1050 U.U. Drive

News Briefs

Debate team wins top award in IPDA

Union University’s debate team won the Founders Award at the International Public Debate Association Season-Long Awards in March for the fifth year in a row. The Founders Award is the highest possible award in IPDA and combines scores from all divisions and tournaments throughout the year.

Web Drake, chair of Union’s department of communication arts and director of debate, said with this win, Union is tied as the winningest school in the association. He said Union’s continued success speaks to the intelligence of its students and the academic rigor of its classrooms.

“One of our cornerstones is excellence-driven,” he said. “And this really demonstrates that we are excellent, that our students are getting an excellent education.”

Josiah McGee, a junior international relations major and team captain for the debate team, said being part of the debate team for three years has improved his writing, communication and research skills.

“Debate has taught me to think critically and quickly and communicate respectfully,” he said.

In addition to the Founders Award, Union’s debate team also won five of six tournaments this year and received several individual awards. Because of the team’s achievements, April 5, 2018, was also proclaimed Union University Debate Team Day by the City of Jackson.

Union launches associate degree option for adult students

Union University has added a new associate degree to its programs for adult students. Adults may now earn an Associate of Science in Professional Studies degree and choose from a variety of career-related paths.

“This new associate degree affirms Union University’s commitment to adult students,” said Beverly Absher-Bone, dean of the School of Adult and Professional Studies. “Our mission is to prepare adults to advance in their careers and in service to their communities. An associate degree can provide the first step towards a pay increase or new career opportunity.”

Three concentrations are offered for the associate degree in professional studies: Christian leadership, human services and organizational leadership. The degree requires 60 semester hours of credit, and courses are scheduled to be compatible with adults’ busy schedules.

For more information, visit uu.edu/aps.

Union provides trip to Israel for Baptist directors of missions

Union University and the Tennessee Baptist Convention partnered to send 25 directors of missions to Israel for the first time in January.

Union University President Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver led the trip alongside Nathan Finn, dean of Union’s School of Theology and Missions, and Ernest Easley, professor of evangelism at Union. Easley said he decided he wanted to send these directors of missions to Israel after realizing at their annual meeting in April that almost none of them had visited the country before. He said he was blessed to be able to work with Union to provide that opportunity.

“For some of them, it was a dream come true to actually walk where Jesus walked,” Easley said. “To stand in the middle of the Jordan River area where the children of Israel crossed over into the Promised Land; to be at Caesarea where Paul was imprisoned. What they have believed and read all their lives suddenly comes alive to them.”

By partnering with a land operator in Israel, Union and the TBC were able to pay the way for these directors of missions from Baptist associations across the state to make the trip.

“We wanted to thank and encourage these men who serve as directors of missions,” Oliver said. “They really are servants for the church. They’re helping encourage the things we all care about, like evangelism, discipleship, church growth and development.”

Dockery speaks on Baptists and evangelicals at second annual Dockery Lectures

Former Union University President David S. Dockery spoke on the relationship between Southern Baptists and evangelicals at the second annual Dockery Lectures on Baptist Thought and Heritage at Union Feb. 5.

The lecture series, named in Dockery’s honor, was established in 2016 with former Union professor James Patterson delivering the 2017 lectures. Dockery served as Union’s president from 1996-2014 and now serves as president of Trinity International University in Deerfield, Illinois.

Dockery’s afternoon lecture, titled “Southern Baptists and Evangelicals: Why Southern Baptists Need Evangelicals,” focused on the relationship between those two groups, specifically in the conservative resurgence of the second half of the 20th century. When conservative Southern Baptists sought to uphold the inerrancy of the Bible at the 1979 convention, they found few within their denomination who would defend it.

“They looked down the long bench of theologians to see who could represent them in this debate,” Dockery said. “They generally had to look beyond the teaching theologians of the SBC for guidance. These Southern Baptist leaders in the late 1970s and early 1980s turned to… voices across the broader evangelical world.”

In addition to the afternoon lecture, Dockery gave an evening lecture addressing the other side of the relationship between these groups titled “Evangelicals and Southern Baptists: Why Evangelicals Need Southern Baptists.”

Educator preparation programs score high on state report card

Union University’s School of Education has been rated in the highest possible category on the Tennessee State Board of Education’s report card on the effectiveness of teacher training programs for the second year in a row.

The report card, which was implemented in its current version in 2015, is designed to give accountability to educator preparation programs and supply information they can use to improve their effectiveness. Union was rated on its undergraduate, graduate and Memphis Teacher Residency programs and received an overall performance score of four, the highest possible.

Dottie Myatt, assistant dean for teacher education and accreditation at Union, said the rating is a clear reflection of the quality of the faculty at Union.

“We have a very strong teacher preparation team that works diligently to prepare teachers for today’s classrooms, whether it’s an urban classroom or a rural classroom or anything between those,” Myatt said.

Derryberry, Bradford share story of friendship at EDGE fundraiser

HK Derryberry and Jim Bradford, authors of “The Awakening of HK Derryberry,” shared the story of their friendship at “The Power of Friendship,” a fundraiser for the Union EDGE program Feb. 15.

Bradford met Derryberry at a Mrs. Winner’s chicken restaurant when Derryberry was 9 years old. His grandmother brought him to the restaurant on weekends during her work shifts. Bradford saw him there and began to come by every Saturday morning to spend time with him. Derryberry is blind and has cerebral palsy. He was born three months premature after an automobile accident killed his mother.

Through Bradford’s help, Derryberry was also diagnosed with Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory, an ability that allows him to remember a vast number of life experiences. Fewer than 100 people have received the diagnosis, and none of them share Derryberry’s physical disabilities.

“In life, I have always been considered the underdog,” Derryberry said. “What I mean by that is people tell me things I can’t do without complementing me on things that I can.”

The Union EDGE program was started in 2015 and exists to give students with intellectual and developmental disabilities the opportunity to have a college experience. The students live and work on campus alongside students in traditional programs while learning life skills, employment skills and social skills. All funds raised at the event will go to scholarships for the EDGE program.

More than 800 attend third annual West Tennessee Evangelism Rally

Christians must ask everyone to follow Jesus and willingly associate with those who don’t follow Jesus, Georgia pastor James Merritt said at Union University March 4 during the West Tennessee Evangelism Rally.

“The business of the church, and the business of every follower of Jesus Christ, is to find missing people and invite them to follow Jesus,” said Merritt, pastor of Crosspointe Church in Duluth, Georgia. “If we are not in that business, we are out of business.”

Merritt was the keynote speaker at the third annual evangelism rally that drew more than 800 people to the Union campus for a worship service, dinner and breakout sessions. The event included for the first time a women’s track and a student track.

“The students and the ladies in the women’s track were all more than just encouraged to be sharing Jesus – they hopefully picked up a few truths along the way that they can apply in their own life to be a better witness for Jesus,” said Ernest Easley, professor of evangelism at Union University and the rally’s organizer.

The rally was sponsored by Union and the Tennessee Baptist Convention.

Pharmacy celebrates 10-years of God’s providence

The Union University College of Pharmacy is celebrating its 10-year anniversary of providing excellence in pharmacy education.

“This truly has been a decade of witnessing God’s providence and blessings through our pharmacy program,” Dean Sheila Mitchell said. “As the program has matured, we have sustained outstanding faculty, who have made significant contributions to the profession, receiving accolades and recognition throughout the academy. Most importantly, we have witnessed numerous successful graduates thrive and excel in their calling.”

Arthur urges students to know God’s word

International Bible teacher Kay Arthur said her purpose in everything she does is to encourage Christians to know the Bible.

“I’m here to provoke you to study the word of God,” Arthur told students at her chapel address during the fall semester.

Arthur said knowing and understanding the Bible must become the priority of every Christian’s life. “These words are your life,” Arthur said. “If they will become your life, then you will become a man or woman used mightily of God and not ashamed when you see him face to face.”

UU graduates achieve 95 percent placement rate for 2017

Union University graduates have a 95 percent placement rate within six months of graduation, according to a 2017 Undergraduate First- Destination Survey conducted by Union’s Vocatio Center for Life Calling and Career.

The survey includes graduates who have been employed, accepted to graduate school or both. It was conducted from April to December of last year in accordance with standards created by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

Though national placement rates for 2017 will not be published until August, Union’s rate is 12 points ahead of the 2016 national average of 83 percent. It is also ahead of Union’s placement rate of 92 percent for 2016.

“That’s a good trend,” said Alex Huguenard, the director for the Vocatio Center. “It tells us that our students are finding employment faster.” Union also had 27 percent of graduates accepted to graduate school, a 10 percent increase over last year. Huguenard said the data shows him that more students are pursuing graduate degrees and that Union students are well-prepared to enter these programs.

Trustees approve faculty promotions, $91 million budget

Union University trustees at their April 6 meeting approved a $91.2 million budget for the 2018-2019 fiscal year, a resolution of appreciation for the Lady Bulldogs basketball team and a number of Union faculty members for promotions, tenure and research leaves.

The new budget reflects about a 2.4 percent increase over the current year’s amended budget of $88.9 million. Union President Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver said the financial health of the institution remains strong, and that Union is committed to effective stewardship of the resources that God has provided.

In the Lady Bulldogs’ resolution, the Board of Trustees cited the team’s record this year of 32-4, its Gulf South Conference championship and its first trip to the NCAA Division II Final Four. The resolution also noted Chelsey Shumpert’s distinction as the conference Player of the Year, an NCAA Division II All-American and her Union record for most points in a season (856), in addition to Coach Mark Campbell’s recognition as the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association South Region Coach of the Year.

“The team measured its success less by on-court achievements than by the relational and spiritual maturation of the student-athletes,” the resolution reads. “Coach Campbell publicly testified that his privilege of baptizing two members of the program represents a greater accomplishment than all of the team’s wins.”

Regarding faculty research leaves and promotions, Oliver said Union remains committed to supporting meaningful research among faculty and students, one of the themes included in the university’s strategic plan, “United in Spirit. Grounded in Truth.”

Union dedicates and opens R.G. Lee birthplace

A piece of Southern Baptist history has been moved to the campus of Union University.

The university opened the newly renovated birthplace of R.G. Lee, which was moved to Union’s Jackson campus from Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, on Nov. 11.

“R.G. Lee was a leading statesman among Southern Baptists and other evangelicals during the middle years of the 20th century,” said Nathan Finn, dean of Union’s School of Theology and Missions. “Because of his ties to the Mid-South region and this university, it is fitting that his childhood home be located on the Union University campus so that younger generations can learn about the life and legacy of this important Christian leader.”

The 32 feet by 16 feet house was originally built in the mid-19th century in Fort Mill, South Carolina. Lee was born in the house on Nov. 11, 1886, to a family of sharecroppers. The opening of the home at Union marked the 131st birthday of the renowned evangelist, pastor and orator.

Ernest Easley, professor of evangelism at Union, oversaw the moving and renovation of the home. He said this is the third time the home has been moved, but he hopes Union will be its final resting place.

The house sits on the edge of Union’s Jackson campus, where it can be seen clearly from the Highway 45 Bypass. The exterior of the house was rebuilt after the move from all new cypress lumber and hand-cut pine shingles, but the interior walls, doors, floors and ceiling joists maintain the original wood from the house as it was built in the 1800s.

While the home will remain locked most of the time, visitors can set up tours by contacting Abby Scott in the School of Theology and Missions at ascott@uu.edu or at (731) 661-6587.

Union settles lawsuit over HHS abortion mandate

Union University has settled its lawsuit against the U.S. government concerning the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ mandate that Union provide abortion-causing drugs as part of its employee health plans.

Under the terms of the settlement, the U.S. government agreed that the mandate was a violation of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and that under the Supreme Court’s decision in the Burwell v. Hobby Lobby case, it imposed a “substantial burden” on Union’s free exercise of religion.

“We rejoice over this outcome, in which the government acknowledges that the contraception mandate would impose a substantial burden on our exercise of religion and violate the Religious Freedom Restoration Act,” Union University President Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver said.

“We believe, based on the Bible, that life begins at conception,” Oliver continued. “We went to court to defend religious liberty (the right to believe and to live according to those beliefs), and we are glad that religious liberty prevailed. Rights of conscience were enshrined in the U.S. Constitution as the first freedom. I hope Union will always be a place that stands for such Godgiven rights.”

The agreement between Union and the U.S. government specifies that Union’s employee health plans are permanently exempt from the HHS contraception mandate.

Union filed one of 56 lawsuits involving more than 140 faith-based plaintiffs against the federal HHS mandate in 2014 that sought a judgment declaring that the abortifacient mandate of the Affordable Care Act violated the university’s rights, not only under RFRA but also under the First and Fifth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution and the Administrative Procedures Act.

“Causing the death of the embryo conflicts with Union University’s beliefs based on Scripture,” the Union lawsuit stated. “Therefore, Union University has religious-based objection to drugs and devices that kill the embryo and to education and counseling related to the use of these abortion-causing drugs and devices.”

The Union University Magazine
Spring 2018