The Center will offer educational and enrichment opportunities for both clergy and laity who are not enrolled as traditional, degree-seeking students in the School of Divinity, according to R. Wayne Stacy, dean of the divinity school.

The School of Divinity's primary mission continues to be the training of ministers for churches, Stacy said. Through the Center, however, the school will seek to be a full-service provider by delivering support services directly to the churches.

Educational and renewal opportunities for pastors and ministerial staff include week-long summer institutes focusing on team building, various elements of worship, preaching and teaching.

Likewise, the Center will offer opportunities for laity that include teacher training, Bible study, deacon ministry, Baptist distinctives, and church leadership.

Travel/study opportunities are also being planned to such places as the Holy Land, the Greek Isles and Europe.

A cornerstone of the Center's mission will be to utilize the Internet and the School of Divinity's Web site.

For example, offerings will include online courses to clergy seeking continuing education credit and to laypersons who can earn certificates in areas such as church leadership, Christian spirituality, biblical studies, deacon ministry, Baptist history and polity and church governance. Upcoming Sunday School materials may also be downloaded for use by pastors, ministerial staff and teachers.

Directing the work of the Center will be Charles Horton, who will join the divinity school on Aug. 16 as special assistant to the dean and associate professor of pastoral ministries. Horton, recently retired pastor from College Park Baptist Church in Orlando, Fla., has more than 40 years experience in pastoral ministry.

He and his wife, Carolyn, have two grown children.