A history professor at Baylor University will come to campus to conduct two lectures for faculty, staff and students.

Dr. Barry Hankins, professor of history and church-state studies at Baylor, will reflect on the religious identity question at Baylor University and address the university’s choices. A lecture for faculty and staff is scheduled for noon on Jan. 23 in the Adams Center for Teaching and Learning.

A second lecture, called “The Scopes Trial, Prohibition, and Obscenity Wars: Shifting Alliances in Roaring Twenties Culture War,” is scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 23 in Hart Auditorium and will be open for the public. Students who attend the full lecture will receive double Chapel credit.

Hankins, who also works as a graduate program director at Baylor, is the author of “Uneasy in Babylon: Southern Baptist Conservatives and American Culture.”

Hankins visit will be in conjunction with CHARIS, the Center for Heritage and Renewal in Spirituality. Dr. Doug Foster, coordinator of CHARIS and director of the Center for Restoration Studies, said faculty and students will enjoy Hankins presentations.

“Dr. Hankins is an insightful church historian who has written some excellent material to help people like us understand better the way Christianity in America has been shaped,” said Foster, professor of church history.

Dr. Ron Morgan, chair of the Department of History, met Hankins at the Conference on Faith and History years ago. He said the topics Hankins has done research on are relevant to current issues at ACU.

“One of those issues is about ACU’s policy to only hire Church of Christ staff,” said Morgan.

Morgan said ACU has a mission to help students receive a worldclass education while maintaining its religious obligation.

“I believe Dr. Hankins will shed light on to this issue,” said Morgan. “He has a unique presentation that will capture people’s attention.”