Baylor Adding Non-Baptists To Governing Board
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - The world's largest Baptist university will soon allow people from outside the denomination to serve on the school's board of regents.
At a meeting Friday in Dallas, Baylor University's Board of Regents voted to allow up to 25 percent of the board to come from outside the Baptist church. Currently, all members of the board are Baptists, with 25 percent of the board elected by the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
The regents say the change in the university bylaws was recognition of the 'changing demographic' of the university, but still affirmed the Christian mission of the Waco-based school. The university's school of nursing is located in Dallas.
"We recognize that there are, within the Baylor family and outside of it, deeply committed fellow Christians who share Baylor's mission, vision and core theological principles but who are not currently affiliated in their church life with a Baptist congregation," board chairman and Dallas resident R. Dary Stone said in a statement.
The board approved additional scholarship money to children of Baptist ministers and missionaries as a part of Friday's move.
Last year Baylor hired former U. S. Independent Council Kenneth Starr as president, marking the first time a non-baptist was picked to lead the 166-year-old school. He joined Waco's First Baptist Church shortly after being hired.
