Batsell Baxter (November 17, 1886 – March 4, 1956) was one of the most important leaders and educators in the Churches of Christ in the first half of the 20th century.

Biography

He received his early education from David Lipscomb and James A. Harding at the Nashville Bible School (now known as

Lipscomb University Lipscomb University is a private university in Nashville, Tennessee. It is affiliated with the Churches of Christ. The campus is located in the Green Hills neighborhood of Nashville, between Belmont Boulevard to the west and Granny White Pike o ...

). He also obtained degrees from

Abilene Christian College Abilene Christian University (ACU) is a private Christian university in Abilene, Texas. It was founded in 1906 as ''Childers Classical Institute''. ACU is one of the largest private universities in the Southwestern United States and has one of th ...

(B.A.),

University of Southern California The University of Southern California (USC, SC, or Southern Cal) is a Private university, private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney, it is the oldest private research university in C ...

(M.A., Ph.D.), and

Vanderbilt University Vanderbilt University (informally Vandy or VU) is a private research university in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in 1873, it was named in honor of shipping and rail magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided the school its initial $1-million ...

(B.D.). Baxter served as president of Abilene Christian College (1924-1932), David Lipscomb College (1932-1934, 1943-1946), and George Pepperdine College (1937-1939). These institutions are now called

Abilene Christian University Abilene Christian University (ACU) is a Private university, private Churches of Christ, Christian university in Abilene, Texas. It was founded in 1906 as ''Childers Classical Institute''. ACU is one of the largest private universities in the Sout ...

, and

Pepperdine University Pepperdine University () is a private research university affiliated with the Churches of Christ with its main campus in Los Angeles County, California. Pepperdine's main campus consists of 830 acres (340 ha) overlooking the Pacific Ocean and t ...

, respectively. He was also Dean of Cordell Christian College in Oklahoma and Dean of

Thorp Spring Christian College ''Thorp'' is a Middle English word for a hamlet or small village. Etymology The name can either come from Old Norse ''þorp'' (also ''thorp''), or from Old English (Anglo-Saxon) ''þrop''. There are many place names in England with the suffi ...

(near

Fort Worth, Texas Fort Worth is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Texas and the 13th-largest city in the United States. It is the county seat of Tarrant County, covering nearly into four other counties: Denton, Johnson, Parker, and Wise. According ...

). He wrote several books and regularly contributed to the ''

Gospel Advocate The ''Gospel Advocate'' is a religious magazine published monthly in Nashville, Tennessee for members of the Churches of Christ. The ''Advocate'' has enjoyed uninterrupted publication since 1866. The ''Gospel Advocate'' was founded by Nashville-a ...

'', a periodical associated with the Churches of Christ. He also preached for several different Churches of Christ. Baxter was the father of

Batsell Barrett Baxter Batsell Barrett Baxter ( September 23, 1916, Cordell, Oklahoma – March 31, 1982, Nashville, Tennessee) was an influential preacher and writer within the Churches of Christ.Samuel S. Hill, Charles H. Lippy, Charles Reagan Wilson, ''Encycloped ...

, who was also a professor and preacher in the Church of Christ.

External links

On-line biography
1886 births 1956 deaths Abilene Christian University alumni Lipscomb University alumni Ministers of the Churches of Christ Lipscomb University presidents Presidents of Pepperdine University University of Southern California alumni Vanderbilt University alumni {{US-Christian-clergy-stub