Jeter Basden

Contact Information:
Department of Religion
Baylor University
One Bear Place #97284
Waco, TX 76798-7284

Office: Tidwell 106A

Phone: (254) 710-6340
FAX: (254) 710-3740

Email:
Jeter_Basden@baylor.edu

Professor of Religion and Director of Ministry Guidance
The Raymond O. Hubler Chair of Ministry Guidance

Education:

Bachelor of Arts, Baylor University
Master of Religious Education, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Doctor of Education, University of North Texas

Biography:

Jeter Basden is Professor of Religion and Director of Ministry Guidance at Baylor University, serving at Baylor since 1989. He teaches in the Practical Studies area (undergraduate preparation for vocational Christian ministry), and he gives overall direction to the University's program of Ministry Guidance, centered in the Department of Religion. The Ministry Guidance program has responsibilities that include enlisting and training internship supervisors, student recruitment of ministry students, administering the Ministry Scholarship program, assisting in placement of undergraduates in ministry positions, and coordinating the Department's continuing education conferences for ministers.

Prior to coming to Baylor, Basden was Vice President for Planning and Research at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary from 1983-89. He previously was Director of Admissions and Register at Southwestern Seminary (1981-83). Prior to his work at Southwestern Seminary, he was an admissions officer and adjunct Religion professor at Dallas Baptist University, 1973-81. Prior to his work in higher education, Basden was a local church minister in education, youth, and church recreation.

Academic Interests and Research:

Factors that influence a call to vocational Christian ministry
Preparation for ministry
Church and ministry trends and issues

Professional Awards and Activities:

He is a member, past president, and past Board member of both the Association of Ministry Guidance Professionals and the Baptist Association of Christian Educators. He currently serves as secretary of the Association of Ministry Guidance Professionals. In 2005 he received the Lewis W. Newman Award, an award given in recognition of outstanding contributions in the field of supervised ministry by the Association of Ministry Guidance Professionals. He is a member of the National Association of Baptist Professors of Religion. He has also participated in the College Business Management Institute sponsored by the University of Nebraska at Omaha and the Warren H. Deem Institute for Theological Education Management sponsored by the Association of Theological Schools.

Articles:

His writings include articles related to vocational Christian ministry and teaching guides related to Baptist studies, including a published teaching guide for a textbook entitled Baptists: History, Distinctives, Relationships (1996, Revised 2002). His research papers include "Vocational Calling: A Case Study of Texas Baptist Pastors" (2003), "Pastoral Tenure in Texas Baptist Churches" (2002), and "Factors that Influence a Call to Ministry" (2000).

Courses Taught at Baylor:

REL 2480 Introduction to Ministry
REL 3381 Functions of Ministry