The ARP Center is Moving
The ARP Center will be moving offices over the next two weeks. During this transition, we will be answering phones, voicemails, and emails as quickly as we can. Thank you for your patience as we get unpacked and settled into our new offices. The ARP bookstore will be temporarily unable to ship books however, orders can still be placed. Shipping will resume in 2 weeks.
September 11 is set as the annual Day of Prayer by The General Synod of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. The General Synod encourages each presbytery and congregation of the denomination to participate in an annual Day of Prayer against Oppression and to encourage other Christian congregations and denominations to join with our congregations in the same private and/or public undertaking.
September 11 is a day we will never forget. Let’s continue to pray for our nation.
Click on the magazine cover to the left to read the September/October edition of The ARP Magazine. Be sure to read the cover story on page 24 which highlights the Family Bible Conference. September is Evangelism Awareness month for the denomination. You can read Evangelism articles starting on page 10. We also have a special theme on Singles in the Church starting on page 26.
I hope you will enjoy this issue. If you would like to receive a complimentary print copy, please contact our office. If you would like to submit an article or suggestion, please email me, arpeditor@arpsynod.org.
The Erskine Board of Trustees today adopted a motion proposed by Chairman Ron Vigus to establish a presidential search committee that will begin the process of seeking a successor to Dr. Paul Kooistra.
Kooistra, who began his tenure in August 2014, will continue serving as president until the transition is complete. The process may take anywhere from six to eighteen months, according to Vigus.
“We gave Dr. Kooistra the daunting task of stabilizing Erskine’s financial situation, and he has done a great job with that,” Vigus said. He also reminded trustees that from the beginning Kooistra had declared his intent to serve a term of three to five years. “He has often lightheartedly reminded us that he thought he was retiring before we called him to be president.”
In presenting the formal proposal to the board, Vigus said, “Dr. Kooistra is beginning his third year. Following discussions with him, due to the time it may take to recruit a president, it is time to begin the search process. Dr. Kooistra will continue until we find the individual God has for our next president and will make this transition whenever we find this individual.”
Vigus later expanded on his reasons for proposing this action. “There is still a lot of work to do, and Dr. Kooistra’s continued leadership will be key. Starting this process now, however, allows us to orchestrate a smooth transition and avoid a leadership gap that would adversely affect the progress Erskine has made with Dr. Kooistra as president.”
The search committee members are: Clint Davis, Jill Gazzaway, Tom Hellams (chair), Jamie Hunt, Sam James, Gordon Query, and Ron Vigus.
In addition to hosting the first meeting of the trustees for the 2016-17 fiscal and academic year this week, Erskine also welcomed the largest incoming college class in 41 years as classes began Monday.
Seminary classes began Wednesday as an ad hoc committee of the board formed in May met to consider a request from the ARP General Synod and some seminary faculty to evaluate dividing the college and seminary into two separate institutions. The board passed a motion that instructed the ad hoc committee to bring its recommendations to the October meeting of the board and to include in those recommendations a best-case scenario for creating a separated seminary.
The college and seminary have been governed as one institution with one board since 1925.
Joining the board for its first 2016-17 meeting were eight new trustees, several serving out unexpired terms.
The new trustees are: Dr. A.J. Broyles, Rock Hill, S.C. (Trustee Class of 2017); R.L. Casterline, Irmo, S.C. (Trustee Class of 2019); Dr. J.R. Augustine, Columbia, S.C., C.L. Bethea, Myrtle Beach, S.C., the Rev. C.H. Davis, Chester, S.C., the Rev. J.A. Hunt, Flat Rock, N.C., and P.W. Malphrus, Woodruff, S.C. (Trustee Class of 2021); and Phil Williams, Moderator of ARP Synod, Lexington, N.C. (Ex Officio).
The Session of the Greenville Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Greenville, SC, announces that the search is now underway for our new full-time Director of Student Ministries.
The Session and the Search Committee are committed to finding the right candidate who is both called and gifted for youth ministry, particularly the facilitation of the Family Ministry Model of discipleship and the cultivation of fellowship opportunities for middle school, high school and college students. Candidates are encouraged to apply by September 21.
Young Memorial ARP Church in Anderson, SC is seeking a dynamic, visionary, and compassionate candidate to fill the role of full time pastor. Experience preferred, but not necessary. Responsibilities include leading Sunday worship service, visitations, and developing our youth program. Please send your resume/ Ministerial Data Form to Don Johnson at jbirddog@charter.net, or: Young Memorial ARP Church, 508 Boulevard, Anderson SC 29621
Dear ARP Members,
I contacted Dean Rydbeck, pastor at our Hope Church, and Blake Law, pastor at our Calhoun Church, both located in Louisiana. I asked about the flood conditions in their areas. Both indicated that things were fine in their areas. Dean said there was some flooding in the south side of their parish but none of their members were affected. We are grateful for these reports and encourage your prayers for the other areas of Louisiana that are flooding.
In Christ,
Guy
Guy H. Smith, D.D.
Catawba Stated Clerk/Administrator
Mrs. Lois Bell passed away Monday, August 1 at 10am. She was the widow of Rev. James Murphy Bell. They have six children: James Bell, Jr. (married to Jaime); Rev. Robert Bell (married to Alice); Ann Marie Hope (married to Steve); Sharon Griffin (married to David); Paul Bell (married to Jeanne); Allyson Huskey (married to Nick). The visitation and funeral will be held at the Due West ARP Church on Thursday, August 4. The visitation will be held from 10:00-11:30am, with the funeral beginning at 11:30am.
