Erin Conaway, 36, is the new pastor of Seventh & James Baptist Church, a historic congregation that holds services on ground practically surrounded by Baylor University and student-filled apartments.

He will preach his first sermon Sunday. He has been reading a lot from the 13th chapter of Ephesians as he makes his transition to Waco from an inner-city church in Houston, where he ministered to addicts and the homeless.

“Paul was on his knees before the Father, talking about how God can help us accomplish more than we can imagine,” he said. “That is meaningful to me during this time of looking back and looking forward.”

New Seventh & James Baptist Church pastor Erin Conaway comes to the church from South Main Baptist Church in Houston.
Duane A. Laverty / Waco Tribune-Herald

Conaway, once a Baylor student himself, will oversee a church on the university’s doorstep, but without as many students in the pews as one might imagine.

The church was founded in 1898 and like many older houses of worship, it has seen membership decline and age. Attendance ranges from 150 to 250 on a typical Sunday morning. It will attract 300 people on special occasions.

“We are not so big that we are intimidating, but we would love to grow,” said Sharon Rollins, 42, a family counselor who served on the search committee that helped bring Conaway to Seventh & James.

“He is young and has the energy to bring life to our church,” Rollins said.

She said Conaway is one of the most genuine people she has ever met and that quality came across in their conversations.

Education background

Conaway grew up in Midland, earned an undergraduate degree in English from Baylor and received a master’s degree in divinity from Baylor’s Truett Seminary.

That’s where he met his wife, Carmen, and they attended Seventh & James Baptist Church together before Conaway became associate pastor of South Main Baptist Church in Houston.

The couple have two children. Erin Conaway is pursuing his doctorate at Brite Seminary in Fort Worth.

Before joining South Main, Conaway worked for a company that sold sand and clay.

“One of my departing gifts at church was a wagon full of dirt and manure,” Conaway said with a laugh. “They said that was my fall-back plan if my new gig in Waco didn’t work.”

In Houston, Conaway said, the neighborhood represented the church’s mission field.

“Right across the street was a center for men recovering from alcohol and drug addiction. Homeless people were everywhere,” he said. “For the last year and a half, we had a worship chapel in the parking lot for people who were hesitant to come into a big-steeple church.

“There was the wonderful presence of God there.”

He compared that ministry to Waco’s Church Under the Bridge, where people of all economic backgrounds meet to worship Sunday mornings outdoors at Fourth Street and the Interstate 35 overpass.

Conaway said Seventh & James has a history of supporting mission work worldwide. It helped build a sanctuary for a church in Brazil and enjoys relationships with seminaries or universities in Argentina, Japan and Thailand.

Just as important, he said, is strengthening the church’s relationship with its community.

“I would like to see more Baylor students going here and other students,” he said. “I think young people wanting to explore a new worship style would find us attractive.”

Those who grew up singing praise music in a casual setting certainly would find it different.

Traditional music

“We are more formal, liturgical. We follow set readings and the music is very traditional. The ministers wear a robe,” said Derek Dodson, 44, a lecturer in Baylor’s religion department and member of Seventh & James.

Dobson said he believes Conaway will appeal to the church’s young and older members. The search committee saw him preach in person and on the South Main website.

“We were very impressed with the thoughtfulness and depth of his sermons,” Dodson said. “Can he attract students? That is our hope and aspiration.

“But I also think young professionals, young families and more Baylor faculty members will give us a look and a chance because of Erin.”

One issue Seventh & James persistently faces is whether to sell its property to Baylor and build elsewhere.

“We have that conversation every few years. But at the moment, I believe we are called to be where we are,” Rollins said. “We tend to attract older students who are starting to ask tough questions about life, who even have doubts about things.

“We believe we can still attract young people who find themselves at that place.”

Conaway succeeds Raymond Bailey, who served as pastor for 15 years and was an outspoken advocate for the needy.

He criticized the Texas Education Agency’s plan to revamp history textbooks and take out references to some miniorities.

The church took in victims of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and Hurricane Ike in 2008.

mcopeland@wacotrib.com

757-5736