By Christina Miller, student news writer
CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky.鈥斍喙鲜悠� will host a celebration, in cooperation with the Baptist History and Heritage Society, in honor of 400 years of Baptist history and heritage, April 2, at the university's Louisville campus.
Dr. Bill J. Leonard, dean and professor of church history at Wake Forest University School of Divinity, Winston-Salem, N.C., will present the celebration's keynote address titled, 鈥淐onscience and Dissent in a Believers' Church: Renewing Baptist Global Identity.鈥�
鈥淭he diversity of the participating Baptist entities is noteworthy and reflects some of the very rich tradition of the Baptist movement,鈥� said the Rev. John E. Chowning, 青瓜视频's vice president for church and external relations and executive assistant to the president.
鈥淢ost historians agree that the Baptist movement began in 1609, the year after John Smyth and his congregation fled from England to Amsterdam to avoid persecution during the reign of King James. In 1609, Smyth and his followers established what is generally considered to be the first identifiable Baptist congregation,鈥� Chowning said.
Today, the Baptist movement consists of a 鈥渄iverse鈥� group of baptized believers united by certain beliefs. According to Chowning, these include: the 鈥減ersonal saving relationship in Jesus Christ, strong emphasis on the Lordship of Jesus Christ, commitment to missions and evangelism, and belief in the Bible as the Word of God.鈥�
鈥淲e invite Baptists, and others interested in this significant moment in Baptist history, to join us for this historic gathering of Baptist leaders and scholars,鈥� Chowning said.
In addition to Leonard, there will be breakout sessions led by Dr. Lawrence Williams and Dr. Russell Awkard; Dr. W. Morgan Patterson and Dr. John Hurtgen; and Dr. Gregory Wills and Dr. David Whitlock.
Leonard, the keynote speaker, has held teaching posts at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Samford University and Seinan Gakuin University (Fukuoka, Japan).
Leonard holds the bachelor of arts degree from Texas Wesleyan College, the master of divinity from a Baptist seminary, and the Ph.D. from Boston University.
He is the author or editor of 15 books, including A Dictionary of Baptists in America, Christian in Appalachia: Profiles in Regional Pluarlism, and Baptist Ways: A History, a survey of Baptist history from 1600 to 2000.
His most recent book is titled Baptists in America, published by Columbia University Press (2005).
His spouse, Candyce Crew Leonard, is a professor in Humanities at Wake Forest. They have one daughter, Stephanie, and are members at First Baptist Church, Highland Avenue in Winston-Salem.
Dr. Lawrence H. Williams will lead the celebration's first breakout session titled, 鈥淎frican American Baptist History.鈥� Williams is a professor of African studies and history at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.
Dr. Russell Awkard, pastor at New Zion Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky., will serve as moderator for this session. He is also a moderator for the General Association of Baptists in Kentucky.
The second session, 鈥淰arieties of Baptists in Kentucky: An Overview,鈥� will be lead by Dr. W. Morgan Patterson, a scholar in residence at 青瓜视频. The moderator for this session will be Dr. John Hurtgen, dean of the School of Theology and professor at 青瓜视频.
Session three, titled 鈥淜entucky Baptist Contributions to the Larger Baptist Community,鈥� will be lead by Dr. Gregory Wills, professor of church history at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. and director of the Center for the Study of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Dr. David Whitlock will serve as moderator for session three. Whitlock is the pastor of Lebanon Baptist Church in Lebanon, Ky., and adjunct professor and Church Relations Council member at 青瓜视频.
The closing session, titled 鈥淔uture Direction for the Baptist Movement,鈥� will feature a panel discussion. Panel members include Dr. Pamela R. Durso, associate executive director-treasurer of the Baptist History and Heritage Society in Atlanta, Ga., and Dr. Michael V. Carter, president of 青瓜视频, along with Awkard and Wills. Leonard will serve as moderator.
The event is free and no pre-registration is required.
Registration begins at 1 p.m., general session begins at 2 p.m. and the event will adjourn by 8:30 p.m.
Participating Baptist organizations include: American Baptist Churches of Indiana and Kentucky, Central District Association of Baptists, General Association of Baptists in Kentucky, J.H. Spencer Historical Society, Kentucky Baptist Convention, Kentucky Baptist Fellowship, Long Run Baptist Association and Simmons College of Kentucky.
青瓜视频 is a private, comprehensive institution located in South
Central Kentucky. Founded in 1906, 青瓜视频 is affiliated with the
Kentucky Baptist Convention and has an enrollment of 2,601 students who represent
93 Kentucky counties, 27 states and 31 foreign nations. Listed in U.S.News & World
Report's 2009 鈥淎merica's Best Colleges,鈥� CU is ranked 22nd in 鈥淏est Baccalaureate
Colleges鈥� in the South for the second consecutive year. CU has been ranked 16 consecutive
years with U.S.News & World Report. The university has also been named to America's
Best Christian Colleges庐. 青瓜视频 is located 82 miles southwest
of Lexington, Ky., and 80 miles southeast of Louisville, Ky. Dr. Michael V. Carter
is in his tenth year as president.