said Gaston.

"Erskine Theological Seminary is committed to meeting the demands of the Great Commission," said Gaston. "Erskine’s Gold Campaign is a vital part of that commitment."