Pinson named Texas Baptist Elder Statesman_61305

Posted: 6/10/05

Pinson named Texas Baptist Elder Statesman

By Ferrell Foster

Texas Baptist Communications

INDEPENDENCE–Bill Pinson, ex-ecutive director emeritus of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, was named the 53rd recipient of the Texas Baptist Elder Statesman Award during a recent service at Independence Baptist Church.

Pinson accepted the annual honor presented by Independence Association and the Baptist Distinctives Committee/Texas Baptist Heritage Center of the BGCT.

BO Baker, who brought the message, called the service a “great gathering of eagles,” as he spoke of Baptist leaders who have “given their lives for the cause of Christ.” He singled out Pinson as a person who not only preached the word of God but who lived it.

“We've come to this historic place to honor a good man … and to have a season of renewal,” said Baker, who is a longtime family friend of the former BGCT executive director.

Pinson, a native Texan, professed faith in Christ at age 10 and was baptized by First Baptist Church of Lancaster. While a college student, he answered God's call to preach and conducted numerous student revivals.

He eventually earned a doctorate and became a professor of Christian ethics at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. In 1975, Pinson became pastor of First Baptist Church of Wichita Falls, and in 1977 Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in California elected him president.

Pinson returned to Texas in 1982 to become executive director of the BGCT, where he served until his retirement in 2000. He currently provides leadership to the Baptist Distinctives Committee and the Texas Baptist Heritage Center.

Bill Pitts, professor of religion at Baylor University in Waco and president of Independence Association, presented the Elder Statesman Award to Pinson.

In accepting the award, Pinson said, “I have been fortunate beyond measure.” He noted that no one ever is alone or self-made. He spoke of the many people who have been involved with him in the “cooperative effort” of the “family of faith.”

Pinson cited the role of his longtime associate, Doris Tinker, and the work of the BGCT Executive Board staff.

Throughout the service, the importance of Pinson's family also was noted. His wife, Bobbie, and daughters, Meredith Creasey and Allison Hopgood, attended the service, as well as Pinson's sons-in-law, David Creasey and Jerry Hopgood, and grandsons, Austin and Brooks Creasey and Zachary and Matthew Hopgood.

BGCT Executive Director Charles Wade cited Pinson's continued role as a “clear explainer and passionate advocate” of Baptist distinctives, the beliefs that Baptists have stood for through the ages, such as the priesthood of the believer and religious liberty.

Many of those beliefs now are held by non-Baptists in American Christian life, Wade said. Many Baptists, however, no longer treasure those beliefs, thus indicating the importance of Pinson's continued ministry.