How does a moment morph from repeatably mundane to irreversibly transformative? That question has echoed through my mind countless times across more than 46 years — since an unrecorded lecture in an unremarkable classroom on an otherwise unmemorable autumn morning…
Peter James Flamming, ‘bridge-building’ pastor in Texas and Virginia
Peter James Flamming, one of the best-known “moderate” Southern Baptist preachers of the 20th century, died in Richmond, Va., March 27, at age 89. In 1986, Flamming joined the Southern Baptist Convention’s Peace Committee to fill the spot vacated by…
Hardin-Simmons and McMurry reach agreement on nursing school
A dispute between Hardin-Simmons University and McMurry University — both located in Abilene, Texas — over the future of a shared nursing school has been resolved, according to a joint news release. Hardin-Simmons, a Baptist school, will establish its own…
Hardin-Simmons trustees give embattled president three-year contract extension
Less than three weeks after 76% of the faculty at Hardin-Simmons University voted “no confidence” in President Eric Bruntmyer, the West Texas school’s trustees gave him a three-year contract extension. “The board has full confidence in President Bruntmyer and believes…
Despite faculty vote of ‘no confidence’ in president, Hardin-Simmons trustees express ‘great confidence’
In response to a 76% faculty vote of no confidence — the second of its kind — in President Eric Bruntmyer, the trustee chairman of Hardin-Simmons University has assured students all is well. In an email addressed to “dear students”…
Hardin-Simmons faculty overwhelmingly vote no confidence in president
Three-fourths of the faculty of Hardin-Simmons University have affirmed a “no confidence” vote in President Eric Bruntmyer. BNG confirmed the action with multiple sources with direct knowledge of the faculty vote, and the Baptist Standard confirmed the news with HSU…
Here’s what’s wrong with the new Hardin Simmons Statement of Faith
As a graduate of Hardin-Simmons University’s class of 2019, I recently became aware of the board of trustees newly released Statement of Faith, which was adopted on May 19, 2022. Of particular note is the trustee’s declaration on sexuality and…
My story of being trans and the conservative Baptist school that made me that way
Catchy headline, right? You may be asking how it was possible that a trans person could even begin to thank a conservative Christian university. No, this is not another piece on how conservative evangelical Christianity made my life so bad…
West Texas Baptist university adopts new faith statement with strict emphasis on gender and marriage
Trustees of Hardin-Simmons University in West Texas have adopted a new statement of faith that focuses on “two genetic sexes” and marriage as “a life-long, covenant relationship between one genetic male and one genetic female” as articles of faith. The…