Bill Pinson was asked by Noble Hurley to author these articles because of his long involvement in Baptist life and his experience as an author. Born in Texas, Pinson’s ministry has taken him throughout the world and involved him in various aspects of Baptist life. Pinson received his undergraduate education at the University of North Texas, where he was president of both the Baptist Student Union and the student body. Following his graduation from The Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with a doctorate in 1963, Pinson served as a professor at Southwestern Seminary, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Wichita Falls, Texas, president of the Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary in California, and Executive Director of the Executive Board of the Baptist General Convention of Texas with the longest tenure of any person in that position. In addition he has been a member of various denominational committees and commissions.
Following retirement as Executive Director he was named Executive Director Emeritus. He also serves as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at Baylor University, where he teaches a course on Baptist identity in the George W. Truett Theological Seminary, and as Distinguished University Professor of Dallas Baptist University, where he annually delivers the Pinson Baptist Heritage Lectures. He is a member of the board of trustees of the Baylor Health Care System, serving as co-chair of the Centennial Committee, of the Advisory Board of the Baptist History and Heritage Society, and of committees of the Baptist World Alliance. In addition he serves as the volunteer director of the Texas Baptist Heritage Center and assists in coordinating the work of the Baptist Distinctives Committee of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Thus much of his attention is given to Baptist beliefs, practices, and heritage. He writes, preaches, and teaches often on these subjects.
Doris Tinker was asked by Noble Hurley to assist in the preparation of these articles because of her involvement with and her distinguished career in Baptist life. She grew up in a Baptist home with a deacon father who consistently taught his children about Baptist beliefs and practices. In addition to having a deacon for a father her brother and son are both Baptist deacons.
Growing up in Arkansas she was active in her Baptist church and continued that Baptist church involvement while living in Florida, California, Missouri, and Illinois. She moved to Dallas with her husband and son and became an active member of the First Baptist Church of Richardson. She soon joined the staff of the church as the pastor’s secretary and filled that role with such effectiveness that when James H. Landes came as pastor several years later he asked her to remain in that position. When Landes was called to be the Executive Director of the Executive Board of the Baptist General Convention of Texas he requested that she become his assistant in the Executive Director’s office. When Landes retired and Bill Pinson was elected to that post he asked her to remain and she became the Executive Associate with major responsibilities related to numerous aspects of Baptist life. When Pinson retired and Charles Wade was elected as Executive Director he likewise asked her to work with him and she did so until her retirement, having served longer in that role than any other person.
Upon retirement as the Executive Associate in the office of the Executive Director she joined E. Eugene Greer and Bill Pinson in the office of the Executive Director Emeritus and accepted the volunteer role as Director of Organization and Communication of the Texas Baptist Heritage Center related to the Baptist Distinctives Committee of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Upon the death of Greer in 2003 she assumed many of the responsibilities he had carried. She assists in the research, writing, and editing of books and articles on Baptists as well as with conferences and workshops on Baptist life.