Dr. John Carson displays a rendering of the proposed Memorial Hall renovation project

Erskine Participation Significant At ARP Synod Meeting

Representatives of Erskine College and Seminary played a vital part in the 200th meeting of the General Synod of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church June 7-10. The annual gathering of Erskine's founding denomination at Bonclarken Conference Center in Flat Rock, N.C., included the naming of an Erskine College professor as Moderator-elect; a conference on worship featuring lectures by Erskine professors; a luncheon hosted by Erskine Seminary; and presentations by Erskine administrators.

Dr. William B. Evans, Younts Professor of Bible and Religion at Erskine College, was named Moderator-elect. Evans has taught at Erskine since 1993 and serves as chairman of the Department of Bible, Religion and Philosophy. His duties as Moderator begin next summer, when he is scheduled to succeed  Frank Hunt II of Lake Wales, Fla., who took the gavel from the Rev. Wayne Frazier of Charlotte, N.C., outgoing Moderator, at this year's meeting. Erskine alumnus Paul Bell, Director of the Due West Retirement Center, was named Vice Moderator.

The Pre-Synod Conference on Worship, with nearly 200 in attendance, began with a lecture on "Christian Worship and History," by Erskine Seminary professor Dr. Don Fairbairn. Another Erskine Seminary professor, Dr. Dale Johnson, spoke on "Reformation Worship," and the concluding lecture, "Post-Reformation Worship" was given by Evans.

Preachers for the conference were Dr. John R. de Witt of First Presbyterian Church, Columbia, and an Erskine alumnus, the Rev. John Kimmons of Christ Community Church, Greensboro, N.C.

The Rev. H. Neely Gaston, vice president of Erskine Seminary, said he and Erskine President Dr. John Carson assisted Hunt, the incoming Moderator of Synod, in planning the worship conference. Gaston and Carson expressed enthusiasm about Erskine's participation at Synod.

"Nearly 200 people attended the Erskine Seminary barbecue luncheon on Wednesday to hear of the seminary's exciting new developments," said Carson. He said topics discussed included the school's new contract to train U.S. Army chaplains, seminary extension sites at First Presbyterian Church in Columbia and First Presbyterian Church in Augusta, Ga., and the recently launched Institute for Reformed Worship directed by noted theologian and author Dr. Hughes Oliphant "Scoti" Old, who taught the Institute's first class during the seminary's January Term this year.

"Rob Patrick, a 1998 graduate of the seminary, gave a compelling testimony to the benefit of Dr. Scoti Old's course for both him and his fellow Doctor of Ministry students," Carson said. Several Erskine Seminary students attended Synod.

"I made a presentation for the seminary," said Gaston. "I updated the Synod concerning our plans for the new extension site in Columbia, our search for a new professor of worship and homiletics, the Doctor of Ministry program for Army chaplains, new scholarships, and Dr. R.J. Gore's planned return on January 1, 2005."

Carson told Synod delegates about Erskine's revised Memorial Hall project plans, which are to include a new music and math facility, and also announced a new program focusing on "Worship and Music Leadership in the Local Church."

"The Synod commended the strides toward excellence made by Erskine College and Seminary," Carson said. "Coming in for special commendation were the college's Bible Department and Chaplain Paul Patrick."

Erskine Seminary professor Dr. Dale Johnson