Baylor Professor Receives Honorary Law Degree

In recognition of his outstanding commitment to the promotion and preservation of freedom of religion in nations throughout the world, Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio, recently awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree to Dr. James E. Wood Jr., the Simon and Ethel Bunn Distinguished Professor of Church-State Studies at Baylor University.
Capital University is the oldest and largest Lutheran university in the country and has the only Law School for the United Lutheran Church.
"I really appreciate this honor because of the fine academic reputation of Capital University," Wood said.
Wood accepted the honorary LL.D during commencement ceremonies for the Law School in May.
He was selected to receive the degree as a result of his lifelong dedication to promoting freedom of religion. Wood has earned numerous awards from educational, professional, political and religious organizations who regard Wood as one of this century's foremost church-state scholars and advocates of religious liberty.
Wood began his studies at Carson-Newman College, where he earned his bachelor of arts degree in 1943. He then earned a bachelor in divinity, master in theology and a doctorate degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1947, 1948 and 1957, respectively.
Wood's teaching career has encompassed positions at several seminaries and universities. He served as a professor of history of religions and director of the J.M. Dawson Institute of Church-State States at Baylor from 1958-73, before becoming the executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs in Washington, D.C. He returned to Baylor in 1980 as a professor and the director of the J.M. Dawson Institute of Church-State Studies. In 1995 Wood retired as director but continues to teach at Baylor as the Simon and Ethel Bunn Distinguished Professor of Church-State Studies.
Wood is the founding editor of the Journal of Church-State Studies.
For more information, contact Wood at 755-1510.