Baylor University Hosts ARC (Athletics, Race, Christianity) Talks Feb. 25

Virtual event offers a space for Christians involved in sports to consider what difference their faith should make when it comes to sports and race

Contact: Terry Goodrich, Baylor University Media and Public Relations, 254-644-4155
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WACO, Texas (Feb. 22, 2021) – The inaugural ARC (Athletics, Race, Christianity) Talks, hosted by the Faith & Sports Institute, Baylor Athletics and the Black Church Studies Program at Baylor University’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary, will take place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25.

ARC Talks is a free virtual event and is open to the public. Registration is available at baylor.edu/truett/ARC.

“As Christians, our faith should inform everything we do — the way we win, the way we lose, the way we lead, the way we love our teammates and the way we engage in everyday conversation,” said Marcus Sedberry, senior associate athletic director for student-athlete success. “We believe ARC Talks gives us a space to engage in a conversation that athletes, coaches and administrators all across the country are having, but we have an opportunity to do so from a Christian perspective.”

ARC Talks was created to offer a space for Christians involved in sports to consider what difference their faith should make when it comes to sports and race and to encourage deeper reflection that will lead towards action.

This year’s panel conversation will take place online and feature Esau McCaulley, Ph.D., assistant professor of New Testament at Wheaton College and author of “Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise of Hope;” Sam Acho, writer, speaker, public humanitarian and football player who serves as founder and president of Athletes for Justice and as vice president for the NFL Players’ Association; Simone Charley, forward for the Portland Thorns in the National Women’s Soccer League; and Dani Price M.Div. ’17, assistant softball coach for Georgia Southern University and former volunteer assistant softball coach at Baylor.

“At the Faith & Sports Institute, we get excited about bringing together Christian scholars and practitioners to engage with the most pressing issues in sports culture,” said John B. White, Ph.D., The Harold and Dottie Riley Associate Professor of Practical Theology and director of the Faith & Sports Institute at Baylor’s Truett Seminary.

“Our hope with the ARC Talks is to learn and grow together as we think about race, justice and identity in sports. And with a panel of accomplished and thoughtful athletes, coaches and scholars, we believe ARC Talks is an expression of Baylor's mission to combine academic and athletic excellence with Christian commitments and care.”

The conversation will be moderated by John Maurer, associate chaplain and director of sports ministry for Baylor Athletics, and Malcolm Foley, Special Advisor to the President for Equity and Campus Engagement at Baylor and director of the Black Church Studies Program at Truett Seminary.

“Through these conversations, we hope to continue to push forward the idea that our Christian faith ought to inform and shape every element of our lives,” Foley said. “Much has been said — and must be said — about Christianity and race, perhaps less on Christianity and sport, but Christianity, race and sports? As the director of Truett's Black Church Studies Program, I look forward to a partnership and series that will honor Christ's name and edify His Body.”

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 19,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 90 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.

ABOUT GEORGE W. TRUETT THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY AT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary is an orthodox, evangelical school in the historic Baptist tradition that equips God-called people for gospel ministry in and alongside Christ’s Church by the power of the Holy Spirit. Accredited by the Association of Theological Schools, Truett Seminary provides theological education leading to the Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Christian Ministry, Master of Theological Studies, Doctor of Ministry and Ph.D. in Preaching. The MACM and MTS degrees also can be completed at the seminary’s Houston campus. In addition, Truett Seminary offers joint degrees: M.Div./M.S.W. and M.T.S./M.S.W. with the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work, M.Div./M.B.A. with the Hankamer School of Business, M.Div./J.D. with Baylor Law School, M.Div./M.M. with the School of Music and M.Div./M.S.Ed. or M.Div./M.A. with the School of Education. Visit baylor.edu/truett to learn more.