Erskine College said it wants to keep dialogue with the General Synod of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church open, its President David Norman said.

The school released another news release Wednesday to expand on a previous news release that said the school’s board of trustees voted last week to not alter its charter or by laws.

The vote was in response to a request by the ARP church in June of last year that the school consider changing its charter and by laws to allow the church more control over the board, specifically to remove board members.

On Wednesday, the school gave more details about the ad hoc committee formed to consider the church’s request.

The committee met, the release said, in the spirit of communication.

“I support both the tone of the request and the tone of the response,” said Norman said. “Because this is a conversation. We need to keep a productive conversation going.”

Crosland Stuart, on the board’s Advancement Committee said, “this [response] does not represent an agenda to separate Erskine from the denomination. Rather, this reflects a board of trustees who have wrestled with what is in the best interest of the institution.

(Editor’s Note: To read the entire report the Board approved, go here)