Erskine Declaration
Encyclopedia
The Erskine Declaration was a proclamation of students enrolled at Erskine Theological Seminary
that declared that racial segregation was inappropriate for most Christian
congregations. It became a pattern for declarations several other seminary student bodies adopted in the 1980s and 1990s.
The Declaration was written by Erskine Seminary students Maynard Pittendreigh
(who served as the Student Body President at the time), Kathleen Murdock
, and Will Crum. The impetus for writing the document was that many congregations asking for student preachers to fill their pulpits while their pastors were on vacation refused to allow African Americans or women to preach in their congregations.
The Erskine Declaration stated:
The institution did not officially recognize the document, which was considered very controversial at the time, but the faculty informally agreed to send student preachers only to those congregations who would accept students regardless of race.
The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church
, the denomination that operates Erskine Theological Seminary, does not ordain women to the offices of Ruling or Teaching Elder, out of the conviction that such practice is out of accord with Scripture. Neither that conviction nor the practice of supplying student and faculty ministers to churches that do not ordain women was affected by the Declaration.
The Declaration was adopted by Erskine Theological Seminary's student body on February 1, 1980.
Erskine Theological Seminary
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 offers classes at four extension sites in the region: Augusta, Georgia, Charleston, South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina and...
that declared that racial segregation was inappropriate for most Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
congregations. It became a pattern for declarations several other seminary student bodies adopted in the 1980s and 1990s.
The Declaration was written by Erskine Seminary students Maynard Pittendreigh
Maynard Pittendreigh
The Rev. Dr. W. Maynard Pittendreigh is an astronomer, writer and an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church . As a minister, he has been a pioneer and leader in a movement toward multi-cultural/racial congregations, and in developing early Internet-based ministries.William Maynard...
(who served as the Student Body President at the time), Kathleen Murdock
Kathleen Murdock
Kathleen Murdock graduated from Erskine College and was one of the earliest female students to attend Erskine Theological Seminary in Due West, South Carolina. She graduated with a Master of Divinity degree in 1980. As a student, she was one of the co-authors of the Erskine Declaration...
, and Will Crum. The impetus for writing the document was that many congregations asking for student preachers to fill their pulpits while their pastors were on vacation refused to allow African Americans or women to preach in their congregations.
The Erskine Declaration stated:
- Whereas Scripture teaches us that God created all human life (Genesis 1:27); and
- Whereas Peter struggled with his own biases about race and culture and came to acknowledge how God 'accepts people from every nation' (Acts 10:34); and
- Whereas Paul wrote that Christianity is offered to people of every race, culture and economic position (Colossians 3:11); and
- Whereas Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, commanded us to go into all nations and make disciples; (Matthew 28:19)
- We, the Student Body of Erskine Theological Seminary proclaim that it is God's will for each and every denomination, congregation, and gathering of Christians to welcome people of every race, nation, gender, culture, economic position, educational level, or physical circumstance.
- With this understanding, the Students of Erskine Theological Seminary declare the following:
- 1. As students we will no longer agree to serve as visiting preachers in those congregations that do not open the pulpit to all of our students, whether the student is Black or White.
- 2. As students we will no longer agree to serve as visiting preachers in those congregations that do not open the pulpit to all of our students, whether the student is male or female.
- 3. As students we will humbly and gently proclaim in our sermons God's love to all people, and we will clarify that this phrase "all people" includes people of every race, nation, gender, culture, economic position, educational level or physical abilities or impairments.
The institution did not officially recognize the document, which was considered very controversial at the time, but the faculty informally agreed to send student preachers only to those congregations who would accept students regardless of race.
The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church
Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church
The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church as it exists today is the remnant of a small denomination, which was formed from the Synod of the South, a division of the Associate Reformed Church...
, the denomination that operates Erskine Theological Seminary, does not ordain women to the offices of Ruling or Teaching Elder, out of the conviction that such practice is out of accord with Scripture. Neither that conviction nor the practice of supplying student and faculty ministers to churches that do not ordain women was affected by the Declaration.
The Declaration was adopted by Erskine Theological Seminary's student body on February 1, 1980.