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 ...
,
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 ...
, 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
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