April 7, 2003

Progress reported on HBTS name change
___By Ken Camp
___Texas Baptist Communications
___Representatives from the Baptist General Convention of Texas Christian Education Coordinating Board met with leaders of the Hispanic Baptist Theological School March 24 for what participants characterized as a "very positive" discussion regarding a proposed name change for the school.
___The coordinating board's executive committee and some board members who had demonstrated concerns about the proposed name change visited the Hispanic Baptist Theological School campus to talk with the school's executive officers.
___The Christian Education Coordinating Board at its Jan. 14 meeting voted to table for three months a recommendation that the San Antonio-based institution's name be changed to Baptist University of the Americas. The board will reconsider that proposal at its April 14-15 meet at Hardin-Simmons University.
___Coordinating Board Chairman Zack Pannell from First Baptist Church in Denton said the ad hoc group was not authorized to take any formal action. But he said the group came to an informal "consensus in favor of moving ahead with this."
___HBTS President Albert Reyes said in retrospect he agreed the board's tabling of the name change in January "was a wise decision ... allowing us time to frame the discussion around the uniqueness of our mission and place it in the context of our demographic situation."
___In January, the school received from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board a certificate of authority to grant baccalaureate degrees.

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