WACO, Texas – Baylor University’s Center for Church and Community Impact (C3I), part of the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work, has secured a $643,401 grant from the Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation to research and promote LGBTQ+ inclusion within church communities
The grant, announced June 30, supports a project entitled Courage from the Margins: Inclusion and Belonging Practices for LGBTQIA+ and Women in Congregations. The initiative aims to probe the “disenfranchisement and exclusion” experienced by LGBTQIA+ individuals and women in faith settings.
Dr. Gaynor Yancey, endowed chair of congregational and community health, emphasized that the research will focus on “stitched‑together narratives” of emerging adults aged 18–24. Researchers will recruit two groups totaling 50 participants for interviews, focus groups and questionnaires to assess feelings of belonging within congregations.
The resulting data will inform the development of so‑called “trauma‑sensitive training resources” for congregations—curricula aimed at fostering inclusive environments through intentional language and practices.
The funding arose from the Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation, which supports organizations prioritizing “LGBTQ+ discernment” alongside non‑discrimination regarding race, gender and sexual orientation.
Unsurprisingly, the move has drawn criticism from conservative religious circles. Rev. Denny Burk, associate pastor at Kenwood Baptist Church, labeled the development “illuminating and sad and not at all surprising,” charging that Baylor “has been moving away from Christian faithfulness for decades now.” He argued the grant marks “another nail in the coffin of a once great Christian university”.
Similarly, conservative online outlets expressed dismay over Baylor’s embrace of what they view as progressive social agendas. One described Baylor as “deeply compromised despite seeking to be our theological betters,” suspecting the move signals full LGBTQ inclusion on campus within the decade.
“It’s much better to send your child to a secular university, hostile to the faith, than to a ‘Christian’ university like Baylor,” wrote the Rev. Matt Kennedy, who serves as senior pastor at Church of the Good Shepherd, an Anglican church in Corpus Christi, Texas. “Better the wolf with bared fangs than the wolf disguised as a shepherd.”
But Baylor’s leadership defended the effort as a research‑driven grant, not an ideological mission. Yancey described it as a continuation of previous Baugh‑Foundation support and stressed it represents academic inquiry into congregational practices.
This development arrives amid Baylor’s longstanding, complex relationship with LGBTQ policy. In May 2023, President Linda Livingstone sought a Title IX exemption to maintain the university’s commitment to biblical norms—“purity in singleness and fidelity in marriage between a man and a woman”—and carve out religious protections from federal oversight.
Nonetheless, Baylor’s Board of Regents granted official recognition in 2022 to Prism, an LGBTQ student organization, operating under clearly stipulated boundaries regarding biblical teachings .
This latest grant builds upon earlier C3I and Baugh‑Foundation collaborations, including a 2024 project that funded an “LGBTQ+ Discernment Guide” and trauma‑care education.
Proponents argue that faith communities need tools to engage those who report feeling abandoned by congregations, particularly when estranged from families or traditional networks. Their hope is that better understanding will empower churches to foster genuine belonging—not simply accommodation .
Critics, however—including some pastors and alumni—warn that Baylor’s partnership marks a departure from its Baptist identity. They argue that its mission of educating leaders to serve the church has been compromised by what they see as a capitulation to secular progressive norms .
One commenter on FreeRepublic observed:
“Baylor repeatedly touts their Christian creds, but the game is nearly up.”
Another warned that churches may feel mounting expectations to shift from biblical tradition toward culturally popular policies.
The Baugh Foundation’s assistance raises broader questions about wealthy philanthropic influence on church‑related research, especially when filters perish under the pressure of socially charged agendas.
In a private response, the user expressed concern that Baylor may be under pressure to weaken its biblical stance on sexuality and gender. They worry churches could be forced—morally or financially—to conform to new “inclusive” norms. Their opinion maintains that home‑rule and pastoral discretion should govern how congregations handle LGBTQ issues—not academic mandates or external grants.
Baylor has announced plans to pilot the new training modules at local congregational events later this academic year. Evaluations will focus on engagement levels and whether language shifts as recommended in the materials take hold
The study is slated to run through 2026, with Baylor pledging to publish results and curriculum tools publicly. This transparency aims to reassure donors and critics alike that the work is scholarly and voluntary—not compulsory.
As Baylor balances its dual roles as a faith‑based institution and research university, this grant could serve as a bellwether. Conservatives will closely monitor whether the outcome advances genuine theological reflection or simply furthers a secular cultural agenda.