Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835
Baptist and Reflector
JEFFERSON CITY — Carson-Newman University announced its plans to resume classes and residential living for the fall semester.
Classes will begin Aug. 19. Like many universities, in-person instruction for Carson-Newman will conclude by Thanksgiving and resume with online instruction for the remainder of the semester. Dining and residence halls will remain open. [Read more…]
Carson-Newman news office
Gloria Walker, acting vice president of student services at Carson-Newman University, leads in the selection of members for a new community relations task team, which she will chair. Assisting in the team’s formation is Provost Jeremy Buckner, center, and Matt Bryant Cheney, director of the Center for Community Engagement and co-chair of the university’s diversity and equity committee.
JEFFERSON CITY — Carson-Newman University is organizing a community relations task team to foster unity and awareness within the community and make specific recommendations for improvements that align with the university’s biblical faith and Christian identity.
The university seeks to identify and eradicate any policies, procedures or cultural norms that promote racial division; advance healing and reconciliation; and affirm that black lives matter.
Carson-Newman’s executive leadership, at the direction of President Charles A. Fowler, established the team on June 3 in direct response to the rallying cry for change following the senseless killing of George Floyd in Minnesota on May 25. [Read more…]
JEFFERSON CITY – Carson-Newman University has announced that it is making preparations for the fall in anticipation for students to return to campus following months of disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a video message to the campus community and families, president Charles A. Fowler shared what the University was doing to get ready for their arrival. [Read more…]
Carson-Newman News Office
Carson-Newman University president Charles Fowler, left, records a video message for C-N’s campus community. Video messages are one of the ways the University has stayed connected with students, faculty and staff.
JEFFERSON CITY — Had the spring semester progressed normally, Carson-Newman University’s senior class would have walked the graduation stage on May 1.
Instead, the University offered a commemorative lighting of the campus’ central building, Henderson Humanities Building, in seniors’ honor. A video showcasing the building’s lighting and highlights from the Class of 2020’s junior and senior years featured words of reassurance from Psalm 119:105: “Thy Word is a lamp unto my path.” [Read more…]
Carson-Newman news office
Love from a distance
Logan Lewis, a volunteer at Carson-Newman University’s Appalachian Outreach, helps prepare food for distribution. The ministry, which has seen a surge of people in need since the COVID-19 outbreak (see story, page 13), is just one example of how believers, all across Tennessee, have jumped into action to help others during this unprecedented time. Today, the Baptist and Reflector is recognizing some of these heroes in this edition of the B&R, which is packed full of stories about Tennessee Baptists who have responded to the call during the pandemic.
JEFFERSON CITY — Carson-Newman University’s Appalachian Outreach Ministry continues to see a surge from those in need brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We have seen an increase in numbers,” said Jean-Ann Washam, executive director of AO. “We are seeing people who have never received services before who have not been able to go back to work.” Washam cited that some are employees in the retail and restaurant business. “This past month we served over 400 families; that is over 100 new families for us,” she said. [Read more…]
Carson-Newman news office
JEFFERSON CITY — Carson-Newman University’s community ministry, Appalachian Outreach, has for years provided the region with a variety of services, including a food pantry, clothing ministry, emergency shelter, home repairs and more.
As the community adapts to the national COVID-19 outbreak and economic turmoil, the ministry is striving to provide food for a surging number of families in need.
Executive Director Jean-Ann Washam said that the center normally serves 300 families a month and more than 3,000 in a year. But in the past week, the center has received an increased stream of calls with requests for assistance. On Thursday, workers served over 60 families in the first half of the day alone. [Read more…]
Baptist and Reflector
FRANKLIN — Union University and Carson-Newman University addressed the coronavirus pandemic with their respective campus communities on March 12.
Union University in Jackson informed students, faculty and staff that it would move full semester classes on March 16 to an online or alternate delivery format.
In a letter to the Union University community, university president Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver said, “While there have been no confirmed cases (of the coronavirus) at the university and no one associated with Union is currently in self-quarantine, we believe that it is prudent to take necessary measures to protect the health and wellbeing of those in our community.” [Read more…]
SEE ALSO – RADIO B&R EP. 37: TBMB JANUARY UPDATE WITH RANDY C. DAVIS
By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector
lwilkey@tnbaptist.org
FRANKLIN — Top news stories in the Tennessee Baptist Convention in 2019 included the “I Stand for Life” initiative in support of SB (Senate Bill) 1236, the election of Charles Fowler as president of Carson-Newman University and record giving for the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions.
The Tennessee Baptist Mission Board initiated the I Stand for Life initiative on July 23 to garner thousands of signatures from Tennessee Baptists in an effort to let Tennessee lawmakers know that Tennessee Baptists would like to see legislation passed that protects the lives of unborn children.
The petition campaign was initiated by Randy C. Davis, president and executive director of the TBMB who had a desire to make sure Tennessee Baptists were informed about the issue and that their voices were heard. [Read more…]
Baptist & Reflector Staff
FRANKLIN — The Baptist and Reflector website serves multiple purposes for the newspaper.
The website not only runs stories that are published in the print edition of the B&R, but also is the go-to place for breaking news pertaining to Tennessee Baptists.
This past year, the B&R website experienced several significant increases in readership (see chart). In looking at the year-ending numbers, it is interesting to note that the most-read stories of 2019 involved a wide range of topics, from economics to abortion to elections.
Listed below is a look at the most-read stories (based on website views) from the past year:
1. Lifeway to freeze pension plan for pension-eligible employees
• Date posted: July 31, 2019 • Written by: Lonnie Wilkey • Position: B&R editor
This story focused on LifeWay Christian Resources announcing changes to its retiree life insurance and pre-65 retiree medical benefits, including freezing its LifeWay Pension Plan (effective Jan. 1, 2020) for current pension-eligible employees. LifeWay shared the changes in letters to current and future retirees on June 29. The changes were approved by LifeWay trustees at their February meeting. [Read more…]
Carson-Newman news office
Carson-Newman University celebrated the inauguration of its 23rd president, Charles A. Fowler (center), on Nov. 8. Presenting the University’s Presidential Medallion are J. Randall O’Brien (left), the university’s 22nd president and James S. Netherton, C-N’s 21st president.
JEFFERSON CITY — In a ceremony attended by delegates of more than 40 academic institutions, associations and learned societies, Carson-Newman University inaugurated Charles A. Fowler as the 23rd president of the 168-year-old institution.
The formal Inauguration Ceremony took place Friday morning at First Baptist Church of Jefferson City. Fowler was named the University’s 23rd president in June following a unanimous vote by the institution’s Presidential Search Committee and Board of Trustees. [Read more…]
