Volume LXXIII, No. 3 Second Quarter–2009 IABCU Meeting to Focus on 400th Anniversary of Baptists and Provide Program Sessions for Seven Administrative Disciplines
he theme for the Hester Lectures at the 2009 annual meeting University; and Wayne Flynt, Distinguished University Professor Tand workshops of the International Association of Baptist Emeritus, Auburn University and retired historian and social Colleges and Universities (IABCU) May 31-June 2, 2009 will activist. focus on the 400th anniversary of Baptists and how Baptists have The annual legal affairs briefing for presidents and chief aca- influenced Christian higher education. demic officers will provide updates on legal issues facing higher IABCU Board Chair Lee Royce, President of Mississippi education. The briefing will be led by attorneys James Guenther College, will moderate all three plenary sessions and the annual and Jaime Jordan of Guenther, Jordan and Price, PC. business luncheon on Monday. Workshops and plenary sessions Carolyn Bishop, President of CGE will brief presidents on will appeal to presidents, chief academic officers, financial offi- current international education opportunities for students, facul- cers, public relations and marketing officers, development offi- ty and staff of participating schools. Bishop will make her pre- cers, student affairs officers and denominational relations sentation at the annual president’s breakfast on Monday. officers. The annual business luncheon is set for Monday with an There will be three workshop times with multiple sessions annual report from Michael Arrington, IABCU executive covering each of the administrative disciplines represented by director. participants (see tentative schedule on page 2). A special tour for spouses is planned for Monday morning. The meeting and workshops will be at the Renaissance Ross The tour will include visits to Southern Progress and the Bridge Hotel in Hoover, Alabama, a suburb of Birmingham. Botanical Garden, which is the site of the Southern Living IABCU board members will meet for their June business ses- Garden. The group will have lunch at the Rotunda Club at sion from 1–4 p.m. on Sunday. Board members of the Samford University. Consortium for Global Education (CGE) will meet at 6 p.m. on Southern Progress Corporation has a heritage in the publish- Sunday. ing industry, dating back to 1886 and publishes Southern Living Samford University will serve as host school for the meeting and many other magazines and books. and a banquet will be held on campus on Monday evening fol- On Tuesday, spouses will attend a breakfast followed by a lowed by a dessert reception at the home of Samford president workshop led by Phyllis Hoffman, Hoffman Media, on “Tips for Andy Westmoreland and first lady Jeanna Westmoreland. Entertaining.” Spouse registration is $55 including the tour, This year there will be three Hester Lecturers each dealing lunch, the banquet and reception at Samford and breakfast on with a different aspect of the 400th anniversary of Baptists. Tuesday. Spouses may attend all other sessions of the meeting. Lecturers include Brad Creed, Provost and Professor of Religion Registration fee for participants is $275, which includes atten- at Samford University; Pamela Smoot, Assistant Professor of dance at all sessions plus two breakfasts, business lunch, and ban- History and Black American Studies at Southern Illinois quet and dessert reception at Samford Monday evening. Vendors from organizations providing services for higher education will be represented in exhibits located near the confer- ence meeting rooms. The special reduced-room-rate at the Renaissance Ross Bridge Hotel is $169 per night plus applicable taxes. The price is for single or double occupancy with $20 additional for a third or fourth person. Children under 12 stay free with their parents. The Annual Bob Agee Golf Tournament will begin at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday following the close of the conference. To make hotel reservations and to register for the meeting and workshops go to the IABCU website at
2 Program Outline IABCU Annual Hoover, Alabama (Birmingham) May 31–June 2, 2009 Meeting and Workshops 3 Comment: A Message from the Past/ SUNDAY MAY 31 In Memorium–Tom Corts 1:00–4:00 p.m. Board of Directors Meeting 2:00 Exhibitors Arrive for Set-up 4 People, Servant Leadership and 3:00–6:00 Registration Competitive Advantage 4:30–5:45 First Plenary Session: Hester Lecture: Brad Creed, Provost and Professor of Religion, Samford University 5 Personal Growth Through Online Evening is free for dinner and fellowship time. Education: Success at Charleston 6:00 CGE Board Meeting Southern University 6 Names and Faces MONDAY JUNE 1 7:30–8:45 a.m. Buffet Breakfast Meetings 10 Tuition Remission Program CAOs: Panel Discussion: “Reactions to the Economic Crisis” 12 Presidents of IABCU Member Schools Other Sub Group Sessions: TBA 9:30 Buses leave for spouse tour of Southern Progress, lunch at the 14 Legal Notes Rotunda Club at Samford University and then buses will take them 15 Campus Report for a visit to the Botanical Gardens 9:00–10:30 Second Plenary Session: Hester Lecture: Pamela Smoot, Assistant 16 CGE Update Professor of History and Black American Studies, Southern Illinois University 10:30–10:45 Break 10:45–12:00 Workshops Presidents, CAOs and others: Legal Affairs Briefing, Jim Guenther Vol. LXXIII, No. 3 Second Quarter 2009 and Jaime Jordan, Guenther, Jordan and Price, PC Publisher: Michael Arrington, PR/Marketing: Bill Wagnon, VP Communications, and staff, Executive Director, IABCU Birmingham-Southern College, “Case Study on Crisis Managing Editor: Tim Fields, Communications (Arson Fires)” Director of Communications, IABCU Workshop sessions for all other groups TBA The Baptist Educator (ISSN 0038-3848) is a 12:15–1:45 p.m. IABCU Business Luncheon—All groups meet together news magazine published quarterly for adminis- trators, faculty, staff, trustees and friends of 1:45—2:00 Break member schools by the International 2:00–3:00 CAOs: James Guenther and Jaime Jordan: “Focused Legal Briefing Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities. for CAO issues” and panel discussion POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: PR/Marketing: Sean Doyle, principal and other staff, Fitzmartin, International Association of Baptist Colleges Inc., “Branding for Higher Education” and Universities 8120 Sawyer Brown Road, Suite 108 5:30 Buses leave for banquet and dessert reception at Samford Nashville, TN 37221-1410 University Send news items to: Tim Fields, managing editor TUESDAY JUNE 2 The Baptist Educator 7:30–8:45 a.m. Breakfast—All groups meet together: Topic to be announced E-mail: [email protected] 8120 Sawyer Brown Road, Suite 108 8:00–9:30 Spouse Breakfast: Phyllis Hofman, “Tips for Entertaining” Nashville, TN 37221-1141 9:00–10:15 PR/Marketing: Bill Todd, Public Relations for o2 Ideas, Inc., Fax: (615) 662-1396 • Phone: (615) 673-1896 “Developing Social Media as a Marketing Tool in the Not-for-Profit “Legal Notes” is designed to provide accurate and Sector” authoritative information on legal issues facing Other Groups: Don Schmeltekopf, Provost Emeritus, Baylor Baptist-related higher education. It is provided University, “Report on the Seminar on Academic Leadership” with the understanding that the publisher and edi- tors are not engaged in rendering legal counsel. 10:15–10:30 Break “Legal Notes” is not intended as a substitute for the 10:30–12:00 Third Plenary Session: Hester Lecture: Wayne Flynt. Distinguished services of a legal professional. If your institution University Professor Emeritus, Auburn University, retired historian needs legal counsel, a competent attorney should and social activist be consulted. 12:00 p.m. Adjourn An annual subscription to The Baptist Educator is $9.00. 2:30 Annual Bob Agee Golf Tournament
2 The Educator Comment: A Message from the Past By Michael Arrington, Executive Director International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities
ince joining the staff of IABCU last year, I Johnson recognized that the Great Depression and World Shave sought information regarding the War II created turbulent times for Baptist colleges. “Now that original purposes for which our organization The Southern Association of Baptist Colleges has been organized; was founded. Happily, my friend and col- officers have already been elected and the constitution is pub- league, Tim Fields, the affable, multi-talented lished in this issue of The Educator,” Johnson wrote. “A meeting Director of Communications for IABCU, has been called and member colleges have responded readily to recently sent me a copy of the formal the call. …Much optimism has been created in the ranks of our announcement sixty years ago of the estab- Baptist educational forces.” lishment of the association of Baptist colleges. His closing remarks reflected his positive outlook on the It contains a message from our forebears that Michael Arrington future of Baptist higher education and are certainly applicable to Baptist educators in 2009 may find both informative and rele- our schools today. “That our educational problems are complex vant. and numerous we do not deny, but that they can be met with Dr. Charles D Johnson, Editor of The Southern Baptist intelligence and with vigor is our firm belief,” Johnson wrote. Educator (established in May, 1937), explained the reasons for the “Our Baptist schools are in capable hands, and the Southern decision to create an association of Baptist colleges in a March, Association of Baptist Colleges provides the organization through 1949, column entitled “These Problems Are Not Too Big.” Dr. which our educators may cooperate in their planning for the wel- Johnson, who authored Higher Education of Southern Baptists, fare of our Christian educational institutions.” served as chairman of the Southern Baptist Education Subsequently, the organization now named the International Commission from 1932 to 1953. His career included positions Association of Baptist Colleges & Universities held its first meet- from 1916 to 1962 as professor, department chairman, dean and ing on July 25, 1949. As we send out the call to attend the 60th president at Ouachita, Arkansas A&M at Monticello, Blue anniversary meeting May 31–June 2, 2009, in Birmingham, we Mountain College and Baylor University. pray that our current member institutions will respond as enthu- Johnson explained that each Baptist school had “its own siastically and faithfully as they did in 1949. peculiar problems,” but that there were also “certain problems In the first decade of the 21st Century, our institutions and that are common to all of our schools.” Both types of problems, our world are once again experiencing significant economic Johnson wrote, were given attention in articles in The Baptist problems and a global war. Perhaps it is of some comfort to be Educator and in publications of the Education Commission, but reminded that the IABCU was founded for such a time as this he acknowledged that “there has been and still is a lack of coordi- and that our common call is a sacred trust that we share nation of planning and cooperation on the part of our Baptist together. May God bless the faculty, staff and students of our colleges.” schools. I In Memorium: Thomas E. Corts, 1941–2009 he untimely death of Dr. Tom Corts on February 4 shocked He initially served as coordinator of Tand saddened us all. A Georgetown College alum, Corts The President’s Initiative to Expand began his work in Baptist higher education as executive vice Education and subsequently as president of his alma mater. Coordinator of Basic Education in the His distinguished career in Baptist higher education also Office of the Director of Foreign included successful presidencies at Wingate (1974–1983) and Assistance, U.S. State Department. Samford (1983–2006). The program provided aid to four mil- During his presidencies at Wingate and Samford, Corts lion school children in Ethiopia, Ghana, served for several terms as a board member of the Honduras, Liberia, Mali and Yemen. International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities Corts is survived by his wife of 44 years, Tom Corts (IABCU) and helped the Association in the transition in Marla, two married daughters, a married December 1996 from the auspices of the now defunct son and six grandchildren. Southern Baptist Education Commission to its independent Thank God for servant leaders such as Tom Corts. He status owned and governed by its member institutions. made a positive difference for Christ throughout the world. In 2006, the IABCU honored Dr. Corts with the Charles D Peace to his family and to all who loved him. We will miss Johnson Award in recognition of his distinguished contribu- him. Memorial gifts can be made to the Corts Scholarship tions to Baptist higher education. Dr. Corts served during Fund, Samford University, 800 Lakeshore Dr., Birmingham, 2007 as IABCU’s Executive Director, resigning to accept a AL 35229; or Eddie Gibson International Ministries, P. O. Box position in President Bush’s administration. 610188, Birmingham, AL 35261. I
Second Quarter–2009 3 People, Servant Leadership, and Competitive Advantage By Coleman Patterson and sources of competitive advantage. Colleges and universities Director of the Leadership Studies Program don’t need fancy buildings and beautiful campuses to be excep- Professor of Management and Leadership tional in what they do. They need people who can inspire and Hardin-Simmons University touch the lives of others—students, faculty, staff and external ere is the church, here is the steeple, open the doors and see constituencies—in the pursuit of worthwhile and enviable goals. “Hall the people.” Those who grew up going to Sunday Our Baptist colleges and universities are well positioned to School and Vacation Bible School are probably familiar with that use people as a source of competitive advantage. As followers of child’s rhyme and the hand motions that go with it. The rhyme Christ, we are to serve and care for others. Christian institutions gives the impression that the church and the people are separate should likewise reflect a servant nature. Servant leadership, as a things. As a child, I also remember going “to” church for worship management philosophy, suggests that superiors should strive to services and to see friends. It took me years to realize that the meet the needs of their workers and do what they can to allow church is more than just the buildings and meeting facilities; it is their people to grow and perform to the best of their abilities. the people. The true church met together in homes, on the Higher-level workers should be concerned with freeing people to grounds for picnics and celebrations, and together on Sundays and perform, grow, and develop to their maximum potentials. When Wednesdays for meetings and worship in the church’s facilities. whole organizations are made up of people who look out for the Colleges and universities, likewise, are more than academic, needs of coworkers and those they serve, organizations can do administrative, and office buildings and well-manicured campus exceptional things. Everyone in the organization must practice grounds. They are more than endowments, computers, libraries, these philosophies—from top to bottom. Institutional leaders dormitories, lab equipment, athletic facilities, and records sys- must create cultures and organizational systems that promote tems. Colleges and universities are the people who give them people-centered, high-performance work environments. life—without people, college campuses would be empty buildings In a speech at the University of Southern California, Schultz and unused equipment. Higher education is about the transmis- stated that “If you can exceed the expectations of your people, if sion and acquisition of knowledge between students and teachers they feel that they are working in an enterprise or company that in dynamic and intellectually stimulating values them as human beings and environments. ur schools must hire, not as paychecks, values them as Until recent decades, many businesses and Onurture and retain humans beings and not as line organizations failed to fully recognize the items on the balance sheet, and they importance of people. Through the industrial exceptional and servant- in turn can take that feeling of revolution, workers were viewed as machine minded people—they are the being respected and appreciated as parts. Managers would hire and train workers lifeblood of our institutions. an employee and share that with to perform highly specialized tasks with little someone else…it comes back to attention paid to human needs or motivation. you.” Schultz considers the human Employees who were unable to keep up with the pace of produc- resource function as the most important discipline in an organi- tion were replaced with workers who could maintain the pace. zation—cracking the code on ways to attract, retain, and inspire Control, efficiency, and rationality were stressed above all else. people to capitalize and leverage human capital. It took American industry decades to realize the true value Baptist colleges and universities should likewise place prima- and importance of workers. Starbucks Coffee Company is a ry importance on human resource functions. Our schools must prime example of an organization that has grown and become hire, nurture and retain exceptional and servant-minded peo- successful in large part because of the value placed on its people. ple—they are the lifeblood of our institutions. Policies and pro- Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks, built the company on the cedures must exist to keep the institutions in touch with their belief that long-term organizational success is directly related to people. As schools get bigger and grow more complex, it the value placed on its people. When members feel that the becomes even more important to figure out ways to keep in organization trusts, respects, appreciates, and values them as direct contact with everyone—asking for their input, building human beings and is willing to share the success of the company trust and respect, and sharing the success of the institution. with the workers, they will pass that sense of appreciation and So the next time that you go to church, Starbucks, or the hal- respect on to their customers. Starbucks lives by the philosophy lowed halls of your college or university, remember that people that if they want to exceed the expectations of their customers, are what make those institutions what they are. To paraphrase they have to exceed the expectations of their people. Exceptional Howard Schultz, Baptist colleges and universities are not in the service to others begins with exceptional respect and apprecia- education business serving people; we are in the people business tion of organizational members. Schultz has said that Starbucks serving life-changing experiences. I is not in the coffee business serving people; they are in the peo- ple business serving coffee. Starbucks uses its people-centered Editors note: Submission of articles to The Baptist culture as a source of competitive advantage. Educator from administrators, faculty and staff of IABCU In today’s challenging economic and competitive environ- member schools is encouraged. Please e-mail submissions to ment, it is more important than ever for our Baptist colleges and Tim Fields, managing editor, The Baptist Educator at: universities to recognize that their people are their greatest assets
4 The Educator Personal Growth through Online Education: Success at Charleston Southern University harleston Southern University began apparent in the conduct of the faculty Like other Christian colleges and uni- Cto offer blended-online courses in and it has fostered my personal growth,” versities, CSU “backed into” offering the the fall semester of 2003. “The intent was Simons said. blended-online courses. “The BMA has to meet the growing requests from local “Like most of the students enrolling been a mixture of strategic planning and and near regional in the BMA, Aron responded to local an evolvement in how we do things at busy adults who newspaper and radio advertising,” Parker CSU. This is good, and the future is desire to obtain a explained. “We also partner with The bright for the online learner who can degree from Learning House, Inc., a comprehensive take courses, programs, and career relat- CSU,” said Stan online education solutions company, in ed certifications at Charleston Southern Parker, Dean of promoting the program in a variety of University.” the Evening offline and online venues including “I cannot say enough about the quality College at CSU. www.eLearnPortal.com.” of the education and the convenience of “Working Rather than trying to pull together the format of the Bachelor of Management with the older the resources needed to deliver Web con- Arts program. For the first time, I feel like student required tent and online courses on its own, CSU a degree is actually within my reach,” us to understand found a strategic partner in Learning Simons said. Stan Parker they needed flex- House, highly specialized in online edu- “Supporting working students like ibility, accelerat- cation. Aron is possible as we continue to expand ed course options, and consistent services “Learning House provided the tools our reach, and online education is going to keep them on track towards their necessary for us to move from having a to be the vehicle to serve them,” Parker degree.” class totally in the classroom to engaging said. Charleston Southern currently offers students through the Internet. They a 48 semester-hour business management worked with us to ensure that each of the About Charleston Southern program that has become popular for the 16 program courses met the requirements University busy working adult student. The of Charleston Southern University,” Charleston Southern University Bachelor of Management Arts (BMA) Parker said. “Offering online courses (www.csuniv.edu) was established in degree completion program gives stu- requires strong technical support. We 1964 as a liberal arts higher education dents 23 years of age and older the ability liked the 24/7, institution, to move faster and accomplish a satisfy- 365 days a year upporting working students founded on and ing degree program that can support technical support driven by strong their need to enter, change and advance and excellent “Slike Aron is possible as we Christian values careers. training continue to expand our reach, and academic Aron Simons, Marketing and Learning House and online education is going to excellence. CSU Customer Service Manager with Briggs provides to both be the vehicle to serve them.” is accredited by Industries, represents many of the stu- students and the the Commission dents who enroll in this program. professors.” on Colleges of “I attempted to balance the need for The Bachelor of Management Arts the Southern Association of Colleges and education with the reality of the demands (BMA) program has allowed CSU to Schools to award associate’s, bachelor’s of work and life. Internally, there was no expand into new opportunities for meet- and master’s degrees. real decision to make; I had to get my ing nontraditional student needs. “CSU degree to be able to compete,” Simons has a distance education task force About Learning House said. “In fact, I was presently working a chaired by Dr. James Colman, VPAA, to The Learning House, Inc. job that required a degree. I had tried identify other degree programs, courses, (www.learninghouse.com) is a compre- another school in the past, but something and continuing education certifications hensive online education solutions was missing.” that can be offered completely online. provider that helps colleges and universi- “When I researched the Bachelor of We hope the benefits of online educa- ties offer and manage their online degree Management Arts program at Charleston tion will spread across the academic pro- programs. Learning House provides cre- Southern University and saw how it grams at CSU beyond undergraduate ative and support services in course pub- worked, it suddenly clicked. I truly adult education. Online education can lishing, learning management systems, believe God led me to the BMA program help us deal with classroom availability marketing, technology support, faculty because I have been so motivated by the challenges and perhaps expand the sum- and staff training, online education, possibilities before me. Since starting the mer term offerings. The possibilities are infrastructure and consulting. I program, the CSU mission has been exciting,” said Parker.
Second Quarter–2009 5 Samuel W. ‘Dub’ Oliver to Assume Presidency of ETBU in July By Mike Midkiff “East Texas Baptist University, near the conclusion of its first ETBU Director of Public Relations century of service and at the beginning of a new century of faithful- he East Texas Baptist University Board of Trustees has elected ness, is well positioned for increased excellence in all its endeavors. TDr. Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver of Waco, In doing so, the University will, by God’s grace, become an even Texas, as its next president. Oliver will succeed brighter light on the hill to a world that is desperately in need,” said current president Bob E. Riley who is retiring Oliver. I effective July 16, 2009 after 17 years at the helm. Union President David W. Dockery Oliver currently serves as the Vice Featured in New Baptist Theology Book President for Student Life at Baylor University. He has served in various positions and has nion University President David S. Dockery is featured promi- been employed at Baylor for 16 years. Oliver Unently in Baptist Theology: A Four-Century Study, the monu- will join ETBU as its 12th president effective mental 700-page work on Baptists by James Leo Garrett Jr. June 1, 2009. Garrett has been a Baptist theological educator for more than 50 years, teaching at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, “After an extensive nation-wide search, Dr. Samuel “Dub” Oliver ‘Dub’ Oliver comes to ETBU highly recom- Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and Baylor University. mended to lead this university as its next President,” said Cornish, Gregory A. Thornbury, dean of the School of Christian Studies at who also served as the chair of the Presidential Search Committee. Union, said Garrett’s new “Baptist Theology” book is now the stan- “His credentials as a senior administrator are very extensive and dard volume on the identity of Baptists throughout history. impressive. In his current position, he is responsible for over 14,000 “The significance of the work is that the Baptist movement is one students and supervises a staff of over 500 people.” of the major tributaries flowing out of the Protestant Reformation, “Dr. Oliver has responsibility of what is normally referred to as and no one had attempted such a comprehensive intellectual history Student Services plus Spiritual life and is also in charge of the of the movement before,” Thornbury said. “To begin in the 17th cen- Baylor University Health Center which provides medical care to tury and to bring it up to 2009 is an astonishing achievement. And students attending Baylor,” added Cornish. no one could have told the story better than James Leo Garrett.” “Susie and I are humbled and excited to have this opportunity to Thornbury added that ideas and theology shape movements, and serve at East Texas Baptist University,” said Oliver. “We’re thankful that’s what Garrett has captured in his book. for the Presidential Search Committee, the Board of Trustees, After tracing the roots of Baptist beliefs, Garrett starts with President Bob and Gayle Riley, and the ETBU family who have been English General Baptists, and moves then to English Particular so welcoming and encouraging to us.” Baptists. From there he turns to Roger Williams and other early A native of San Antonio, Texas, Oliver is a graduate of Baylor American Baptists, then Baptists leaders and theologians up to the University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Education. He holds present day. Dockery is included in Garrett’s final chapter, “New a Master of Science degree in Educational Psychology from Texas Voices in Baptist Theology.” The chapter includes summaries of John A&M University. Oliver earned his Doctor of Philosophy degree in Piper, Tom Nettles, D.A. Carson, Wayne Grudem and Timothy Educational Administration from Texas A & M as well. He is also a George, among others. licensed and ordained Baptist minister and has served since October Garrett provides a brief biographical sketch of Dockery and a 2003 as the pastor of Canaan Baptist Church of Crawford, Texas. summary of his writing and editing projects, including such works as Oliver came to Baylor in April 1992 from Texas A& M Baptist Theologians, Theologians of the Baptist Tradition, the New University, to serve as Director of Student Activities. In June 1999, American Commentary series, Shaping a Christian Worldview: The he took on additional responsibilities as the Associate Dean for Foundations of Higher Education, Biblical Interpretation Then and Campus Life. Then in June 2001, Oliver was promoted to be the Now and dozens of others. Dean for Student Development, a post he held until June 2005 when “Dockery’s greatest specialization has come in biblical hermeneu- he was named Assistant Vice President for Student Life. For a year tics, beginning with his doctoral dissertation,” Garrett writes. he served as Interim Vice President for Student Life before being Thornbury observed the significance of the space dedicated to named the Vice President for Student Life. Oliver has also served Dockery. Baylor as a Visiting Professor in the Hankamer School of Business, “He gets as much coverage as E.Y. Mullins,” Thornbury said. an Adjunct Professor in the School of Education, and Interim “David Dockery has been more productive and prolific than any University Chaplain. He served in the United States Air Force sta- other Baptist theologian in recent history. He’s been involved in tioned at Carswell Air Force Base in the late 1980’s. Before entering building movements and shaping coalitions that have impact and graduate school, he was a third grade teacher in the Fort Worth effect.” Independent School District. Thornbury also cited Dockery’s role in helping to bring about a Dr. Oliver’s wife, Susie, is currently an adjunct faculty member renaissance of Christian higher education by focusing on the and full-time cheerleader coach at Baylor. She and Dr. Oliver have a Christian intellectual tradition. daughter, Callie, who is a junior in high school. “He’s a major figure in Baptist history,” Thornbury said. I
6 The Educator OBU President Whitlock Has a Passion for People and a Vision for the Future hen David Whitlock met the woman who would become his a passion to make sure others did not need to wait so long to find Wwife, he was wearing an overcoat. Already a college faculty mem- that joy in life’s journey. ber, he also was becoming a special project for Already on a career path in higher education, he sensed God friends seeking to find him a female compan- calling him to expand his work without abandoning that core profes- ion. One friend called Whitlock’s office and told sion. He became a bivocational pastor in 1993, called by Hendrix him she was bringing over a friend who had Baptist Church south of Durant. He was co-pastor of Wellspring come to visit the Southeastern Oklahoma State Baptist Fellowship in Bolivar from 1999 until his move to OBU in the University campus in Durant. He kindly point- fall of 2008. One of his pastorates nearly altered his academic career ed out that he was wearing brown—perhaps not path. While serving as pastor of Silo Baptist Church in a small town his most flattering fashion color—and he prob- northwest of Durant, he was offered a dean’s post at Southwest ably did not have enough spare time to meet Baptist University. But at the time, the church was in the midst of a the lady. The friend was undeterred. building program, and he felt he was unable to leave the congrega- Anticipating the meeting, Whitlock told tion. A year later, with the building project nearing completion, he David Whitlock his secretary he was putting on an overcoat. If was invited to reconsider the SBU position, which the university had he did not want to spend time visiting with his friend’s friend, he left unfilled over that span. The coincidental timing was not a coinci- would simply excuse himself and head out of the building. Minutes dence in Whitlock’s view. later, the two ladies arrived, and the bachelor professor met Dana The pastoral experience, coupled with his academic background, Searles for the first time. The women immediately noted his coat and gives him a leadership style which seems somewhat laid back, but can apologized for catching him on the way out the door. quickly cut to the heart of instructional issues or academic delivery “Oh, I’m not going anywhere,” David said. models. His answer was correct at that moment, but his life has been in Whitlock hopes to be a servant-leader who can follow a philoso- constant motion ever since. phy of higher education leadership which he traces to mentors Humor and adaptability come easy for Whitlock. The latter can including OBU President Emeritus Bob R. Agee; SBU President C. aid development of the former. A fifth-generation Oklahoman, he Pat Taylor, who was OBU’s chief academic officer for 10 years; and C. had the opportunity to live in several communities while growing up. Henry Gold, a long-time administrator at SEOSU. An avid reader, Finding the humor and light-hearted aspects in new situations helped Whitlock says his views have been informed by noted evangelical ease transitions. It is a skill which has served him well in the early academicians, including Arthur Holmes, George Marsden, Michael days of his tenure as Oklahoma Baptist University’s 15th president. Beatty and David Dockery. When he officially took office on Nov. 1, 2008, Whitlock On one hand, he is leading with strong academic preparation. brought with him 24 years of experience as a college educator and He completed an M.B.A. degree from SEOSU in 1985, and finished a administrator. After 14 years on the faculty at a regional state univer- Ph.D. degree in educational leadership 10 years later. He knows high- sity, he spent nine years at Southwest Baptist University. In recent er education models for both public and private institutions. He has years, his administrative responsibilities were steadily increasing. written or edited books on business. He has been an academic dean, Looking back, he sees a path of preparation for his current job. He an associate provost, a strategic planning specialist, and the director can trace the start of the journey back to his first visit to Bison Hill in of graduate, off-campus and adult education programs. He knows 1993. Touring OBU’s new Bailey Business Center just before it what academic success looks like. opened more than 15 years ago, Whitlock was impressed with the On the other hand, he is leading with a strong sense of God’s call University’s focus as a Christian liberal arts institution. Returning on his life. He knows what it feels like to have your life redirected by a home to Durant that night, he told Dana he believed God was calling commitment to Christ. He has been a pastor, a mission team leader, him to OBU. He was focused, but he had no clue as to the timetable and a local ministry volunteer. He is the father of four sons, including for that call. one who is on active service in the U.S. Navy and another who is a Whitlock is not wasting time making his focus and passion college student. apparent to the University’s constituents. He is working to convey his Integration of his faith and his academic profession is not diffi- vision for the University known for faith integration and academic cult for Whitlock. He knows it has been a working model for OBU excellence, surging forward to fulfill its commitment to the Great throughout the University’s history. David Wesley Whitlock appreci- Commission and the Great Commandment. ates the history, which is evident in his delight at sharing the middle Although he will often couch statements in humor, his message name of OBU’s longest-tenured president, Dr. John Wesley Raley. He is clear. He sees OBU building on historic strengths while seeking is delighted to be in the middle of the effort to carry on the OBU ways to expand its influence through initiatives to bolster academic legacy of academic excellence and commitment to a Baptist heritage. achievement and through globalization of the curriculum. He acts When he was first introduced to his wife, he had plans for a with the personal fervor of a man who sees fresh opportunity to use hasty escape. But things worked out better than he could have imag- gifts and talents he recently learned to appreciate. To a degree, that is ined. When he came to OBU, it was the culmination of a 15-year plan an accurate depiction of his personal experience. he sensed God had for him. He has taken off the overcoat and antici- Whitlock graduated from Wayne High School, and opted to pates a long, focused relationship with the University. pursue a chemistry degree at SEOSU. His extended family has long- standing Baptist connections, and his great-grandfather and grandfa- Inauguration Slated For May 1 ther were both Baptist ministers. It was easy for him to form OBU will inaugurate President David W. Whitlock at 10 a.m. friendships with students active in the Baptist Student Union at May 1 in Raley Chapel’s Potter Auditorium. Bob R. Agee, OBU presi- SEOSU, but he did not make a decision to accept Christ as his per- dent emeritus, will present the inaugural address. An inaugural wor- sonal Savior until after he and Dana were married. Becoming a ship service is planned for Thursday, April 30, at 7 p.m. in Potter Christian “later in life,” as he describes his conversion, gave Whitlock Auditorium. I
Second Quarter–2009 7 Hardin-Simmons University Names Lanny Hall as New President anny Hall, President of Howard Payne where he served until 1991. Committee and the Search Advisory LUniversity since 2003 has been named Hall then served as President at Hardin Committee, jointly evaluated numerous can- President of Hardin- Simmons from 1991-2001 before being didates. The search committees were made Simmons University. named chancellor in 2001. As Chancellor, he up of people from a wide variety of roles at Hall will be the 15th held the Haggerton Chair of Political Science the University—trustees, faculty, staff, mem- president in HSU’s and served as Executive Director of the HSU bers from various HSU boards, and the HSU 118-year history as he Institute for Leadership. student body president. Committee returns to the universi- He served as president of Howard Payne Chairman Hemphill said, “Personal inter- ty where he was a stu- from 2003 to 2009. views were conducted with the top ten can- dent more than 40 During his previous administration at didates with more in-depth visits with the years ago and served as HSU, the school experienced growth in many four finalists.” President and then areas, including enrollment, endowment, Hall has a distinguished career in educa- Chancellor. academic programs, and campus facilities. tion and government. It includes service as a Lanny Hall Chairman of the Under his leadership, HSU added public school teacher, congressional aide, HSU Board of Trustees, Hilton Hemphill numerous new campus buildings, including state agency executive, and university profes- says, “Dr. Hall knows and loves the school the Skiles Social Sciences Building and the sor, vice-president, president, and chancellor. and has an exciting vision for enhancing its Connally Missions Center. Hall also man- He was a member of the Texas House of academic excellence and facilities. He has aged to more than double the University’s Representatives from 1979 to 1984 and extensive experience in fundraising and in endowment. served in key government leadership posi- the financial management of a university.” “Carol and I love the work in which we tions at the national level. Hall began his administrative career in have been engaged over the last twenty Hall earned his Ph.D. in Educational higher education in 1986 as the Executive years,” says Dr. Hall. “We welcome the Administration from the University of Vice President and Chief Academic opportunity to put all of our experience, Texas in Austin in 1985. Officer at Howard Payne, leaving there in ability, talent and energy to work again for He and his wife, Carol, have two chil- 1989 to take over the reins as President of Hardin-Simmons University.” dren—Lana McCutchen and Chad Hall— Wayland Baptist University in Plainview Two committees, the Presidential Search and three grandchildren. I Loans Help Administrators and Faculty Pursue Doctoral Degrees obertson/Farmer/Hester Educational RLoan funds designed to assist full-time faculty or administrators at qualifying Southern Baptist-related educational insti- tutions to obtain their doctoral degrees and postdoctoral study/research are available from the Southern Baptist Foundation. Applicants are required to be active members of a local Southern Baptist church and they must have been accepted in a program of doctoral or postdoctoral study. Professors and administrators can be awarded up to a maximum of $10,000 over a five-year period with a maximum of $2,000 per semester and $1,500 per sum- mer term. The loans are to be paid back in service at a qualifying Southern Baptist school at the rate of $2,000 per academic year. If a loan recipient ceases to be employed by a qualifying Southern Baptist educational institution for any reason or fails to com- plete the degree in five years the loan must be paid back in cash plus interest. Applications and policies can be requested by calling Margaret Cammuse at the Southern Baptist Foundation, 615- 254-8823. Deadline for applications is April 15 for consideration for the next academic year. I
8 The Educator Second Quarter–2009 9 Tuition Remission Program at 37 IABCU Member Schools Provides Valuable Benefit for Faculty, Staff and Administrators
nder the guidelines of the Tuition ordinarily live in college residences, no provisions of the agreement and indi- URemission Program coordinated by guarantee of residence space can be cates its willingness to work as consis- the International Association of Baptist given in cases of capacity enrollments. tently as possible within them. Where an Colleges and Universities, dependent Where residence space is available, stu- exception is necessary, notification to the children of full-time faculty and dents may be required to live in the host president of the home institution is administrators in Baptist colleges and institution dormitory, depending on its expected as a matter of courtesy. Note: universities that enter into the Tuition usual residential requirements. Some institutions have qualifying provi- Remission Agreement and are eligible sions to their participation, e.g., one-for- to receive tuition benefits at their home What About Other Forms one exchange, exclusions from specific institutions will ordinarily be eligible to of Financial Aid? programs, limitation to undergraduate receive benefits at a participating insti- A student may be required by the study, and limitation to specific institu- tution. host institution to apply for any tuition tions accepted for mutual participation. The president of the home institution grants (state, federal, or other) for which Participating Member Schools of the must certify to the host institution that he is eligible. Any such aid must be International Association of Baptist the teacher or administrator is eligible applied to the cost of tuition at the host Colleges and Universities agree to partic- for such benefits and that he or she holds institution, and the balance of the tuition ipate with all other member schools full-time appointment. will then be remitted. If a student can unless a school explicitly excludes anoth- If the parent ceases to hold appoint- demonstrate need beyond tuition, he will er school or schools from its list. A ment in the home institution, the benefit be eligible to receive other forms of school can withdraw membership in the in the host institution may be with- financial aid according to the usual regu- program at any time and each school will drawn. The Internal Revenue Service lations of the host institution. be notified if a new school is added or definition of child dependency will be deleted from the program. used to determine a student’s eligibility. When Does the Agreement If the student ceases to meet the IRS def- A Reminder on Tuition Remission Take Effect? inition, the benefit may be withdrawn by Agreement Tuition remission benefits will be the host institution. Each college is protected by: available immediately and will be in 1. Maintaining its own admission stan- effect until an institution withdraws its What are the Admissions dards. participation. The Tuition Remission Qualifications? 2. Remitting only the tuition portion of Agreement is subject to annual review Eligible students must meet the usual costs. and possible re-negotiation by all institu- requirements for admission in a host 3. Enrolling a combined total of only five tional parties to the agreement. Each institution, and accept its usual academic students per year under the plan. institution may make a decision annually and social regulations. Enrollment must 4. Reviewing the program annually. to accept or refuse new students under be in a full-time program of study; guest 5. Retaining the right to exclude certain the agreement for the following academ- or transit students may not participate. programs from the agreement, and ic year. The host institution reserves the right 6. Retaining the right to establish condi- Each institution is expected to be to refuse admission to certain programs tions on or make exceptions to the willing to accept no fewer students than of study which may already be at capaci- agreement. ty enrollment. it exports, but in any case each institu- tion agrees to accept at least 5 qualified What is the First Step? What is the Tuition Remission students per year. An institution may, at its discretion; limit enrollment to 5 stu- When contacting the Admissions Benefit? dents per year, provided it accepts as Office of the prospective host institution, That portion of the annual compre- many students as it exports. the student should: hensive charges which is designated as 1. make it clear that admission is being “tuition” by the host institution will be What Other Institutional Agreements sought under the Tuition Remission remitted. The benefit will continue as Agreement, are Involved? long as the student is in good standing in 2. present a letter from the president of the host institution and as long as he It is understood that the host institu- the home institution certifying eligi- meets the definitions of eligibility in the tion reserves the right to make excep- bility on the terms described in this first paragraph above. Other charges tions to the agreement, for good and agreement, and (room, board, fees) are the responsibility sufficient reason, in considering the eli- 3. present a signed copy of the letter of of the student. Although students may gibility of a given applicant; but as a mat- intent that is appended to this agree- ter of policy, each institution accepts the
10 The Educator ment. 26. Mississippi College 32. Truett-McConnell College Institutions Participating in the 27. Missouri Baptist University 33. Union University Tuition Remission Agreement 28. North Greenville University 34. Virginia Intermont College 1. Anderson University 29. Oklahoma Baptist University 35. Wayland Baptist University 2. Baptist College of Florida 30. Ouachita Baptist University 36. William Carey University 3. Belmont University 31. Southwest Baptist University 37. Williams Baptist College 4. Bluefield College 5. Brewton-Parker College Sample Letter of Intent for Baptist Colleges and Universities Tuition Remission 6. California Baptist University 7. Campbell University I understand that I am provided the opportunity to participate in this tuition 8. Campbellsville University remission program: 9. Carson-Newman College between______(home institution 10. Charleston Southern 11. Chowan University and______(host institution) 12. Clear Creek Baptist College because of benefits provided a member of my family through his or her employment. 13. University of the Cumberlands I agree to accept this tuition exchange opportunity and enter into the agreement with 14. Dallas Baptist University 15. East Texas Baptist University a full understanding that I will represent myself in all ways so as to be in agreement 16. Gardner-Webb University with the practices, policies and understanding of the two institutions, and I will be 17. Georgetown College responsible for the charges other than tuition, and that I will agree to avail myself of 18. Hannibal-LaGrange College 19. Hardin-Simmons University every scholarship or grant opportunity, public or private, which may be available 20. Howard Payne University through either of the institutions. I accept this agreement as a position of trust as 21. Houston Baptist University well as an opportunity to continue my studies in a Christian College environment. 22. Judson College (Alabama) 23. Louisiana College 24. Mary Hardin-Baylor, Univ. of Student Signature______Date______25. Mid-Continent University
IABCU Annual Meeting and Workshops May 31–June 2, 2009 Renaissance Ross Bridge Hotel Birmingham, Alabama Hosted by Samford University Programming for: Presidents, Chief Academic Officers, Chief Financial Officers, Public Relations/Marketing Officers, Chief Development Officers, Student Affairs Officers, Denominational Relations Officers
Register online and make hotel reservations at www.baptistschools.org
Second Quarter–2009 11 Presidents of IABCU Member Schools Dr. Evans P. Whitaker Dr. Ronald L. Ellis Dr. Bob E. Riley President President President Anderson University California Baptist University Dr. Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver 316 Boulevard 8432 Magnolia Avenue President-Elect Anderson, SC 29621 Riverside, CA 92504 East Texas Baptist University 1209 North Grove Street Dr. Thomas A. Kinchen Dr. Jerry Wallace Marshall, TX 76570-1498 President President Baptist College of Florida Campbell University Dr. Kenneth Ridings 5400 College Drive P. O. Box 127 President Graceville, FL 32440 Buies Creek, NC 27506 Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute 1455 Gilliam Road Dr. Betty Sue McGarvey Dr. Michael Carter Hendersonville, NC 28792-9222 President President Baptist College of Health Sciences Campbellsville University Dr. Frank Bonner 1003 Monroe Avenue 1 University Drive President Memphis, TN 38104 Campbellsville, KY 42718-2799 Gardner-Webb University P. O. Box 997 Dr. René Maciel Dr. Randall O’Brien Boiling Springs, NC 28017 President President Baptist University of the Americas Carson-Newman College Dr. William H. Crouch, Jr. 8019 South Pan Am Expressway 1646 Russell Avenue President San Antonio, TX 78224 Jefferson City, TN 37760 Georgetown College 400 East College Street Dr. David E. Garland Dr. Jairy C. Hunter, Jr. Georgetown, KY 40324-1696 Interim President President Baylor University Charleston Southern University Dr. Jeff Iorg P. O. Box 97096 P. O. Box 118087 President Waco, TX 76798 Charleston, SC 29423-8087 Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary Dr. Robert Fisher Dr. M. Christopher White 201 Seminary Drive President President Mill alley, CA 94941-3197 Belmont University Chowan University 1900 Belmont Boulevard 200 Jones Drive Dr. Woodrow W. Burt, Jr. Nashville, TN 37212-3757 Murfreesboro, NC 27855 President Hannibal-LaGrange College Dr. Bettye R. Coward Dr. Donnie Fox 2800 Palmyra Road President President Hannibal, MO 63401 Blue Mountain College Clear Creek Baptist Bible College BMC Box 338 300 Clear Creek Road Dr. Lanny Hall Blue Mountain, MS 38610 Pineville, KY 40977 President Hardin-Simmons University Dr. David Olive Dr. James H. Taylor 2200 Hickory Street President President Abilene, TX 79698 Bluefield College University of the Cumberlands 3000 College Drive 6191 College Station Drive Dr. Robert Sloan Bluefield, VA 24605 Williamsburg, KY 40769 President Houston Baptist University Dr. David R. Smith Dr. Gary R. Cook 7502 Fondren Road President President Houston, TX 77074-3298 Brewton-Parker College Dallas Baptist University Highway 280 3000 Mountain Creek Parkway (POSITION VACANT) Mt. Vernon, GA 30445-0197 Dallas, TX 75211-9299 President Howard Payne University 1000 Fisk Brownwood, TX 76801-2794
12 The Educator Dr. David E. Potts Dr. David Clark Dr. Tommy King President President President Judson College Palm Beach Atlantic University William Carey University P. O. Box 120 P. O. Box 24708 498 Tuscan Avenue Marion, AL 36756 West Palm Beach, FL 33416 Hattiesburg, MS 39401-5499
Dr. Joe Aguillard Dr. Andrew Westmoreland Dr. Jerol B. Swaim President President President Louisiana College Samford University Williams Baptist College P.O. Box 583 800 Lakeshore Drive P. O. Box 3578 Pineville, LA 71359-0508 Birmingham, AL 35229 Walnut Ridge, AR 72476
Dr. Dan Lunsford Dr. Harold Newman Dr. William S. Phillips President President President Mars Hill College Shorter College Yellowstone Baptist College 50 Marshall Street 315 Shorter Avenue 1515 South Shiloh Road Mars Hill, NC 28754 Rome, GA 30165-4298 Billings, MT 59106 I Dr. William Underwood Dr. C. Pat Taylor President President Palm Beach Atlantic University Mercer University Southwest Baptist University President David Clark Receives 1400 Coleman Avenue 1600 University Avenue Macon, GA 31207 Bolivar, MO 65613 Prestigious Broadcasters Award David W. Clark, president of Palm Dr. Robert Imhoff Dr. Emir Caner Beach Atlantic University, is the 2009 President President recipient of the prestigious William Ward Mid-Continent University Truett-McConnell College Ayer Distinguished Service Award given 99 Powell Road East 100 Alumni Drive by the National Religious Broadcasters Mayfield, KY 42066 Cleveland, GA 30528 (NRB) at their national convention held recently in Nashville. Dr. Lee G. Royce Dr. David S. Dockery “I have had the wonderful privilege of President President serving the Lord in many aspects of Mississippi College Union University Christian broadcasting over the years,” said 200 W. College Street, Box 4001 1050 University Drive Clark in accepting the award. “I am deeply Clinton, MS 39058 Jackson, TN 38305 honored by this award in the name of William Ward Ayer, one of the pioneers Dr. R. Alton Lacey Dr. Jerry G. Bawcom and founders of NRB.” President President A member of the NRB board of direc- Missouri Baptist University Dr. Randy O’Rear tors for 30 years, Clark served two three- One College Park Drive President-Elect year terms as chairman and also as St. Louis, MO 63141-8698 University of Mary Hardin-Baylor treasurer. He launched and raised money UMH-B Box 8001 for the Legal Defense Fund and served as Dr. James B. Epting Belton, TX 76513-2599 chair of every major committee of NRB. President Clark’s extensive work in the commu- North Greenville University Dr. Michael Puglisi nication field includes vice president of P. O. Box 1892 President marketing for CBN, founding dean of the Tigerville, SC 29688 Virginia Intermont College College of Communication at Regent 1013 Moore Street University, vice president of media for the Southern Baptist Convention in North Dr. David W. Whitlock Bristol, VA 24201 President America, president of KMC Media, and FamilyNet. Oklahoma Baptist University Dr. Paul W. Armes While at FamilyNet he executive-pro- 500 West University St., Box 61241 President Shawnee, OK 74804 duced dozens of television and radio pro- Wayland Baptist University grams, including the Emmy Award- 1900 West Seventh St., CMB 689 winner “We Shall Not be Moved.” Dr. Rex Horne Plainview, TX 79072-6998 Clark also has appeared on many tele- President vision programs, such as the Today Show, Ouachita Baptist University to discuss Christian broadcasting. I OBU Box 3753 Arkadelphia, AR 71998
Second Quarter–2009 13 Legal Notes by Jim Guenther How the Stimulus Law Makes Aid To Church-Related Schools Constitutional—But, There May Be No Aid Anyway
he whole universe of those persons who have actually read “(3)- While none of our elected representatives could have read all Tmodernization, renovation or repair of facilities,” of “(c)- this bill, at least one Senator, Jim DeMint (SC), had keyed in on Additional Prohibition,” of “Section 14004-Uses of Funds By this provision. The Senate version had originally said this a little Institutions of Higher Education,” of “Title XIV-State Fiscal differently. “A” had read: Stabilization Fund,” of “Division A-Appropriation Provisions,” of the Facility funds may not be “used for sectarian instruction, reli- act of Congress which goes by the “short title” (and that is all that is gious worship, or a school or department of divinity.” mercifully “short” about it) of “The American Recovery and (I suspect the congressional staff and administrative bureau- Restoration Act of 2009,” must be small. Having found that little sec- crats who were in the trenches struggling with the words decided tion, I joined that universe, but I am too tired to be proud. that this version was redundant, so they dropped “or a school or But if a lawyer is going to talk about the law, he ought to first department of divinity” since “sectarian instruction” would cover read the law. Valid proposition? If so, might this also be a valid divinity schools). proposition: For a senator or congressman to vote on a law, he We had alerted our higher education clients to this language, ought to first read the law. Maybe so, but surely no legislator who and opined (a) that church-related schools, even those which voted for the stimulus bill would claim to have first read it. might be deemed “pervasively sectarian,” would be eligible to Here is what 14004(c)(3) of Division A of Title XIV says: “No receive funding at the option of a governor, as long as the funds funds awarded under this title may be used for. . . modernization, were not used in facilities used for sectarian instruction or wor- renovation, or repair of facilities (A) used for sectarian instruction ship; and (b) that such aid would be constitutional. or religious worship, or (B) in which a substantial portion of the But, DeMint was not certain about the constitutionality. So he functions of the facilities are subsumed in a religious mission.” asked the Congressional Research Service for an opinion. The That’s what, out of all the pages it took to write this law down, response he received said, “A prohibition of this sort. . . likely is I most needed to know. I knew that private higher education had required to be included under U.S. Supreme Court precedent.” lost out on direct aid. But, I also knew that the governors are The opinion went on to summarize the state of the law thusly: going to get discretionary funds to help the states fund: “key ser- Early Court decisions required direct aid programs to be lim- vices,” and that “education” is a key service. So my question was: ited to secular use. However, even if the aid was limited to secular Can a state governor use some of the money to fund a private col- use, the Court often found the aid program to be unconstitutional lege or university, and, can a governor fund a church-related pri- because it presumed that, in pervasively sectarian institutions like vate college? religious schools, it was impossible for public aid to be limited to I first discovered that the governors were told in the Act that secular use. they “shall not consider the type or mission of an institution of Later Court decisions lowered the constitutional barriers to higher education, and shall consider any institution for funding direct aid to sectarian schools, specifically abandoning the for modernization, renovation and repairs.” So far, so good. “Any assumption that religious schools are so pervasively sectarian that institution” includes private institutions, and “type of mission” direct aid results in the advancement of religion or fosters exces- seems to suggest that my Baptist college and university clients, sive entanglement. The Court still requires that direct aid serve a with their Christian mission, might be included among those who secular purpose and not lead to excessive entanglement. It also could be “considered” for financial help. requires that the aid be secular in nature, that its distribution be But, I needed more. Anytime congress or a state legislature based on religiously neutral criteria, and that it not be used for makes funding directly available to a church-related college or religious indoctrination. university, the question arises: “Is the funding an unconstitutional The Congressional Research Service opinion concluded that establishment of religion?” the law, with this prohibition in it, is constitutional, that repairing There it was! In this prohibition, Congress recited the mantra educational facilities serves a secular purpose, and that no exces- created by the courts. In those few words quoted above, Congress sive entanglement with religion would result from funding going said it knew what it was doing. It knew what limitations were to a religious school. The Service also concluded the aid itself was needed in order to make this possible funding of church-related secular and that all schools were eligible without regard to their schools pass constitutional muster. While private, church-related religious character. institutions of higher education with their special mission might So, while the drafting was fast and the enactment route a bit receive direct funding, that money could not be used for sectarian tortured, the stimulus package got it constitutionally right. instruction or religious worship or for a facilities whose use was Unfortunately, it is probably unlikely that governors will use any “subsumed in a religious mission.” of the money to aid private institutions. If Congress had passed this stimulus bill with church-related Did we win the battle but lose the war? schools in line for direct assistance and had not put in that limita- ______tion, the Constitution would have effectively inserted it anyway. Jim Guenther is a partner in the law firm of Guenther, Jordan So, just to signal that they understood their legislative restrictions, and Price, P.C. in Nashville, Tennessee, 615-329-2100. I Congress said it.
14 The Educator Mercer Announces Four-Year ing millions of dollars in institutionally funded The plans developed by the committees scholarships to ensure that the University offers for the listening sessions include more than a Graduation Guarantee the affordable value that national publications dozen separate meetings to be held in Waco With a goal of reducing the cost of a college have recognized. The Princeton Review has des- and around Texas. Plans call for separate ses- education for students and their families, ignated Mercer as a “Best Value” for its excellent sions to help ensure that each group has the Mercer University has announced an initiative academics and “relatively low costs of atten- opportunity to provide equal input. called the “Four-Year Pledge” to help more dance,” while U.S. News & World Report Additional topics of discussion included undergraduate students earn their degrees on includes Mercer on its list of “Great Schools, the selection of the Atlanta-based firm of Great Prices.” time. Baker and Associates which has been chosen “With this pledge, we seek to ensure that Trends over the past decade indicate that to assist with the national search for Baylor's college students are increasingly failing to grad- our students enter the next phase of their lives next president. uate within four years. Nationally, the average much faster than the national average—avoid- The committees recommend the Baylor time from matriculation to graduation now ing the additional financial burden that results exceeds five years, with only 37 percent of stu- from prolonging an undergraduate education Presidential Search web site a: dents graduating in four years. This trend is and accelerating their journey to becoming pro-
Second Quarter–2009 15 If the address on this label is wrong, please send it NonProfit along with your correct address to: Organization International Association of Baptist US POSTAGE Colleges and Universities PAID Attn: Baptist Educator Permit No. 768 8120 Sawyer Brown Road, Suite 108 Nashville, TN Nashville, TN 37221-1410
Taking the ‘Evangelism’ of Education Seriously: A Chinese and American Perspective UPDATE by Carolyn Bishop, CGE President • www.cgedu.org • Phone: 770-321-4897
e frequently read in the news about as a vehicle. In the article this philosophy by a strict adherence to a national curricu- WChina’s value for rapid urbanization and was articulated in meetings by China’s presi- lum. economic growth as we watch the growth of dent and educational leaders, when respond- The American faculty adding education- global companies like Haier and Lenovo ing about the development of Confucian al and creative value to what was basic become world trade names. centers in America. They reported that the knowledge seemed to be like adding water to Is there any serious educational value to Chinese have been very careful and thought- a thirsty plant. Each day seemed to bring be learned from their success? A CGE dele- ful about “assuaging the fears of the rest of more enthusiastic responses, questions, chal- gation’s visit to the headquarters of Haier the world and that there is a benign element lenges, connections to prior learning, appli- several years ago included a session with of their language strategy: to help educate.” cation to what was just learned and requests Haier’s president. He told us that one day he CGE gained some additional perspective constantly for more and more teaching prac- walked through their factory and saw evi- on the viability of educational “evangelism” tice. Maybe this “watering principle” and dence of less than quality product. He asked this past January as we hosted 25 Chinese “educational evangelism” can be applied to some workers to bring out examples of their high school teachers of English from many CGE programs and practices as we new products and in front of all the gath- Beijing’s Chaoyang District. also want to increase the power of education ered workers he took a sledge hammer to Their program objective was to increase without the threat to anyone’s security. the products. As the workers expressed their understanding of America as a harmo- Just as educational “evangelism” was shock, their leader seriously explained that nious English speaking partner nation and expressed and promoted by their own if they produce junk, this is what should to develop their English teaching ability Chinese leaders, this group seemed to flour- become of it. using American methodology and skillful ish with added value being given to known From then on he raised the value of classroom teaching practices. We accompa- fact and practice. expectations, pride, and work ethic for Haier nied the teacher’s group—two Chinese dis- Even their visit to the National Cathedral which has now out produced most other trict officials, and one China Star just seemed to whet an appetite for learning Chinese companies. Haier’s president pas- director—for five days in Washington D.C., a religious vocabulary of faith practices. sionately and seriously educated his workers brief visit to Atlanta, and two weeks in During the following two weeks they often that day! Birmingham to study on Samford’s campus. related that to their research opportunities Can values and principles be taught in In thinking back on their reactions and and cultural experiences. international educational experiences and reflections, four impressions emerge: These vibrant responses were evidence of become a sparkplug for learning? Could this 1) the Chinese teachers knew basic the professionalism and core values lived by approach be called a type of educational American history with a high factual knowl- all CGE participants from Samford, as the “evangelism”? edge of America’s Founding Fathers yet had lead school, and Anderson and Mercer as One reporter wrote that Chinese bureau- a lesser knowledge about principles or val- additional hosts for the Chinese officials. crats are taking their “evangelism” of educa- ues that shaped decisions for creating our The teaching and study of languages in tion seriously (Erard, Michael. “The new nation’s laws and establishing personal America should not be ignored as an impor- Mandarin Offensive, inside Beijing’s global freedoms; tant “evangelistic” tool for adding value campaign to make Chinese the number one 2) all had experience teaching English based learning experiences and portraying language in the world, “Wired Magazine, while their emphasis on the value of speak- key principles that produce critical out- April 2006). ing effectively was widely varied; comes. For westerners, this phrase appears to be 3) their ability to reflect and their enthu- Not only can CGE members connect an interesting use of “evangelism” to convey siasm for more than surface value learning better in language study practices with China’s ardent commitment, in this article, seemed to increase rapidly when encouraged China and other countries, we can also con- to expanding the use of Mandarin language and nurtured by the American professors; nect effectively with the hearts and minds of learning. China officials want to emerge as a 4) their desire for teaching creatively in international colleagues to share core values global power without threatening global the classroom appeared developed in that are a vibrant part of CGE campuses. I security and see Mandarin language learning thoughtful principle yet seemed hampered
16 The Educator