A
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS) trustee has finally revealed
(at the SBC, Dallas) why the Executive Committee (EC) rescinded the action of
the full body of trustees and voted to fire Dr. Paige Patterson. It is alleged he failed to attend some
meetings, worked against a trustee, and Patterson’s lawyer questioned the previous
decision of the trustees. While grateful
for the explanation, serious concerns remain.
1. The EC acted in haste. Many such decisions take weeks or
months. Patience and slow deliberation
is often wise.
2. They made this decision when Paige Patterson
was out of the country preaching, and gave him no chance to defend
himself. We should always be willing to
hear the other side (Proverbs 18:17; Matthew 18).
3. This decision to fire Patterson appears to be
an angry reaction to what they consider his provocation.
4. All trustees are not in agreement with this
verdict, and likely, more trustees will come to regret this hasty, harsh ruling.
5. The 12-member EC rescinded the decision of
the full body of 40 trustees. A decision
made only one week before.
6. Some feel this gives the appearance that
since the full body of trustees would not fire Patterson, the EC met later to
do so.
7. This decision sets a terrible precedent. Firing an entity leader should be an absolute
last resort. Also, should a precedent be
set that an EC can nullify a decision of the full board?
8. The complaints of the EC are pretty well nonexistent
if Dr. Patterson is President Emeritus rather than President. The alleged charge that he missed trustee
meetings, no longer matters. Why not let
past disagreements remain in the past?
9. Patterson’s attorney questioning the decision
of the Trustees may have simply been for the sake of clarification. Regardless, the Trustees can pretty well do
what they want, as long as they follow their guidelines. They do not have to be concerned with questions
from a lawyer; just be transparent, answer the concerns, and move on.
10. There is the danger of appearing to bow to
more extreme elements of the MeToo movement and social media. Whatever their intentions, in the final analysis,
the EC did exactly what the more extreme elements of the MeToo movement called
for. Despite the social media accusations,
evidence now shows Paige Patterson followed proper procedure in dealing with
sexual assault.
11. This action of the EC seems to have been done
with malice and no grace. Some have said
the secular world treats their employees better. Please allow Paige and Dorothy Patterson to
retire with dignity.
12. Southwestern should keep the promises made to
Paige and Dorothy Patterson in the previous, full trustee meeting.
Paige
Patterson is a preacher, pastor, evangelist, scholar, author, educator. He and Dorothy have lived exemplary moral
lives. At great sacrifice, he was one of
the leaders in the fight for inerrancy of Scripture in the SBC Conservative
Resurgence. He is not perfect, he can
rub people the wrong way, but he certainly deserves better than being unceremoniously
kicked out of SWBTS where he has faithfully served 15 years.
Paige
Patterson and his family have been devastated.
He has apologized for improper statements. He has been humbled. Perhaps it is now time for some trustees to
humble themselves, and rescind the rushed decision of the SWBTS Executive
Committee.
PS
– In my humble opinion, more people should be publicly speaking up for Paige
Patterson.
-David R. Brumbelow, Gulf Coast Pastor;
June 28, AD 2018.
Updates:
SWBTS
donors request investigative committee re: Patterson termination; suggest
executive committee actions imperil academic accreditation
http://sbctoday.wpengine.com/swbts-donors-request-investigative-committee-re-patterson-termination-suggest-executive-committee-actions-imperil-academic-accreditation/
http://sbctoday.wpengine.com/swbts-donors-request-investigative-committee-re-patterson-termination-suggest-executive-committee-actions-imperil-academic-accreditation/
Donor Letter to
SWBTS Trustees
https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4568645-Southwestern-Letter.html
Conservative
Resurgence archives find home in Fort Worth
SWBTS’s
Baptist Heritage Library will house historical documents and provide
presidential apartment.
Articles:
Other
Articles in lower right margin.
Thanks for posting this. I hope the trustees will consider these matters and reinstate Dr. Patterson to Emeritus status.
ReplyDeleteI agree that they should just allow Dr. Paige Patterson to retire with grace. I think they should withdraw their decision. I also think of what our Lord once said, He that is without sin let him cast the first stone.
ReplyDelete