Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is an American, private, non-profit institution of higher education, associated with the Southern Baptist Convention, and 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 also the Southwestern Declaration on Academic and Theological Integrity[4]).

History

B.H. Carroll

The seminary was established in 1908, with B. H. Carroll as its founding president.[5] It grew out of the Baylor University theological department, which was established in 1901. By 1905, 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.

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.[5] 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.

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. 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.[6] The appointment of Ken Hemphill followed.[7] President Dilday was the only president of SWBTS ever to be removed.[7]

In 2006 the seminary imposed a prohibition on professors or administrators promoting charismatic practices, such as private prayer languages.[8]

In 2007 a sexual discrimination suit was filed by Professor Sheri Klouda over her dismissal.[9][10] The Klouda lawsuit was dismissed because of church-state concerns.[11][12]

Administration and faculty

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

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. L. Paige Patterson, selected in 2003, is the current 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 eighty-eight individuals and there are also forty-seven part-time faculty members.

Academics

Southwestern is divided into six schools: The College, The School of Theology, The School of Church and Family Ministries (formerly the School of Educational Ministries), The School of Church Music, The Roy Fish School of Evangelism and Missions, and the J. Dalton Havard School for Theological Studies in Houston, each with its own faculty and degree programs. The school offers 18 tracks of study in areas such as corporate chaplaincy, Islamic Studies, marriage and family counseling, urban evangelism and social work.[13]

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.[14] 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.[15]

In 2007 the seminary began an initiative for engaging and transforming culture, its new Center for Cultural Engagement, named in honor of Richard Land.[16] In line with this initiative, the seminary employed prominent intelligent design advocate William A. Dembski.[17]

Campuses

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary has its main campus in Fort Worth, but also offers programs and selected degrees at remote campuses.[18]

Courses toward a degree are made available at their campuses in Little Rock, Arkansas, Plano, Texas, San Antonio, Texas, and Shawnee, Oklahoma.[18]

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 1958–1978
6 Russell H. Dilday 1978–1994
7 Kenneth S. Hemphill 1994–2003
8 L. Paige Patterson 2003–present

Notable people

Faculty

Name Known for Relationship to SWBTS
Benajah Harvey Carroll Pastor, theologian SWBTS founder and first president
William A. Dembski Proponent of intelligent design Professor of Apologetics since 2006[17]
E. Earle Ellis New Testament scholar Research Professor of Theology Emeritus
William Roscoe Estep Baptist and Anabaptist historian, professor Professor of Church History Emeritus
Buckner Fanning Pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in San Antonio from 1959 to 2001; leader in ecumenical movement1952 SWBTS graduate[19]
James Bruton Gambrell Theologian Chair of Christian Ethics and Ecclesiology from 1912 to 1914[20]
James Leo Garrett Jr. Theologian Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Theology
T. B. Maston Christian ethicist Professor of Christian Ethics
J. Frank Norris Fundamentalist preacher SWBTS trustee
Paige Patterson Former president of the Southern Baptist Convention SWBTS president
Lee Rutland Scarborough Professor, evangelist SWBTS second president
Terry Wilder New Testament scholar Professor of New Testament

Alumni

Name Known for Relationship to SWBTS
Gary Chapman Author Master of Religious Education (M.R.E.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
David S. Dockery President, Trinity International University Master of Divinity
Louie Giglio Pastor, Passion City Church and founder, Passion Movement Master of Divinity[21]
J. D. Grey Pastor of First Baptist Church of New Orleans, 1937–1972 Master's degree[22]
George E. Hearn Psychologist and Professor at Louisiana College Master's degree
Mike Huckabee Governor of Arkansas & 2008 candidate for US President Graduate study (one year)
Robert Jeffress Pastor, First Baptist Church (Dallas, Texas) Doctor of Ministry
Bill P. Keith Louisiana State Senator (1980–1984) & defender of creation science Seminary graduate in late 1950s
James Lankford United States Senator (R-OK) Master of Divinity[23]
Larry Lea Televangelist Attended the doctoral program[24]
Fred L. Lowery Pastor of First Baptist Church of Bossier City, Louisiana;
Televangelist, "The First Word"		Master of Theology[25]
Robert L. Lynn President of Louisiana College from 1975 to 1997 [26]
Baylus Benjamin McKinney Singer, hymnistSeminary student[27]
Erwin McManus Lead Pastor of Mosaic Church Master of Divinity
Don Miller Republican member of the Tennessee House of Representatives M.R.E.[28]
Bill Moyers Journalist Master of Divinity
Rick Scarborough former pastor, heads Vision America Master of Divinity[29]
Charles Stanley Pastor, First Baptist Church, Atlanta, Georgia Master of Divinity
Rick Warren Founder and Senior Pastor of Saddleback Church Master of Divinity
Paul Washer Preacher, Founder/Director of HeartCry Missionary Society Master of Divinity
Edwin Barry Young Founder Fellowship Church Master 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
  4. ↑ "Southwestern Declaration on Academic and Theological Integrity" Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
  5. 1 2 Texas State Historical Commission. "Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Historical Marker".
  6. ↑ Fletcher, Jesse (24 November 1999). "Russell Dilday". Baptist Standard. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014.
  7. 1 2 Hawkins, Merrill M., Jr. (2007) "Columns: Glimpses of a Seminary Under Assault" Baptist History and Heritage 42(1): p. 117–118
  8. ↑ Staff (December 2006) "Briefs" Christianity Today 50(12) p. 17
  9. ↑ Staff (3 April 2007) "Lawsuit filed against Southwestern Baptist" Christian Century 124(7): p.17
  10. ↑ Thomas, Oliver Buzz (2007) "Having faith in women" USA Today 8 April 2007
  11. ↑ "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", with quoations from Judge McBryde and links to court documents.
  12. ↑ Marus, Robert (24 March 2008) "Judge dismisses Klouda lawsuit against Patterson, Southwestern" Associated Baptist Press
  13. ↑ John Babler is an associate professor of social work and ministry-based evangelism. Tomlin, Gregory (10 April 2002) "Southwestern Seminary adds eight to faculty; Trustees approve record budget" The Hill - The Home for News from Southwestern Seminary
  14. ↑ Listing of issues of The Southwestern Journal of Theology
  15. ↑ "The College at Southwestern: History". Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
  16. ↑ See Collins, Keith (22 October 2007). "WRAP UP: Seminary trustees fall 2007 meeting". Archived from the original on 5 November 2007.
  17. 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 1 September 2006.
  18. 1 2 "Fall 2011 Data - Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary". Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada.
  19. ↑ Elaine Ayala (July 30, 2015). "Buckner Fanning remains a San Antonio legend: Evangelist has been compared to Billy Graham". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  20. ↑ Summerlin, Travis L. (June 15, 2010). "GAMBRELL, JAMES BRUTON". Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved January 8, 2016.
  21. ↑ "Louie Giglio Books and Ministry". Christ Notes. 2007. Archived from the original on 23 February 2008.
  22. ↑ James Cole and Robert L. Lee, Saint J. D. (Waco, Texas: Word Publishers, 1969), pp. 159–1963
  23. ↑ "Campaign-2012: Candidates: Oklahoma: James Lankford: House". The Washington Times. 2012. Archived from the original on 25 July 2014.
  24. ↑ Balmer, Randall Herbert (2002) Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism Westminster John Knox Press, Louisville, Kentucky, p. 333, ISBN 0-664-22409-1
  25. ↑ "LoweryFeatured Speaker for Oklahoma Baptist University Chapel Service, February 14, 2000". okbu.edu. Retrieved June 16, 2012.
  26. ↑ "Dr. Lynn is slated by Lions", Minden Press-Herald, Minden, Louisiana, September 24, 1975, p. 1
  27. ↑ "Stacy Whitlow, 'Wherever He Leads I'll Go,' B.B. McKinney reunion sings anew, August 14, 2000". bpnews.net. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
  28. ↑ House profile
  29. ↑ Murray, Shailagh. "Filibuster Fray Lifts Profile of Minister: Scarborough Has Network and Allies", The Washington Post, May 8, 2005. Accessed December 19, 2007.

External links

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

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