WACO, Texas (May 10, 2012) - Baylor University's George W. Truett Theological Seminary will confer degrees upon 50 graduates and present special awards during the seminary's commencement ceremony at 6 p.m. Friday, May 11, at the First Baptist Church, Waco, 500 Webster Ave.

Dr. Kimlyn Bender, associate professor of theology and philosophy at the University of Sioux Falls in Sioux Falls, S.D., will present the annual Willson-Addis Endowed Lecture in Practical Christianity at 9:30 a.m. Friday, April 27, in Paul W. Powell Chapel of George W. Truett Theological Seminary on the Baylor University campus. The event is free and open to the public.

Baylor University announces a gift from the estate of Charles DeLancey establishing the Charles J. and Eleanor McLerran DeLancey Endowed Chair for the Dean of George W. Truett Theological Seminary.

After a nearly two-and-a-half-year search, First Baptist Church-Shreveport will welcome a new senior pastor to its pulpit.

Dr. Jeffrey A. Raines, formerly associate pastor of First Baptist Church, Amarillo, will be installed as the 21st pastor of the historic Shreveport church on Sunday, March 4, during the 10:30 a.m. service.

Raines was overwhelming accepted in a called church conference Jan. 8 following morning worship during which he preached before the congregation for the first time.

In presenting the Senior Pastor Search Committee's formal recommendation to the church, chairman John Odom Jr., said, "We are unanimous in our conviction that God has led us to this man and that he has placed it on this man's heart to come and lead our congregation. We believe strongly that your patience and faithfulness is about to be rewarded."

Raines and wife Darcie are both graduates of Baylor University. Raines also has a Master's of Divinity degree from Truett Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry from Princeton Theological Seminary. The Raines are parents to sons Mark, 9, and Bereket, 3.

"We are excited about the future of First Baptist-Shreveport and are honored to be part of such a great congregation," Raines said. He said his "calling and passion is to pursue God's mission by engaging and equipping the church to proclaim Christ in word and deed. We look forward to God's work in this church in the days to come."

Dr. Thomas S. Kidd, associate professor of history in the College of Arts and Sciences at Baylor University, presented his lecture "Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson and the Contest for Religious Liberty in Revolutionary Virginia" at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 29, in the Paul W. Powell Chapel of George W. Truett Theological Seminary on the Baylor campus.

The lecture is a part of The W. C. Dobbs Endowed Lectureship in Applied Christianity series, which was established in 1995 by Dr. W. C. Dobbs, retired professor of Christian ethics at Mobile College of Mobile, Ala.

Women may be gaining ground in the business world, but the role of women ministers in the church is an ongoing topic of interest for an upcoming conference at Baylor.

George W. Truett Theological Seminary is hosting the sixth annual Women in Ministry conference sponsored by the Baptist General Convention of Texas from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday to discuss issues related to this question.