Paige Patterson has been terminated “effective immediately” as president emeritus of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, the school’s trustee executive committee announced late on May 30.
The executive committee cited “new information” about Paige’s handling of an allegation of sexual abuse against a student while Patterson was president of another institution “and resulting issues connected with statements to the Board of Trustees that are inconsistent with SWBTS’s biblically informed core values.” The executive committee deemed that “the information demanded immediate action and could not be deferred to a regular meeting of the Board.”
Executive committee members voted to remove “all the benefits, rights and privileges provided by the May 22-23 board meeting, including the title of President Emeritus, the invitation to reside at the Baptist Heritage Center as theologian-in-residence and ongoing compensation,” according to a published statement.
Following is the statement as published at the SWBTS website:
Statement by the Southwestern Theological Seminary
By SWBTS Board of Trustees Executive Committee on May 30, 2018
During the May 30, 2018, Executive Committee meeting of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS) Board of Trustees, new information confirmed this morning was presented regarding the handling of an allegation of sexual abuse against a student during Dr. Paige Patterson’s presidency at another institution and resulting issues connected with statements to the Board of Trustees that are inconsistent with SWBTS’s biblically informed core values.
Deeming the information demanded immediate action and could not be deferred to a regular meeting of the Board, based on the details presented, the Executive Committee unanimously resolved to terminate Dr. Paige Patterson, effective immediately, removing all the benefits, rights and privileges provided by the May 22-23 board meeting, including the title of President Emeritus, the invitation to reside at the Baptist Heritage Center as theologian-in-residence and ongoing compensation.
Under the leadership of Interim President Dr. Jeffrey Bingham, SWBTS remains committed to its calling to assist the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention by biblically educating God-called men and women for ministries that fulfill the Great Commission and glorify God.
Further, the Seminary stands against all forms of abuse and grieves for individuals wounded by abuse. Today, Dr. Bingham made it clear that SWBTS denounces all abusive behavior, any behavior that enables abuse, any failure to protect the abused and any failure to safeguard those who are vulnerable to abuse. Additionally, Dr. Bingham called for the SWBTS community to join the Body of Christ in praying for healing for all individuals affected by abuse.
FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dr. Charles Patrick, Vice President for Communications, (817) 923-1921, ext. 3025, cpatrick@swbts.edu