A called meeting of General Synod of the Associate Presbyterian Church (ARP) will convene Monday, March 2, 2010, at 4:30 p.m. at Bonclarken, Flat Rock, NC, to receive and act on the findings and recommendations of the Moderator’s Commission on Erskine College and Theological Seminary. Snyod Moderator has provided details:

SCROLL DOWN TO BACKGROUND INFO ON ERSKINE COLLEGE TOPIC

Called Meeting Dates Changed
The dates of the called meeting of Synod have been changed from March 1 and 2 to March 2 and 3. Therefore, the meeting will begin at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 2. Moderator de Witt anticipates that the meeting will conclude by 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 3 and regrets having to make this change. The earlier dates posed significant travel problems for a number of people across the denomination.

If you have already made room reservations, Bonclarken will automatically make the necessary changes for you. For example, if you made a reservation for Monday night only, Bonclarken will shift your reservation to Tuesday only. If you reserved a room for Monday and Tuesday, they will shift your reservation to Tuesday and Wednesday. You do not need to call to make these changes.

Original Announcement
The announcement contains the following information:

In regard to this, please note the following from the Form of Government, Chapter XIII:

3. A special meeting of the General Synod may be called only at a time of emergency and in the following manner: The moderator, or in his failure to act, the principal clerk shall issue a call for a special meeting, at the official request of at least two Presbyteries or upon his own initiative, with the official concurrence of at least two Presbyteries. Notice of the meeting shall be given to each session not less than thirty (30) days in advance. The purpose of the meeting shall be as stated in the notice and no other business shall be transacted. In addition to all ministers of the General Synod, the ruling elders or their alternates who were enrolled at the previous stated meeting, shall be members of the special meeting. A session shall have the right to elect a representative or alternate in the stead of one who has died or transferred his membership.

Information on registration will be mailed from the ARP Center. Please make housing arrangements directly with Bonclarken: 828-692-2223.

Called Meeting Details
Synod will convene in special session at Bonclarken on March 1 and 2. The opening hour is 4:30 p.m. The late afternoon and evening (after dinner) will be devoted to a report of the commission and a worship service. Discussion will follow on Tuesday morning. No one can determine how long the meeting on Tuesday will be. My hope is that we can adjourn after lunch on Tuesday, no later than 3 p.m. – Moderator John R. de Witt

BACKGROUND INFO ON ERSKINE COLLEGE ISSUE

The Aquila Report has brought together a few factors that resulted in the Commission to Investigate Erskine College and provides them as back story for those interested in the issues.

One is the actual petition from a group of concerned students.

One is the official ARP General Synod Statement of Philosophy on Christian Higher Ed.

One is a sample letter from a concerned former student.

One is a letter from a former student defending the current situation.

One is a story from The Layman web magazine.

In addition, World Magazine published an extensive piece on this issue. Joel Belz, founder and now retired publisher, who has been a member of and for a number of years, president of, the Board of Covenant College, wrote the story.