Howard Payne University will welcome a nationally recognized Baptist history scholar to Brownwood for a free public lecture examining the preaching and ministry of Rev. John Claypool.
Dr. Doug Weaver, Ph.D., the Barbara Jo Beard Driskell Professor of Historical Studies and chair of the Department of Religion at Baylor University, will deliver the keynote address for Howard Payne’s second annual Dr. James Shields Speaker Series. The lecture is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, in Grace Chapel.
Lecture will focus on Rev. John Claypool
The program, titled “Claypool: Modeling Grace,” will focus on Claypool’s confessional preaching style, storytelling and theology of grace. Claypool was also known for his work in local churches and for serving as a pastor, priest and professor.
Weaver co-edited and co-authored the 2022 book “Claypool” with Aaron Weaver. The book examines Claypool’s ministry and his influence through preaching and service.
“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,” said Dr. Cory Hines, HPU president.
Hines said the speaker series gives community members an opportunity to spend an evening at Howard Payne while learning from an expert in Baptist history and ministry.
Additional Chapel appearance planned
Weaver will also speak at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, during Howard Payne’s Chapel service in Mims Auditorium.
Weaver has served at Baylor since 2003 in its Department of Religion. His research and teaching focus on Baptist history and Pentecostalism, including Baptist identity, religious freedom and the historical relationships between Baptist and Pentecostal traditions.
He has authored, co-authored and edited 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, he studied and taught at other academic institutions in the Baptist tradition. He also has pastoral experience and is a member of Calvary Baptist Church in Waco.
Reservations requested for free event
The Dr. James Shields Speaker Series was launched in 2025 in honor of James Shields, a distinguished former HPU professor of Christian Studies. The annual event introduces HPU students, faculty, staff and community members to speakers whose work has received national recognition.
Each year’s series includes a public lecture, a Chapel service, a luncheon for faculty and staff, and opportunities for community leaders to participate. The program is supported by Bob Carter, a 1973 HPU graduate.
Admission to the public lecture is free, but reservations are requested. Brownwood residents seeking reservations or additional information can contact Haleigh Clevenger in HPU’s School of Christian Studies at [email protected] or call 325-649-8403.
Howard Payne University, founded in 1889, is a Christ-centered liberal arts university in Brownwood. The university offers more than 100 majors, minors and pre-professional programs through six schools and serves students at three locations.