“I think he (newly elected President David Norman) chose the person he wanted without having an interview with me. I don’t feel like that’s a reflection on me.”

W. Gid Alston, one of the more outspoken critics of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church’s General Synod’s takeover of Erskine College and Theological Seminary’s board of trustees, will not return to his post as interim vice president and academic dean.

Alston confirmed Friday evening he would not return to the post he owned for 11 months… He said he thinks his previous comments criticizing the ARP’s general synod were not a factor in the decision.

Brad Christie, an English professor and member of the search committee for the new president, confirmed he was named the new interim academic dean during a Board of Trustees meeting Friday.
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Alston said Friday he was not upset about the decision, saying he held no ill will toward the new administration.

“The new president and (Christie) got very close, and (Norman) decided he wanted to have him as academic dean,” Alston said… “I’m fine with (the job). That’s fine…It’s OK.”
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“I think he chose the person he wanted without having an interview with me,” Alston said. “I don’t feel like that’s a reflection on me. He was not aware of the job I had done when he made his decision. That’s just his decision.”