Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is a private, non-profit institution of higher education, associated with the Southern Baptist Convention, whose stated mission is "to provide theological education for individuals engaging in Christian ministry." It is one of the largest seminaries in the world and is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools and also by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award diploma, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. The school uses the Baptist Faith and Message (2000) as its confessional statement (see also the Southwestern Declaration on Academic and Theological Integrity).

History

B.H. Carroll

The seminary was established in 1908, with B. H. Carroll as its founding president. 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, at the urging of Carroll, Lee Scarborough, and George W. Truett, the Baptist General Convention of Texas authorized the separation of the seminary from Baylor, the seminary was given a new name, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, with its own board of trustees. 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. The 200-acre 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.

B. H. Carroll Memorial Building (named for its founding president) is the seminary's main administrative building.

In 1994, the seminary experienced a drastic change in leadership with the dismissal of Russell H. Dilday as president and the appointment of Ken Hemphill. Dilday was forced to resign due to his efforts to keep the seminary free of the political bias that sharply divided the Southern Baptist Convention. This division occurred as a result of the conservative resurgence of the Southern Baptist Convention (ironically, one of the orchestrators of this takeover was Paige Patterson, current president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary).

The leadership among the conservatives sought to require faculty members and administrators to sign documents pledging allegiance with typical Southern Baptist viewpoints, such as absolute inerrancy of the Scriptures and other doctrinal issues that are in accordance with the Baptist Faith & Message (2000), a document developed and agreed upon by the members of the Southern Baptist Convention. After Dr. Dilday's ouster, a group of Baptists in opposition to the conservative resurgence started a new seminary, Truett Theological Seminary, at Baylor University. Truett Seminary was modeled after the traditional values of the founders of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

In the fall of 2005, the Seminary began a new chapter in its undergraduate studies program by instituting The College at Southwestern. Students specialize in a variety of fields and upon graduation will be awarded a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities. Dr. Emir Caner is the current Dean of the College. In the fall of 2005, the Seminary began a new chapter in its undergraduate studies program by instituting The College at Southwestern. Students specialize in a variety of fields and upon graduation will be awarded a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities.

The Seminary has not been free from controversy, as witnessed by the 2006 prohibition on professors or administrators promoting charismatic practices, such as private prayer languages and the charges of sexual discrimination in denial of tenure brought by Sheri Klouda in her 2007 lawsuit. Thomas, Oliver Buzz (2007) "Having faith in women" USA Today 8 April 2007</ref>

Current deans include Dr. Robert Welch (School of Educational Ministries), Dr. Emir Caner (the College at Southwestern), Dr. David Allen (School of Theology), Dr. Keith Eitel (Roy Fish School of Evangelism and Missions), Dr. Stephen Johnson (School of Church Music) and Dr. J. Denny Autrey (Havard School for Theological Studies in Houston, Texas).

Presidents

1. 1908 - 1914 &#151; Benajah Harvey Carroll
2. 1915 - 1942 &#151; Lee R. Scarborough
3. 1942 - 1953 &#151; E. D. Head
4. 1953 - 1958 &#151; J. Howard Williams
5. 1958 - 1978 &#151; Robert E. Naylor
6. 1978 - 1994 &#151; Russell H. Dilday
7. 1994 - 2003 &#151; Kenneth S. Hemphill
8. 2003 -      &#151; L. Paige Patterson

Administration and faculty

SBTS 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 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 (2007) deans include Emir Caner (College at Southwestern), Robert Welch (School of Educational Ministries), David Allen (School of Theology), Keith Eitel (Roy Fish School of Evangelism and Missions), Stephen Johnson (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 Educational Ministries, The School of Church Music, The Roy Fish School of Evangelism and Missions, and the 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.

Former seminary President Kenneth Hemphill explained to Christianity Today in 2001 that "We are a conservative, confessional institution, and we have not found that our accreditation has caused us to compromise our biblical convictions." Furthermore, "We have found accreditation valuable in that it provides accountability for the institution and credibility for those looking for graduate theological work. It is important to have standards of quality."

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

External links

• Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary