Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif., plans to establish the Jerry Rushford Center for Research on Churches of Christ and the Stone-Campbell Restoration Movement. A news release from Pepperdine says the center recognizes Rushford’s “extraordinary leadership and scholarship as a church historian.”

Is it something in the water in Malibu, Calif.? Once again, a Pepperdine University administrator has been hired as a university president, this time at Lubbock Christian in Texas. Tim Perrin, vice dean and professor of law at Pepperdine University School of Law, was introduced last week as president-elect of his Texas alma matter.

Enrollment again hit record and near-record levels this fall at some colleges and universities associated with Churches of Christ. Harding University in Searcy, Ark., posted an all-time high enrollment for the 25th consecutive year, eclipsing 7,000 students. Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn., topped 4,000 students, marking a fifth straight year of record enrollment.

For 30 years, the name Jerry Rushford has been synonymous with the Pepperdine Bible Lectures in Malibu, Calif. — one of the largest annual events among Churches of Christ. After the 2012 event, though, a new leader will assume the director’s duties. His name may be just as familiar, though, as he’s delivered the keynote address at Pepperdine more than any other speaker: Mike Cope. Pepperdine President Andrew K. Benton also announced that Rick Gibson, associate vice president for public affairs and chief marketing officer, has been appointed vice president for public affairs and church relations effective Nov. 1.

Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif., displayed 2,977 flags on campus Sunday — honoring the victims and emergency responders who died on 9/11.

The Midland Reporter-Telegram reports that Dale Brown, a longtime Abilene Christian University trustee, has been appointed to the board of regents at Pepperdine University:
Brown served on the Abilene Christian University board of trustees for 23 years and said he is glad to move to the Pepperdine board and serve his alma mater.
“[Dale] seems to remain calm in all circumstances and has a cool head about him,” said ACU Chancellor Royce Money. “All of those attributes figure in very positively in being a trustee.”
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See a Pepperdine news release …

The Christian Scholars’ Conference starts Wednesday at Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif.

The Graphic, the student newspaper at Pepperdine University in Malibu, Calif., interviews Rich Little, the new preaching minister for the University Church of Christ.

Kenneth Starr, the Pepperdine University law school dean who has accepted the Baylor University presidency, keeps making national headlines. Now comes the Chronicle of Higher Education with a feature on Starr that, once again, delves into his religious background.

I am at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, Calif., to see another brother in Christ play: Oakland A’s reliever Brad Ziegler. You may recall that The Christian Chronicle first featured Ziegler back in 2008 when he pitched an amazing 39 consecutive scoreless innings to start his career — a major-league record. I caught up with Brad in the visitor clubhouse this afternoon.