Truett Seminary Dedication Set For Feb. 22
Baylor University's George W. Truett Theological Seminary will be officially dedicated during ceremonies at 2:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22, in the seminary's Paul W. Powell Chapel.
The dedication is expected to draw an overflow crowd so parking will be limited. Shuttle buses will be available from the Ferrell Center to Truett Seminary, beginning at 1:30 p.m. A closed circuit broadcast of the ceremony will be available in the Paul and Katy Piper Great Hall and also in the seminary's auditorium classroom.
Participating in the ceremony are Baylor President Robert B. Sloan Jr.; Dr. Paul W. Powell, dean of Truett Seminary; Charles R. Wade, executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas; Kurt Kaiser, the renowned Christian composer and performer who will be among the artists providing special music; members of the Truett faculty and Baylor administration; and Truett students. Baylor President Emeritus Herbert H. Reynolds also will take part in the ceremony honoring Truett's founders.
Truett Seminary began classes Aug. 31, 1994, at First Baptist Church of Waco with 51 students enrolled. A ceremonial groundbreaking for the new seminary campus was held Feb. 2, 2000, with construction beginning later that spring. Faculty and staff began moving into the new building last December, and nearly 300 students began classes in the new complex Jan. 14. An opening convocation in the Powell Chapel was held Jan. 22.
The Baugh-Reynolds Campus features the 550-seat Powell Chapel; the Piper Great Hall; the 100-foot by 100-foot landscaped, enclosed Reynolds Courtyard; a teaching chapel named in honor of Baylor President Robert B. Sloan Jr.; classrooms and meeting rooms; and faculty and administrative offices.
The seminary has conferred master's of divinity degrees on more than 150 students, while also offering a doctor of ministry degree, a joint master of divinity/master of music degree in conjunction with Baylor's School of Music, and a joint master of divinity/master of social work degree in conjunction with the School of Social Work.
For more information about Truett Seminary, call (254) 710-3755 or visit Truett's web site at www.truettseminary.net .
MEDIA INFORMATION:
To provide reporters and photographers with video and interviews earlier in the day, media are invited to tour the $17 million, 64-thousand square foot Baugh-Reynolds Campus from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 22. René Maciel, Truett's assistant dean for administration and academic services, will lead the tour. The seminary is located on the Baylor campus at the corner of Dutton Avenue and Third Street.
Following the conclusion of Friday's board of regents meeting, Baylor will hold a news conference at noon in room 120 of the Sheila and Walter Umphrey Law Center on University Parks Drive. Baylor President Robert B. Sloan Jr. will discuss regent action during the news conference. Sloan, who was Truett Seminary's founding dean, also is available for comments about the seminary's dedication.
The dedication ceremony will be open to the media. A seating area for reporters will be reserved on the left back row of the chapel. Photographers can set up their cameras behind the back row to the left. An audio mult-box will be available for a clean audio feed.
For media questions about the seminary tour and dedication, contact Lori Scott Fogleman, director of media relations, at (254) 710-6275 or mobile (254) 744-4426. For more information about the news conference, contact Larry Brumley, associate vice president for external relations, at (254) 710-1964 or mobile (254) 744-7556. Maciel can be contacted at Truett Seminary at (254) 710-6090.