The Parchman Endowed Lectures welcomes Dr. Geoffrey Wainwright, the Robert Earl Cushman Professor Emeritus of Christian Theology at Duke Divinity School on October 9th and 10th. The title of his lecture series is: "Faith, Hope and Love: The Ecumenical Trio of Virtues."

Dr. Craig Barnes, the Robert Meneilly Professor of Pastoral Ministry at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary will be our featured presenter at the Fall Preaching Convocation & Workshop, September 24-25, 2012.

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."

A new graduate program and emphasis on sports chaplaincy will be established soon at Truett Seminary to meet a growing need for ministry not only to professional athletes but also for youth athletic leagues, church recreation programs and missions outreach.

East Texas Baptist University President Dr. Dub Oliver announced today that Dr. Scott E. Bryant of Waco has been named the new University Chaplain and Vice President for Spiritual Development. Dr. Bryant comes to ETBU from Baylor University where he has been a faculty member in the Religion Department and Honors College, as well as an adjunct professor at George W. Truett Theological Seminary.

Clint Dobson, pastor of NorthPointe Church and George W. Truett Theological Seminary graduate, was murdered on March 3 in his church office. Rather than let tragedy have the final say, Dobson's family has partnered with his friends at George W. Truett Theological Seminary to create the Clint Dobson Memorial Fund, a scholarship that will serve future seminary students and celebrate Dobson's life.

Dobson's brother and sister, Chris Kirchmer and Sarah Dobson Mitchell, developed the idea to start a memorial fund and quickly approached the seminary with the idea.

"This was something, because of his [Dobson's] love for Truett and Baylor, the family wanted to do," said David Hardage, director of development at Truett. "They wanted to continue his ministry and establish a legacy of his life that would be difference making for years and decades to come."

Dobson's siblings said they strongly feel they are not just doing this to remember him, but also to continue the ministry he started.
"It's more personal than just being in his memory," Kirchmer said. "For us, we see this as our final gift for Clint but beyond that, it's important because we believe in what he was doing. There is going to be an opportunity for someone, even if it's not Clint, to continue with that ministry."

The "Clint Dobson Memorial Fund" has now been established here at Truett Seminary. A gift to this fund benefits both current and future seminary students here at Truett.

Delmar Baptist Church in Town and Country, MO has announced that the Rev. Chris L. Fillingham has been appointed as its 20th senior pastor.
He will give his first sermon on Sunday, March 6.

Reading Scripture well is like listening to a chorus, the dean of Duke Divinity School explained during the 2011 Winter Pastors' School at Baylor University's Truett Theological Seminary.

Hearers appreciate music best when they listen for and distinguish between the parts as well as take in the whole, said Richard Hays, the George Washington Ivey professor of New Testament at Duke. Nearly 200 people attended the event, presented by the Kyle Lake Center for Effective Preaching at Truett. Hays' theme was "Reading Scripture Alongside the Gospel Writers."

Dr. David Garland, dean of the George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University and noted New Testament scholar, will be the keynote speaker for the annual Willson Lectures Series at Wayland Baptist University.
The Willson Lectures are set for Tuesday and Wednesday, March 1 and 2. Garland will present a lecture titled "Jesus and the Outcasts" during an evening banquet at 6:30 p.m. March 1 in McClung Center, Room 211. Garland then will speak at the university's Wednesday chapel service at 11 a.m. March 2 on the topic "Jesus and Forgiveness," followed by a time with the school's ministerial student group discussing "Jesus and Money."