René Maciel

Mr. René Maciel serves as the missions and community outreach pastor at First Woodway Baptist Church in Waco, Texas. He previously invested more than 31 years in higher education and administration with Baptist institutions including Hardin-Simmons University, Baylor University, New Mexico Baptist Children’s Home, George W. Truett Theological Seminary, and Baptist University of the Américas. He served as president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas (Texas Baptists) from 2015 to 2016.

Mr. Maciel graduated from Hardin-Simmons University (HSU) with a Bachelor of Behavioral Science. He then earned a Master of Science in Education from Baylor University.

In 1993, Mr. Maciel became the assistant administrator of the New Mexico Baptist Children’s Home in Portales and was named chief administrator in 1997. Returning to higher education in 1999, Mr. Maciel served as director of student services at Truett Seminary and was named assistant dean in 2001.

In 2007, Mr. Maciel became president of Baptist University of the Américas in San Antonio. La Prensa Foundation recognized him with the “Religion Award,” one of the Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Awards. In 2010, he was presented the Distinguished Alumni Award from Logsdon School of Theology at HSU. In 2014, the HSU Alumni Association recognized him with a Distinguished Alumni Award.

He and his wife, Sabrina, have two daughters. Brianna is a school teacher in Belton who is married to Ryan Johnson. Carmen, a graduate of the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, is a graphic designer at Baylor University who is married to Corey Bente.