JACKSON, Tenn. — June 18, 2025 — Union University presented longtime Baptist pastor and preaching mentor Jim Shaddix with its M.E. Dodd Denominational Service Award during a June 10 alumni dinner at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Dallas, Texas.
Shaddix passed away Feb. 1 at age 64 after a battle with cancer. His son Shane, a 2010 Union graduate, accepted the award on behalf of his father.
The Dodd Award is the highest denominational service award Union gives. It is named for the man who was a 1904 Union graduate, served as president of the SBC and who was the father of today’s Cooperative Program, the method by which Southern Baptists pool their resources to fund their mission efforts.
The award, voted on by Union trustees, is given to a leader within the SBC who displays excellence and leadership in Southern Baptist life, as well as friendship and commitment to Union University. Past recipients include such leaders as Jimmy Draper, Adrian Rogers, R. Albert Mohler Jr., Steve Gaines, Paul Chitwood, Ben Mandrell, David S. Dockery and others.
“Dr. Shaddix’s legacy is one of unwavering devotion to the Word of God and to the people he served,” said Ray Van Neste, Union’s vice president for university ministries. “His passion for expository preaching and his commitment to mentoring the next generation of church leaders have left an indelible mark on Southern Baptists and on Union University. We are grateful for his example of faithfulness and humility, which will continue to inspire us for years to come.”
Shaddix served as professor of preaching at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina, occupying the W. A. Criswell Chair of Expository Preaching. He also served as a senior fellow for the Center for Preaching and Pastoral Leadership, which exists to resource pastors in local churches.
He previously served as pastor of churches in Alabama, Colorado, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, and served as dean of the chapel and professor of preaching at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
Shaddix was the author of “The Passion Driven Sermon” and “Decisional Preaching,” among other books. Alongside his wife, Debra, Shaddix focused much of his ministry on discipling and mentoring young leaders and their spouses.
He was the plenary speaker for Union’s Ryan Center Bible Conference in 2019 and one of five preachers for Union’s REF500 Festival of Preaching in 2017.
Shaddix graduated from Jacksonville State University with a degree in religion and philosophy and completed his Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He earned his Doctor of Ministry and Doctor of Philosophy from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.