Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS) alumnus Adam W. Greenway, dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Ministry at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, has been elected the institution’s ninth president.
During the special called meeting, trustee Danny Roberts, chair of the presidential search committee, recommended to the board that Greenway be elected president as well as professor of evangelism and apologetics.
In remarks at a Feb. 27 press conference following his election, Greenway said he wants to continue Southwestern’s legacy as the “big-tent seminary of the [Southern Baptist Convention],” where Southern Baptists who differ on secondary theological issues can unite behind rigorous scholarship, missions and evangelism.
He also spoke of continuing the seminary’s heritage of strong faculty and producing Southern Baptist Convention leaders. Greenway said he has “no intention” of “trying to create a miniaturized version of [Southern Baptist Theological Seminary],” where he served as a dean the past six years.
“Southwestern has had a distinct heritage … of being the big-tent seminary of the SBC,” Greenway said, “the seminary that’s been able to bring people together who may have differences of opinion on secondary or tertiary matters, but are committed to the main things of the Great Commission, the local church, missions, evangelism, preaching [and] pastoral ministry.”
In response to a media question, Greenway said he will not attempt to make Southwestern like Southern. The two institutions are distinct in Southern Baptist life and have a relationship analogous to Harvard and Yale, Greenway said.
“I have no intention of trying to come and trying to create a miniaturized version of Southern or a caricature of Southern here,” Greenway said. “I do not believe that Southwestern needs to import another institution’s legacy. We simply need to reinvigorate and retell the great legacy and history of this seminary for a new generation.”
A Samford University graduate, Greenway, 41, went on to earn master’s degrees from Southwestern and the University of Notre Dame, as well as earning a Ph.D. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.
Over the years, Greenway has served as pastor or interim pastor of churches in Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Texas and Florida. He also is a past president of the Kentucky Baptist Convention and has served in other denominational roles.
Thomas Wright, director of missions for Mobile Baptist Association and president of Alabama’s SWBTS alumni association, said Greenway’s “practical emphases in evangelism and missions, his experience as an academic administrator and his oratorical ability bring credentials and skills” to the role.
“He knows the culture, faculty and staff of SWBTS as a student,” Wright said. “The challenges before him require alumni and others to pray with Proverbs 2:1–6 for wisdom, insight and understanding.”
Neal Hughes, associational mission strategist for Montgomery Baptist Association and vice president of Alabama’s SWBTS alumni association, called Greenway a “high-capacity leader.”
“Dr. Greenway’s journey at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary as the Dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Ministry, his statesmanship through the years as a Southern Baptist leader as well as Adam’s pastoral relationships to the churches of our nation’s heartland has greatly prepared our brother to take the helm as president of Southwestern,” Hughes said. “As an alumnus of this great institution, I am grateful not only to the Greenway family for having an open heart toward God’s will but also to our SWBTS trustees who have faithfully led in the presidential search. Praying with expectancy.”
Greenway is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Evangelical Philosophical Society and is a past president of the Southern Baptist Professors of Evangelism Fellowship. He also is co-editor of two books — “The Great Commission Resurgence: Fulfilling God’s Mandate in Our Time” and “Evangelicals Engaging Emergent: A Discussion of the Emergent Church Movement” — and has contributed to several other books and journals.
During the special called meeting of Southwestern’s board of trustees, Randy L. Stinson was elected provost and vice president for academic administration at SWBTS.
Stinson previously served as senior vice president for academic administration and provost at Southern Seminary, as well as Basil Manly Jr. Professor of Leadership and Family Ministry. Stinson completed his bachelor’s degree at the University of South Florida, his Master of Divinity at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina, and his Master of Theology and Ph.D. at Southern Seminary.
Before becoming the provost at Southern, Stinson served in other administrative roles for the seminary, including dean of the School of Church Ministries. He is also a senior fellow for the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, research fellow for the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission and active member of the Evangelical Theological Society. Stinson co-authored the book “Stand Up! A Guide to Biblical Manhood” and co-edited “Trained in the Fear of God,” and has contributed to various other titles as well.
“I could not be more excited to have Randy Stinson with me to serve as provost at Southwestern Seminary,” said Greenway. “Having worked for him for the previous six years, I’ve seen firsthand his leadership, humility and desire to serve faculty and students in his previous position. I have every confidence that with Randy Stinson as Southwestern Seminary’s provost, this institution will be known for academic excellence within a deeply Christian culture where servant leadership is not only taught but modeled.” (TAB, BP)
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