Dr. Brian Harbour to Discuss Images of God at Doctrinal Conference

by Jaime Bates, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805

Dr. Brian Harbour, former pastor of First Baptist Church of Richardson, will lecture on "Sorting Through the Images for God: The Biblical Foundation," as he leads the 2009 Doctrinal Conference at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 4, in room 107 of George W. Truett Theological Seminary on the Baylor University campus.

The Doctrinal Conference, which was first held in 1991, is an annual continuing education event for ministers. It is sponsored by the Department of Religion through Baylor's Ministry Guidance program in conjunction with the Waco Regional Baptist Network's monthly pastors' conference.

Harbour received a doctorate in theology from Baylor in 1973. He served as an adjunct professor at Truett until 2005 and was on the seminary's board for five years. Harbour was pastor of first Baptist Church of Richardson for 17 years before retiring from the church in 2007. He is the author of 16 books.

"People often have a distorted view of God's character and the ways in which God acts or doesn't act in this world," said Dr. Dennis Horton, associate professor of religion at Baylor. "Dr. Harbour will help us sort through these different perceptions of God by examining what the Bible reveals about God's essential nature and character."

"The primary goal of the conference is to help Christian leaders grow in their understanding of essential beliefs and see how these beliefs intersect with current life," Horton said.

The participants each year receive a study book to help them teach on the topic in their churches and small groups. This year's book, Bible Truths about God, was written by James Semple, an experienced pastor who is the retired director of the State Missions Commission of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.

Registration for the conference begins at 9:45 a.m. in the Truett lobby. At 11:45 a.m., the conference will adjourn for lunch in the Piper Great Hall. Harbour also will be the featured speaker at the luncheon.

The conference is free and open to the public. However there is a $5.00 charge for lunch. For more information or to register, please e-mail Louine Adams at Louine_Adams@baylor.edu or call her at (254) 710-3739.