Texas Tidbits_72505

Posted: 7/22/05

Texas Tidbits

Clawson inducted into hall of fame. Christian recording artist Cynthia Clawson was inducted into the Texas Gospel Music Hall of Fame this month during ceremonies at Dallas Baptist University. She is a Grammy Award-winning singer who won five Dove Awards from the Gospel Music Association. Clawson graduated from Howard Payne University and holds an honorary doctorate from Houston Baptist University. She and her husband, Ragan Courtney, serve as co-pastors of the Sanctuary, formerly known as Tarrytown Baptist Church in Austin.

Deadline nears for missions awards. The nomination deadline for the 2005 Texas Baptist Missions Foundation Mission Service Awards is Aug. 15. The awards, selected by the foundation's board of advisers, include the Pioneer Award for Service in Missions, the Innovator Award for Creativity in Missions and the Adventurer Award for Leadership in Missions. The awards will be presented during the Texas Baptist Missions Foundation's luncheon Nov. 14 at the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting in Austin. The Pioneer Award goes to a long-time leader in missions or someone who played a key role in beginning mission work that impacted Texas Baptist life. The Innovator Award is bestowed upon a church or individual who provided a model for missions that others can adopt. The Adventurer Award honors an individual who advanced missions through direction of significant mission activities, outstanding financial support or leadership in ministry opportunities. Nominations may be submitted to Bill Arnold at the Texas Baptist Missions Foundation, 333 North Washington, Dallas 75246.

Former Truett Seminary student fined. A judged ordered a former student at Baylor University's Truett Theological Seminary who lost his scholarship because of homosexual behavior to pay $77,000 for sending more than 1,000 obscene e-mails to university faculty, administrators and their families and disseminating false information about school officials. James Bass was ordered to pay $47,000 in damages and $30,000 in attorneys' fees to Baylor and to stop sending e-mails with pornographic photos and lewd subject matter to university officials. Bass, 25, is enrolled at Emory University's Candler School of Theology in Atlanta, Ga.

Haag elected president of national child care group. Jerry Haag, president and CEO of South Texas Children's Home, was named president of Baptist Child Care Executives at the organization's annual meeting in Baltimore, Md. Membership is open to leaders of Baptist state convention-affiliated child care agencies. Baptists have 23 child care ministries located in 19 states that provide care from more than 200 points nationally and worldwide.

HBU School of Music director named. Houston Baptist University has named John Yarrington, music professor and choral studies director, as director of the university's School of Music. Yarrington is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma and earned both his bachelor's degree and his doctor of musical arts degree there. He earned his master's degree in sacred music from Union Theological Seminary in New York City. He is director of the chancel choir at First Presbyterian Church in Houston and has served churches in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas.

Correction: In the July 11 story "Boxing ministry packs a punch in reaching young men," the pastor of Jericho Fellowship was misidentified. Joe Barrera is pastor.