For the sake of freedom

A $2 million gift from Jerry and Susie Wilson of Dallas establishes an endowed chair in religious freedom at Baylor with former U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf slated to become the inaugural chair holder.

The gift from the Wilsons, announced in December, supports the University's educational mission and its Institute for Studies of Religion. The selection of Wolf to The Jerry and Susie Wilson Chair in Religious Freedom followed in January.

"Baylor University is deeply grateful to Jerry and Susie Wilson for this visionary gift that addresses a vitally important issue in our world today--the protection of religious freedom for all persons, everywhere around the globe," Baylor President and Chancellor Ken Starr said.

"The Jerry and Susie Wilson Chair in Religious Freedom will help ensure that Baylor University vigorously and effectively addresses the significant issues of freedom of conscience and worship and, in particular, Christianity's enduring role in promoting human freedom," Starr said.

"We are deeply concerned about escalating attacks on religious freedom, a tenet on which our great country was founded. Rather than cower or despair, we choose to join the defense of this precious freedom," the Wilsons said. "We have seen firsthand Judge Starr's leadership and vision at Baylor, and are confident that initiatives through Baylor's Institute for Studies of Religion will help safeguard and advance this foundational cause."

As the chair holder, Wolf will lead Baylor's efforts on Capitol Hill and throughout the world to address the significant issues of freedom of conscience and worship and, in particular, Christianity's enduring role in promoting human freedom.

"I am looking forward to working with colleagues at Baylor University to advance the case for religious freedom," Wolf said. "I have been involved in promoting religious liberty for many years in Congress, and now I look forward to collaborating with scholars, religious leaders and the laity in what I believe is one of the most important struggles of our time."

"One of the true foundational freedoms in the great American experiment is that of religious liberty for all people," Starr said. "Congressman Frank Wolf has been widely recognized as the 'conscience' of the Congress and a champion of religious freedom in both U.S. domestic and foreign policy."

Wolf, who represented Virginia's 10th District in Congress from 1981 until his retirement this year, said that as a follower of Jesus, he is called to work for justice and reconciliation, and to be an advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Wolf is the author of the International Religious Freedom Act, which infused religious freedom into U.S. foreign policy by creating the International Religious Freedom Office at the State Department headed by an Ambassador-at-Large. It also established the bipartisan, independent U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.

He also authored legislation to create a special envoy at the U.S. State Department to advocate for religious minorities in the Near East and South Central Asia. Wolf sounded the alarm about the worsening plight of religious minorities, notably the ancient Christian communities in both Iraq and Egypt.

Jerry C. Wilson, a native and longtime resident of Pampa, Texas, is a retired senior executive and a former owner of Titan Specialties Ltd., a manufacturer of oilfield perforating products.

Susie Johnston Wilson grew up in Overland Park, Kansas. She and Jerry met and married while students at Texas Tech University, where Jerry earned his BBA in accounting and Susie earned her BMEd and MM degrees. In 2006, she earned her doctorate in choral conducting from the University of North Texas.