By Loretta Fulton

Myles Werntz was faced with a dilemma in 2020 when he was notified that his place of employment would be closing.

He was a professor at Logsdon Seminary at Hardin-Simmons University when he learned that HSU would be closing the seminary. Rather than waiting for a new opportunity, he created his own. He contacted the dean of the Graduate School of Theology at Abilene Christian University and proposed what would become the Baptist Studies Center–at a Church of Christ-affiliated university. 

“Within a few weeks,” Werntz said, “we were having intensive discussions about how to make that a reality.”

This fall, Werntz is beginning his sixth year as director of the Baptist Studies Center. It took a leap of faith and a leap across denominational lines to make it happen, but Werntz is pleased with the success of the center. He has seen it grow, both in numbers of students and services.

He’ll get an opportunity to tell a larger crowd about the center when the Baptist General Convention of Texas holds its annual meeting in Abilene Nov. 16-18, with more than 3,000 churches represented. 

“I’ll be hosting a free dinner on November 16th for those wanting to learn more about the Baptist Studies Center and hear about the work we’re doing,” he said.

Myles Werntz

Myles Werntz
Current position: Director, Baptist Studies Center, Abilene Christian University
Hometown: Shreveport
Family: Sarah Martin-Werntz, sons Eliot and Arthur
Education: Bachelor’s degree in English, Ouachita Baptist University, 2000; Master’s degree in theology, Baylor University, 2003; Doctorate, Baylor University, 2011
Community involvement: member at First Baptist Church, teach frequently for other churches, volunteer with FBC’s City Light Community Ministries

Q You are beginning the sixth year of the Baptist Studies Center at ACU. Has the center evolved into what you imagined?
A Each year, the Graduate School of Theology has grown in the number of students we get to
journey alongside and teach, and each year, more Baptist students are a part of that.
Approximately half of the incoming Doctor of Ministry students are Baptist now, as well as
several Masters students. In addition to that, we helped start the first parachurch ministry
organization housed on campus, the Baptist Student Ministry chapter. We have a long way to
go, but it’s amazing to see what’s happened in five years, from a handful of Baptist students
when I started to approximately 25 graduate students now. The Baptist Studies Center is part of ACU’s Graduate School of Theology, and so, I continue to teach theology, ethics, and Baptist-specific courses to all the graduate students there. It’s a great faculty to be a part of and an excellent place for students both online and on-ground to come study. Our Baptist students and graduates are serving in churches and ministries
throughout the Big Country area and the nation.

Q How did this arrangement come about? Did ACU approach you or vice versa?
A I was teaching at Logsdon Seminary in 2020, at which time, we were informed that HSU was
going to be closing their seminary. Over its tenure, the seminary had graduated over 400
students serving throughout Texas and the world, with new students coming each year. And so
the need for seminary education was still very strong. About three weeks after I got the message that Logsdon would be closing, I wrote the Dean Tim Sensing with a proposal for what would become the Baptist Studies Center, and within a few weeks, we were having intensive discussions about how to make that a reality. And by June of that year, it was official. It was truly a team effort, though, as I had many people having
discussions with university officials along the way, and without their support and advocacy, this
couldn’t have happened.

Q How and where do you recruit students?
A I visit nearly each week with various churches in the region, as well as with various alumni,
minister friends and leaders, to see how we can be helpful to them, and to let them know about
the programs the Graduate School of Theology has available. Beyond that, I travel regularly
throughout the region, to state and regional meetings, host podcasts and webinars, and host
lunches with area ministers to see what the needs are, and to let them know about our
programs.

Q What is the gender makeup of your fall 2025 class?
A Each year, the gender split is about equal between men and women Baptist students.

Q Do most of your students come from a Baptist background?
A The majority of students in the Graduate School of Theology are from a Church of Christ-
related background, but Baptists comprise one of the next largest groups. At ACU as a whole,
Baptists are one of the largest identified undergraduate groups on campus as well.

Q Are the courses offered in the BSC part of a larger degree program within the Graduate
School of Theology? Do students get a degree from the GST with an emphasis in Baptist
studies?

A Yes—the courses I offer fit within the degree programs of the department. Having emphases
in the degrees is more tricky, but I’m often involved in being recommenders and advocates for
our graduates as they are talking with churches and other job placements.

Q What new programming have you added since the beginning?
A The main programming shift has been away from doing 7-8 webinars a year with ministry
leaders and major Baptist figures, to doing podcast episodes in conjunction with the Siburt
Institute for Church Ministry. I record about the same number of those each year, to be able to
connect a wide range of Baptist figures and opportunities to a Church of Christ audience who
would also benefit from what is happening in Baptist life.

Q What services do you offer Baptist churches?
A I work frequently with churches to help offer preaching—both for churches without pastors
and for churches where the preacher just needs a week off! But I also network with churches
who are searching for particular positions, and looking for people to volunteer with different
opportunities.

Q Any specific plans for the future?
A This fall, I’ll be traveling across the region to do recruiting and visit various churches. On
November 16-18th, the Baptist General Convention of Texas will have its annual meeting in
Abilene, consisting of upwards of 3,000 churches represented. I’ll be hosting a free dinner on
November 16th for those wanting to learn more about the Baptist Studies Center and hear about the work we’re doing. 

Loretta Fulton is creator and editor of Spirit of Abilene