September 30, 2024
East Texas Baptist University hosted the second annual Lyceum, a forum for Christian thinkers, writers, and scholars, on Monday, September 30, in the Woods Great Room of the Ornelas Student Center. This free, public event, organized by the School of Christian Studies and Humanities, welcomed attendees to engage in a thought-provoking evening centered on the intersection of faith and scholarship.
The event featured scholar and poet Dr. Karen O'Dell Bullock, National Endowment for the Arts Fellow and distinguished Christian historian. Dr. Bullock spoke at ETBU's chapel service Monday morning and presented her work in a dynamic format that allowed for a deeper exploration of how Christians can integrate their faith into their professional and personal lives. She captured the importance of intergenerational sharing of faith, underscoring the idea that each generation of believers has a unique and critical role in passing on the stories of God's faithfulness.
"The same God who did an incredible work through their lives (past generations) is still working today," Dr. Bullock said. "And the same power that enabled them to make a difference is available to us. We have the opportunity to be part of something bigger than ourselves, to live out our faith in a way that impacts future generations."
Monday evening, Dr. Bullock shared a presentation on The Pioneers in the Piney Woods: An Evening Tour of Sacred Spaces. Following her presentation, Dr. Bullock participated in an engaging discussion with faculty from ETBU's School of Christian Studies and Humanities and an informal Q&A session with the audience.
Dr. Bullock's extensive career spans over 30 years, having taught at the undergraduate, master, and doctoral levels at institutions such as Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Dallas Baptist University, and B. H. Carroll Theological Seminary. Her work focuses on Christian history, Baptist heritage, and global concerns, with a particular passion for missions, religious freedom, and justice. She currently serves as Executive Vice-President for the Baptist Center for Global Concerns, where she leads efforts to address inequities in hunger, health, and theological education worldwide.
"Lyceum was Aristotle's school that he founded 335 BC as a place for scholars and students to work together to seek out new understanding of the world around them," Dean of the School of Christian Studies and Humanities Dr. Sandy Hoover said. "Lyceum reflects that vision of community by inviting a Christian scholar in one of the fields represented in the School of Christian Studies and Humanities. Last year was English, and this year, it's history. Christian ministry, Spanish, and political science will all be featured in future years to show our community how faith enriches the work we do as scholars. We hope that each time we get together for this event, we can grow alongside each other and understand what it means to be humans made in God's image."
ETBU's Lyceum hosts leading Christian thinkers, writers, and scholars annually. By bringing distinguished voices like Dr. Bullock to campus, the University hopes to inspire students and faculty to think deeply about the role of faith in their daily lives and careers.
"I wanted us to be able to go on this little historic tour tonight so that you could understand that you are part of a bigger story," Dr. Bullock said. "I wanted us to look together at some of our old history and some of the history of the churches where we go to church now and let you see for yourself what kind of legacy you have as Baptists, Methodists, or Presbyterians and know that this part of the Piney Woods had lots of pioneers who loved the Lord with all their heart. They wanted this to be a place where God was glorified."