Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1990

REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 83term would stiU begin in 1993.]. This means that nominations would needto be submitted to the Board before its fall meeting, September 25,1990.Dr. Clark Copeland, who was Professor of Missions as well as of OldTestament Studies, has retired, and a successor is needed for our Missionscourses. We have been led to propose the appointment of Rev. JamesPennington to that position for a 2-year term, subject to the approval of theBoard of Education and Publication. This would involve no extra expenseto the Church and would utilize one of our veteran missionaries.STUDENTSDuring the 1989-90 academic year, the Seminary had a ministry to 90students, including 45 M.Div. candidates (FTE: 55.25). Eighteen studentsare Reformed Presbyterians; 27 are black and 14 are women. We had alower total number of students than in 1988-89, but a higher percentage ofM.Div. students and a lower percentage of non-college graduates. AtCommencement on May 18, nine students received the Master of Divinitydegree and one a master's in Christian Education. The Reformed Presbyterianswho graduated were Anthony A. Cowley, R. Bmce Parnell, PeterW. Smith, and Andrew Stewart (Northern Ireland). During the summer of1990, the following RP students are pursuing internships: Ed Blackwood(Columbus, IN), Tom Houston (Syracuse, NY), John Kistler (campchaplain in OH), Wade Mann (Topeka, KS), Andy McCracken (Sterling,KS), Andrew Schep (divided between Perth, ON and Colorado Springs,CO), and Barry York (West Lafayette, IN).LIBRARYThe library collection continues to grow selectively, and now includes32,588 volumes and bound periodicals in addition to extensive non-bookmaterials such as computer software, cassette tapes, microfilms andmicrofiches, and videocassettes. Both circulation and interlibrary loanshave increased again. Computer use is growing, including our CD-ROMdatabases and on-line searches. Our library is cooperating with thelibraries of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and Trinity Episcopal Schoolfor the Ministry in a joint proposal for electronic cataloging; if fundingmaterializes and the project is carried out, the new system would beinstalled by fall 1992.Tom Reid, librarian at Reformed Theological Seminary, continues asour library consultant, and during a visit to Europe in 1989 purchased about$ 1,000 worth of materials for our library at prices significantly lower thanwe would have paid in the United States. We continue to improve ourperiodical collection through the American Theological LibraryAssociation's duplicate exchange program.