Howard Payne University will bring a Baylor University professor to Brownwood for a public discussion of preaching, ministry and the theology of grace during the university’s second annual Dr. James Shields Speaker Series.
Dr. Doug Weaver, Ph.D., the Barbara Jo Beard Driskell Professor of Historical Studies and chair of Baylor’s Department of Religion, is scheduled to deliver the featured lecture at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, in Grace Chapel. The program is listed in a Howard Payne announcement dated Oct. 19, 2026.
The lecture, titled “Claypool: Modeling Grace,” will focus on the preaching of the Rev. John Claypool. Howard Payne describes Claypool as a preacher known for a confessional preaching style, storytelling and a theology of grace.
Lecture will examine John Claypool’s ministry
Weaver’s connection to the subject includes his work on the 2022 book “Claypool.” He co-edited and co-authored the book with Aaron Weaver. The volume examines Claypool’s ministry, including his work in local churches and his service as a pastor, priest and professor.
The public lecture is intended to give Howard Payne students, faculty and staff, as well as Brownwood community members, an opportunity to hear a nationally recognized scholar discuss Baptist history and ministry. Admission is free, although the university is requesting reservations.
“We are excited to welcome Dr. Doug Weaver to the Howard Payne campus, and we’re eager to hear more about Rev. Claypool and all that he brought to his many years of preaching and ministry.”
The statement was made by Dr. Cory Hines, Howard Payne’s president. Hines also described the speaker series as an opportunity for community members to spend an evening at Howard Payne while learning from one of the nation’s foremost experts on Baptist history and ministry.
Reservations and schedule
People seeking reservations or additional information can contact Haleigh Clevenger in Howard Payne’s School of Christian Studies. The university listed her email as [email protected] and her telephone number as 325-649-8403.
Weaver is scheduled to appear on campus again at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4. That presentation will take place during Howard Payne’s Chapel service in Mims Auditorium.
The two appearances give the event both a public evening component and a separate Chapel service for the university community. The announcement does not state whether reservations are required for the Wednesday Chapel presentation.
Weaver’s Baylor and ministry background
Weaver has served in Baylor’s Department of Religion since 2003. His research and teaching concentrate on Baptist history and Pentecostalism, with particular attention to Baptist identity, religious freedom and the historical relationships between Baptist and Pentecostal traditions.
His academic work includes authorship, co-authorship and editing of numerous books on Christian history and theology. At Baylor, he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses, leads graduate seminars and supervises doctoral students.
Before joining Baylor, Weaver studied and taught at academic institutions in the Baptist tradition. He also has pastoral experience and is a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Waco.
Those areas of study and experience provide the background for his presentation on Claypool’s preaching. The university announcement specifically connects the lecture with Claypool’s confessional approach, use of storytelling and emphasis on grace.
About the Dr. James Shields Speaker Series
Howard Payne launched the Dr. James Shields Speaker Series in 2025. The series is named for Shields, described by the university as a distinguished former HPU professor of Christian Studies.
The annual program is designed to introduce Howard Payne students, faculty, staff and community members to speakers whose work has earned national recognition. Each year’s program features a distinct theme and includes more than the public lecture.
The planned series format includes a public lecture, a Chapel service, a luncheon for faculty and staff, and opportunities for community leaders to participate. The series is made possible through the generosity of Bob Carter, a Howard Payne graduate from the class of 1973.
For the 2026 program, the public portion will center on Weaver’s presentation about Claypool. The university’s announcement identifies Grace Chapel as the Tuesday evening venue and Mims Auditorium as the site for Wednesday morning’s Chapel service.
Howard Payne’s Brownwood presence
Howard Payne University was founded in 1889 and describes itself as a Christ-centered liberal arts university in Brownwood. The university says it offers more than 100 majors, minors and pre-professional programs through six schools and serves students at three locations.
According to the university, its academic and campus life programs are organized around five core values: being centered on Christ, focused on community, called to service, committed to excellence and dedicated to stewardship.
HPU also says it prepares students through academic programs, student life, competitive athletics and service opportunities. The Nov. 3 lecture offers a community-facing event on the Brownwood campus, while the Nov. 4 Chapel appearance provides a second opportunity to hear Weaver.
The university cautions that reservations are requested for the free public lecture. Because the announcement was issued before the scheduled Nov. 3-4 events, readers should confirm current event details with Howard Payne when making plans.