This morning, someone sent me a link (HT: Donn!) to this article which reports the events of the recent called meeting of General Synod. Just to give you an idea of the nature of the article, here is the headline: “ARP fires 14 trustees on Erskine College board.”
For starters, the board is for trustees of Erskine College and Seminary (not just the college). Second, there was no “firing” that took place. These were not employees under contract and drawing a salary who were dismissed; they are essentially volunteers who are appointed to the board and serve the General Synod. As trustees, they are “entrusted” with the care of the college and seminary. But no one was “fired,” and to use that loaded term in the headline of the article is not accurate. On the other hand, the gist of the first portion of the article is accurate. However, it is disappointing that the only persons interviewed in the article were from only one perspective. Furthermore, only one person interviewed (Dr. Randy Ruble) was even at the meeting of General Synod, to the best of my knowledge. Why not interview more of the presbyters who were actually there?
Here are some biased and inaccurate statements quoted in the article:
- “It looks like they’re trying to take over the college and imprint the college with their own kind of narrow Christianity.”
- “They have no regard for the tradition of academic excellence.”
- “These are very dangerous steps they have taken. … It’s a coup.”
Once again, to the best of my knowledge, these statements all came from folks who were not even there. Do these sound even remotely accurate? They are full of loaded terminology. Let the reader judge for himself.
Something not mentioned in the article is that the resolution that resulted in the dismissal of a portion of the board was actually amended by the Synod so as not to impugn the reputations of the board members. The amendment stated that the current be commended for its efforts and assured that they are not being dismissed for personal reasons but because of systemtic problems. The resolution passed via standing vote, 173-96 (with two members of the court abstaining).
In my last post, I promised that I would post the substance of the four resolutions passed by General Synod on Tuesday. Let me add one more detail that is not mentioned anywhere in the article above. The Erskine Board (or former Board) adopted a resolution of its own on February 19, 2010, and this resolution was included as part of the packet given to delegates at registration for General Synod. The resolution included the following statements:
In a spirit of humility and acknowledgement of our failings, and a desire to give the glory to God, and to move Erskine forward; we concur in principle with the recommendations of the Moderator’s Commission … . The Board recommends that the size of the Board be reduced over the next six years … . The Board agrees to move forward expeditiously to adopt effective policies regarding financial integrity, conflicts of interest, integration of faith and learning, board training, etc., which are aligned with and advance the objectives set forth by Erskine’s current mission statements and Synod’s Philosophy of Christian Education. … The Board fully recognizes Synod’s final authority to appoint trustees to the Erskine Board. … (emphasis added)
So, please keep in mind that the former Erskine Board actually agreed “in principle” with the Erskine Commission. Do not lose site of that fact. It was the implemation of the recommendations that was in disagreement.
Here are the four recommendations (in summarized form) which came from the Erskine Commission, all of which passed (two with some modification):
- Restructuring the Board — That the bylaws of the Board of Trustees be revised by a committee of five members (the current chair and vice chair of the Board, along with three members of the Commission) to reduce the size of the Board to 16 members.
- Replacement Interim Board — The current trustees shall be removed and replaced by thirty individuals (listed in the report).
- Nominations Process — Recommendations for Erskine trustees shall be made annually by a special committee consisting of the current moderator of Synod and the four immediate past moderators, and these recommendations shall be presented to the Committee on Nominations at the stated meeting of General Synod (this recommendation was modified from a previous form which would have placed all nominations in the hands of the committee composed of moderators).
- Criteria for Trustees — The special committee for the nominations of Erskine trustees will adopt the following criteria for potential trustees: The Board must be consist of individuals who are competent, engaged, and independent. Trustees shall include individuals who are knowledgeable in different areas such as accounting, business, education, ethics, finance, law, ministry, and theology, and who subscribe to the mission of Erskine College and Seminary as set forth in its mission statements. Such individuals should be able and willing to be adequately engaged in the life of the institution to guide and monitor its achievement of the stated mission. Such individuals must be sufficiently independent of the administration and faculty to bring a healthy balance of support and oversight. All trustees must subscribe to Synod’s definition of an evangelical Christian (this recommendation has been copied in full).
For the next installment, I hope to be able to post an account of the events of Wednesday, March 3, in detail.
