Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

The Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS)
Former names
Theological Department of Baylor University (1901-1905), Baylor Theological Seminary (1905-1908)
Motto Preach the Word
Reach the World
Type Department (1901-1908)
Private (1908-Present)
Established 1908 (chartered)
Affiliation Southern Baptist
Academic affiliation
ATS
SACS
SBC
BGCT (until 1925)
President D. Jeffrey Bingham (Interim)
Provost Craig Blaising
Academic staff
119
Postgraduates 2,590
Location Waco, TX (until 1910)
Fort Worth, TX
Campus Suburban
Affiliations L.R. Scarborough College
Website www.swbts.edu

The Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is a private, non-profit institution of higher education associated with the Southern Baptist Convention; the seminary was established in 1908, and is located in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of the largest seminaries in the world[1] and is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada[2] and also by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award diploma, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees.[3] The school uses the Baptist Faith and Message (2000) as its confessional statement (see the Southwestern Declaration on Academic and Theological Integrity)[4] Its stand on inerrancy and gender is as stated in the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy, which states that science cannot override scriptural statements on creation and the flood, and the Danvers Statement on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.[5]

History

SWBTS grew out of the Baylor University theological department, which was established in 1901. By 1905, B. H. Carroll had managed to convert the department of five professors into the Baylor Theological Seminary, but still under Baylor University. In 1907, while Baylor University President Samuel Palmer Brooks was on vacation in Europe, B.H. Carroll, then chairman of the Baylor Board of Trustees, made a motion that the department of religion be separated from the University and chartered as a separate entity. The seminary was established in 1908, with Carroll as its founding president.[6]

B.H. Carroll

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary received its charter on 14 March 1908, but remained on Baylor's Waco campus until the summer of 1910, when the board accepted an offer made by Fort Worth citizens for a campus site and enough funds to build the first building.[6] The 200-acre (0.81 km2) campus was located on what came to be known as "Seminary Hill," the highest natural elevation in Tarrant County. The first building was named "Fort Worth Hall" in honor of the seminary's new location. In 1925, the Baptist General Convention of Texas passed control to the Southern Baptist Convention.

The Department of Religious Education and the Department of Gospel Music were established within the seminary in 1915. These departments were eventually converted into schools within the seminary in 1921, becoming the School of Gospel Music and the School of Religious Education. Since 2009, the School of Religious Education has been known as the Jack D. Terry, Jr. School of Church and Family Ministries,[7] and since 1957, the School of Gospel Music has been known as the School of Church Music.[7]

Conservative Resurgence & Russell Dilday's Dismissal

In 1994, the seminary experienced a sudden change in leadership with the dismissal of Russell H. Dilday as president, during the Southern Baptist Convention conservative resurgence. Board trustees voted 26 yea to 7 nay to dismiss Dilday after his 16-year tenure as seminary president.[8] On March 9, 1994, Dilday was called to a board meeting where he was removed without warning and his office was locked while he was still at the meeting, preventing his removal of personal effects.[9] The Associated Press reported that the newly elected trustee chairman stated that the "institution needed new direction for the 21st century." Students gathered in front of the president's home in protest and support for Dilday.[8] The appointment of Ken Hemphill followed.[10]

Recent history (21st century)

On June 24, 2003, the board of trustees unanimously elected Paige Patterson as the seminary's 8th president. Patterson previously served as president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary for 10 years, thus becoming the second Southern Baptist leader to serve as president for two seminaries within the convention. Patterson also served as the president of the Southern Baptist Convention from 1998 to 2000 and was a leading figure behind the Conservative Resurgence movement within the convention.[11]

In 2006 the seminary imposed a prohibition on professors or administrators promoting charismatic practices, such as private prayer languages.[12]

In 2007 a gender discrimination suit in federal court was filed by Professor Sheri Klouda over her dismissal. Klouda claimed she was dismissed from the faculty due to her gender, being a woman.[13] In response, the seminary commented that Klouda was not dismissed but that she would not have tenure.[14][15][16] The Klouda lawsuit was immediately dismissed because of church-state separation-related concerns.[17][18] The federal judge who dismissed the case stated that "Leaders of a prominent Southern Baptist seminary who believe women are biblically forbidden from teaching men were within their rights when they told a female professor to leave", including a statement that the seminary was well within its First Amendment rights to dismiss Klouda.[19]

In 2014, the school received criticism from other evangelicals when it admitted its first Muslim student from Palestine. The Muslim student was enrolled in Southwestern's PhD program in archaeology.[20] Seminary president Paige Patterson defended his decision to accept the student's application, despite criticism.[21]

The School of Preaching was established in 2015 with David Allen serving as the first dean. The purpose of the school is to teach students the importance of text-driven preaching. The seminary added two new graduate programs, Master's Degree of Art in Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy in World Christian Studies, in 2016. On April 12, 2017, the executive committee reported to the board of trustees that the College at Southwestern would be renamed to The L.R. Scarborough College at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, in honor of the seminary's second president Lee Rutland Scarborough.[22]

In May, Patterson was criticized for his comments and views on women and sexual harassment. On May 22, 2018, after a 13-hour discussion with the trustee board of Southwestern, Patterson was appointed President Emeritus. On May 30, however, the executive committee of the Southwestern trustees voted to remove all benefits provided to Patterson, including the title of President Emeritus. Patterson was immediately fired from SWBTS.[23] D. Jeffrey Bingham has been appointed interim president until the 9th seminary president is selected.[24][25][26]

Administration and faculty

SWBTS is currently administered by a 40-member board of trustees serving staggered terms of office. Board members are elected by the Southern Baptist Convention. Trustees elect faculty members and administrative officers. Financial support is derived from the Southern Baptist Convention's Cooperative Program, endowment earnings, gifts and student fees.

Dr. D. Jeffrey Bingham is currently the interim president of the seminary. Current (2014) deans include Michael Wilkinson (College at Southwestern), Waylan Owens (School of Church and Family Ministries), David Allen (School of Theology), Keith Eitel (Roy Fish School of Evangelism and Missions), Leo Day (School of Church Music) and J. Denny Autrey (Havard School for Theological Studies in Houston, Texas).

The full-time faculty includes ninety-two individuals and there are also forty-seven part-time faculty members.

Academics

B. H. Carroll Memorial Building, the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary's main administrative building.

The school offers 18 tracks of study in areas such as corporate chaplaincy, Islamic Studies, marriage and family counseling, urban evangelism and social work.[27]

Since 1908, Southwestern Seminary has graduated more than 40,000 students. In 2007–2008, students came from 46 states, 2 US protectorates, 47 foreign countries and represented 46 denominations, although more than 94% are Southern Baptists. The seminary's academic journal, Southwestern Journal of Theology has been published since 1958.[28] It is conservative and Baptist in orientation.

In the fall of 2005, the Seminary converted its undergraduate program (baccalaureate school) into The College at Southwestern which awards a Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities. In 2007, a Bachelor of Arts in Music (B.A.M.) was added.[29] In 2007 the seminary began an initiative for engaging and transforming culture, its new Center for Cultural Engagement, named in honor of Richard Land.[30] In line with this initiative, the seminary employed prominent intelligent design advocate William A. Dembski.[31] In 2016, the seminary added a master's degree program in Philosophy. The program was approved by the Board of Trustees and, in January 2017, by the accreditation body, the Association of Theological Schools (ATS).[32] Seminary President, Paige Patterson, stated Everybody is a philosopher, the question is are you a good one or a bad one? We are committed to having good philosophers and to making good thinkers and philosophers out of our people.[32]

Southwestern is divided into eight schools:

  • The L.R. Scarborough College at Southwestern
  • The School of Theology
  • The School of Preaching
  • The School of Church Music
  • Roy Fish School of Evangelism & Missions
  • Jack D. Terry School of Church & Family Ministries
  • Women's Program
  • J. Dalton Havard School of Theological Studies (Houston, TX)

The School of Theology

Established in 1908, The School of Theology trains seminary student for master's or doctorate degrees in theology. Concentrations include biblical languages, apologetics, theology, church history, preaching, pastoral ministry, etc. The current dean is D. Jeffrey Bingham. Students are able to obtain a master's or doctoral degree essential for Christian ministry.[33]

School of Church Music

Originally a department within The School of Theology, The School of Gospel Music was established in 1921. The school was renamed to The School of Sacred Music in 1926, a name which it bore until 1957 when the school was renamed The School of Church Music.[34] The current dean of the school is Leo Day.[35][36]

Roy Fish School of Evangelism & Missions

In 2005, the division of evangelism and missions in the School of Theology was reorganized as the Roy J. Fish School of Evangelism and Missions.[37] This division provides students with spiritual mentorship, a solid theological grounding in Scripture, and coursework that equips them to share the Gospel with intelligence, relevance and boldness.[38] The current dean is Keith Eitel.[38][39]

Jack D. Terry School of Church & Family Ministries

The Terry School of Church and Family Ministries offers several different master's and doctoral degrees such as the Master of Arts in Christian Education (MACE). The school was originally a department within The School of Theology until The School of Religious Education was established in 1921. The school was renamed to The School of Educational Ministries in 1997. The school was officially renamed in 2009 in honor of Jack D. Terry.[40] Current concentrations provided in this school include biblical counseling, children's ministry, collegiate ministry, and student ministries. The current dean is Waylen Owens.[41]

J. Dalton Havard School of Theological Studies

Located in Houston, the Havard School offers bachelor's and master's degree in theology. Degree options include a Bachelor of Science in Biblical Studies, Master of Theological Studies, Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Christian Education, and Master of Arts in Theology. Students have an opportunity to serve in a local church in Houston while taking classes at the same time. The school has 8 academic staff members. The current dean of the J. Dalton Havard School is Dr. Denny Autrey.[42]

Extension Campuses

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary has its main campus in Fort Worth, but also offers programs and selected degrees at remote campuses.[43]

  • Masters of Arts in Theology at their Bonn, Germany, campus
  • Masters of Divinity, Masters of Arts in Christian Education, Masters of Arts in Lay Ministry, Masters of Arts in Theology at their Houston, Texas, campus

Courses toward a degree are made available at their campuses in Little Rock, Arkansas, Plano, Texas, San Antonio, Texas, and Shawnee, Oklahoma.[43]

Presidents

Name Term
1 Benajah Harvey Carroll 1908–1914
2 Lee Rutland Scarborough 1915–1942
3 E. D. Head 1942–1953
4 J. Howard Williams 1953–1958
5 Robert E. Naylor[44] 1958–1978
6 Russell H. Dilday 1978–1994
7 Kenneth S. Hemphill 1994–2003
8 L. Paige Patterson 2003–2018
D. Jeffrey Bingham (Interim) 2018–present

Notable people

Faculty

NameKnown forRelationship to SWBTS
Benajah Harvey CarrollPastor, theologianSWBTS founder and first president
William A. DembskiProponent of intelligent designProfessor of Apologetics since 2006[31]
E. Earle EllisNew Testament scholarResearch Professor of Theology Emeritus
William Roscoe EstepBaptist and Anabaptist historian, professorProfessor of Church History Emeritus
James Bruton GambrellTheologianChair of Christian Ethics and Ecclesiology from 1912 to 1914[45]
Barry McCarty Chief Parliamentarian of Southern Baptist Convention Professor of Preaching & Rhetoric
James Leo Garrett Jr.TheologianDistinguished Professor Emeritus of Theology
T. B. MastonChristian ethicist, Civil Rights advocateProfessor of Christian Ethics
J. Frank NorrisFundamentalist preacherSWBTS trustee
Paige PattersonFormer president of the Southern Baptist Conventionformer SWBTS president
Lee Rutland ScarboroughProfessor, evangelistSWBTS second president
Ted G. StoneEvangelist and recovering addictSWBTS trustee
Terry WilderNew Testament scholarProfessor of New Testament

Alumni

SWBTS includes many notable and well known alumni including several different Southern Baptist Convention Presidents, a U.S Senator, a US Governor, U.S. presidential candidates, members of the White House Cabinet of the United States, seminary presidents, pastors, educators, theologians, Civil Rights activists, songwriters, authors, and etc.

NameKnown forRelationship to SWBTS
Gary ChapmanAuthor of The Five Love Languages seriesMaster of Religious Education / Doctor of Philosophy
Bill Moyers11th White House Press Secretary for U.S. 36th President Lyndon B. Johnson, JournalistMaster of Divinity
James LankfordJunior United States Senator (R-OK), 2015–PresentMaster of Divinity[46]
David S. DockeryPresident, Trinity International UniversityMaster of Divinity
Jeff Iorg President, Gateway Seminary (formerly Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary) Doctor of Ministry
Daniel Akin President, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary Master of Divinity
Louie GiglioPastor, Passion City Church and founder, Passion MovementMaster of Divinity[47]
J. D. Grey28th Southern Baptist Convention President, Pastor of First Baptist Church of New Orleans, 1937–1972Master's degree[48]
Ronnie Floyd 60th Southern Baptist Convention President, 2014 - 2016. Master of Divinity
Steve Gaines61st Southern Baptist Convention President, 2016–PresentMaster of Divinity
William G. Tanner President of Oklahoma Baptist University from 1971-1976. Bachelor of Divinity / Doctor of Theology
Mark Brister 14th President of Oklahoma Baptist University, Humanitarian, Baptist Pastor Master of Divinity / Doctor of Ministry
George E. HearnPsychologist and Professor at Louisiana CollegeMaster's degree
Mike Huckabee44th Governor of Arkansas & U.S. Presidential Candidate in 2008 and 2016.Graduate study (one year)
Robert JeffressSenior Pastor, First Baptist Church (Dallas, Texas)Doctor of Ministry
Bill P. KeithLouisiana State Senator (1980–1984) & defender of creation scienceSeminary graduate in late 1950s
Larry LeaTelevangelistAttended the doctoral program[49]
Phillip Lee, Jr.United States Navy Reserve Rear AdmiralMaster of Divinity (1990), Master of Religious Education (1998) and Doctor of Philosophy degree (2000)[50]
Fred L. LoweryPastor of First Baptist Church of Bossier City, Louisiana; Televangelist, "The First Word"Master of Theology[51]
Robert L. LynnPresident of Louisiana College from 1975 to 1997[52]
Baylus Benjamin McKinneySinger, hymnistSeminary student[53]
Erwin McManusLead Pastor of Mosaic ChurchMaster of Divinity
Don MillerRepublican member of the Tennessee House of RepresentativesM.R.E.[54]
John R. RiceEvangelist and founder of Sword of the Lord fundamentalist publicationsAttended in 1920
Rick Scarboroughformer pastor, heads Vision AmericaMaster of Divinity[55]
Charles StanleyPastor, First Baptist Church, Atlanta, GeorgiaMaster of Divinity
Rick WarrenFounder and Senior Pastor of Saddleback ChurchMaster of Divinity
Paul WasherPreacher, Founder/Director of HeartCry Missionary SocietyMaster of Divinity
Jack Frasure Hyles Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Hammond, IN (1951 - 2001), Founder of Hyles-Anderson College Master's Degree[56]
Earl StallingsMinister and Civil Rights Movement ActivistMaster of Divinity
Lester RoloffEvangelist within Independent Baptist movement, influential home school advocateMaster of Divinity
Charles Robert McPherson Senior Pastor of Riverside Baptist Church in Denver, Colorado, 1962-1986 Master's degree[57]
Edwin Barry YoungFounder Fellowship ChurchMaster of Divinity

References

  1. SWBTS had a non-duplicating headcount of 3,567 students in all schools and all locations as of the 2005–2006 academic year. "About Us" SWBTS Official Website
  2. Year of last comprehensive evaluation visit: 2001; "Fall 2011 Data - Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary";"Fall 2008 Data - Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary";"Fall 2006 Data - Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary" The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada
  3. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Official Catalog p. 11 Archived September 26, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  4. "Southwestern Declaration on Academic and Theological Integrity" Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Archived September 1, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.
  5. "Affirmed Statements". SBTS. Retrieved 4 February 2017.
  6. 1 2 Texas State Historical Commission. "Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Historical Marker".
  7. 1 2 "History & Heritage". Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Archived from the original on 25 August 2017.
  8. 1 2 Steinfels, Peter (March 11, 1994). "Baptists Dismiss Seminary Head in Surprise Move". New York Times.
  9. Fletcher, Jesse (24 November 1999). "Russell Dilday". Baptist Standard. Archived from the original on April 7, 2014.
  10. Hawkins, Merrill M., Jr. (2007) "Columns: Glimpses of a Seminary Under Assault" Baptist History and Heritage 42(1): p. 117–118
  11. Tomlin, Gregory (June 2003). "Paige Patterson elected as president of Southwestern". Baptist Press. Archived from the original on 23 March 2017.
  12. Staff (December 2006). "Briefs: Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and private prayer languages". Christianity Today. Vol. 50 no. 12 +page=17. Archived from the original on January 12, 2011.
  13. Staff (12 March 2007). "Former prof. files suit against SWBTS". Baptist Press. Archived from the original on 4 February 2017.
  14. "Professor: Seminary ousted her over gender". NBC News. Associated Press. January 26, 2007. Archived from the original on September 4, 2016.
  15. Staff (April 3, 2007). "Lawsuit filed against Southwestern Baptist". Christian Century. Vol. 124 no. 7. p. 17. (Subscription required (help)).
  16. Thomas, Oliver "Buzz" (8 April 2007). "Having faith in women". USA Today. Archived from the original on 7 February 2017.
  17. "U.S. District Judge John McBryde dismissed Klouda’s case, ruling that SWBT is, for First Amendment purposes, a church, and that Klouda is a minister." "Sheri Klouda and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary". 24 March 2008. (Subscription required (help)). , with quotations from Judge McBryde and links to court documents.
  18. Marus, Robert (24 March 2008). "Judge dismisses Klouda lawsuit against Patterson, Southwestern". Baptist Press. Associated Baptist Press. Archived from the original on 27 June 2017.
  19. "Judge Okays School Ban On Female Teachers". CBS News. Associated Press. 21 March 2008. Archived from the original on 3 February 2017.
  20. https://baptistnews.com/article/southwestern-seminary-enrolls-muslim-doctoral-student-sparks-controversy/#.WIwLDrGZORs
  21. http://www.christianpost.com/news/baptist-seminary-defends-acceptance-of-palestinian-muslim-student-he-is-a-man-of-peace-120058/
  22. Sibley, Alex (12 April 2017). "College at Southwestern renamed 'Scarborough College'". Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Archived from the original on 23 May 2017.
  23. "Page Patterson out at Southwestern Seminary". baptistnews.com. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  24. "Southern Baptist Leader Removed Over Remarks On Rape, Abuse Of Women". NPR.org. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  25. "Statement Regarding Dr. Paige Patterson | Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary". swbts.edu. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  26. Roach, David. "Patterson appointed pres. emeritus by SWBTS trustees". www.bpnews.net. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  27. Tomlin, Gregory (10 April 2002). "Southwestern Seminary adds eight to faculty; Trustees approve record budget". The Hill - The Home for News from Southwestern Seminary. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011.
  28. Listing of issues of The Southwestern Journal of Theology
  29. "The College at Southwestern: History". Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
  30. See Collins, Keith (22 October 2007). "WRAP UP: Seminary trustees fall 2007 meeting". Archived from the original on November 5, 2007.
  31. 1 2 Tomlin, Gregory; Thompson, Brent (April 2006). "SWBTS trustees elect new deans, faculty, and vice president; expands program in San Antonio". Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Archived from the original on September 1, 2006.
  32. 1 2 Sibley, Alex (23 January 2017). "Accreditors approve new M.A. in Philosophy". Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Archived from the original on 3 February 2017.
  33. "School of Theology | Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary". swbts.edu. Retrieved 2017-08-25.
  34. "History & Heritage | Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary". swbts.edu. Retrieved 2017-08-25.
  35. "Leo Day: Dean of the School of Church Music and Professor of Voice". Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Archived from the original on 4 February 2017.
  36. "School of Church Music | Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary". swbts.edu. Retrieved 2017-08-25.
  37. Collier, Keith (18 October 2007). "Evangelism prof Roy Fish honored at SWBTS". Baptist Press. Archived from the original on 27 June 2017.
  38. 1 2 "Roy Fish School of Evangelism & Missions". Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Archived from the original on July 6, 2016.
  39. Thompson, Brent (7 April 2005). "Former Muslim, El Salvadoran, among 17 new SWBTS faculty". Baptist Press. Archived from the original on 27 June 2017.
  40. "History & Heritage | Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary". swbts.edu. Retrieved 2017-08-25.
  41. "Jack D. Terry School of Church & Family Ministries | Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary". swbts.edu. Retrieved 2017-08-25.
  42. "History & Heritage | Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary". swbts.edu. Retrieved 2017-08-25.
  43. 1 2 "Fall 2011 Data - Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary". Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada. Archived from the original on March 24, 2009.
  44. Hailey, Cory J. (25 February 1999). "Robert E. Naylor, dead at 90, led Southwestern from 1958-78". Baptist Press. Archived from the original on 27 June 2017.
  45. Summerlin, Travis L. (June 15, 2010). "GAMBRELL, JAMES BRUTON". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  46. "Campaign-2012: Candidates: Oklahoma: James Lankford: House". The Washington Times. 2012. Archived from the original on July 25, 2014.
  47. "Louie Giglio Books and Ministry". Christ Notes. 2007. Archived from the original on February 23, 2008.
  48. James Cole and Robert L. Lee, Saint J. D. (Waco, Texas: Word Publishers, 1969), pp. 159–1963
  49. Balmer, Randall Herbert (2002) Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, Kentucky, p. 333, ISBN 0-664-22409-1
  50. "Rear Admiral Phillip "Endel" Lee, Jr". United States Navy. 24 January 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  51. "LoweryFeatured Speaker for Oklahoma Baptist University Chapel Service, February 14, 2000". okbu.edu. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
  52. "Dr. Lynn is slated by Lions", Minden Press-Herald, Minden, Louisiana, September 24, 1975, p. 1
  53. "Stacy Whitlow, 'Wherever He Leads I'll Go,' B.B. McKinney reunion sings anew, August 14, 2000". bpnews.net. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  54. House profile
  55. Murray, Shailagh. "Filibuster Fray Lifts Profile of Minister: Scarborough Has Network and Allies", The Washington Post, May 8, 2005. Accessed December 19, 2007.
  56. "Hyles-Anderson 2016-17 Catalog" (PDF). 2016.
  57. "Denver Post, August 2, 1986" (PDF). Denver Post. August 2, 1986.

Coordinates: 32°40′55″N 97°20′53″W / 32.682°N 97.348°W / 32.682; -97.348

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