Reports came out this morning that Billy Graham School Dean, Adam Greenway, will be nominated to serve as the next president of Southwestern Seminary to be elected at a special meeting of the SWBTS board, Feb 26-27. You can read the press release here. I affirm the work of the search committee and I believe Dr. Greenway will make an excellent president at Southwestern.
The Baptist Press article notes several qualities about Dr. Greenway that led the committee in selecting him. The search committee describes Greenway as “a man of impeccable character who demonstrates kindness and humility in his dealings with others, a leader who surrounds himself with talented people and allows them to work within their giftedness, a bridge builder in the Southern Baptist Convention, and a true scholar with a heart for missions and evangelism.” He is likewise described as “a committed evangelist, serious scholar, and proven administrator.” In my own experience with Dr. Greenway, I would agree with these assessments.
Greenway has been a friend of Indiana where I serve, encouraging both large and small churches through his preaching and teaching ministry. As a fellow student and colleague, he has always been encouraging to me, challenging me both to trust the Lord and to pursue His mission. I have known him to be both a scholar of the highest caliber, a faithful minister, and a godly man.
What really excites me about Greenway leading Southwestern is his view of theological education and its place in advancing the mission of Christ. Dr. Greenway has a philosophy of higher education that upholds both the values of academic rigor and excellence with the practical ministry and mission of the church. His desire is to see the gospel of Jesus proclaimed and Great Commission fulfilled. Theological education is not an end in itself but a servant of that mission. Greenway, in my assessment, is a missionary scholar. These qualities fit well into the Southwestern mold.
In addition, if Southwestern is to continue its legacy as a premier institution of theological education, not only in the SBC but in the wider Christian community, it will take the kind of leadership that I believe Adam Greenway will provide. Greenway has an excellent grasp on the current status theological education and its trajectory. Almost every academic institution is facing a decline in the demand for their product, and even healthy organizations are having to adjust in the massive shifts in the higher education “market”. In order to navigate these changes, it will require a visionary leader who not only sees clearly the obstacles ahead, but also can navigate a clear path forward. The trustees are convinced that Dr. Greenway is that leader.
Greenway has prepared himself to lead through these cultural shifts and has demonstrated the ability to do that at SBTS through leading in structural changes there. Anecdotally, in my own conversations with Dr. Greenway, he is always looking forward, always full of hope and optimism, always visionary, and always desiring to please the Lord and advance His mission.
For all these reasons and more, I believe Adam Greenway is an excellent candidate for the next president of Southwestern Seminary.
I do want to note my continued desire to see ethnic representation in executive positions in the SBC. There are three remaining executive vacancies at SBC entities and I renew my call for the search committees to be purposeful in interviewing minority candidates.
Keen observers will also note that this is now the second entity head selection who has studied at Notre Dame.
Keen observers? Puh-leese.
Other than the Notre Dame nonsense, AMEN!
Well, since the colleges attached to our seminaries don’t play football, Notre Dame backgrounds don’t hurt too bad.
Does anyone know if SWBTS interviewed any minorities candidates?
I hope so, but I do not know the answer to that question.
It is my understanding that no minorities were among their final candidates who were interviewed. I was told there was in fact minority interview early in the process but that candidate did not make “the finals.”
I asked specifically for verification of this information and received a generic statement that minorities were included in the process – I’ve published that statement.
Dave, will a list of candidates be released?
I hope these men would be offered a position of SBC leadership.
Dr. Kevin Smith, Dr. Jarvis Wiliams, Dr. Juan Sanchez, Dr. Curtis Woods,. Dr. Walter Strickland.
The search teams never release a list of candidates who did not get the job.
Marc Croston who serves at Lifeway currently, is also a worthy person to be considered for a entity head position. Actually, he could serve LifeWay well.
I am praying for him starting today.
I would like to commend the SWBTS search team for this nomination.
I have heard nothing but good things about Dr. Greenway. I trust he will provide excellent leadership to my alma mater.
Todd, Dave, etc.,
Glad they selected from academia rather than a pastor. I believe that was a wise move and I am sure Dr. Greenway is completely qualified to lead and will do a great job. Just a couple of questions for those of you who are more in touch with SBC leaders, professors, etc., than I. I assume it is known where he leans in the ongoing soteriological issue. Coming from Southern, there is a natural assumption that could be made, but I don’t want to do that, and it doesn’t matter much to me. And, just for discussion, how many “Southern Connections” does that make for our entity heads? Just curious.
And just for the record, I am a New Orleans guy, so we are waiting to see who takes the helm at our beloved institution.
Les, I’m only asking as someone newish to thinking deeply on theology but what is the importance of Greenway having a certain soteriology? If he’s a Baptist from a top seminary, isn’t that enough? Thanks.
Some people judge everything on the basis of soteriology.
It is ridiculous but real.
Noah and Dave. It is enough for me. I don’t have a big dog in the fight. Just curious since he came from Southern and I know a lot of Trads certainly didn’t want to go in that direction. I am not among that group. If it is not an issue with anyone then that is great. However, I highly doubt that is the case. Someone cares about that or else Ken Hemphill would be president of the SBC. The big issues now seem to be race and gender. Interesting.
This is really good news. I have observed the same qualities in Adam that you have observed.
Will this be Southern West?
He preaches like a pastor/preacher.
This is wonderful news. Praying for Dr. Greenway, his family, and for SWBTS!
Great news and very exciting! Super guy. Homerun pick. I attended Samford U and SWBTS together although I just knew who he was. I was a senior at Samford U and he was a freshman. We use to preach on “Howard Days” (Samford’s former name) with him in 1996, a day when ministry students were given a chance to preach. My sermon was a train wreck and I rambled for an hour. Adam even then preached like a 40 year old Billy Graham and the altars were full. Super guy. We also overlapped one year at SWBTS too. These character traits listed on the press release really is encouraging & desperately needed at SWBTS– “impeccable character who demonstrates kindness and humility in his dealings with others, a leader who surrounds himself with talented people and allows them to work within their giftedness, a bridge builder in the Southern Baptist Convention, and a true scholar with a heart for missions and evangelism.” Then his respect for the heroic retired/late faculty was thrilling to hear–“Roy Fish, Malcolm McDow, James Leo Garrett, Bill Tolar, Curtis Vaughn, and more—some of the greatest professors ever to teach at any SBC seminary.” He will definitely carry on with what a super job Dr Brigham has done.
I am excited for SWBTS and praying for Adam. I am proud our paths crossed. He was always kind to me.
I know Adam Greenway quite well, and I can affirm all that Todd wrote about him. This is a home run hire nomination by the Search Committee. He’ll do great. I’m a two time graduate of SWBTS, and I’m delighted.
Since this round of vacancies hit, I started hearing about Adam Greenway and how he was one of our up and coming leaders. It would seem that SWBTS has made a very good choice, though there are going to be questions about where he is coming from in some circles.
One asked if he was a Calvinist. Honestly, I don’t know. I’ve interacted with him many times, but I don’t recall him saying anything about his soteriology. I interpret that to mean that he is not an aggressive Calvinist, nor a rapid Traditionalist. I believe he will be a great bridge builder at SWBTS. For sure, he is smart as a whip. I was directing the PhD program at the Billy Graham School of Missions when he applied for admission to the program. After interviewing him, I thought, “Wow, this young man is really intelligent.” Not only is he smart, he also has good people skills. I can affirm that he likes sweet tea and Mexican food–preferences that will stand him in good stead in Fort Worth.
Several people have opined to me on Dr. Greenway’s soteriology with mixed results.
What seems clear is that his ministry is not and will not be about a soteriological perspective.
Dr. Terry writes “he is not an aggressive Calvinist, nor a rapid Traditionalist” Could he be a passive Calvinist or a slow Traditionalist? (Couldn’t resist)
Perhaps he is a moderately moderate conservative. Where would we be without labels?
Is he a slow traditionalist? 😉
I think he meant to say “rabid” Traditionalist. I suppose I was sort of one of those types of Southern Baptists for 70 years … not fanatical or maniacal , but passionate.
Yes, Max, I meant to type “rabid,” which makes sense.
Southwestern Seminary has a long and distinguished history, which in the recent past once included their position as the top seminary in the SNC for training and sending missionaries here and abroad. My hope is that the election of Dr. Greenway (whom I only know by his stellar reputation) will begin a journey for SWBTS back to that very honorable place. I am praying for our sister seminary, the Board, and Dr Greenway and his family.
He is the real deal.
Does he cringe when he hears “roll tide”? This is a deal breaker for me.
Adam Greenway is a great choice. As a Southern Baptist married to a SWBTS alum, I am grateful.
You will enjoy working with him when I nominate you for SBC President one of these years.
The trustees of Southwestern have chosen well. Dr. Greenway will serve the SWBTS community and Southern Baptists well in this role.
I will be praying for Dr. Greenway. He will face many stressful morning walks from the President’s residence to his office. As a Southwestern alum, I pray that he is surrounded by and filled with the Holy Spirit every day and that he is encouraged and uplifted and given the strength to make the hard decisions that need to be made.