Dear friends and colleagues,
I hope you all had a restful summer and are invigorated by the start of the academic year. During the upcoming year we look forward to exploring questions related to faith and learning with scholars at Baylor and from around the world. On September 22 -23, we will celebrate the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea with a series of public plenaries exploring how theological decisions from almost two thousand years ago relate to the controversies and challenges of our day. We are also excited to explore how the arts can integrate faith and learning as we partner with Spiritual Life and the School of Music to bring the Hillbilly Thomists, a chart-topping bluegrass band, for a free concert on campus September 23. In February, we look forward to exploring the contemporary challenges of AI at the Baylor Symposium on Faith and Culture. It’s been great to receive so many outstanding proposals, and we look forward to seeing more by August 4th. In between these events, we will be kicking off several interdisciplinary research groups co-sponsored with partners across campus, providing consulting service about integrating faith into teaching and research to faculty and departments across campus, and getting ready to launch a new look on our website. In the midst of our excitement for the new academic year, we pause to appreciate and reflect on the leadership and legacy of Dr. Donald D. Schmeltekopf, former provost of Baylor University and a foundational supporter of IFL. His vision of a university that integrates academic excellence and Christian commitment continues to shape the mission of IFL and Baylor as a whole.
As always, please let us know how IFL can serve and resource you.
In Christ,
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Guest Column Reflections on Communio 2025
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| Symposium 2026: Proposals Deadline Extended
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| Baylor Symposium on Nicaea
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Larry McDonald, Assistant AD for Football Recruiting |
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In a profession that never slows down, Communio was just what the doctor ordered. PEACE, RECHARGE, FAMILY are the 3 words that describe my experience. In athletics you sometimes feel like you never meet a lot of people outside of athletic department members. However, with this experience I was able to connect with people from all over this wonderful campus and truly grow from each and every one of them. The ability to recharge and grow with a group of likeminded professionals is an experience that I recommend for everyone to take advantage of. Communio taught me that our calling is greater than just showing up to work everyday; we are charged to make an impact big or small in all aspects of our jobs. Communio gives you the insight and tools alike to do just that.
Thank you COMMUNIO!!!
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Jason Carter, Dean of the Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences |
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As I left for Communio on May 27, the men of my church life group had recently agreed to read Soul Keeping by John Ortberg. A main point that Ortberg drives home in the early chapters is the need to “ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life” – a concept he says was planted through a conversation with Baylor alum and American philosopher Dallas Willard. While at Communio, I couldn’t help but notice how the retreat was providing me with a much needed recentering on my relationship with Jesus Christ, and a renewal toward the unique Christian mission of Baylor. At Communio, I had the pleasure of meeting new faculty and staff colleagues from across Baylor that were equally in need of recentering, and engaged in a programming that challenged us to do the very thing that Ortberg and Willard were advocating. At Communio, we slowed down enough to engage more fully in God’s goodness. We had deep conversations about how to be faithful servants within higher education, and enjoyed many great meals together where we learned more about one another and our passions for faithfulness. While I enjoyed many aspects of Communio, my favorite moments were the morning and evening worships together. There was a sense of tremendous calm that rarely as academicians we have a chance to embrace together. I would strongly recommend Communio, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of the 2025 retreat. And while I still haven’t “ruthlessly eliminated hurry” to the level I’d like – I continue to strive for this in a world full of distractions. Amongst it all – God is so, so good.
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| Jason Carter
Dean of the Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences
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Conyers Scholars Online Program |
We're pleased to announce a new program in partnership with Baylor's Graduate School--the Conyers Scholars Online program. Building on the success of the Conyers Scholars residential program, this program welcomes Baylor's fully-online doctoral students who want to explore questions of faith, learning, and vocation in an online community.
Applications for the 2025-2026 academic year are due August 10th.
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Baylor University Faculty Interdisciplinary Colloquium on Patristics (BUFICOP) |
Baylor Faculty have a reading group in “Patristics” (ancient Christian writers) that meets three times a semester. It is interdisciplinary, and anyone from the community is welcome to participate.
Meeting times and readings will be announced soon.
Those interested should contact David Wilhite.
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Faith and Learning Around Baylor Campus |
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Faith and Learning Outside Baylor |
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Gifts to our Excellence Fund fuel opportunities for faculty and staff growth and development.
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Are you hosting an event or working on a project related to faith and learning? We'd love to hear about it! Click the link below, share your information, and we'll follow up with you directly.
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Institute for Faith and Learning
One Bear Place #97270
Waco, Texas 76798
(254) 710-4805
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One Bear Place #97026 | Waco, TX 76798 US
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