Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod 1993

REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 125courses from part-time faculty from a distance).5. Begin to recmit regular part-time instructors for courses in pastoraltheology, church histoiy, and whatever else is needed.6. Advertise the changes as a positive step toward more apprenticeshiptraining.II. AGREEMENT WITH GENEVA COLLEGEBoth Geneva College and the Seminary are controlled by the ReformedPresbyterian Church. An Affiliation Agreement would seem to flownaturally from the mission and purpose of both institutions and offer ameans to integrate and consolidate the resources of the Church and expandthe ministry of these institutions."Affiliation Agreement" refers to a formal arrangement under whichGeneva College would contract to operate the educational program of theRPTS, in such a way as to meet the requirements of the RPTS Board andthe generally accepted academic standards of theological education. Suchan agreement would define cooperation between the Seminary and theCollege while maintaining the identity and control of each under its ownBoard of Tmstees; the Synod would continue to elect the full-time facultyfor the seminary program, etc. It leaves the way open for the institutionsto maintain, increase, decrease, or discontinue the initial level of cooperationby the mutual decisions of each Board of Tmstees. While the impetusfor this affiliation is the financial need of the Seminary, such mutualcooperation might offer advantages for both institutions.Advantages for RPTS might include: increased visibility becauseGeneva is more widely known; possible joint faculty appointments;professional help from Geneva in recmiting and fund-raising. Genevawould ultimately be responsible for such matters as registration, recordkeeping,budgeting, accounting, purchasing and building maintenance.Advantages for Geneva College might include: enhancement ofGeneva's status as a graduate-level institution; possible joint facultyappointments; and location of a campus in Pittsburgh for classes forCUBM, the Degree Completion Program, the Graduate Psychology program,and a potential M.A. degree program which would serve the staff ofthe Coalition for Christian Outreach.It is essential that RPTS maintain a level of autonomy in such anagreement, both to test the workability of an affiliation agreement and toassure the continuing commitment to Reformed theology. Moreover, to beaccredited by the Association of Theological Schools, the program mustmaintain a level of autonomy as an academic unit in reference to its Boardof Tmstees, faculty, admission standards, curriculum, and graduationrequirements.