In accordance with action of the General Synod of 1975 and by appointment of the Moderator, the Special Committee on Christian Higher Education submits the following report:

Creation of the Committee

The 1975 Session of the General Synod adopted a recommendation of the Moderator's Committee on Educational Institutions "that a special committee of five (5) be appointed by the Moderator to develop a Philosophy of Christian Higher Education for the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, including goals and purposes of Erskine."

Membership of the Committee

Following the adjournment of the 1975 Session, the Moderator of Synod, Dr. Randall T. Ruble, appointed the following five persons to the committee:
1. Reverend Roy E. Beckham, D.D., pastor of the Greenville Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, Greenville, South Carolina.
2. Miss Alice Love, Ph.D., professor of English, Winthrop College, and member of First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, Rock Hill, South Carolina.
3. Mr. Hazel Long, elder in the Doraville Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, Doraville, Georgia.
4. Reverend Lonnie L. Richardson, pastor of New Covenant Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, Charlotte, North Carolina.
5. Mr. W. H. Stuart, elder in the Bartow Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, Bartow, Florida.

The Moderator designated Mr. Stuart to serve as chairman. The Committee elected Dr. Love as vice-chairman and Mr. Long as secretary.

The Work of the Committee

Only as the members of the committee have worked together over a period of nearly two years has the committee come to a full understanding of its task.
Convening for the first time on October 11, 1975, the Committee has held eleven meetings, the majority of which required a full day.
Through the cooperation of Mr. E. D. Sloan, Jr., Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Erskine College, and President M. Stanyarne Bell, conferences have been held with a majority of the members of the Board of Trustees, most of the members of the administration, a substantial number of faculty members, and representative members of the student body of Erskine College. Individual members of the committee have conferred with a number of the members of our church and persons experienced in the field of Christian higher education. The committee has had the advantage of a considerable body of bibliographic material which it has secured or has had referred to it. This report would not be complete without an expression of appreciation for the helpful spirit and full cooperation the committee has received from so many who have made our work easier.

The Committee's Understanding of Its Task

The appointment of the committee to develop a philosophy of Christian higher education is interpreted as the desire of the General Synod to initiate such development with a clear and easily understood statement of philosophy that shall define and guide the carrying out of the mission of the Church in Christian higher education.
For many years Erskine College has included in its catalogs a statement of purpose. The statement of purpose in the catalog is viewed by the committee as the expression of the Board of Trustees to students and others who use the catalog. The statement of philosophy to be presented in this report is viewed by the committee as the expression of the General Synod to the Board of Trustees. It is intended to inform, to guide, to direct the Board of Trustees, to whom the Church delegates the responsibility of carrying out its mission in Christian higher education.
The committee interprets its task not simply as preparing and recommending for adoption a written statement. The task is far greater than that. It is to develop a philosophy. It cannot be achieved by this committee. It cannot be completed by this Synod. It is a continuing task. Redeeming elements of such a philosophy have prevailed at Erskine College and Erskine Theological Seminary from their beginning. Today's action can be a new beginning -a reaffirmation of the Church's mission and the means of implementing it.
In presenting this report, the committee recognizes that the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, in its work as an institution of Christian higher education at Erskine College and Erskine Theological Seminary, delegates its authority and its mission to the members of the Board of Trustees of Erskine College, who are selected by the General Synod. To these servants of the Church, faithful to their trust, is given the privilege, the honor and the responsibility of developing and maintaining the philosophy of Christian higher education as expressed by the General Synod. It is believed that the Board of Trustees will be aided and strengthened in its work by knowing the will of the General Synod regarding the kind of college community that it believes will best reflect its philosophy and the kind of environment favorable to the carrying out of its Christian mission.
With much assistance from others and in a spirit of prayer for guidance, the members, in a completely harmonious joint effort as a committee, have prepared a proposed statement as a first step in the development of a philosophy of Christian higher education in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church with goals and purposes of Erskine College and Erskine Theological Seminary. The proposed statement is attached and is made a part of this report.

Recommendations: The Committee recommends:
1. That, as an initial step in the development of the Philosophy of Christian Higher Education of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church with goals and purposes of Erskine College and Erskine Theological Seminary, this Report and the accompanying Statement be adopted by the General Synod.
2. That, as a part of the basic development of the Philosophy of Christian Higher Education, this Report and the accompanying Statement, as adopted, constitute the governing philosophy for policies established and maintained by the Board of Trustees of Erskine College in the operation of Erskine College and Erskine Theological Seminary.
3. That, as a primary effort in developing the Philosophy of Christian Higher Education, the chairman of the Board of Trustees of Erskine College be directed to place in the hands of each member of the Board of Trustees a copy of this Report and the accompanying Statement, as adopted.
4. That, as a continuing effort in the development of a Philosophy of Christian Higher Education, the Nominating Committee of the General Synod be directed, beginning with nominations to be made following the 1977 meeting of the General Synod, to furnish each prospective nominee for election to the Board of Trustees of Erskine College with a copy of this Report and the accompanying Statement, as adopted, so that the prospective nominee may have the benefit of this document in making his or her decision.
5. That, in making its annual report to the General Synod, the Board of Trustees be asked to include a special section relating to the implementation of this Statement of Philosophy of Christian Higher Education.

Respectfully submitted,
Special Committee on Christian Higher Education

Introduction

Christian higher education for the service of God in church and society finds its roots in Biblical revelation. For over one hundred and forty years, Christian higher education has been an integral part of the mission of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. Truly, the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, through its institutions of Christian higher education, has a history of distinguished service. The value of its mission is immeasurable, for this mission has been an influence for good in the lives of thousands of men and women who have attended Erskine College, Erskine Theological Seminary or Bryson College. Through many of these men and women, the Church itself has been blessed with strong Christian leadership and dedicated service.
The General Synod believes that there is a continuing need for the church to express its objectives, to reaffirm its purpose, and to restate its philosophy of Christian higher education, including goals and purposes of Erskine.
In the following statement, the General Synod desires to preserve and incorporate all of the redeeming elements of the Church's philosophy that have prevailed at the College and Seminary from their beginning. In this statement the terms "Erskine" and "Erskine College" refer to both the undergraduate school and the Seminary, unless the context indicates otherwise.

I. The Role of the Church in Christian Higher Education

The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church should re-examine on a continuing basis its total program in the use of its resources and in all areas of its mission. To this end the Church should ask itself continually what it is doing and what it ought to be doing in the field of education. It is clear that every Christian denomination should involve itself deeply in Christian education. A parallel question which every Christian denomination should ask is whether it also should be involved in the field of higher education and, if so, at what level and in what way.
We believe in the importance of education, and we believe that education represents a vital part of the mission of the Church. Furthermore, we believe that our denomination has a definite role to play in Christian higher education.
We believe this is so because this area of service offers the Church a unique opportunity to present Christ and the Christian viewpoint and to demonstrate in a tangible way the value of a life which is lived in right relation to God and man. We believe that only such a life can realize its fullest potential in terms of usefulness to society and inner satisfaction to the individual.
We believe that the Church has a responsibility not only to initiate the organizational structure for such participation, but also a responsibility to continue to nurture that organization and to provide theological and philosophical guidance to it.

II. The Biblical Basis for Christian Higher Education

The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church believes the Bible, the infallible Written Word of God, to be the rule of faith and life. The Bible reveals God as the source of all truth. Reverence for Him and commitment to Him is the beginning of wisdom. Jesus Christ, God's Son, came to reveal this truth-truth which has the power to set people free from the bondage of sin. The Holy Spirit comes to make the truth of God's love in Christ real in our hearts. Therefore, for education to merit the term "Christian," it must be based on belief in God, the Source of truth; be centered in Jesus Christ, the Revealer of truth; and be guided by the Holy Spirit, the Inspirer of truth.
Taking their perspective from the Biblical view of God, man and the world, as expressed in The Standards of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (See Footnote 1), our institutions of Christian higher education have a responsibility to stress Christian doctrine as well as Christian ethics; Christian commitment as well as academic excellence. Our calling in Christian higher education is to create an environment that exposes the college community to the truth of God's redemptive love and equip its members for lives of useful service, whether in the full-time ministries of the Church, or in some other worthy calling.

III. Implementation

The carrying out of such a philosophy requires careful planning in several areas in accordance with The Standards of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (See Footnote 2) and under the guidance of the principles of this statement. Full development will be achieved as the task is approached with a sense of mission by everyone within the college community.

a. The Trustees of Erskine College. The Board of Trustees of Erskine College is the authority of the Church at Erskine. Representing the Church's presence in its work of Christian higher education, the Trustees are an integral part of the college community. For service in such positions of responsibility, it is incumbent upon the General Synod to select individuals who have a perception of the Church and its work that coincides with that of the Synod and who are kept informed of the Church's policies and purposes. A Trustee is a servant of Christ and His Church in one of the greatest and most sacred endeavors. In this task the Church needs Godly men and women of knowledge, wisdom and dedication to this work.
b. The Administration. In discharging its responsibility, the Board of Trustees should recognize that the administrators of the College have a different task in being stewards for the Church when, at the same time, they must meet the demands of academic standards and accreditation, build a strong faculty and present a program of studies which attracts students. Executive planning of this complexity requires great professional skill and dedication. It is imperative first, that the College have in these positions-as president, administrative and academic officers-individuals who have a deep personal commitment to Jesus Christ and are strong both in terms of their preparation and also in terms of their perception of administrative responsibility to the Board of Trustees and to the Church. These officers are charged with continuing commitment to the larger view of the College as a community of Christian scholars. Second, there must be kept open channels of regular communication between the Board of Trustees and the Synod in order for there to be on the campus the most effective implementation of our educational ideas.
c. The Faculty. The Board of Trustees, through the Administration, must seek faculty members having professional competence, moral sensitivity and genuine Christian commitment. Faculty members who believe in the enduring relevance of the Christian orientation, have a relation to their subject matter, and an involvement with the learner which are significantly different from those found in secular settings. Freedom of inquiry should prevail; however, faculty members must be chosen who are committed to the goals of the College and who are concerned with the quality of the day-to-day life of the campus. The instructional focus should be on insight and comprehension, as opposed to information only, and should place emphasis on flexible and innovative approaches to teaching.
d. The Student. The student attending Erskine College becomes part of a meaningful tradition of Christian leadership, of education for a life of service and witness. At a Christian college, the uniqueness of each individual is a basic premise, but the universality of our human dependence on Jesus Christ as the ultimate Word is equally fundamental, the point of reference for all knowledge and all experience being Biblical revelation and authority. From these truths it follows that both the individual comprising the student body and the ethos of a college campus which is truly Christian should manifest qualities differentiated from the secular norm. At Erskine College, students are privileged to belong to a community of genuine concern and conviction which it is their responsibility to foster and to maintain as they relate its values to their own time. Under the supervision of the Board of Trustees, the Administration and the Faculty, the student is expected to cooperate in creating and maintaining an environment that will honor God, promote the Christian goals of the Church and support the moral standards of the College. In the educational process, the student is expected to study and evaluate all knowledge objectively, seeking God's guidance in matters of faith, vocational calling and educational preparation.
e. The Curriculum. The curriculum for Erskine College at the undergraduate level should be broadly based, with the Christian perspective as the positive integrating factor for all of the disciplines. Emphasis should be placed on the arts, sciences, vocations and our cultural heritage. Significant emphasis should be placed on the study of Bible and Christian ethics as a requirement for graduation. Along with providing strong majors in different fields, the curriculum should address the development of the whole student. An exposure to specialized areas of social and community service is an appropriate part of the total educational experience. Erskine Theological Seminary, being the professional school of Erskine College, in preparing students for the gospel ministry, has a special mission in Christian higher education. Its curriculum must be in harmony with the Standards of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, and designed so that its graduates will be fully prepared to be effective ministers of the Word.

IV. Inter-relationship of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church and Erskine College

Erskine College represents the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in higher education. The relationship between the College and the Church is organic; that is, Erskine College is related to the General Synod of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church as the arm of the Church in Christian higher education in carrying out the Biblical mandate to redeem all of life, especially man's moral and intellectual life, under the authority and Lordship of Jesus Christ.

a. Responsibility of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church to Erskine College. Inasmuch as Erksine College is a church-owned Christian institution, the Church has ultimate responsibility for the administrative, academic and moral life of the College. This responsibility is established and maintained through the Board of Trustees. The Trustees oversee the total administration of the College as a trust of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church.
The Church also has a responsibility to support the College financially and to render encouragement and affirmation to the College as it implements the goals and purposes of the Church.
b. Responsibility of Erskine College to the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. In order for the goals and purposes of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Christian higher education to be realized, Erskine College, through its Board of Trustees, administration and faculty, must be in harmony with the principles and goals of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. Within this context, the College has a responsibility to bring its theological reflections to bear upon the life of the Church.

V. Erskine's Purpose

The purpose of Erskine College should be to provide sound training in a campus environment where evangelical Christian influence is supreme and pervasive. The role of the church-sponsored college is the distinctive one of relating academic disciplines to the Christian realities of faith and responsible selfhood.
At the same time, there must be intellectual stimulation and open dialogue; and creative individualism should be fostered. The basic premise of education ought to be that the goals of education are to open the mind and the heart to truth, to teach one to think Biblically and objectively and to give direction to daily life. "In Thy light shall we see light."
As an arm of the Church, Erskine College exists to enlarge and help sustain the mission of the Church. It exists, primarily, for the benefit of its students. Their interests must be paramount and their individual and collective needs a matter of continuing concern. Erskine's goal must be to afford them the opportunity and encouragement to integrate knowledge and moral values in the development of the highest and best use of their abilities. A primary objective of the College should be to guide the student into the development of a mature faith within a Christian system of values which defines contemporary pressures in their true light and which is staunchly resistant to the impersonality and relativism of our time. Erskine's ultimate objective for every student must be the gaining of an understanding of the truth that "man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever."

Footnotes:
1. See especially the Confession of Faith, The Larger Catechism, and the Shorter Catechism
2. Form of Government, Chapter XIV,A,4: "Any newly appointed employee of any board, as administrator or teacher, shall give satisfactory evidence of his belief in and adherence to the basic doctrines of evangelical Christianity." See also Manual of Authorities and Duties, "Boards," for definition of evangelical.