The Baugh Foundation grants $1.8 million to Perkins Baptist House of Studies - DRAFT

Founded in 2019, the Perkins Baptist House of Studies fosters a community of ministerial students, faculty and staff who identify with the Baptist and Free Church Traditions. A program as well as a physical space, the Perkins Baptist House is a spiritual haven that supports and encourages students as they pursue their academic and ecclesial training in an ecumenical and university-based seminary.

“The Baptist House’s perspective on the world resonates deeply with the commitment Eula Mae and John Baugh had, and the Baugh Foundation has continued to support academically rigorous theological institutions that are actively shaping a more inclusive and just future,” said Jackie Baugh Moore, president of the Baugh Foundation, a Texas-based philanthropy committed to supporting the work of faith-based, nonprofit organizations. “Perkins’ diverse and talented student body, its renowned and outstanding faculty, and the commitment to community partnerships all create powerful synergy for positive change.”

The Baptist House’s perspective on the world resonates deeply with our commitment to support academically rigorous theological institutions that are actively shaping a more inclusive and just future.

– Jackie Baugh Moore, President, Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation

The new three-year grant will allow the Baptist House to continue to attract talented students in the Baptist and Free Church traditions by offering them the opportunity to become Baugh Scholars. Full-tuition scholarships for these students support increasing Baptist student enrollment and ensure that the Baptist House continues permanently as part of Perkins School of Theology.

“The Baptist House of Studies has made a lasting and positive impact at Perkins School of Theology,” said Perkins Dean ad interim Hugo Magallanes. “The contributions and the students affiliated with the Baptist House of Studies have been instrumental in shaping the present and future of Perkins.”

The students in our Baptist House of Studies represent the kind of diversity that gives us hope for the church. We can’t wait to see who else God will send our way because of gifts like these.

– The Rev. Dr. Jaime Clark-Soles, Director, SMU Perkins Baptist House of Studies

“The generosity of the Baugh Foundation to the Baptist House of Studies has allowed Perkins to be a welcoming place for Baptists in ministerial formation,” said the Rev. Dr. Jaime Clark-Soles, director of the Baptist House of Studies and professor of New Testament at SMU Perkins. “Our Baptist students represent the kind of diversity that gives us hope for the church. The dynamic of learning together across gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality and age has made Perkins a rich spiritual community. We can’t wait to see who else God will send our way because of gifts like these.”

With the new grant, the Perkins Baptist House of Studies will continue to serve an important, and otherwise unfilled, niche in theological education for moderate and progressive Baptist students in the region.

“Firmly rooted in Baptist tradition, principles and practices, the Baptist House equips students to lead agilely and faithfully in a period of rapid change,” said the Rev. Dr. George Mason, lead advisor to the Baptist House of Studies. “The program offers students a welcoming environment for ecumenical education, ministerial training and spiritual formation as they prepare to become the next generation of Baptist leaders in our region and beyond.”

The Baugh Foundation’s commitment supports the University’s $1.5 billion campaign, 91��Ƭ�S�ϼ�: Boldly Shaping Tomorrow, particularly the campaign goal to empower outstanding students.

“We thank the Baugh Foundation for their commitment to shaping future leaders,” said Brad E. Cheves, SMU senior vice president for Development and External Affairs. “This investment demonstrates how philanthropy can directly impact the lives of our students, ensuring they have the resources and support needed to pursue their calling.”

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The Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation
Based in Houston, Texas, supports nonprofit organizations that aid those in need through financial assistance and partnerships. The foundation supports causes ranging from meeting basic human needs and aiding children to bolstering faith communities and strengthening higher education. Additionally, it supports inclusivity and arts and enrichment initiatives across the United States.

SMU Perkins School of Theology
Founded in 1911, Perkins School of Theology is one of five official University-related schools of theology of the Degree programs include the Master of Divinity, Master of Sacred Music, Master of Theological Studies, Master of Arts in Ministry, Master of Theology, Doctor of Ministry and Doctor of Pastoral Music as well as the Ph.D., in cooperation with the Graduate Program in Religious Studies at SMU Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences.

91��Ƭ�S�ϼ�: Boldly Shaping Tomorrow
SMU is the nationally ranked global research university in the dynamic city of Dallas. SMU’s alumni, faculty and more than 12,000 students in eight degree-granting schools demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit as they lead change in their professions, communities and the world. Building on its history of excellence, the University has launched SMU Ignited: Boldly Shaping Tomorrow – a multiyear $1.5 billion campaign to empower outstanding students, to enrich teaching and research and to enhance our campus and community.