Texas Tidbits

Baptist Health System chief moves to parent company. Baptist Health System President Trip Pilgrim has been named senior vice president and chief development officer for Vanguard Health Systems, parent company of Baptist Health System in San Antonio. Graham Reeve, current chief operating officer for Baptist Health System, has been named as Pilgrim’s replacement. Pilgrim has served as president and chief executive officer for Baptist Health System since Sept. 30, 2005. Prior to that, he served for three years as Baptist’s vice president of business development. 

Baylor music professor honored. Terry York, who teaches both in Baylor University’s School of Music and at Truett Theological Seminary, received the W. Hines Sims Award from the Baptist Church Music Conference. The award is named for the editor of the 1956 Baptist Hymnal who also served as secretary of the Church Music Department of the Southern Baptist Sunday School Board nearly 20 years. York, who served as project coordinator for the 1991 edition of The Baptist Hymnal, is the author of numerous hymns, including “Worthy of Worship.” The Sims Award came on the heels of the news last month that York’s lyrics for “See God’s Light” had been selected as the new university hymn for Ouachita Baptist University.

ETBU accreditation reaffirmed. The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools has reaffirmed accreditation of East Texas Baptist University in Marshall. All institutions accredited by the SACS Commission on Colleges are required to have their accreditation reaffirmed every 10 years. Accreditation by the commission signifies the institution has a mission appropriate to higher education and the resources, programs and services sufficient to accomplish and sustain that mission. This accreditation also signifies the institution maintains clearly specified educational objectives consistent with its mission and appropriate to the degrees it offers and that indicate whether it is successful in achieving its stated objectives.

Deadline nears for missions awards. The nomination deadline for the 2009 Texas Baptist Missions Foundation Mission Service Awards is Aug. 15. The awards, selected by the foundation’s council, include the Pioneer Award for service in missions, the Innovator Award for creativity in missions and the Adventurer Award for leadership in missions. The awards will be presented during the Texas Baptist Missions Foundation’s luncheon Monday, Nov. 16, at the Baptist General Convention of Texas annual meeting in Houston. The Pioneer Award goes to a long-time leader in missions or someone who played a key role in beginning mission work that affected Texas Baptist life. The Innovator Award is bestowed upon a church or individual who provided a model for missions others can adopt. The Adventurer Award honors an individual who advanced missions through direction of significant mission activities, outstanding financial support or leadership in ministry opportunities. Nominations may be submitted to Bill Arnold at the Texas Baptist Missions Foundation, 333 N. Washington, Dallas 75246.

Wayland music school accredited. Wayland Baptist University’s School of Music has been granted full membership status with the National Association of Schools of Music, doing so in commended fashion. The association—the national accrediting agency for schools of music is a peer-reviewed organization that seeks to maintain the highest standards of education within schools of music across the nation. The association has accredited 615 schools nationwide.