Three Generations of the Dominy Family at Truett Seminary

This Father’s Day, we are celebrating a remarkable legacy through the eyes of a father and son who are deeply connected and committed to Baylor’s Truett Seminary. Here, Steve Dominy, DMin, Dallas area representative for Texas Baptists, and his son Clay Dominy, a dual Master of Divinity/Juris Doctor (MDiv/JD) student, share reflections on ministry, family, and what it means to walk in each other’s footsteps—both literally and spiritually. Their story is made all the stronger by the 

connection of Steve’s father and Clay’s grandfather to Truett. Dr. Bert Dominy taught theology at Truett from 2001-2007.

Steve, what was it like attending the same school where your father taught?

My dad taught as at Southwestern for 32 years and was there when I did my Master of Divinity (MDiv). I had already begun my Doctor of Ministry (DMin) when dad came on faculty at Truett, so I like to say that I opened the door for him to teach here!

Clay, how did it feel to attend the same seminary where your father studied and your grandfather taught?

For me, it was a humbling experience going to the same seminary where my dad got his DMin and where my grandfather taught. I’ve always looked up to my father and my grandfather when it came to matters of the faith. They modeled for me what it meant to be a Christian in the world. My father was the one I would come to whenever I had a difficult theological question, and he was the one who would help me wrestle with these questions on my own. And while I never knew my grandfather as a professor of theology, I did know him as my grandfather. I knew him as a man who had been formed by decades of discipleship. 

What inspired each of you to choose Truett?

Steve: My friend Randall O’Brien was serving as interim dean at Truett and asked me to consider being a part of the second DMin cohort. I probably would not have pursued a DMin without his encouragement.

Clay: I decided to come to Truett my senior year at Baylor. My long-term plan was always to attend law school, but I didn’t feel I was ready to begin yet. First, I loved studying theology and wanted to continue in those studies. Also, I knew that as a 

lawyer I would be working with clients during tumultuous seasons in their lives. I felt that to help the people I encountered best, I needed to be more than an attorney, but a counselor in the truest sense of the word. For that reason, I wanted a background in pastoral care. 

Are there any special (Truett) memories of being together or with your family?

Steve: I did not have him in any of my seminars but did take six hours of Systematic Theology from him in my MDiv. While we never discussed my dissertation until it was complete, dad was always my go to for theology, philosophy, or New Testament questions.

Clay: I remember when I was seven and my grandfather retired from Truett. My dad and I came to campus and grabbed lunch with him afterwards. This was back whenever the Dutton Garage still had the Chili’s on the first floor. I remember thinking it was the coolest thing that I got to be on a college campus and that my grandfather taught at Baylor.

What does it mean to be part of a three-generation ministry family?

Steve: I think it is pretty cool that we have three generations involved in ministry. More than that, I am grateful for a legacy of faith in my family that extends generations beyond the three of us. I am also grateful that we are a part of the theological tradition of Truett that is Baptist but not arrogantly or exclusively Baptist and recognizes the kingdom is bigger than Baptists. 

Clay: Having my dad in ministry means a lot to me. He showed me what Christian leadership looks like. I learned from my father what it means to live a life of service to God and to others. Even if I don’t become a minister in a church setting, I hope to carry the lessons I learned from my father with me into the legal field.

What are you most proud of in each other?

Steve: The older I get and the longer I am in ministry the more I hunger for the simple things.  That is what I treasure most, that my dad loved us, lived the faith, and taught us to be faithful. Those are the things I am proudest of not only in Clay but also in our daughter, Tessa; they love well, live the faith, and seek to serve. 

Clay: When I think of my grandfather and my father, I’m most proud of their courage. Ministry is a hard calling, and it takes strength and courage to be the person who loves and ministers to other people. I saw that strength in my father while he was a pastor, and I heard the stories of my grandfather while he was a preacher and a professor back in