Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

BAPTIST TRUSTEES: A MATTER OF STEWARDSHIP

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

In recent weeks, the actions of trustees, both at the Southern Baptist Convention and Tennessee Baptist Convention levels have been in the forefront. Carson-Newman University trustees took a bold action when they affirmed that the university would operate within the guidelines of the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message. Directors of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board dealt with the Cooperative Program and a reduced budget.

At the SBC level, trustees of the International Mission Board voted for David Platt to serve a Virginia Baptist church as a teaching pastor while performing his duties as IMB president. [Read more…]

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TBMB DIRECTORS ADOPT RECOMMENDATIONS

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Mike Kemper, center, interim pastor of Smyrna Baptist Church, Humboldt, was elected chair-elect of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. With him are current chair Mike Sams, right, pastor of First Baptist Church, Martin, and Cal Hampton, senior associate pastor of preaching and evangelism at First Baptist Church, Clarksville, who will serve as chair in 2018 following The Summit in Hendersonville.

FRANKLIN — The board of directors of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board have approved expanding the definition of a cooperating Baptist church to include those churches that give through the Tennessee Baptist Convention portion of the Cooperative Program budget without restriction or designation.

The action was one of several recommendations adopted by the TBMB directors during their meeting Sept. 12 in Franklin.  [Read more…]

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TBMB RECEIVES REPORT ON CARSON-NEWMAN

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

FRANKLIN – The board of directors of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board have been informed of a recent action by Carson-Newman University board of trustees to “incorporate the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message and the Preamble as part of the standards and regulations concerning the operations of the university.”

The directors also heard the response of their Partner Ministries Committee (PMC) which has been in dialogue with C-N officials during the past year: “The Partner Ministries Committee of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board appreciates and receives the positive response of the Carson-Newman University board of trustees toward our concerns.” [Read more…]

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C-N, TBCH ENJOY BENEFICIAL PARTNERSHIP

Carson-Newman University junior Caty Scarce, a member of Indian Springs Baptist Church, Kingsport, helps a resident of the Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home with his homework while freshman Sarah White, of Central Baptist Church, Johnson City, reads to another TBCH resident during a recent spring break missions trip.

Carson-Newman University junior Caty Scarce, a member of Indian Springs Baptist Church, Kingsport, helps a resident of the Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home with his homework while freshman Sarah White, of Central Baptist Church, Johnson City, reads to another TBCH resident during a recent spring break missions trip.

By Mark Brown
Carson-Newman News Office

JEFFERSON CITY — A ministerial partnership between Carson-Newman University and Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes goes back for more than a quarter century. And yet, officials of both entities say, the relationship deepens and blossoms each spring.

“We couldn’t function without the volunteers, the group that comes from Carson-Newman (and others),” said TBCH vice-president Patrick Addison, who directs residential care for the Chattanooga and Oakdale campuses. “Whether they’re painting, weeding flower beds, cleaning for us, or doing whatever, it’s saving our staff from having to do something, or potentially paying someone to do something, and that allows us to invest into our children.”  [Read more…]

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COACHING LEGEND KEN SPARKS DIES

By Lonnie Wilkey
Editor, Baptist and Reflector

Carson-Newman University coaching legend Ken Sparks died March 29 after a lengthy bout with cancer.

Carson-Newman University coaching legend Ken Sparks died March 29 after a lengthy bout with cancer.

JEFFERSON CITY — Carson-Newman University coaching legend Ken Sparks died March 29 at the age of 73 after a lengthy bout with prostate cancer.

Sparks retired last fall at the end of the season after 37 years as head coach at Carson-Newman. He is the fifth winningest coach in college football history with a record of 338-99-2. His career winning percentage of .7699 is the fourth highest in college football history.

The C-N Eagles won five NAIA national championships under Sparks and played for it six times. After transitioning to NCAA Division II, C-N played for the national title three times. Sparks recorded 21 South Atlantic Conference championships and 25 NCAA or NAIA playoff appearances. He was inducted into several hall of fames, including the NCAA Division II and Tennessee Sports Hall of Fames. [Read more…]

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C-N STUDENTS CHOOSE NEPAL OVER BEACH

C-N News Office

carson-newman-logo2JEFFERSON CITY — Carson-Newman University students and members of the campus community waived traditional Spring Break activities to take part in the university’s annual spring SPOTS missions trips.

Beginning March 1, teams left campus to serve in locations including Chattanooga, St. Louis, Mo., and Washington D.C.

Carson-Newman also sent its first 11-member team to Nepal. Chad Morris, associate director of campus ministries and coordinator of the trips, said the trip will be memorable. [Read more…]

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C-N COACHING LEGEND KEN SPARKS RETIRES

Carson-Newman news office

Ken Sparks

Ken Sparks

JEFFERSON CITY — Carson Newman University football coach Ken Sparks, the nation’s active wins leader and the fifth winningest coach in college football history, announced his retirement during a press conference Nov. 14 inside the football athletic complex that bears his name.

Sparks, a member of Manley Baptist Church, Morristown, finishes his Carson-Newman career after 37 seasons with 338 wins, 99 losses and two ties.  His career winning percentage of .7699 is the fourth highest in college football history while the 338 victories amount to the fifth best total nationally. [Read more…]

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C-N SEES RECORD FALL ENROLLMENT

Carson-Newman News Office

carson-newman-logo2JEFFERSON CITY — Carson-Newman University is experiencing its third year of record enrollment with 2,659 students. Last fall’s enrollment was 2,528. In addition, the college has been cited by U.S. News & World Report.

The total enrollment represents a cumulative 35 percent growth over the last five years. The university also experienced a six-year high in the number of incoming freshmen with 506.

The increase includes undergraduate enrollment growth of 1,812 this fall, up from 1,752 last year. The university’s graduate programs are also trending upwards with an enrollment of 847 students, 71 students over last year. [Read more…]

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CARSON-NEWMAN, UNION ON PRO-GAY ‘SHAME LIST’

Baptist Press

carson-newman-logo2NASHVILLE — Nearly a third of the 102 institutions of higher education on a pro-homosexual activist group’s list of “the absolute worst colleges for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth” have Southern Baptist ties.

All schools on the list, which was published Aug. 29 by the college-focused organization Campus Pride, have a religious affiliation, with the vast majority affirming historic, orthodox Christianity. Thirty-one institutions listed (30.4 percent) cooperate either with the Southern Baptist Convention or a Baptist state convention that partners with the SBC. [Read more…]

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C-N CITED AS COLLEGE OF DISTINCTION

Carson-Newman news office

carson-newman-logoJEFFERSON CITY  — Carson-Newman University has been named again a “College of Distinction” and a “Christian College of Distinction” for 2016-2017. It is the third consecutive year the university has received the honor.

Carson-Newman is one of a select group of colleges deemed to demonstrate results across the organization’s Four Distinctions — engaged students, great teaching, vibrant community, and successful outcomes. [Read more…]

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