Paige Patterson

Paige Patterson
Born	October 19, 1942
Occupation	Pastor, Educator, Seminary President
Religion	Southern Baptist
Spouse	Dorothy Jean nee Kelley
Children	Armour (son) and Carmen (daughter)
Parents	Thomas Armour "T.A." Patterson (father), Roberta M. "Honey" Turner Patterson (mother)

L. Paige Patterson (born October 19, 1942) is the eighth president of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.

Education

• B.A. - Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene, Texas
• Th.M. - New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
• Ph.D. - New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Career

Patterson started preaching while still in his teens. He held several Pastorates before becoming president of the Criswell Center for Biblical Studies (now the Criswell College) in Dallas, Texas. Patterson formed a strong connection with Dr W.A. Criswell of the First Baptist Church of Dallas while in this position. After 17 years he became president of the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina (1992-2003). Patterson was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) in both 1998 and 1999. He has lectured and preached extensively and authored and edited many books and journals. In 2003, he became the 8th president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. He currently serves on the board of trustees of Cedarville University.

Role in the SBC Conservative Resurgence

Patterson is best known for his prominent role in the Southern Baptist Convention conservative resurgence starting in 1979 with the election of Adrian Rogers as Convention President. Believing SBC seminaries and other SBC institutions had drifted away from their conservative Biblical roots, Patterson joined with Judge Paul Pressler of Houston, TX to carry out a plan that included exposing the liberal theology taught and practiced by the leadership in SBC institutions. The most important issue was the nature of scripture, particularly, whether or not it is inerrant. Patterson, Pressler, and a host of pastors and laymen began to spread the word that the teaching of SBC leadership was not reflective of their constituents who were paying their salaries.

Patterson and the conservatives won the support of hundreds of like-minded churches, and as many as 40,000 messengers (church members willing to travel to the annual Southern Baptist Convention to vote). Patterson's influence has been felt at all levels of Southern Baptist life. The seminaries have for the most part returned to their conservative moorings. Local churches are hiring pastors educated at schools led by conservatives. Missionaries are being influenced by Patterson's leadership. By the time Patterson was appointed president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, the conservative leadership required that all faculty sign documents stating their allegiance to Southern Baptist doctrine, most notably, the Baptist Faith and Message.

Patterson has been associated with the Council for National Policy, an umbrella organization and networking group for social conservative activists in the United States.

Stance on Women in Ministry

Patterson has attracted interest because of his stance on the role of women in churches and related areas such as the academic training of ministers. According to Patterson, the "highest and noblest calling of God" for women is that of "mother and grandmother." Additionally, Patterson's interpretation of the Bible includes "an assignment from God, in this case that a woman not be involved in a teaching or ruling capacity over men". This stance was highlighted in a case involving Sheri Klouda, a Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary professor hired prior to Patterson's arrival. Klouda's case against Southwestern and Patterson was dismissed because of church-state concerns and a lack of evidence. The judge in the case concluded (1) that the Constitution did not permit the court to involve itself in the matter, and that even if it did (2) no reasonable person could conclude that there was any evidence against Patterson or Southwestern.^{[citation needed]}

Southwestern Seminary has a number of female faculty members, though Paige Patterson's wife, Dorothy, is now the only female faculty member listed among the School of Theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Her teaching responsibilities are for the women at the seminary.

Patterson has summed up the role of wives in one succinct sentence: "‘You just lead and, honey, I’ll follow.’" He has also compared female submissiveness to an encounter with a police officer. Although the officer and Patterson would be equal before God, "He is above me,” Patterson said. “God gave him an assignment that affects me and made him a minister of God to correct my evil ways.".

Personal Activities

Dr. Patterson has also become known for participating in African hunting expeditions. He has taken animals, such as giraffe, lion, leopards, and buffalo, and shares images of his killings on his official web site and at Christian hunters' banquets.

External links

• Official web site
• [1] Chronicle of Higher Education article on the Klouda event and Patterson's role therein
• Interview with Dorothy Patterson