$2.5 Million Gift to Baylor University Establishes Truett Seminary Chair, Supports Fund

Contact: Lori Fogleman, 254-709-5959
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Baylor University announced today a $2.5 million gift from alumni Susan and Lee Bush of Athens, Texas, establishing, in part, the Lampsato Endowed Chair of Baptist World Missional Engagement and the Lampsato Endowed Fund at Truett Seminary to advance George W. Truett Theological Seminary’s research and involvement in areas related to Baptist life and work worldwide. In addition, the Bushes established the Lampsato Endowed Fund at Truett Seminary to support the work of the new chair, who also will support Truett’s recently announced Baptist World Alliance global program.

The Bushes’ gift intentionally connects to and coincides with the July 1 announcement of a program agreement between the Baptist World Alliance and Baylor University, establishing the Baptist World Alliance program. The first-ever university-based, graduate-level study center, the Baptist World Alliance Program will be housed at Baylor’s Truett Seminary and will be devoted to the study of the life, history and ongoing global mission and ministry of the Baptist World Alliance.

“Baylor University is truly grateful for Susan and Lee Bush’s support and for their decision to step out in leadership, giving to support this historic new partnership between Baylor and the Baptist World Alliance,” said Baylor President Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D. “Their family’s calling to support missions and ministry is a truly inspiring testimony to their faith and commitment to serving Christ’s Church. We celebrate the leadership and scholarship the Lampsato Chair will provide for this program and for Baptist ministry throughout the world.”

The name Lampsato comes from the Greek verb λάμπω (lampo), which means “shine.” In Matthew 5:16, Jesus enjoins his disciples, “In the same way, let your light shine (lampsato) before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in Heaven.” Susan (B.A. ’66) and Lee (B.B.A. ’64) Bush drew inspiration from this verse in the naming of the Lampsato Endowed Chair of Baptist World Missional Engagement. The Lampsato Chair will be housed at Truett and will support the seminary’s recently announced Baptist World Alliance program, which will operate at Truett Seminary and stretch across the Baylor family to offer multidisciplinary, academic and ministerial education, scholarly research, denominational support and practical global engagement. The Lampsato chairholder will provide leadership and programmatic support, while leading research and scholarship efforts through the program and supporting its outreach efforts.

“As a Baptist seminary embedded into the world’s largest Baptist university, it is altogether fitting to be home to a program focused upon both the historic and the ongoing work and witness of the Baptist World Alliance, the world’s largest global Baptist network,” said Todd D. Still, Ph.D., The Charles J. and Eleanor McLerran DeLancey Dean and William M. Hinson Professor of Christian Scriptures at Truett Seminary. “Relatedly, it is incumbent upon and necessary for Baylor’s Truett Seminary to seek and to find a Baptist scholar and practitioner of the highest caliber to guide the program while engaged in teaching, research and service. The transformative gift of our beloved friends Susan and Lee Bush will make all of this possible. Our school could not be more grateful or hopeful regarding the Bushes’ generosity and the ongoing impact thereof.”

In addition to establishing the Lampsato Chair, Susan and Lee Bush established the Lampsato Endowed Fund at Truett Seminary to provide additional, dedicated funding to support the Lampsato chairholder’s research and work as well as efforts and events related to the program. With the BWA as the largest global network of Baptists and Baylor as the largest Baptist university in the world, the two entities will continue to work together to embrace a shared Baptist identity, to invest in the expanded training of both Baptist clergy and laity worldwide and to extend God’s call for all people through all disciplines to participate in the mission of God around the world.

“We are excited about the new partnership between Baylor University and the Baptist World Alliance, and we hope that the Lampsato Chair will support this important work to expand the availability of theological training here and abroad,” Lee Bush said. “As Christians, we believe in the Great Commission – Jesus’s command to go into the world and share the good news of what he has done, making disciples – and the Great Commandment – to love the Lord with all our heart and to love our neighbors as ourselves – and that we cannot accomplish the Great Commission until we are living the Great Commandment. We hope the Lampsato Chair will be a testimony to both. We want to see the light of Christ magnified in the world, and that is why we use the word Lampsato to help people understand the motivation and the mission behind our giving.” 

The Lampsato Chair and Lampsato Endowed Fund will provide Truett Seminary with funding for a gifted scholar, researcher and mentor who will enhance Truett’s academic profile and provide transformational learning opportunities for Truett students and Baylor’s varied Christian constituencies while extending the Seminary’s reach and fostering new areas of teaching, research, writing and service in concert with Baylor University’s expanded motto: Pro Ecclesia. Pro Texana. Pro Mundo.

For the Bushes, their Baylor experiences as alumni, parents and grandparents have helped shape their lives. With more than 11 of the Bushes’ family members having attended Baylor, from siblings and children to in-laws and grandchildren, the Bush family’s Baylor roots run deep. The opportunity to give back to their alma mater, while also providing significant support for the global Christian community, presented an opportunity that Susan and Lee embraced. As Christians throughout the world anticipate celebrating  the 2,000th anniversary of Christ’s resurrection in 2033, the Bushes said that they hope others will consider  how they might  join in amplifying the Great Commission throughout the world through such intentional, gospel partnerships.

 “Our experiences at Baylor helped to enrich our lives and give us a deeper calling to share the light of Christ with others,” Susan said. “As God has given us different opportunities to share his light, we have been amazed. My particular calling is in the area of children. I’m very grateful that God has called the Baptist World Alliance and Baylor to work together to share the light of Christ with the children of this world. This is an incredible week for us, because we never thought we would be able to have this type of opportunity, but He has blessed us with resources so that we can share in this work and give in gratitude and obedience. We are hoping that others will want to join with us in this endeavor to share Christ’s light with the world.”

A family’s commitment to ministry and missions

As a family, Susan and Lee Bush are committed to supporting Christ’s Church throughout the world, as well as Christian ministries that share the love of Jesus Christ with people. As proud parents to four children, two of whom were adopted from Russia, the Bushes centered their home on Jesus, bringing the light and healing of Christ to children and youth throughout the world, and on the ministries of First Baptist Church of Athens and the many Christian ministries that church supports.

Until recently, Lee Bush was the chairman of the board for Red Dot Buildings, a leading manufacturer of custom-engineered metal buildings. They excel at designing, fabricating and erecting complex structures, including Baylor University’s Allison Indoor Football Facility. Lee earned a B.B.A. in finance and economics from Baylor in 1964. While at Baylor, he was a member of the Baylor Chamber of Commerce, serving as Homecoming Chair in 1963. Lee has served as a board member of Buckner International and has been actively involved  with numerous other Christian ministries.

Susan Bush, nee West, formerly from Abilene, Texas, earned a B.A. in basic business and English from Baylor in 1966. While at Baylor, she was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and was the secretary at the Baptist Student Union office during her time as a Baylor student. After graduation, she became a committed volunteer, serving on community and state boards and with organizations whose missions echoed God’s calling in Susan’s life to support children and youth ministries. Sharing a calling with Lee to global ministry, Susan has served with Buckner International’s mission outreach and the Baptist Foundation of Texas board of directors. She also was appointed by then Texas Gov. Mark White to serve on the board of the Texas Youth Commission.

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked Research 1 institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 20,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions. Learn more about Baylor University at www.baylor.edu.

ABOUT GEORGE W. TRUETT THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY AT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

 George W. Truett Theological Seminary is an orthodox, evangelical, multi-denominational school in the historic Baptist tradition embedded into Baylor, a Christian R1 University. Truett’s mission is to equip God-called people for gospel ministry in and alongside Christ’s Church by the power of the Holy Spirit. Accredited by the Association of Theological Schools and affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas and the Baptist World Alliance, Truett Seminary provides theological education leading to the Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Christian Ministry, Master of Arts in Contextual Witness and Innovation, Master of Arts in Theology, Ecology and Food Justice, Master of Arts in Theology and Sports Studies (online), Master of Theological Studies, Doctor of Ministry, and Ph.D. in Preaching. In addition to a number of distinctive programs, institutes and centers, Truett Seminary also offers joint degrees through Baylor University school/college partnerships in social work, business, law, music and education. Besides its flagship Baugh-Reynolds Campus in Waco, the Seminary also has locations in Houston and San Antonio. Visit the Truett Seminary website to learn more.