Texas Tidbits

Posted: 1/05/07

Texas Tidbits

CLC hires staff attorney. The Baptist General Convention of Texas has named Stephen Reeves staff attorney for the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission. Reeves previously worked with the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, where he served as counsel- in-residence and then staff attorney. He also served as a CLC legislative aide from October 2003 to August 2004. He also has served as youth minister at Ravensworth Baptist Church in Annandale, Va. Reeves earned his law degree at Texas Tech University after completing his undergraduate degree at the University of Texas at Austin.

African-American ministries director named. Charles Singleton, founding pastor of First Missionary Baptist Church in Fort Worth, has been named director of African-American ministries for the Baptist General Convention of Texas. He assumed his new post Jan. 1. During Singleton’s 22-year tenure at First Missionary Baptist, the congregation started Southeast Hispanic Baptist Church, fostered an extensive youth outreach ministry and founded Miller Avenue Christian Academy, an academic and spiritual ministry to children 2 years old through second grade. Before he founded First Missionary Baptist, Singleton was pastor of Antioch Baptist Church of Fort Worth from 1981 to 1984. Singleton is president of the Tarrant Baptist Association Pastor’s Conference, and he has held numerous other offices with that organization, including moderator in 2004. He was a founding member of the African American Fellowship, and he served on the BGCT Executive Board from 2002 to 2006, the BGCT mission funding committee since 2001 and as a BGCT field representative in Tarrant County for African-American ministries since 1998. Singleton is a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth.

UMHB Sanderford addition opens. The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor will hold a grand opening ceremony 1:30 p.m. Jan. 12 for the newly completed addition to the Sanderford Administration Complex. The 16,500-square-foot addition was completed in November. Since it was originally built in 1978, the T.E. and Nellie Ruth Sanderford Complex has been two separate buildings with a center courtyard. These two buildings have been joined on the north end, providing room for the executive offices. The first floor includes a reception area for visitors to the campus, as well as the offices for business and finance and human resources. The second floor includes a presidential suite, conference rooms and offices for the executive vice president and the provost.

Young leaders retreat slated for Austin. The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship will host its annual Current retreat for young Baptist leaders Feb. 7-10 at First Baptist Church in Austin, focusing on the theme “Let Justice Roll.” Keynote speakers are Suzii Paynter, director of the Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission, and Adam Russell Taylor, senior director of campaigns and organizing at Sojourners/Call to Renewal. Breakout session topics include world hunger, HIV/AIDS, poverty, ecology, consumerism and reconciliation. The cost, which includes two evening meals, is $110 for ministers and lay leaders and $55 for seminary students. For more information or to register, visit www.thefellowship.info/current/retreat2007.icm.