Texas Tidbits

Conference explores Baptists and U.S. culture. "Baptists and the Shaping of American Culture," a conference sponsored by the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor's Center for Baptist Studies and the College of Christian Studies, will be held Oct. 12-13 on the UMHB campus.  Keynote speakers include Wayne Flynt from Auburn University and James P. Byrd from Vanderbilt University, examining how Baptists shaped early and modern American politics. The program also features Adam Bond from Virginia Union University, Alyson Dickson from Vanderbilt Divinity School, Elizabeth Flowers from Texas Christian University, Sandy Martin from the University of Georgia, Melody Maxwell from East Texas Baptist University, Susan Shaw from Oregon State University and Pamela Smoot from Southern Illinois University. For registration information, visit www.umhb.edu/baptistconference.

BGCT staff structure tweaked. In a slight streamlining of the Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board staff structure, the directors of evangelism, church starting and collegiate ministry temporarily will be supervised directly by Executive Director David Hardage. The director of missions mobilization will continue to report to BGCT Associate Executive Director Steve Vernon. The convention is seeking a director of evangelism. Wayne Shuffield, who was director of the BGCT Evangelism/Missions Center, now is a congregational strategist serving East Texas.

Texas Baptist schools among 'Best Colleges.' U.S. News & World Report recognized eight schools affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas in its latest listing of "Best Colleges." Baylor University ranked No. 77 among national universities, making it the second-ranked university in the Big 12, behind the University of Texas at Austin at No. 46. In the regional universities-west category, five Texas Baptist schools ranked in the top 100—Hardin-Simmons University at No. 43, the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor at No. 46, Dallas Baptist University at No. 50, Houston Baptist University at No. 54 and Wayland Baptist University at No. 72. In the regional colleges-west category, two Texas Baptist schools made the top 20—Howard Payne University at No. 13 and East Texas Baptist University at No. 17.

Historical society meeting planned. The Texas Baptist Historical Society will hold its annual fall meeting Oct. 29 in Corpus Christi, immediately prior to the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting. The society's luncheon meeting begins at 11 a.m. in Henry Garrett Ballroom D at the American Bank Center. The program includes the election of officers, recognition of the history award winners and a presentation about the University of Corpus Christi by Tony Celelli, president of the South Texas School of Christian Studies. Cost of the luncheon is $20 payable at the door, but reservations must be made by Oct. 22. For reservations, email autumn.hendon@texasbaptists.org or call (972) 331-2235.

Five universities named as 'military-friendly' schools. G.I. Jobs magazine has named five universities related to the Baptist General Convention of Texas to its list of military-friendly schools—Dallas Baptist University, Hardin-Simmons University, Howard Payne University, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor and Wayland Baptist University. The designation means the Texas Baptist universities rank among the top 15 percent of schools across the nation in doing the most to embrace America's veterans and military personnel as students. Criteria for making the list include efforts by universities to recruit and retain military and veteran students. The designation also takes into account a school's ability to be flexible if military personnel are called to active duty.