From its classrooms to the leadership of the nation's largest Protestant denomination, the
influence of Union University on the Southern Baptist Convention has been significant
throughout its 175 years of service.
R.B.C. Howell
|
R.B.C. Howell, the esteemed pastor of the First Baptist Church of
Nashville, Tenn, sought to expand the outreach of the church not only by starting other
churches in the state, but by establishing a college which would develop and strengthen
the minds of young people. Howell's passion for education and training was evident with
his strong pulpit appeals for careful thought, planning and action for the continuing
Christian education of the young. For a man who never completed formal academic training,
Howell's concern for instruction became evident through his personal interaction with
children and youth upon his arrival in Nashville from Norfolk, Va. So keen was his focus
in this area that one of his highly acclaimed pupils and objects of his mentoring, Joseph
Haywood Eaton, later became the first President of Union. |
| Eaton was ordained under the ministry of Howell and was considered by
many a superior intellect and gifted teacher. As President of Union, Eaton was responsible
for the major advances of the University. So concerned was he for the intellectual and
spiritual life of the school, he often worked long days and for extended periods of time
seeing the school through critical times in its early history. Known as a gentle and able
leader, Eaton was often called upon by leaders in the Convention to mediate in matters of
dissension. In 1855, Eaton joined James B. Taylor, President of the Foreign Mission Board,
to resolve a matter between J.R. Graves and a Nashville physician. |
Joseph H. Eaton
|
Described as "earnest and impressive in matters of impassioned utterance and rapid
delivery," Eaton won the respect of all who knew him. He died in the President's home
near the campus of Union with his would be successor, Professor of Theology at Union, J.M.
Pendleton, by his bedside. His last words were to Pendleton and reflected his passion for
Union's students. "Tell the students I wish them all to be Christians," Eaton
said, and with that he, in the words of J.M. Pendleton, died without "struggle or
groan" on Jan. 12, 1859. A huge tomb was soon erected with funds raised by Union
students in the city cemetery of Murfreesboro in his honor.
J.M. Pendleton
|
James Madison Pendleton, President of Union following Eaton's death, led
the school up to the time of the Civil War and is still remembered prominently for his
church manual used today in many seminary classrooms. |
| J.R. Graves, a faculty member of the Murfreesboro campus and later a
Trustee of the University, known widely as the architect for the Landmark movement within
the ranks of the Southern Baptist Convention, left an indelible impression on the
Convention at large which still exists today regarding issues of Baptist theology and
tradition. |
J.R. Graves
|
Dr. M.E. Dodd
|
When Union graduate Dr. M.E. Dodd, Pastor of the First Baptist Church of
Shreveport, La., stepped to the microphone on Jan. 5, 1941, for the first broadcast of The
Baptist Hour, who could have known that sermon would launch a series of events which would
change the face of broadcasting and Southern Baptist evangelism for years to come? Dodd's
famous sermon, Christ and the Human Crises, was so powerful that hearers were "shaken
with great conviction by its power," stated a First Baptist member interviewed after
the sermon. Dodd's passion and heart for evangelism and sound teaching continued
throughout his ministry at First Baptist until his retirement in 1950. |
Dodd served as President of the Southern Baptist Convention and was instrumental in the
founding of Baptist Bible Institute in New Orleans (New Orleans Baptist Theological
Seminary) and the Cooperative Program of Southern Baptists.
Trustees of the University have always provided sensible and careful leadership at
critical times in the University's life. Dr. Wayne Dehoney, longtime pastor of Jackson's
First Baptist Church, also served as a Union trustee and was elected as President of the
Southern Baptist Convention later moving to the pastorate of the historic Walnut Street
Baptist Church in Louisville. James Sullivan, former president of the convention, also
served Union as a trustee. This century alone has witnessed two notable pulpit giants and
presidents of the Southern Baptist Convention as Trustees of Union. Dr. R.G. Lee and Dr.
Adrian Rogers served as Trustees while pastoring the same church at different points in
its history - Bellevue Baptist Church of Memphis - championed the cause of higher
education in a context of deep Christian commitment established by a Christian worldview.
Their contributions continued to strengthen Southern Baptist involvement in university
governance.
Union University continues to influence the Southern Baptist Convention in ways which
help in the continual formation of new frontiers of ministry and service. Union has long
established a tradition of deep faithfulness and gratitude for its place in the Southern
Baptist family and remains grateful for its heritage. |
