MACON, Ga. (ABP) — Church historian Walter Shurden, founding executive director of Mercer University's Center for Baptist Studies, will receive the fifth annual Judson-Rice Award from Baptists Today.
Mercer President Kirby Godsey will present the award on behalf of the board of directors of the independent, national news journal at an April 22 dinner at the Loudermilk Conference Center in downtown Atlanta.
Shurden, a Mississippi native, served for 18 years as chair of the department of Christianity at Mercer. He and his wife, Kay, are active members of First Baptist Church of Macon, Ga. Earlier he taught church history at Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tenn., and at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., where he was dean of the school of theology.
“Dr. Shurden is an outstanding scholar and an exemplary churchman,” said John Pierce, executive editor of Baptists Today. “He understands the context for doing ministry and communicates so effectively both as a speaker and writer.”
Shurden will give an address following the award presentation. He is the author of several books, including Not A Silent People: Controversies That Have Shaped Southern Baptists and The Baptist Identity: Four Fragile Freedoms.
The Judson-Rice Award was created in 2001 to commemorate the contributions of early Baptist mission leaders Adoniram and Ann Hasseltine Judson and Luther Rice and to recognize a current Baptist leader who has demonstrated important leadership while maintaining the highest integrity, according to Baptists Today.
Previous recipients are communications pioneer Jimmy Allen, author and speaker Tony Campolo, former seminary president Russell Dilday and missions advocate Alma Hunt.