Charter 
and Plan of Government 

OF THE 

Board of Directors 



With Revisions to 
May 13, 1947 




Colombia Theological Seminary 



DECATUR, GA. 



PART I 

CHARTER 

THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA 
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT 

By The Secretary of State 

WHEREAS, J. T. Brantley, Alexander Sprunt, 
W. A. Hafner, D..M. Douglas, L. E. McNair, A. L. 
Patterson, E. L. Hill, W. J. Garrison, Sam E. 
Hodges and D. W. Robinson, a majority of the Board 
of Directors of the Theological Seminary of the 
Synods of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and 
Florida of the Presbyterian Church in the United 
States, a corporation created under and pursuant 
to various acts of the General Assembly of the State 
of South Carolina, including Act of December 28, 
1832, appearing in Vol. VIII, Statutes of South 
Carolina, p. 376, incorporating "The Board of Di' 
rectors of the Theological Seminary of the Synod 
of South Carolina and Georgia''; the Act of the 
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, of 
Dec. 21, 1854, appearing in Vol. XII., page 347 of 
the Statutes of South Carolina, rechartering the same 
corporation; the Act of the General Assembly of the 
State of South Carolina, ratified February 23, 1875, 
appearing in Vol. XV. of Statutes of South Carolina, 
p. 855, renewing and extending the Charter of said 
corporation; the Act of the General Assembly of the 
State of South Carolina, approved Dec. 24, 1880, 
appearing in XVII, p. 523, Statutes of South Caro' 
lina, amending the Charter of said corporation; and 



the Act of the General Assembly of the State of 
South Carolina, approved March 9, 1896, appearing 
as XXII, page 328'9, Statutes of South Carolina, 
amending and extending the Charter and changing 
the name to its present name; 

HAVE CERTIFIED, over their signatures, Resc 
lutions authorizing in behalf of the aforesaid corpo' 
ration a change of the name thereof to 

(1) "Columbia Theological Seminary"; 

(2) That the corporation is under the direction 
and control of the Synods of South Carolina, Geor' 
gia, Alabama, Florida and Mississippi, of the 
Presbyterian Church in the United States; 

(3) That the corporation is empowered to retain, 
hold possession of and enjoy property, rights and 
effects in such manner and under such constitution, 
plan of government, bylaws, rules and regulations as 
may be prescribed by its governing Board, and to 
execute and deliver annuity bonds or contracts. 

(4) And that the corporation is authorized to 
hold and dispose of property, real, personal or mixed, 
to the amount of Five Million ($5,000,000.00) Dollars; 

(5) That the Charter of the corporation be ex' 
tended for a period of fifty (50) years from this 
date; 

All of which more fully appears in the Application 
for Amendment of Charter, which is as follows: 

"APPLICATION FOR AMENDMENT OF 
CHARTER. 



THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 
COUNTY OF RICHLAND. 

To the Secretary of the State of South Carolina: 

WHEREAS, The Board of Directors of the Theo- 
logical Seminary of the Synod of South Carolina, 
Georgia, Alabama and Florida of the Presbyterian 
Church in the United States, has been heretofore 
incorporated by various acts of the General Assembly 
of the State of South Carolina, including Act o} 
December 28, 1832, appearing in Vol. VIII. Statutes 
of South Carolina, page 376, incorporating "The 
Board of Directors of the Theological Seminary of the 
Synods of South Carolina and Georgia"; the Act of 
the General Assembly of the State of South Caro' 
lina, of Dec. 21, 1854, appearing in Vol. XII., page 
347 of the Statutes of South Carolina, rechartering 
the same corporation; the Act of the General As' 
sembly of the State of South Carolina, ratified Febru' 
ary 23, 1875, appearing in Vol. XV., of Statutes of 
South Carolina, p. 855, renewing and extending the 
Charter of said Corporation; the Act of the General 
Assembly of the State of South Carolina, approved 
Dec. 24, 1880, appearing in XVII, page 523, Sta' 
tutes of South Carolina, amending the Charter of 
said corporation; and the Act of the General As- 
sembly of the State of South Carolina, approved 
March 9, 1896, appearing as XXII. page 328-9, 
Statutes of South Carolina, amending and extending 
the charter and changing the name to its present 
name; 



AND, WHEREAS, at the duly and regularly 
called annual meeting of the said Board of Directors 
held at Columbia, S. C, on May 5th, it was 
resolved : 

That application be forthwith made under and 
in accordance with the laws of the State of South 
Carolina, to the Secretary of said State, to amend 
the Charter of this corporation in the following 
particulars, tO'wit: 

1. That the corporate name be changed from its 
present name of "The Board of Directors of the 
Theological Seminary of the Synods of South Care 
lina, Georgia, Alabama and Florida of the Presby 
terian Church in the United States" to "Columbia 
Theological Seminary' 1 . 

2. That this corporation is under the direction 
and control of the Synods of South Carolina, Georgia, 
Alabama, Florida and Mississippi, of the Presbyterian 
Church in the United States, through directors to be 
chosen by said Synods in such way, manner and 
number as they may agree upon and determine, and 
under such agreement and plan of government as 
the said associated Synods shall adopt for said 
Theological Seminary. 

3. This corporation is empowered to retain, hold, 
possess and enjoy all such property rights and effects 
as are now held and possessed in the name of The 
Board of Directors of the Theological Seminary of 
the Synod of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and 
Florida of the Presbyterian Church in the United 
States, or which may be hereafter given, bequeathed 
or devised to it, in the name of The Board of Di' 



rectors of the Theological Seminary of the Synod of 
South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Florida of 
the Presbyterian Church in the United States, or in 
the name of Columbia Theological Seminary, or which 
may be in any manner lawfully acquired. And it is 
authorized and empowered to sell, alien, convey 
and transfer the same or any part thereof, in such 
manner and under such constitution, plan of gov' 
ernment, bylaws, rules and regulations as may be 
prescribed by its governing Board, or by the associ' 
ated Synods hereinabove mentioned. 

Said corporation is also authorized to loan and in' 
vest, receive and collect, any funds, interest, income, 
or rentals from property which it may have from 
time to time, to execute and deliver annuity bonds or 
contracts in such manner and under such rules and 
regulations as may be prescribed for its government 
and management. 

4. The said corporation is authorized to have, 
hold, and dispose of property, real, personal or mixed, 
to the amount of $5,000,000.00. 

5. The Charter of said Corporation be extended 
for a period of fifty years from this date. 

Notice of the application for said amendment has 
been heretofore duly given in "The State," a news' 
paper published in Columbia, Richland County, State 
of South Carolina, as shown by the annexed notice and 
affidavit of publication thereof, hereto attached. 

Further, your petitioners certify that they have 
complied in all respects with the laws of the State 
of South Carolina, and all amendments thereto. 



WREREFORE, your petitioners pray that the Char- 
ter of said Corporation be amended as hereinabove set 
forth and requested. 

Signed, this the 5th day of May, A.D., 1925. 

J. T. Brantley, 
Alexander Sprunt, 
W. A. Hafner, 

D. M. Douglas, 
L. E. McNair, 
A. L. Patterson, 

E. L. Hill, 

W. J. Garrison, 
Sam E. Hodges, 
D. W. Robinson, 

Directors. " 
(authorized and set forth in the certificate and appli' 
cation aforesaid), which Resolutions were adopted 
pursuant to law, at a meeting of the stockholders and 
directors of the aforesaid Corporation, of which due 
notice was given, which notice stated the purpose 
of the aforesaid meeting, and, further that said 
Resolutions were adopted by a majority vote, and that 
in all respects there has been complied with the pro' 
visions of Section 43 50, Vol. 3, of Code of Laws 
of South Carolina, 1922, and all amendments 
thereto. 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, W. P. Blackwell, Secretary 
of State, by virtue of the authority in me vested 
by Chapter XLVII of the Code of Laws of South 
Carolina, 1912, and amendments thereto, and all 
Acts or parts of Acts me thereto enabling, do hereby 
certify that the requirements of law for said amend' 



ment have been complied with, and for good and 
sufficient reasons to me appearing, do hereby certify 
that the charter of the aforesaid Corporation has 
been so amended. 

GIVEN under my hand and seal of the 
State, at Columbia, this 7th day of December 
in the year of our Lord, one thousand, nine 
hundred and twentyfive and in the one hun' 
dred and fiftieth year of the Independence of 
the United States of America. 

W. P. BLACKWELL, 

Secretary of State. 



Charter granted under Act of December 28, 1832, Statutes of 
South Carolina, Vol. VIII, page 376. Incorporated as "The Board 
of Directors of the Theological Seminary of the Synod of South 
Carolina and Georgia.'" 

Rcchartered under Act of the General Assembly of the State of 
South Carolina December 21, 1854, Vol. XII, page 347 of the 
Statutes of South Carolina. 

Renewing and extending the charter ratified February 23, 1875, 
act of the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, Vol. 
XV, page 855. 

Charter amended, Act of the General Assembly of the State of 
South Carolina, approved December 24, 1880, Vol. XVII, page 523. 

Charter amended, extended, and name changed by Act of the 
General Assembly of the State of South Carolina, approved March 
9, 1896, Vol. XXII, pages 328-9, Statutes of State of South Caro- 
lina. Name changed to "the Board of Directors of the Theological 
Seminary of the Synods of South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and 
Florida of the Presbyterian Church in the United States.'" 

Charter amended, extended and name changed December 7, 1925. 
Corp. Book A, page 513, Statutes of South Carolina. Charter ex- 
tended fifty years from date. Name changed to "Columbia Theo- 
logical Seminary. " 



The charter as printed here has incorporated in it all amendments 
and is, therefore, the charter under which the seminary is now 
operating. 



PART II 

PLAN OF GOVERNMENT 

COLUMBIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 
Decatur, Georgia 

Revised May 13, 1947 

CHAPTER ONE 

The Seminary 

Section 1. This Seminary shall be owned and 
controlled by the Synods of South Carolina, Georgia, 
Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi of the Presbyterian 
Church in the United States and such others as may 
be hereafter associated with them. It shall operate 
as an incorporated body known as Columbia Theo- 
logical Seminary, in which name its property shall be 
held. It shall be governed by a Board of Directors, 
whose members shall be chosen by the Synods as 
herein provided, the right of review and approval of 
its acts being expressly reserved to the Synods. 

Section 2. The General Assembly of the Presby 
terian Church in the United States shall have ad- 
visory jurisdiction over the Seminary but shall have 
no power of veto, nor the right to originate meas- 
ures for its conduct. 

Section 3. The great purpose of the Seminary 
shall be to prepare men for the Gospel ministry, to 
train Christian workers, to protect the standards of 
the Presbyterian Church in the United States, to 
contend for the Faith, and to labor for the Kingdom 
of God. 

8 



Section 4. Alterations or amendments of this 
Plan of Government are to be proposed to the Synods 
at one meeting and are to be acted upon at the 
meeting of the subsequent year. Approval by a ma' 
jority of the Synods is necessary for adoption. How 
ever, alterations or amendments may be made at the 
time of proposal by a two'thirds vote in at least 
two of the Synods, and a majority in each of the 
others. 



CHAPTER TWO 
The Board of Directors 

Section 1. The Board of Directors shall consist 
of twentyone members from the five present sup' 
porting Synods, and three additional members for 
each Synod which may hereafter become a sup' 
porting member of this Seminary. Of these, six shall 
be chosen by the Synod of South Carolina, six by 
the Synod of Georgia, and three each by the Synods 
of Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi, and three shall 
be added for each Synod which may hereafter join 
in supporting this Seminary. These shall be either 
ordained ministers, ruling elders or deacons of the 
Presbyterian Church, U. S., and they shall be so 
chosen that the terms of two each in the Synods of 
South Carolina and Georgia, and one each in the 
remaining Synods shall expire annually. Vacancies 
occurring ad interim may be filled by the Board 
pending action by the Synod not fully represented. 

Section 2. Each director, prior to taking his seat, 
shall subscribe to the following formula: 

Approving of the Plan of Government of 
Columbia Theological Seminary, I solemnly 
declare and promise in the presence of God 
and this Board that I will faithfully endeavor 
to carry into effect all its provisions, and to 
promote the great purpose of the Seminary, 
and due record be made of same. 

Section 3. The Board shall meet annually, ordinarily 
at the close of the seminary year, or oftener on its 
own adjournment, or at the call of its Chairman 

10 



or its Executive Committee, or at the call of seven 
of its members, of whom not more than two shall 
be from the same Synod. A majority of the members 
shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, 
provided that three Synods are represented. 

Section 4. The Board shall make general rules 
and regulations for the conduct of the Seminary. 
It shall elect in the manner herein provided a President 
and Professors, together with such other instructors 
and administrative officers as may be required, pre 
scribe their duties and fix their compensation. It 
shall, in general, do whatever is necessary to the 
welfare of the Seminary and the accomplishment 
of its purpose, but it shall do nothing contrary to 
this Plan of Government, or to the will of the ma' 
jority of the controlling Synods, or to the Consti' 
tution of the Church. 

Section 5. The Board shall hold in trust for the 
Synods the property of the Seminary, both real and 
personal, with the right, however, to sell, bargain, 
alien, and convey any part of same for reinvestment 
or for other purposes. It shall have the power to 
make title to the property so sold. 

Section 6. The Board shall have power to ao 
cept in its discretion gifts of property tendered to 
the Seminary on an annuity basis, the title to which 
is to pass to the Seminary at an agreed time, and 
to bind the Seminary for the payment of such 
annuity. It shall also have power to accept gifts of 
property tendered to the Seminary for a specific pur' 
pose satisfactory to it, and when so accepted, it shall 

11 



ever pay a sacred regard to the conditions attached. A 
full record shall be kept in the Minutes of the Board 
of all such transactions. 

Section 7. The Board shall appoint from its mem' 
bers an Executive Committee of not less than five 
or more than seven. This Committee shall possess 
the power to act for the Board in any urgent matter 
arising ad interim and until the Board meets, except 
that it shall have no power to elect, transfer, or 
remove the President or a Professor. Such Committee 
shall meet on the call of its Chairman or any two 
members thereof. 

In case of a vacancy in the office of President or 
any members of the Faculty, the Executive Committee 
may nominate to the Board such person or persons 
as they may deem suitable for such office or position. 

The Board shall also appoint an Investment Com' 
mittee of not less than five or more than seven mem' 
bers, who may or may not be members of the 
Board; and they shall have power to invest the funds 
of the Seminary under such restrictions as the Board 
may prescribe. 

Section 8. The election of President or Professor 
shall ordinarily be had at the annual meeting of the 

Board. Such election shall first be made an order 
of the day and when that time shall have arrived, 
it shall be preceded by prayer for Divine Guidance. 
The election shall be by ballot and a twethirds vote 
of those present shall be necessary to a choice. 

Section 9. The President or Professor so elected 
shall be required to subscribe to the Chairman of 

12 



the Board, before entering upon his duties, the fol' 
lowing formula: 

In the presence of God and these witnesses, 
I do solemnly subscribe the Confession of 
Faith, Catechisms and other standards of 
government, discipline, and worship of the 
Presbyterian Church in the United States, 
as a just summary of the doctrines contained 
in the Bible, and promise and engage not 
to teach, directly or indirectly, any doctrine 
contrary to the Scriptures as interpreted in 
these standards while I continue as President 
(or Professor) in this Seminary. 

Associate and Assistant Professors and Instructors 
of the institution shall also be required to accept 
this obligation before undertaking their duties in the 
seminary. The President and each regular Professor 
of the Seminary shall be inaugurated at a time 
appointed by the Board, shall be expected to dc 
liver an inaugural address, and shall at that time 
publicly subscribe to the aforementioned formula. 

Section 10. The Board shall have power to transfer 
a Professor from one chair to another by a two'thirds 
vote of the members present. 

Section 11. The Board shall have power to remove 
the President or a Professor when, by a two'thirds 
vote of the members present, it shall be found de' 
sirable, provided that this two'thirds is not less than 
a majority of the entire membership of the Board. 
In this event a resignation shall be demanded and, if 
this be refused, the Board, by a similar two'thirds 

13 



vote and without a formal trial, may dissolve his 
relation to the Seminary, and its act shall be final. 

Section 12. At the age of seventy years the Pres' 
ident or a professor shall be retired. In this event 
he shall be subject to reelection annually for three 
years, a majority vote of those present being neces' 
sary to an election. In order that the President and 
Professors, when retired, may participate in the bene' 
fits of the Ministers' Annuity Fund the Seminary shall 
assume payment of the 7Vi% of his salary into the 
Fund. 

Section 13. The Board shall elect annually a 
Librarian for the supervision, care, and use of the 
library, whose compensation shall be fixed by the 
Board. 

Section 14. The Board shall hear the appeal of 
any student from a decision of the Faculty dismissing 
him from the Seminary, and render judgment 
theron. 

Section 15. The Board shall make an annual re' 
port to each of the controlling Synods and to the 
General Assembly of the state of the Seminary and 
its work. 

Section 16. When so requested, the Board shall 
submit to each of the controlling. Synods certified copies 

of its Minutes for the preceding year for examina' 
tion and approval. 

Section 17. The Board shall maintain close contact 
with the Faculty, and ordinarily shall hold an annual 
conference with the Faculty on the state of the 
Seminary. 

14 



CHAPTER THREE 
Officers of the Board 

Section 1. The officers of the Board shall be 
Chairman, Vice'Chairman, Secretary, and one or more 
Treasurers, which last may or may not be members 
of the Board, to be elected at the close of each annual 
meeting and to serve until their successors are elected. 
The Board may, upon recommendation of the Secre' 
tary, also elect an Assistant Secretary, who need not 
necessarily be a member of the Board. 

Section 2. The Chairman shall preside over the 
meetings of the Board and over the inauguration of 
the president and professors of the Seminary. He 
shall confer the degreees granted by the Board on 
recommendation of the Faculty, or cause it to be 
done. He shall be a member ex officio of all com' 
mittees of the Board. He shall discharge such other 
duties as are usual to his office. 

Section 3. The Vice'Chairman shall perform the 
duties of the Chairman in his absence. In the ab' 
sence of both, the Board shall elect a presiding of' 
ficer. 

Section 4. The Secretary shall keep in permanent 
form an accurate record of the transactions of the 
Board. He shall preserve the file at the Seminary 
copies of the Minutes, all original reports, and all 
other useful papers belonging to the Directors. He 
shall give at least ten days notice to the Members 
for each meeting of the Board, or cause the same to 
be done. 

15 



Section 5. The Treasurer shall receive, care for, 
invest, and disburse the funds of the Seminary under 
the direction of the Board. He shall invest the funds 
of the Seminary as directed by the Investment Com' 
mittee and shall thereafter keep such Committee well 
advised of the state of such investments and of funds 
available for investment. He shall arrange for the 
safe custody of all real estate deeds, mortgages, notes, 
stocks, bonds and other securities of value owned by 
the Seminary. He shall keep an accurate record of all 
gifts of money or property made to the Seminary for 
a specific purpose for future reference. He shall 
make an annual report to the Board of all receipts 
and disbursements, and support same by vouchers. He 
shall discharge such other duties as are usual to his 
office, and may receive such compensation as shall 
be fixed by the Board. He shall give bond in some 
solvent surety company, made payable to Columbia 
Theological Seminary, in such sum as shall be fixed 
by the Board for the faithful performance of his 
duties, such bond to be approved by the Investment 
Committee and Chairman of the Board, and deposited 
with the President of the Seminary. In the event that 
more than one Treasurer is had, a separate bond 
shall be required from each, and each shall be re- 
sponsible for the money and securities committed to 
his care. 

The Treasurer with the President of the Seminary 
shall, upon receiving payment thereof, execute in the 
name of the Seminary any and all necessary and proper 
releases, cancellations, and/or acquittances or dis' 
charges of any bonds, notes, mortgages, or obligations 
belonging to the Seminary. 

16 



CHAPTER FOUR 
The Faculty 

Section 1. The faculty shall consist of the Presi' 
dent and Professors of the Seminary with such 
Deans and other officers of instruction as the Board 
may deem it necessary to appoint. Associate Profes' 
sors, Assistant Professors, and Instructors may be 
elected as the needs of the institution shall make ad' 
visable and for such definite periods of time as the 
Board may fix. Such Associate or Assistant Professors 
and Instructors may sit with the Faculty and par' 
ticipate in its deliberations, but shall not have the 
right to vote. 

Section 2. The Faculty may meet at stated monthly 
intervals, and when called by the President, or by 
two of its members, or others. The President shall 
preside at its meetings, or in his absence, the senior 
professor present shall preside. It shall appoint a 
clerk to keep a record of its acts, which record shall 
be laid before the Board at its annual meeting. It 
shall decide all questions of order and discipline 
and, in general, do whatever is necessary in the in' 
ternal affairs of the Seminary to insure its successful 
conduct, and to promote its peace and harmony. 

Section 3. The Faculty shall fix the time of open' 
ing and closing each term of the Seminary, and shall 
regulate the hours of worship, lectures, and recita' 
tions therein. It shall provide for one or more va' 
cations in the year. It shall be responsible for re' 
ceiving and acting on all applications for admission. 

17 



Section 4. The Faculty may, in its discretion, 
admit to the Seminary those who desire to profit by 
the instruction to be had therein but do not intend 
to enter the Gospel ministry; and also those who 
desire to take certain courses of study or lectures, 
or who may desire to do postgraduate work, upon 
conditions to be named by it. Those so admitted 
shall be required to conform to the conditions at' 
taching to all students. 

Section 5. The Faculty shall maintain a constant 
and kindly supervision over all the students of the 
Seminary to the end that good health, happiness, 
knowledge, and piety may be promoted among them. 

Section 6. The Faculty shall suspend or dismiss 
any student it finds to be unfit because of sloth, indif' 
ference, incapacity, or moral turpitude, of which the 
facts shall be recorded in its minutes, the right being 
reserved to such student of appeal to the Board against 
such action. 

Section 7. The members of the Faculty shall hold 
conference with the students as often as they deem 
necessary for the deepening of their piety and to bet' 
ter their qualifications for the practical duties of 
the Gospel ministry; the nature of such conferences 
to be determined by them. 

Section 8. Upon the satisfactory completion of 
the courses of studies prescribed by it for degrees, 
the Faculty shall certify this fact to the Board and 
recommend the candidates for such degrees, provided 
that each one shall have sustained a good moral and 
religious character in his Seminary life. 

18 



Section 9. The Faculty shall grant to those stu- 
dents not taking the full course of studies but who 
complete certain parts thereof to its satisfaction, and 
who have sustained a good moral and religious char' 
acter in their Seminary life, a certificate of graduation 
which shall testify to these facts. 

Section 10. The Faculty shall have the authority 
to offer the postgraduate degrees of Master of The 
ology, Doctor of Theology, and Master of Arts in 
Biblical Education, and to fix such academic require- 
ments for these as it shall deem appropriate. On 
completion of the prescribed course it shall certify 
this fact to the Board, and recommend the confer- 
ring of the degree. 

Section 11. The duties of any vacant Chair shall 
be assigned by the Faculty to its members, pending 
the next meeting of the Board. 

Section 12. The expenditure of appropriations 
made by the Board for additions to the Library shall 
be the duty of the Faculty, and due reports of 
same shall be made to the Board. 



19 



CHAPTER FIVE 

The President 

Section 1. The President of the Seminary shall 
be an ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church 
in the U. S. and, unless for good cause excused by 
the Board from professional duties, a teacher in the 
Seminary, and shall be elected and inaugurated in the 
same manner as a professor and make the same sub' 
scription. 

Section 2. The President shall preside at the 
meetings of the Faculty, of which he shall be a voting 
member, and over meetings of a public character, 
save those for the inauguration of a professor, or 
for the conferring of degrees. He shall be ex officio 
a member of all faculty committees, and ex officio 
entitled to sit and deliberate with the Board but 
without a vote. 

Section 3. The President shall be the adminis' 
trative officer of the Seminary. He shall be responsible 
to the Board of Directors for the discharge of those 
duties assigned to the directors by the Plan of Gov 
ernment and to the Faculty for the discharge of those 
duties assigned to the Faculty by that Plan. He shall, 
for the Board and Faculty, exercise a general super' 
vision over the institution, control the use of build' 
ings and grounds, and maintain order and discipline. 
He shall possess the authority to employ such help 
as may be needed for the proper conduct of the 
seminary life and to discharge such other duties and 
responsibilities as are usual to this office. 

Section 4. All deeds, conveyances, mortgages, bonds 
or other obligations or contracts shall be executed in 

20 



the name of the Seminary by the President and the 
Treasurer with the seal of the corporation affixed. 
In case there be a vacancy in the office of President 
or Treasurer, or in case either of these officers is 
for any reason unable to act, then any such instru' 
ment may be executed by the signature of the Presi' 
dent or the Treasurer together with the Chairman 
of the Executive Committee, with the corporate seal 
affixed. 

Section 5. The President shall be the represent^' 
tive of the Seminary before the General Assembly, 
Synods, and Presbyteries, unless the Board orders 
otherwise, for the purpose of making known the 
work, condition, and needs of the Seminary. He shall 
visit the schools and colleges of the Synods to 
urge the claims of the Gospel ministry and for 
personal conference with interested students, or cause 
same to be done. He shall seek to create a deep 
and lasting interest in the cause of Christian edu' 
cation. 

Section 6. The President shall be the medium 
of communication between the Seminary and its 
alumni, whose interest, aid, and cooperation in up' 
building and increasing the usefulness of the Semi' 
nary he shall constantly seek. 

Section 7. The President shall make an annual 
report to the Board, of which the report of the 
Faculty may be a part, on the work of the Semi' 
nary and its condition, and make such recommenda' 
tions thereon as he deems proper. He shall prepare for 
the Board the annual report to be submitted by it 
to the Synods and General Assembly. 

21 



Section 8. The President shall be the financial 
agent of the Seminary and shall constantly work for 
the increase of its income through added endow 
ment, and otherwise, until such shall be made equal 
to the needs of the Seminary. 

Section 9. The President shall direct the adver' 
rising of the Seminary, and shall supervise its publi' 
cations. 

Section 10. The President shall be the custodian 
for the Board of the Charter of the Seminary and 
amendments thereto, of the bond of the Treasurer, 
the corporate seal of the Seminary, and of the fire 
insurance policies on the Seminary plant. 

Section 1 1 . The President shall be ex officio a 
member of the Executive Committee of the Board 
and of the Investment Committee. 



22 



CHAPTER SIX 
The Professors 

Section 1. All Professors shall be ordained min* 
isters of the Presbyterian Church in the U. S., chosen 
as provided, and shall receive such compensation as 
may be fixed by the Board. 

Section 2. The Professorships of the Seminary 
shall be such as to provide for the teaching of 

Old Testament Literature and Exegesis 

New Testament Literature and Exegesis 

Didactic and Polemic Theology. 

Christian Ethics and Homiletics 

Ecclesiastical History, Church Government, Mis' 

sions 
English Bible, Pastoral Theology, and Religious 

Education 
Hebrew and Cognate Languages 
Public Speech and Hymnology 

and such other subjects as may hereafter be added. 

Section 3. As soon as practicable after his elec 
tion, each Professor shall place before the Board and 
Faculty a detailed exhibition of the system and 
methods he proposes to pursue, and of the subjects he 
proposes to discuss in conducting the studies of his 
classes, and he shall be entitled to their advice and 
assistance therein. 

Section 4. All classes of the Seminary shall be 
opened with prayer. The courses of study shall be 
varied or extended as the demands of the age may 
require, but they shall never deviate from the Word 
of God and the standards of the Presbyterian Church. 

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Section 5. The resignation of a Professor shall be 
preceded by threeTnonths' notice to the Board of 
his intention. However, the Board may waive this 
requirement if it elects to do so. 



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CHAPTER SEVEN 
The Students 

Section 1. Applicants for admission to the Semi' 
nary must furnish the Faculty with satisfactory evi' 
dence that they are in full communion with some 
evangelical Church; that they have been regularly 
educated at some college or university, or shall satisfy 
it that they have the attainments necessary for the 
foundation of a course in Theology. 

Section 2. If such evidence shall be satisfactory 
to the Faculty they shall be admitted, after subscrib' 
ing the following declaration: 

Deeply impressed with the importance of 
improving in knowledge, piety, and prud' 
ence, preparatory to the Gospel Ministry, 
I solemnly promise, in reliance on Divine 
grace, that I will faithfully and diligently 
attend all the assigned instructions of this 
Seminary, and that I will conscientiously and 
vigilantly observe all the rules and regula- 
tions specified in the Plan of Government, 
obey all lawful requisitions, and readily 
yield to all the wholesome admonitions of 
the President and Professors of the Semi' 
nary while I continue a student in it. 

In the case of students who are not candidates for 
the ministry, "preparatory to the Gospel ministry" 
shall be omitted. 

Section 3. The students shall pursue the course 
of studies indicated by the Faculty and shall observe 
its rules for study, conduct, and worship. 

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Section 4. A student who neglects his regular 
studies, or is guilty of an indiscretion, or exhibits 
an indifference to the things of religion, or who 
shall otherwise violate this Plan of Government, shall 
be faithfully admonished privately, or publicly as 
the Faculty may elect; and if such course is perse 
vered in he shall be suspended, or dismissed from 
the Seminary by the Faculty. The right is reserved 
to any student who may be so dismissed to make 
appeal to the Board, and this right may be exercised 
by written notice to the President of the Seminary. 

Section 5. The students shall be responsible to 
the Faculty for their conduct in vacation periods; 
and for conduct prejudicial to the good name of the 
Seminary they shall be subject to admonition, suspen' 
sion, or dismissal. 



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I 



CHAPTER EIGHT 
Devotional Exercises 

Section 1. Devotional exercises shall ordinarily be 
conducted in the chapel each class day during each 
term, as the Faculty may direct, by one of its mem' 
bers, or by a student assigned to such duty. 

Section 2. The Faculty shall arrange for the Sac 
rament of the Lord's Supper to be observed at 
appropriate intervals during the school year, and 
for such periods of special devotional emphasis as 
it may deem helpful. 

Section 3. Every member of the Seminary shall 
attend all these religious services faithfully and rever 
erently, and such others as the Faculty may appoint. 



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CHAPTER NINE 
Endowment and Other Funds 

Section 1. The funds of the Seminary shall ever 
be kept distinct and apart from all others, and shall 
be deposited with the Treasurer subject to the ap' 
propriation of the Board, or for investment as pre 
vided in this Plan of Government. 

Section 2. All investment of Seminary endowment 
funds shall be in the name of "Columbia Theological 
Seminary.'" 

Section 3. The appropriations made by the Board 
shall be paid by the Treasurer only on the order of 
the President, or in case of his inability to act, on 
the order of the Chairman, or else on the order of 
the Board or of the Chairman of the Executive 
Committee. 

Section 4. All gifts of money or other valuable 
property which shall be made to the Seminary for a 
specific purpose or use shall be so used, and the 
conditions laid down by the donors shall be scrupu' 
lously observed. Individuals, or bodies of individuals, 
who by gift made in life or by will for the founding 
of a Professorship, Fellowship, or Scholarship, or 
for any other specific purpose connected with the 
Seminary, may, with the approval of the Board, 
designate the name by which it shall ever be called. 

Section 5. All gifts especially designated for the 
aid of students requiring assistance to complete their 
seminary course shall be used for this purpose only; 
provided, however, that they may be used to reduce 
the expenses of a stay in the Seminary so that all 
the students benefit thereby. 

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Section 6. The award of Fellowships shall be the 
duty of the Faculty, and of its acts therein it shall make 
a full report to the Board giving the names of bene' 
ficiaries and the sums paid to each. 



29 



APPENDIX 
By-Laws of the Board of Directors. 

1. The order of business shall be as follows: 
Call to order 
Prayer 
Roll Call 
Excuses 
Vacancies 

Appointment of Standing Committees: 

Audits and Assets 

Ways and Means 

Laws and Regulations 

Buildings and Grounds 

Library 

Nominations 
Report of President, including that of Faculty 
Report of Treasurer 
Report of Investment Committee 
Report of Librarian 
Report of Executive Committee 
Report of Special Committees 
Election of officers and permanent committees 
Reading of minutes 
Prayer and benediction 
Adjournment 
2. The Committee on Audits and Assets shall con' 
sist of not less than three members and shall audit 
all accounts submitted to the Board. To it shall be 
referred the reports of the Treasurer, the Investment 

30 



Committee, and the auditors. It shall call to the 
attention of the Board items of importance in the 
above reports. 

3. The Committee on Ways and Means shall 
consist of not less than five members, and shall con' 
sider the external management of the Seminary and 
recommend measures for its betterment. To it shall 
be referred the business section of the President's 
report. It shall recommend a budget for the coming 
year. 

4. The Committee on Laws and Regulations shall 
consist of not less than five members and shall con' 
sider the internal management of the Seminary and 
recommend measures for its greater usefulness. To 
it shall be referred the academic section of the 
President's report, as also the report of the Faculty. 

5. The Committee on Buildings and Grounds shall 
consist of not less than three members and shall 
inspect the condition of the Seminary plant, deter' 
mine its need for repairs and additions and make 
recommendations thereon. To it shall be referred the 
material property section of the President's report. 

6. The Committee on Library shall consist of not 
less than three members, and shall examine the con' 
dition of the Library, its care and its use, and recom' 
mend such measures for it as seem proper. To it 
shall be referred the report of the Librarian. 

7. The Committee on Nominations shall consist of 
not less than three members and shall nominate 

31 



officers and permanent committees of the Board for 
the coming year. It shall also nominate a Librarian. 

8. Election of officers and committees shall be by 
viva voce vote and a majority of those voting shall 
control. 

9. The anaual conference with the Faculty shall 
be at such time and in such manner as the Board 
may designate. 

10. Amendments to the ByLaws of the Board of 
Directors not in conflict with the Plan of Govern' 
ment may be made by a two'thirds vote of the mem' 
bers present at any meeeting of the Board of Directors. 



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