Jeffrey Bingham, interim president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS) in Fort Worth, Texas, delivered the seminary’s report to the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) June 13, including an update on events surrounding the termination of former president Paige Patterson.
“I’ve come to you here this morning to talk to you about the future of Southwestern Seminary,” Bingham said.
But he added that he could not do that without “reflecting responsibly on its past and what our intentions are with respect to the past.”
Bingham said his priority “is to create a safe environment and a campus culture that protects and cares for the victims of abuse.” He expressed that SWBTS denounces all forms of abuse and behavior that enables abuse.
By July 31, he said, all staff and faculty will have retaken and completed a course on sexual harassment. Additionally the seminary is meeting with ministries to help it move forward, including knowing how to respond to allegations of abuse, he said.
“Some things at Southwestern cannot change and will not change,” Bingham said, including the seminary’s commitment to Scripture and evangelism.
Bingham said the seminary will work to increase enrollment and not identify as a seminary only for one particular theological camp within the SBC.
Messengers asked Bingham five questions following his report.
*How do you feel about your working relationship with trustees and their executive committee?
The executive committee, Bingham said, is made up of 12 “godly men and women.”
He noted that he had seen the “agony on their faces” and the tears in their eyes as they had to make decisions that caused them deep distress.
At 2:45 this afternoon, messengers will debate a motion regarding whether the SWBTS trustees who serve on the trustee executive committee should be removed.
*Do you have any concern about how a vote to remove trustees could affect Southwestern’s accreditation?
Bingham responded that the “question is a serious one” but he has not had time to investigate that issue. He pledged to investigate after messengers address the matter this afternoon.
*Does Southwestern plan to change its hiring practice?
Bingham noted that it was his priority “to create a safe culture and a safe campus.” That priority will affect every aspect of institutional life, he said.
*How many total cases of physical abuse and rape are being reported on SBC seminary campuses each year? Can we change the student application process to help weed out abusers?
Bingham responded that all reporting of rape and abuse is being handled by the board of trustees, so trustee chairman Kevin Ueckert is best equipped to answer the question.
Jason Allen, president of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri, said there have been no allegations of rape or abuse in his five and a half years as president. Other seminary presidents likely would have a similar “sparse report,” Allen said.
*The trustee executive committee seems to have overridden a decision of the full trustee body (by firing Patterson on May 30). Do you consider the other trustees people of integrity and insight?
Bingham responded that he does.
SBC President Steve Gaines closed the report by leading in prayer for Bingham as the other five seminary presidents laid hands on him. (BP, TAB)
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