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Southwestern Seminary announces new name, S E VOIC vision for undergraduate college >> by Southwestern Seminary staff FORT WORTH, Texas—”Texas Baptist College (TBC) exists to glorify God by providing trustworthy Christian higher education for more faithful Kingdom service.” The undergraduate school of Southwestern Seminary is now “Texas Baptist College,” President Adam W. Greenway announced in June. “Texas Baptist College is going to be a tremendous educational enterprise that will enrich its students’ lives and impact our world through their service,” Greenway said. “I believe few changes we been faithfully held to by Baptists down through the have implemented in recent years at Southwestern tunnel of time. We are unapologetic in our commitSeminary have as far-reaching potential as the new ment to Baptist distinctives and to a vision of Christ-cenname, vision, and leadership for our college.” tered education that is committed to the richness of a In addition to its new name, which was approved heritage of faith that has long preceded us.” by the seminary’s Board of Trustees in its spring Finally, as a college, TBC is “committed to undermeeting as part of other bylaw changes, TBC also graduate education delivered with the highest level has a new vision statement and three core distinc- of academic excellence, but with a commitment for tives: “Christ-centered,” “Scripture-driven,” and real-world training, giving you the skills that you need “student-focused.” These elements all coincide with not only to pursue a job, but to fulfill your vocation.” the addition of Benjamin M. Skaug to the college Greenway noted that changing the name from faculty as dean, who began his duties Jan. 1. “L.R. Scarborough College” is not intended to disCiting TBC’s new vision statement, Skaug said, regard Scarborough’s legacy, but rather continues “Texas Baptist College exists to glorify God by pro- Scarborough’s emphasis on Texas Baptist education. viding trustworthy Christian higher education for “L.R. Scarborough, among other things, was a premore faithful Kingdom service.” eminent Texas Baptist,” Greenway said, “one who was Southwestern Seminary’s undergraduate school committed to reaching this state with the Gospel of was first launched in 2005 as the College at South- Jesus Christ and to perpetuating the best of our Bapwestern. In 2017, it was renamed L.R. Scarborough Col- tist identity and distinctives. We believe, in many ways, lege, after the seminary’s second president. Four years the broader name Texas Baptist College enables us to later, the school now boasts a name that Greenway continue to emphasize the says encapsulates more clearly “who we are and what legacy of L.R. Scarborough makes us distinctive as a higher education institution.” alongside that of our foundNoting that every word in the new name is signif- er, B.H. Carroll, and so many icant, Greenway explained, first, that TBC is locat- others who were committed ed in Fort Worth, Texas, “part of a greater Metrop- to a vision of training and edlex area that is rich in opportunities for learning, W Sucating God-called men and N Efor H C R U H C recreation, for culture, for diversity, and for ministry women for all the vocations in this great state called Texas.” everywhere they may serve, Second, TBC is “unapologetically, unashamedly com- but especially right here in mitted to the truths of biblical orthodoxy that have the great state of Texas.”
OMA T H E O K L A H HIVE C BAPTIST AR
BAPTISTS & RELIGIOUS LIBERT Y From recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings to debates in the U.S. Congress, recent headlines make it evident that religious liberty is facing increasing headwinds in America today. Southern Baptists are known for their strong stand for religious liberty through the years. In this feature printed in the Aug. 10, 1961 edition of the Baptist Messenger, a sermon from George W. Truett was printed in full. The delivery of the sermon, which is titled “Baptists and Religious Liberty,” was called “One of the most dramatic events in Southern Baptist history,” as it was originally preached at the U.S. Capitol steps in Washington, D.C., in May, 1920.
Truett said, in part, “We shall do well, both as citizens and as Christians, if we hark back to the chief actors and lessons in the early and epoch-making struggles of this great Western democracy, for the full establishment of civil and religious liberty—back to the days of Washington and Jefferson and Madison, and back to the days of our Baptist fathers, who paid such a great price, through the long generations, that liberty, both religious and civil might have free course and be glorified everywhere.” The importance and urgency of Truett’s message on religious liberty echoes as strongly today as it did more than 100 years ago.
Do you have Oklahoma Baptist history such as Falls Creek testimonies, historical church stories, or photos of a past Baptist event? Send them to baptistmessenger@okbaptist.net!
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July 29, 2021 | The Baptist Messenger | www.baptistmessenger.com | News & Culture
On the school’s first distinctive—“Christ-centered”—Greenway explained that “the focus, the direction, the attention of all that we do” is, “How does this help connect students to the person and work of Jesus Christ?” “He is the hero of the story of redemption,” Greenway said. “He is the one in whom we find our life and our meaning. And He is the source of all true knowledge and authentic education.” The second distinctive, “Scripture-driven,” means that the Bible is the “authoritative, sufficient textbook for every classroom here at Texas Baptist College,” Greenway said. “We are a text-driven institution.” On TBC’s final distinctive—“student-focused”— Greenway said, “At the end of the day, no college or university can exist apart from those who come to study there, the students. The students are the key constituent for us at Texas Baptist College, and everything that we do in terms of the classroom, the campus experience, the instruction, all that happens is really designed to focus upon students—equipping those students who come to us and then helping to deploy them well wherever they may serve.” Skaug concluded, “If God is calling you here, we want you here. And we want to train you, pour into you, and we want to see your life change so that you go out into the world and do exactly for the glory of God what Jesus Christ is calling you to do. “Come to Texas Baptist College today and see your life changed.” To learn more about Texas Baptist College, including its various degree offerings, visit TexasBaptist.com.
