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Erskine Theological Seminary offers continuing education programs that enable ministers and lay leaders to continue their education by taking courses and attending events designed to meet their needs in the life and work of the Church. Structured classes, formal lectures, informal seminars and workshops, conducted by both the seminary faculty members and experts outside the academic community, provide excellent learning opportunities for seminary students, as well as those engaged in various other avenues of service in the Church. Erskine Theological Seminary is a member in good standing of the Society for the Advancement of Continuing Education in Ministry (SACEM). Consequently, Erskine Seminary is eligible to offer a wide-ranging program of continuing education opportunities.

Continuing Education Events

Ford Lectureship: Established in 1995 by an anonymous friend of the seminary, this lectureship considers ministry in the small membership church. These lectures honor Wilborn McCree and Lyllian Virginia Rosen Ford, a Presbyterian couple whose lives were devoted to pastoral ministry for forty-six years and who were especially concerned for the future of the small church in sheltered and remote areas.

Major V. Whitesides Pastors’ Institute: This Institute has been established through the generosity of the Whitesides family of Gastonia, N.C., in memory of Mr. Major V. Whitesides, an outstanding layman in the First Gastonia Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. This Institute brings to the campus each year an outstanding preacher as well as other leaders to challenge seminary students and faculty, pastors of the ARP Church, and others in the area.

Missions Conference: Each year Erskine Seminary, in cooperation with the Board of World Witness of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, sponsors a missions conference. The purpose of the conference is to challenge and inspire participants, particularly seminary and college students, to consider how their lives reflect the Great Commission, to explore careers in Christian missionary service, and to learn about global missions.

Robinson Lectures: The Richard Lee Robinson Memorial Lectures were established in 1961 by an anonymous friend of the seminary as a memorial to the late Dr. Richard Lee Robinson, a former dean and professor of Erskine Theological Seminary (1933-39) and president of the Woman’s College of Due West (1910-28). A leading scholar in one of the theological disciplines gives the lectures annually.

The Ruth Camp and Henry Campbell Ministers and Missionaries Study Fund: Established in 1979 by the Ruth Camp and Henry Campbell Foundation, this fund supports most of the continuing education programs at Erskine Seminary. Income from this endowed fund provides lectures and consultants, study materials and equipment, conferences, pastors’ institutes, and supervised study for ministers and missionaries in the field. Conferences include the annual Missionary Conference and conferences in pastoral ministry. This fund also makes possible special courses for church leaders both on and off the campus. An important part of the program is the in-resident study made available to ministers and missionaries of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. The Camp/Campbell Fund also helps develop an extensive collection of cassette tapes, which can be borrowed by interested persons. Periodic religious retreats round out this outstanding program in continuing education.

Continuing Education Programs

Certificate in Local Church Ministry: The Certificate in Local Church Ministry is designed to offer students a basic theological education for personal enrichment and for continuing education of ministers. To earn the Certificate, a student would complete eighteen hours of coursework in the Bible, Ministry, and Theology Departments. Continuing education courses do not carry any academic credit, nor can these courses be applied toward a degree program at any time.

CEU @ ETS: One of the ways the seminary serves its alumni and other constituents is through a full program of continuing education. Recently, the seminary launched Continuing Education @ Erskine Theological Seminary (CEU@ETS). The CEU@ETS initiative is designed to make continuing education credits (CEUs) available to those who need to or wish to pursue further theological education after graduation. Participants may attend Due West campus or extension site courses and take them for CEU credit. Each three-hour course counts as 3.5 continuing education credits (CEU’s). Continuing education courses do not carry any academic credit, nor can these courses be applied toward a degree program at any time. Students are not required to take examinations or do academic work such as research papers, etc. Interested persons may also enroll in online courses through our Erskine Distance Education Network (EDEN) and control when to “attend” continuing education events. Our annual Lecture Series and other special events provide ways for lifelong learners to deepen their knowledge and earn CEU credits at the same time. Through our computerized database we are able to enroll participants and track CEU credits on their behalf and award CEU certificates whenever they are needed in order to verify successful completion of continuing education requirements to a third party. Anyone wishing to receive CEU credit can simply fill out an Application for Admission for Continuing Education through the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid, or they can visit us online at the CEU@ETS portion of the seminary web page. A student is not required to possess an undergraduate degree in order to pursue continuing education courses.

Erskine Lecture Series: Established in 1995 by an anonymous friend of the seminary, this series provides occasional lectures on topics of interest to the entire church. The lectures include “Christianity and Music” in honor of Dr. Felix Bauer, Professor Emeritus of Art and Music at Erskine College; “Christianity and Public Service” in honor of Mrs. Martha Bauer, wife of Felix Bauer; “Christianity and Literature” in memory of Dr. Harrie Hollman, Professor of Literature at Erskine College; “Christianity and Public Morality” in memory of Eric Liddell, famed Scottish Olympic runner immortalized in the acclaimed movie “Chariots of Fire”; and “Christianity and Worship” in memory of Dr. William W. Boyce, former Dean of Erskine Theological Seminary. In addition to these lectures, the series provides annually for a Sermon on the Resurrection.

Institute for Reformed Worship: The Institute for Reformed Worship provides continuing education in the conduct of Christian worship, including prayer, praise, the reading and preaching of Scripture, and the celebration of the sacraments—baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

The Institute is designed to serve those actually involved in leading the worship of the Christian church, such as church musicians and ministers of Word and sacrament. Believing that Christian worship should be constantly reformed according to Scripture, we put a strong emphasis on the Biblical roots of our worship. We study the worship traditions of the Church throughout the centuries as an aid to developing worship for our own day that is faithful to the Word of God and serves His glory.

Continuing education courses do not carry any academic credit, nor can these courses be applied toward a degree program at any time.