Louisiana Baptist University: History, Accreditation, and Academic Stance
Louisiana Baptist University and Seminary (LBU), formerly known as Baptist Christian University, is located in Shreveport, Louisiana. Founded in 1973, LBU aims to provide faith-based higher education integrating biblical principles across academic disciplines. Continuing the vision of Dr. J.G. Tharpe and Dr. Neal Weaver, Dr. Gregory S. Lyons has served as President since 2022.
Aims and Objectives
LBU focused initially on education degrees to prepare future pastors and teachers. Over the decades, the curriculum expanded to include Christian Counseling and Leadership degrees. The university emphasizes a literal interpretation of the Genesis account of creation and holds conservative Christian viewpoints on topics such as abortion, creationism, homosexuality, and transgender issues. LBU is founded on the Word of God. Louisiana Baptist University and Seminary is founded on the following doctrines, that the conditions of salvation are repentance and faith, and that the Genesis account of creation is to be accepted literally and not allegorically or figuratively.
Campus and Faculty
Unlike some unaccredited seminaries, Louisiana Baptist has an actual campus with teaching staff. LBU faculty have both accredited and unaccredited degrees, with many of the unaccredited degrees coming from Louisiana Baptist University itself.
Degree Programs
Louisiana Baptist University offers undergraduate and graduate degrees that are theological in nature. They also take secular subjects like Communications, Music, Education, Counseling and slap the word Christian in front of them. The purpose seems to be teaching secular subjects using separation of church and state. In 1998, the school announced that it was going to offer a Business Administration degree program.
Accreditation Status
Louisiana Baptist University is accredited by ASIC (Accrediting Service for International Colleges). However, ASIC accreditation doesn't actually mean anything because ASIC is known to accredit bogus schools. LBU has not sought either regional or national accreditation by a secular accrediting agency. Because of our strong stance on inspiration of the scriptures, doctrinal purity and pre-millennialism many of our administration and faculty hold terminal degrees from LBU.
Read also: LSU Calendar Guide
LBU is registered with the Louisiana Board of Regents, authorized to grant degrees, and subjected to an annual review. Beyond these credentials, LBU undergoes rigorous peer reviews with partner institutions, consistently maintaining the highest standards of academic rigor and excellence.
Academic Quality
The quality of the coursework at LBU has been questioned. A doctoral dissertation for a PhD in Bible and Theology titled THE BIBLICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF JABAL AL LAWZ does not rely on peer reviewed resources at all but rather it cites holy books, popular works and generic secondary sources such as the World Encyclopedia. One source for archaeology is from a person called Dr. Fritz.
Affiliations
Louisiana Baptist University proudly maintains a strong affiliation with the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) through our integral relationship with the North Louisiana Baptist Association and our active involvement in the Conservative Baptist Network. LBU is one of six schools approved by the BBFI for the training of its ministers/missionaries. LBU partners with Central Missionary Clearinghouse (CMC) in helping missionaries strengthen their education to better serve in the various nations represented. The Missions MasterClass Certification Program has been welcomed by CMC to strengthen missionary training. LBU missions courses are approved by the BBFI Mission Office to meet the educational requirements for Career Missionary Approval. LBU partners with the Global Missionary Clearinghouse (GMC). Through our partnership, we equip missionaries to serve nations that traditionally would be resistant to western influences.
Leadership
Dr. Gregory S. Lyons serves as the President of Louisiana Baptist University, bringing over 25 years of leadership in ministry and Christian higher education. Dr. Neal Weaver serves as Chancellor at Louisiana Baptist University, bringing over 30 years of ministerial leadership and teaching experience. Dr. Walter Swaim joined the Leadership team at LBU in 2023. Dr. Jay Foster joined LBU in January 2019 as the Director of Prisoner Ministry. In June 2019, he also became the Dean of Biblical Christian Counseling. Dr. Misael Rodriguez joined LBU as the Director of Hispanic Department in 2022. Dr. Jeff Price serves as the Dean of the Bible Department and the Latin America Director at Louisiana Baptist University. McLean Jones became the Director of Operations in August 2025. Dr. Edgar Trinidad has been an adjunct instructor for LBU for many years. He joined LBU as the Associate Dean of Counseling in 2023. Dr. Rhenald Lagrimas is a dedicated Christian leader, educator, and community advocate based in Imus City, Cavite, Philippines. Dr. Jai Tibayan became the Registrar in February 2024. Dr. Mark Conn is the Vice President of LBU and divides his time between Shreveport and the picturesque Ozark Mountains of southwest Missouri.
Other Louisiana Baptist Institutions
Louisiana Christian University is a private, Baptist, coeducational college of liberal arts and sciences with selected professional programs. Louisiana Christian University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate, baccalaureate, and master’s degree. The university is located on an 81-acre campus with a total of twenty-three academic and residential buildings. Louisiana College was founded in Pineville, Louisiana on October 3, 1906. It is the successor to two earlier Louisiana Baptist schools, Mt. Lebanon University and Keatchie Female College.
Read also: Louisiana Scholarship Eligibility
Christian Education
The School of Christian Education offers the Bachelor of Arts, the Master of Arts in Christian Education, and the Doctor of Philosophy in School Administration. We prepare teachers and administrators for service in education broadly, but especially for service in Christian education. All our degrees can be earned from anywhere in the world.
Commitment to Christian Values
Louisiana Christian University seeks to prepare students to excel in their careers and future endeavors by cultivating knowledge and skills central to the liberal arts tradition. Through a broadbased general education program as well as specialized study in the arts and sciences or a selected pre-professional program, students develop the skills both for a chosen profession and for life as a responsible and thoughtful member of society. Because Jesus is Lord, Christian professors place all learning under the authority of Christ and His Word. Christian scholars present diverse concepts and approaches in the classroom and commit to represent these accurately and fairly. Every Christian endeavor should be characterized by excellence. Believers recognize that Christ created them for His glory. Their lives, both personal and academic, are to be devoted to the pursuit of His glory. The university affirms the Christian ideal that all believers in every discipline engage in Christian ministry by exhibiting Christian character and proclaiming the message of Jesus Christ.
Read also: Understanding TOPS Eligibility
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