Mercer creates Baptist leadership center

Mercer University received a $2.5 million grant for a new center for Baptist leadership, officials announced Wednesday. The center will focus on Baptist history, theology, ethics and other areas.

Daniel Vestal, executive coordinator of the Atlanta-based Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, will lead the center starting July 1. Vestal, who will also serve as a professor, previously announced he would retire from the fellowship June 30.

The gift is from Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation and the center will be named after them.