Erskine Theological Seminary

Infobox_University
name =
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motto ="In thy light shall we see light."
established =1837
type =Theological Seminary
endowment =
staff =
faculty =60 (full and part time)
president =Rev. Randall T. Ruble, Ph.D.
principal =
rector =
chancellor =
vice_chancellor =
dean =Rev. Robert W. Bell, Ph.D.
head_label =Exec. VP
head =Rev. H. Neely Gaston
students =345
undergrad =
postgrad =
city = Due West
state = SC
country = USA
campus =Rural
free_label =
free =
colors =Purple, Gold
athletics =
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affiliations =Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, Association of Theological Schools, SACS
website = [http://www.erskineseminary.org/ erskineseminary.org]

Erskine Theological Seminary is an institution of graduate theological and pastoral education. The Seminary is based in Due West, South Carolina, United States, and also teaches at four extension sites in the region: Augusta, Georgia, Charleston, South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina and Greenville, South Carolina. It is in the conservative Presbyterian tradition, and primarily prepares candidates for ordained Christian ministry.

The Seminary is related to Erskine College, a liberal arts college established in 1835. Both schools are related to the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. The Seminary was chartered in 1837 and was originally named "The Clark and Erskine Seminary." It became a distinct establishment from Erskine College in 1858. The name "Erskine" was taken from Ralph and Ebenezer Erskine. Both were notable preachers in Scotland and were among the founding fathers of one of the two Scottish Churches in the roots of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church – the Associate Presbytery. The name "Clark" came from Dr. Thomas Clark. Born in Scotland, Clark was a student of Ebenezer Erskine. In 1764, he migrated to America and after the Revolutionary War, moved to South Carolina, where he became pastor at Cedar Spring and Long Cane Churches.

Ebenezer Erskine Pressly was the first President of Clark and Erskine Seminary.

Erskine seminary is known for the development of "The Erskine Declaration," which was a proclamation of students enrolled at Erskine declaring that racial segregation was inappropriate for most Christian congregations. It became a pattern for declarations from several other seminary student bodies in the 1980s and 1990s. The seminary is approved by several conservative reformed denominations including the Reformed Episcopal Church.

For Further Reading

*"The History of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church", by Ray King. [http://www.arpsynod.org/] .

*"The History of Erskine Theological Seminary 1837-1976", by Maynard Pittendreigh. [http://www.pittendreigh.com/]

See also

*Erskine College
*Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church

External links

* [http://www.erskineseminary.org/ Erskine Theological Seminary Official Page]
* [http://www.erskine.edu Erskine College]