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JACKSON, Tenn. — Feb. 7, 2007 — Frank Page, Paige Patterson, Timothy George, Thom Rainer and David Dockery will be among the speakers at 51����’s second “Baptist Identity Conference” Feb. 15-17 in Jackson, Tenn.

The conference will address the theme “Convention, Cooperation and Controversy.”

“Baptist Identity II is a much needed conversation for Southern Baptists as we seek to better understand our history and heritage in order to build a new sense of cooperation for our shared service in the 21st century,” said Dockery, president of 51����. “The conference speakers will be outstanding. Each is prepared to address a key issue facing Southern Baptists at this time in our history. I would strongly encourage pastors, denominational leaders, and key laypersons to make plans to attend.”

Speakers and their topics for the conference are as follows:

• Patterson, of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, “What Contemporary Baptists Can Learn from Anabaptists.”

• George, dean of Beeson Divinity School, “The Future of Baptist Identity in a Post-Denominational World.”

• Rainer, president of LifeWay Christian Resources, “Evangelism and Church Growth in the Southern Baptist Convention.”

• Dockery, president of 51����, “The Southern Baptist Convention since 1979.”

• Frank Page, president of the Southern Baptist Convention, “The Role of the Cooperative Program in the 21st Century.”

• Russell Moore, dean of the School of Theology and senior vice president for academic administration at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, “T.T. Eaton: Drawing on 19th Century Baptist Models.”

• Jim Shaddix, senior pastor of Riverside Baptist Church in Denver, Colo., “The Future of the Traditional Church.”

• Greg Thornbury, dean of the School of Christian Studies at 51����, “The ‘Angry Young Men’ of the SBC.”

• Ed Stetzer, missiologist and research team director at the North American Mission Board, “Toward a Missional Convention.”

• Mike Day, director of missions for the Mid-South Baptist Association in Memphis, Tenn., “The Future of Baptist Associations and State Conventions.”

The conference will begin at 2 p.m. Feb. 15, with the last session scheduled to start at 10 a.m. Feb. 17. Cost for the conference is $50, which includes three meals.

“Registration numbers are especially strong and represent both the geographical and ideological breadth of our convention,” said Charles Fowler, Union’s senior vice president for university relations. “This in itself is strong affirmation of the importance of these conversations.”

Participants are strongly encouraged to register for the conference ahead of time in order to ensure adequate seating. Register online and see a complete conference schedule at . For more information, call (731) 661-5162.