April 27, 2006

At least half of Mercer trustees, all future presidents to be Baptist

By John Pierce

Macon, Ga. — Following up on a formal separation initiated by the Georgia Baptist Convention last November and several public pronouncements by university leaders calling for a clear Baptist identity, Mercer University trustees voted April 21 to amend the school’s charter to state that “no less than one-half of the Board of Trustees shall be Baptist.” A new provision to the bylaws also states that future university presidents must be Baptist.

Church historian Walter Shurden, director of the university’s Center for Baptist Studies, had urged trustees to take these actions during a January meeting of Baptist leaders to discuss the school’s Baptist identity beyond the broken relationship with the state Baptist convention.

Both retiring and incoming presidents, Kirby Godsey and Bill Underwood, are active Baptists who have affirmed strengthening and broadening the university’s Baptist identity.

Trustees also amended Mercer’s charter to give the board “exclusive authority to determine the eligibility and qualifications of any person for service on the Board of Trustees, and said determination shall be final and conclusive.”

Previously, trustee nominations required approval from the GBC. However, the convention — unlike with other affiliated schools — could not select trustees for the Mercer board. Therefore, the convention could not control the makeup of the university’s governing board.

Trustees said goodbye to Godsey after nearly 27-years as president by naming him chancellor and naming the spire-topped, historic administration building in his honor. In his role as chancellor, Godsey will work on projects assigned by new President Bill Underwood.

During his last trustee meeting as president, Godsey announced a major endowment gift from Carolyn McAfee and Tom and Julie McAfee, elevating the university’s music department to a school of music. The McAfees are strong supporters of the university particularly in theological education and music. 

(John Pierce is executive editor of Baptists Today, an autonomous, national news journal based in Macon, Ga.)