Southwestern trustees move forward, uphold Patterson firing

Southwestern trustees move forward, uphold Patterson firing

FORT WORTH, Texas — In a meeting characterized by unity despite differences of opinion, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s (SWBTS) trustees voted to uphold the trustee executive committee’s decision in May to terminate former president Paige Patterson.

Trustees revisited Patterson’s termination at their October meeting because of a motion during the Southern Baptist Convention in June. The motion — “that the whole board of trustees at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary consider revisiting their original decision concerning Dr. Paige Patterson.”

Trustees convened for committee meetings and informal “working sessions” Oct. 16–17 that were closed to the public before holding one public, 45-minute “general session” Oct. 17, in which they voted without discussion on the matters considered in private sessions.

The board also heard a report from its presidential search committee. (BP)