Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary: Difference between revisions
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Southwestern Seminary is among the top five supplier programs of faculty members with doctoral degrees in theological education, after the University of Chicago, Harvard, Yale and Princeton Seminary. |
Southwestern Seminary is among the top five supplier programs of faculty members with doctoral degrees in theological education, after the University of Chicago, Harvard, Yale and Princeton Seminary. |
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In 2007 the seminary began an initiative for engaging and transforming culture, its new Center for Cultural Engagement, named in honor of [[Richard Land]].<ref>See [http://www.swbts.edu/pressreleases/story.cfm?id=C97924C9-15C5-E47C-F948B0777A244E91 WRAP UP: Seminary trustees fall 2007 meeting.]</ref> In line with this initiative, the seminary actively supports [[intelligent design]], having hired prominent intelligent-design advocate [[William A. Dembski]]. |
From its foundation, Southwestern Seminary has been an active proponent of Baptist and Free Church theology. This active support for the local New Testament churches may be seen in the theological emphases of its presidents and in the establishment in 2006 of the website, [http://www.baptisttheology.org BaptistTheology.org]. In 2007 the seminary began an initiative for engaging and transforming culture, its new Center for Cultural Engagement, named in honor of [[Richard Land]].<ref>See [http://www.swbts.edu/pressreleases/story.cfm?id=C97924C9-15C5-E47C-F948B0777A244E91 WRAP UP: Seminary trustees fall 2007 meeting.]</ref> In line with this initiative, the seminary actively supports [[intelligent design]], having hired prominent intelligent-design advocate [[William A. Dembski]]. |
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==Presidents== |
==Presidents== |
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Revision as of 03:52, 28 December 2008
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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[1] and is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools[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
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 Samual 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 and the appointment of Ken Hemphill.[6] President Dilday was the only president of SWBTS ever to be removed.[6]
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.
The Seminary has not been free from controversy, as witnessed by the dismissal of President Dilday in 1994 following the fundamentalist takeover of the board of trustees, the 2006 prohibition on professors or administrators promoting charismatic practices, such as private prayer languages[7] and the charges of sexual discrimination brought by Sheri Klouda in her 2007 lawsuit.[8][9][10] The Klouda lawsuit was dismissed because of church-state concerns and a lack of evidence.
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 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.
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.
Southwestern Seminary is among the top five supplier programs of faculty members with doctoral degrees in theological education, after the University of Chicago, Harvard, Yale and Princeton Seminary.
From its foundation, Southwestern Seminary has been an active proponent of Baptist and Free Church theology. This active support for the local New Testament churches may be seen in the theological emphases of its presidents and in the establishment in 2006 of the website, BaptistTheology.org. In 2007 the seminary began an initiative for engaging and transforming culture, its new Center for Cultural Engagement, named in honor of Richard Land.[11] In line with this initiative, the seminary actively supports intelligent design, having hired prominent intelligent-design advocate William A. Dembski.
Presidents
- 1908 - 1914 — Benajah Harvey Carroll
- 1915 - 1942 — Lee R. Scarborough
- 1942 - 1953 — E. D. Head
- 1953 - 1958 — J. Howard Williams
- 1958 - 1978 — Robert E. Naylor
- 1978 - 1994 — Russell H. Dilday
- 1994 - 2003 — Kenneth S. Hemphill
- 2003 - — L. Paige Patterson
Notable people
Faculty
| Name | Known for | Relationship to SWBTS |
|---|---|---|
| Benajah Harvey Carroll | Preacher | SWBTS founder and first president |
| Paige Patterson | Architect of Conservative Resurgence of the Southern Baptist Convention | SWBTS president |
| Craig Blaising | Early Church Historian and Theologian of Progressive Dispensationalism | SWBTS provost |
| William A. Dembski | Proponent of intelligent design | Professor of Apologetics since 2006[12] |
| J. Frank Norris | Fundamentalist preacher | SWBTS founder |
| Malcolm B. Yarnell III | Free Church theologian | Director of Center for Theological Research |
Alumni
| Name | Known for | Relationship to SWBTS |
|---|---|---|
| Gary Chapman | Author | Master of Religious Education (M.R.E.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) |
| Larry Lea | Televangelist | Attended the doctoral program[13] |
| Rick Warren | Preacher | Master of Divinity degree (1979) |
References
- ^ 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
- ^ "The Commission on Accrediting of the Association of Theological Schools: Member SChools: Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary" The Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada
- ^ Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Official Catalog p. 11
- ^ "Southwestern Declaration on Academic and Theological Integrity" Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
- ^ a b Texas State Historical Commission. "Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Historical Marker".
- ^ a b Hawkins, Merrill M., Jr. (2007) "Columns: Glimpses of a Seminary Under Assault" Baptist History and Heritage 42(1): p. 117-118
- ^ Staff (December 2006) "Briefs" Christianity Today 50(12) p. 17
- ^ Staff (3 April 2007) "Lawsuit filed against Southwestern Baptist" Christian Century 124(7): p.17
- ^ Thomas, Oliver Buzz (2007) "Having faith in women" USA Today 8 April 2007
- ^ Thomas, Oliver Buzz (2007) "Having faith in women" USA Today 8 April 2007
- ^ See WRAP UP: Seminary trustees fall 2007 meeting.
- ^ Tomlin, Gregory (undated). "SWBTS trustees elect new deans, faculty, and vice president;expands program in San Antonio". Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Retrieved 2006-12-01.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Randall Herbert Balmer, Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism, p. 333