Former Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) President Paige Patterson was elected the eighth president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, June 24.
Trustees voted unanimously in public session to extend a call to Patterson, who recently completed 10 years of service as president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C. He becomes the second Southern Baptist statesman to serve as president of two SBC seminaries.
A native Texan, Patterson, 60, is a third generation Southern Baptist preacher. His father, T.A. Patterson, once served as the executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
In a press release issued by Southeastern Seminary, Patterson said it was the “clear call of God” that was taking him to Southwestern Seminary, a place that he added he loves “profoundly.”
“Our departure comes not as result of dissatisfaction of any kind,” he said. “To the contrary, a president has never enjoyed such support and counsel from a governing board, such camaraderie and stimulation from a faculty and staff, such encouragement from a board of visitors or such love from students.”
Patterson himself was ordained at First Baptist Church, Beaumont, Texas, at age 16.
He received a bachelor of arts degree from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas, and a Th.M. and Th.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.
Criswell connection
After serving as pastor to churches in Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas, Patterson became president of the Criswell Center for Biblical Studies, now Criswell College in Dallas. Under his leadership, the center grew from an unaccredited Bible institute into an accredited college offering both undergraduate and graduate degrees. He left Criswell College for Southeastern Seminary in October 1992.
Patterson’s previous posts and influence among Southern Baptists prove that he has a track record for success in theological education and church life, according to Denny Autrey, a Southwestern Seminary trustee and chairman of the seminary’s presidential search committee.
He said that the committee was “unified” in its desire to call Patterson for his gifts in pastoral ministry and scholarship.
Retiring Southwestern Seminary President Kenneth S. Hemphill said he supported the decision of trustees concerning the future of the seminary.
“Dr. Patterson has been used by God to build a great seminary at Southeastern,” Hemphill said. (BP)
Share with others: