As a deacon in a rural church in Texas and a 2012 graduate of Baylor University, I feel compelled to encourage two institutions for which I care deeply to find common ground to fulfill a common purpose.
A nearly 200-year-old relationship that has survived controversies involving textbooks, liberal versus fundamentalist debates, and institutional control can surely survive a controversy involving student-led events where just over 700 student tickets were sold.
Whether the Baptist General Convention of Texas or Baylor would like to always enthusiastically acknowledge each other or not is irrelevant. Even in 2026, the two remain intertwined in Texas vernacular.
I hope the BGCT understands what Baylor does is admirable. A university that actively tries to integrate academic excellence with a Christian commitment is exceptional today. We can certainly be critical of leadership decisions, but what we cannot do is pretend Baylor has given up on this noble pursuit.
Baylor still committedly Christian
While other Christian colleges and universities many years ago became nominally Christian, at best, Baylor continues to proudly profess its commitment to the Christian faith, even through enhanced scrutiny. That commitment has always been and continues to be a part of Baylor’s recruitment material to prospective students.
Baylor is still a dry campus. There is a prayer before athletic events. Students are still required to attend chapel for two semesters and complete religion courses.
It would be so much easier for Baylor to simply end any religious affiliation altogether, but Baylor has not done that.
As BGCT leaders study the relationship, it is imperative they understand all this university has accomplished. It is an amazing feat that Baylor is consistently ranked as a Top 100 school in the nation.
It is incredible students from all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries, with various denominations, faiths, and backgrounds, go to a university in Texas founded by Baptists in the mid-19th century.
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BGCT integral to Baylor
At the same time, I hope Baylor’s leaders understand Baylor would not be the university it is today without the BGCT. Baylor and the BGCT are intertwined in the public conscience and have been for decades.
When I am out in public in Baylor gear, most of the non-sports comments from strangers revolve around some sort of Baptist stereotype: dancing or lack thereof, a joke about why you always take two Baptists fishing, or about sitting backrow at a church. Again, this is when I am wearing Baylor apparel, not BGCT apparel.
Unfortunately, it too often feels like Baylor distances itself from its past. Never explicitly of course, but through the words and actions of the university: the language it uses, the groups to whom the university capitulates, how it handles itself during controversy.
In the quest for excellence in the world of academia, Baylor can regularly ignore concerns of its loyal supporters. These are families that have supported the university through embarrassing public relations disasters, a decade of dreadful athletic performance, and rising costs. Yet, these families still bought the gear, encouraged their kids to attend, and remained loyal.
At times I have wondered why. Is it because some, including me, still identify as both a “Texas Baptist” and “Southern Baptist?”
Moving forward together
How can the BGCT and Baylor move forward in their relationship?
First, both should keep perspective. The leaders of the BGCT need to understand Baylor is not some hopeless liberal runaway train, committed to debauchery and secularism.
Baylor’s leaders need to understand the concern from the BGCT is not part of some Southern Baptist fundamentalist plot to exert absolute control on the university. Accusations like that are eye-roll-worthy for those with even a rudimentary understanding of the BGCT.
Second, Baylor and the BGCT should make straightforward commitments to each other.
For example: Any event that advocates a position outside the stated positions of Baylor, including those regarding human sexuality, should not be supported by the university or allowed on campus in any official capacity. People don’t need to be intentionally obtuse about what that means. It’s not about an individual’s past, but rather what is the purpose of said event.
Political and theological events from both sides of the spectrum are fine. Let’s not pretend we have to throw away common sense to determine the intentions of events.
For the BGCT, find a way to enhance the support of the university financially. I do not know specifically what that would look like. Maybe it is increasing giving to the university and its seminary. Regardless, the BGCT should make a gesture to show those outside the Baylor and evangelical bubble this relationship is here to stay.
Who to listen to
Last, and perhaps most importantly, Baylor and the BGCT should not listen to anyone who does not have a vested interest in the relationship between these two institutions.
Both the BGCT and Baylor are swayed too often by critics who do not have sincere intentions. Some want the relationship to fail to satisfy a political appetite. Others want it to fail simply because they have an allegiance to a rival university.
But most of all, a segment of people detests the idea of a top-tier university having a Christian mission and being rooted in a Protestant denomination. They hate Baylor. They hate evangelical Christians. They would never send a child to attend Baylor or become a member of a BGCT church. Most of the time they aren’t even from Texas.
Ironically, both Baylor and the BGCT are attacked by critics for somehow being simultaneously too liberal and too conservative. What an accomplishment in 2026! Instead of engaging in such faux outrage, understand this relationship is too important in Texas—its history, accomplishments, and future.
While some root for the University of Texas because they believe it’s Texas’ flagship university, others for Texas A&M for its agriculture background, and some for Texas Tech exclusively for its West Texas location, remember: At Baptist churches all across our great state, there are those who still cheer for that Baptist school in Waco.
Greg Torres is a member of First Baptist Church in Brady. The views expressed in this opinion article are those of the author.
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