The start of an academic year is always full of promise. We are only a few weeks into the semester at Baylor, and I am already thankful for so much. Earlier this month we announced a new strategic plan – Baylor in Deeds – that will guide the University for the next five years. Now that Baylor has risen to a Christian Research 1 university, we have an opportunity to shine God’s light around the world in even more significant ways. Our students will always remain our top priority, and we must prepare them to lead now and into the future in an ever-changing global environment.

The Baylor mission is to educate men and women for worldwide leadership and service by integrating academic excellence and Christian commitment within a caring community. Drawing an even stronger connection between our mission and our motto, in May the Board of Regents approved expanding the University’s motto by adding Pro Mundo (For the World) to Pro Ecclesia, Pro Texana (For Church, For Texas). The motto – unchanged since 1851 – is inscribed on the official Baylor seal, its iconic class rings and the medallion worn by the President during commencement exercises.

As President, I am honored to lead more than 20,000 students, 3,000 faculty and staff and 160,000 living alumni who make up the Baylor Family. This year, we saw a record number of undergraduate student applications, one indicator that interest in Baylor remains high, and we continue to make gains in retention as well as diversity. In fact, one area of increasing diversity at Baylor is in Christian tradition. More than 20% of Baylor’s undergraduate students identify as non-denominational, followed by 19% Baptist and 16% Catholic. I pray we continue to provide an environment in which students from these and other denominations feel welcomed and cared for, a place where Matthew 5:14-16 is our guide.

The purpose of the Light From Baylor e-newsletter is to share our many blessings with you – senior and lead pastors across Texas and beyond. As you read, I hope you will find a story that piques your interest or something you want to share with a pastor friend or co-laborer. Feel free to pass it along to him or her so they can sign up for our next edition in the spring.

It is an exciting time to be at Baylor, and I look forward to sharing more with you about how we strive to strengthen our Christian Mission while maintaining our historic Baptist roots.

Sincerely,

Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D.
President

Baylor in Deeds

I am excited to announce that just a few days ago we introduced Baylor in Deeds, our new University strategic plan! Baylor in Deeds is grounded in Baylor’s Christian mission and guided by four foundational pillars that have shaped the University over the course of its history – Distinctive Christian Environment and Impact; Transformational Undergraduate Educational Experience; Impactful Research, Scholarship, and Graduate Education; and Renowned Programs in the Arts and Athletics.

With four imperatives interwoven across four commitments, Baylor in Deeds embraces the global calling we have as a Christian university and the global impact we can now make as a Research 1 institution. Furthermore, the simultaneous addition of Pro Mundo (For the World) to our Pro Ecclesia, Pro Texana (For Church, For Texas) motto is a vital expression of the University we know and love today. Baylor brings an important Christian perspective in an increasingly complex and challenging world, and we must lead in developing solutions through our scholarship and research and in preparing students to live, work and flourish in this global society.

Deepening Baylor’s Baptist Roots

Baylor’s Baptist roots go all the way back to the University’s founding in 1845 when we were chartered by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers. For nearly two centuries Baylor and Baptists have labored together for God’s glory, and I am so pleased to report to you that the Baptist World Alliance formally welcomed Baylor and Truett as a full member of the alliance. This new relationship will expand our connection to the Baptist General Convention of Texas, which is also a member, and provide exciting opportunities for the Baylor Family to impact the world for Christ.

This year we also strengthened our connection to Dallas Baptist University – announcing in May a second academic degree partnership. Dallas Baptist students will now be able to transfer undergraduate course credits to Baylor to pursue a degree from Baylor’s School of Engineering and Computer Science. Baylor and Dallas Baptist have a similar agreement in place in nursing. Given our historic ties, it’s important that we support one another and collaborate as we produce graduates who have a Christian perspective on the world.

Celebrating Truett Seminary

This year marks the 30th anniversary of Baylor’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary, and the celebration kicked off with a special event last month in Waco. In a short video, the Truett community reflected upon the Seminary’s storied history, enjoyed life-giving worship and fellowship, and considered a hope-filled future marked by growth and development to prepare well the next generation of pastors and ministry leaders. Since 1994 Truett has grown from its original home on the second floor of First Baptist Church, Waco, to vibrant campuses at Baylor, in San Antonio and in Houston.

Some of Truett’s students are training to serve in the Wesleyan tradition through the Wesley House of Studies, which is a community of Wesleyan students, scholars and ministry leaders at Truett. As a part of the program, students receive academic certification, denominational affiliation and ministry connections. The Wesley House’s flagship curriculum is the Pastoral Study Program for the Global Methodist Church, and it is one example of how Truett has grown its reach and impact during its three decades of faithful service to the Kingdom.

Staying Connected to Texas Baptists

Baylor University has a long and fruitful history with the Baptist General Convention of Texas, and our relationship with these Texas Baptists continues to thrive. This year I have the pleasure of leading the president’s group of the Baptist General Convention of Texas’s Education Partners, which includes affiliated Baptist colleges and universities. And Waco will again host the annual Texas Baptists meeting this fall, just steps away from the Baylor campus.

Dr. Julio Guarneri, Executive Director of the BGCT, led our Faculty and Staff Chapel service last spring. He also joined me for a special signing ceremony deeding land owned by Baylor to the BGCT for a new Baptist Student Ministries building. The new BSM center will provide another sacred space on our campus for Baylor students to grow spiritually, know God and make Him known. To demonstrate their commitment to the project, Texas Baptists have raised more than $3 million of the estimated $9 million needed to build the facility and create an endowment to cover its upkeep.

Faith and Character Formation

Since a deep commitment to Christian faith guides the minds and hearts of Baylor faculty and staff, we strive to provide opportunities to foster their spiritual wellbeing. One example is Baylor’s Institute for Faith and Learning (IFL). The IFL welcomed a new director in August, Dr. Elisabeth Kincaid. A theologian, lawyer and business ethics scholar, Dr. Kincaid is charged with helping us continue to integrate academic excellence and Christian commitment through a wide-ranging series of activities and programs, including recommendations from the Spiritual Wellbeing Task Force.

Another example is the Bridges to Belonging: Accessible Ministry with Youth and Young Adults program, which equips churches to welcome and support young people with disabilities, mental health challenges and chronic illnesses. This collaboration between Truett Seminary, the Baylor Center for Developmental Disabilities and the Center for Church and Community Impact creates an opportunity for participants to learn how to engage creatively with young people with disabilities, reflect theologically on disability and ministry, and adapt and apply practices in accessible, enriching, and spiritually formative ways.

A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)