Fifth annual Judson-Rice Award Recipient Announced

The Baptists Today Judson-Rice award will be presented to an outstanding scholar and church historian on April 22, at the Loudermilk Conference Center in Atlanta, GA.

According to the Associated Baptist Press, Walter Shurden, founding executive director of Mercer University’s Center for Baptist Studies, will be the fifth recipient of the annual award.

Mercer University's President, Kirby Godsey, will present the award on behalf of Baptists Today's board of directors.

Dr. Shurden is a Mississippi native who has served as department chair of Christianity at Mercer for 18 years. He formerly taught church history at Carson-Newman College in Jefferson City, Tenn., and at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., where he served as the dean of the school of theology.

“Dr. Shurden is an outstanding scholar and an exemplary churchman,” said John Pierce, executive editor of Baptists Today. “He understands the context for doing ministry and communicates so effectively both as a speaker and writer.”

The Judson-Rice Award is an award created in 2001 to commemorate early Baptist mission leaders Adoniram and Ann Hasseltine Judson and Luther Rice on their contributions and to honor a Baptist leader who has “demonstrated important leadership while maintaining the highest integrity,” according to the journal.

Some prominent recipients from the past are Jimmy Allen, communications pioneer, Tony Campolo, author and speaker, Russell Dilday, former seminary president and Alma Hunt, missions advocate.

Shurden, who is currently an active member of First Baptist Church of Macon, Ga., will give an address following the award presentation next month.