Sorry for that clickbait title. No, I have no idea who it will be.
I do hear a fair bit of scuttlebutt from time to time but the dust is still settling on the Patterson fiasco and it is too early to start naming names. I don’t think the search team has even been formed yet. The dedicated Patterson defenders are still laying down heavy fire in their efforts to undo the decision of the trustees, but their efforts will fail. The Executive Committee will be affirmed by the full board as it was by 98% majority at the convention and we will move on. The Patterson era is over and a new day is coming. There is no going back.
It is now time to begin looking forward to what kind of man the next president should be. It is good to reflect on what character qualities and competencies the new president should have, but to begin nominating individuals is premature. Let us all refrain.
Here are my thoughts about what I hope the next
1. SWBTS needs an institutional servant, not a celebrity.
It is not a good thing when the identity of the institution is too heavily wrapped up in the identity of the leader of that institution. The president serves the interests of the seminary and it should never be a personal fiefdom from which the president wields extraordinary power over convention affairs or any other personal agenda.
Paige Patterson was an icon when he ascended to the presidency at SWBTS – and we can and should always be grateful for the work he did. He wielded great power in office and behind the scenes and eventually, that became a problem. Many refused to hold him accountable or to believe he could err. Because of his personal status. many defended him no matter what he did and stood behind him even as the evidence against him piled up. For them, Dr. Patterson was bigger than the institution he served and they sought to defend him even at the cost of the interests of SWBTS.
It would be best if SWBTS avoided the celebrity, megachurch, power-broker candidate. Southwestern does not need someone who would use the president’s office at Southwestern as a throne from which to attempt to rule the SBC and guide its affairs. IT needs a president devoted to building the seminary, not controlling the direction of the Southern Baptist Convention.
2. SWBTS needs a recognized and reputable scholar.
The president of the seminary has several jobs but I believe he ought to be an academic. I think the IMB president ought to have a missions background and the president of a seminary ought to come from academia. There has been a movement in recent years to move megachurch pastors into these roles. I’m not sure it is helpful. If the declining numbers at Southwestern are to be reversed, it must be a first-class theological institution and it needs a president with the credentials to lead in that direction.
It sounds as if I am anti-megachurch. That’s not it. It is just that building a megachurch is fundamentally different from building an entity – whether a seminary or one of the other SBC entities. The president of Southwestern needs more than just a doctorate, but an academic standing.
3. SWBTS needs a preacher who can inspire Baptists.
Some academics are not great in the pulpit. The president of SWBTS doesn’t need to be the best preacher in the SBC, but he ought to be able to preach competently at pastors’ conferences and churches. This is a bigger part of the job than we sometimes realize.
4. SWBTS needs a forward-focused leader who can raise funds and set a new direction.
Assuming that the donors fail in their efforts to bully the trustees, there might be a bit of a cash crunch at SWBTS.
The president must set a new direction for the school that convinces people that the issues that have become public can be put in the past and inspires them about the bright future of SWBTS. There are some good things going on at Southwestern and a new leader needs to be about those things. This can’t just be hype or ignoring reality, but charting a new and positive course for the school. God’s people are usually generous when they sense that something worthwhile is happening in the kingdom.
We have seen what can happen in a troubled seminary when visionary leadership takes the helm. Dr. Jason Allen’s tenure at Midwestern has led to a remarkable turnaround at that school. As an Iowan, I was well-aware of the dysfunction and difficulty that has marked that school over time. But now it is one of our fastest-growing schools and the future is bright. Southwestern needs that kind of leadership.
What IS does not have to be what WILL be.
5. SWBTS needs a president in the theological tradition of SWBTS.
The SBC is healthier because we have 6 seminaries with a variety of theological perspectives. Each one of our schools has a personality and a theological perspective. This is not the time to seek to change the theological dynamics of SWBTS. We have Southern and there is no need to make Southwestern like Southern.
It would be much better if someone from the David Allen wing of non-Calvinism/Traditionalism took the mantle of leadership. He holds his views passionately but is kind and cooperative with those who hold Calvinistic and other positions. If a more strident anti-Calvinist who continued the unfortunate attacks we saw during the recent presidential election got the job, it would damage the convention, creating greater division.
But the next president of SWBTS needs to remain in the theological tradition of the school – the cooperative side of that stream, but the non-Calvinist side nonetheless. Let the SBC have blessed variety.
6. SWBTS needs a president of the highest moral character and humble spirit.
We have seen enough throughout our convention of the results of pride and the downfall of hubris. We have also seen the shipwreck of moral laxity in recent days in stunning and shocking ways. Character needs to be as high on the list as competency.
7. SWBTS needs a conservative president ready for a modern world.
I had a conversation with an elderly pastor who disdained everything about “the way things are today.” There’s much about the modern world that I disdain as well, but you have to learn and adjust. Time marches forward, not backward, no matter how much we complain.
Institutions tend to drift, especially academic institutions, and Southwestern needs a man who is unalterably and unquestionably committed to the Baptist Faith, as defined in the Baptist Faith and Message. The thorniest issue in the Baptist world recently has been the way we treat women and the roles of women in the church under complementarian views. We have come to realize that our treatment of women has often been sinful, disrespectful, and not based on scripture but on fleshly traditions. The president of Southwestern needs to hold to the truths we profess while also demonstrating a commitment to honor women as image bearers and give them that lane to run in that Jacki King spoke so eloquently of in her recent article.
Southwestern has been a traditionalist institution in more ways than theologically. Holding on to eternal truth while applying those truths in an ever-changing world is going to require wisdom and grace from a unique kind of leader.
Random Thoughts
I have a few thoughts not worthy of a separate point, but I want to mention.
- The president of SWBTS should honor the past, but not be bound by it.
- Southwestern is now in a largely Hispanic area of the country. I’ve often wondered what would happen if we could find a Hispanic president for SWBTS and begin to position it as THE school for theological training among Hispanics, even in Central America. Just a thought.
- The last three presidencies of SWBTS have ended in difficulty. Pray that they find a man who will lead well and long and turn over the reins on his terms, in peace.
I have no idea who that man is, but neither did many people know who Al Mohler was before he was hired (at age 33, as I remember). I don’t think anyone picked Dr. Allen as the frontrunner at Midwestern. But I guess there is a man ready, willing, and able to lead SWBTS into its next era if the Trustees will pray and seek God’s wisdom. Remember that both Southern and Midwestern were in tumultuous times when these young men were hired and God sent just the right leader.
May God do that again.
NOTE: I don’t know the story of Akin’s hiring at SEBTS or Iorg at Gateway/GGBTS, or of Dr. Kelly at NOBTS. Everyone knew that Patterson was going to SWBTS when the Hemphill saga occurred. I don’t know if Akin, Kelly, or Iorg were “favorites” or “dark-horse” candidates. At this point, I am hoping for someone more in the Mohler/Allen mold (rest your hearts, Traditionalists – I am thinking of the STORY, not the theology). I think there’s a dark horse out there.
I’ll throw a name out there that’s a dark horse but I think would be outstanding, Dr Rex Horne. He was an excellent president at Ouachita.
Dr. Horne’s a great guy, and was a good pastor at Immanuel and President at Ouachita, but I’m not sure his life/career path puts him in line with Dave’s second qualification. Dr. Horne is certainly wise and intelligent, but I don’t know that he is the mold of an academic/scholarly type. Or that he has had the time/resources to truly develop that side.
My two cents on Dr. Horne.
Of the qualifications that Dave mentioned, I think academic is the least important. Southwestern still has enough good professors to make up for that, but if you want an academic rep, what about Dr. Duesing at Midwestern? Or would he be too close a connection to Dr. Patterson?
If a man was not a world-class academic but respected the need for that, I would agree, Tony, that this was the least of the qualities that I mentioned.
Tony wins the prize for being the first to ignore my request to NOT name names.
I’m a trend setter. In all seriousness, I’ll stop mentioning Dr. Horne for 10 years to clear the air for Dr. Duesing. There’s that’s the last time I’ll say it.
Sorry? No you’re not.
I refuse to answer on the grounds that it might incriminate me.
This shows up in my feed as “The next president of SWBTS is…. Dave Miller.”
I don’t know if that’s a good idea…..
Subliminal messaging.
was just coming here to say the same thing…it came up in my feed that way too! LOL
I am, I believe, one of their youngest M.Div graduates. I was 23 when I graduated from SWBTS with my M.Div. But that was a long time ago. I intended to get my Ph.D but never did.
“turn over the reigns”? Was that an intentional ironic spelling?
I know better than that! I think I will blame my post-surgical drugs.
By the way, correcting picky points of grammar is bad form…unless I do it to someone else. Then it is educational.
Dave, these are good thoughts. (I’m still awaiting a signed photo of you.) I would add a point. I hope the SWBTS trustees can find a president who will continue Southwestern’s strong emphasis on evangelism and missions. This has been a traditional emphasis at Southwestern, and Dr. Patterson continued and expanded on that, despite other issues that have arisen. You make a good point about making SWBTS a premier training institution for Hispanics. Perhaps our Voices readers do not know that SWBTS has rendered great help and service to seminaries and Bible colleges throughout Latin America. Dr. Daniel Sanchez has been the leader in this, and the results have been terrific.
Just a note to say that all of our seminaries have strong emphases on evangelism and missions. That is not unique to any seminary in the SBC.
I’ll join all that.
SWBTS received over $15 million in private gifts each of the past two years. Quite a funding engine and I assume all this was for special projects. Elsewhere, folks note that the seminary is heavily over-staffed. Probably some adjustments to be made but I’m sure the trustees are prepared for all that.
As I read this article I couldn’t help but feel grateful that Dave Miller truly cares about SWBTS. I know he is not the only pastor on this site who does care deeply about SWBTS. I just want to express my heartfelt appreciation for men and women who are wiser than I (or is it me? I am still learning to edit my writing!) who will lead SWBTS through the coming years. I agree with everything that Dave laid out for the new president. My concern going into the fall semester (besides my 1st semester of Greek) is that the last few months of controversy will cast a cloud over the fall semester. To avoid this, I hope Dr. Bingham and the faculty call a special assembly to answer questions and concerns from the students and follow that with a time for all of us, student and faculty alike to pray together, to “return to the Lord with fasting, weeping and mourning, and rend our hearts…” (Joel 2:12-13). When that is done, the students can then get on with the tasks at hand- to do well in studying and excel in ministry as so many have done before us. I have been vocal about my defense of victims (survivors) of rape and domestic violence. I have been vocal about my distain for the actions of these donors in the Loveless letter. I will always stand up for women who have been violently and physically harmed by men in any institution whether it is the Army or the church. I am trying to be less vocal about my disdain because it isn’t godly behavior on my part. I am not looking to pile coals on Dr. Patterson’s head. I was on active duty in the Army for most of the CR in the 1980’s-2000’s. I was a member of SBC churches but not as involved as I am now. I appreciate what Dr. Patterson has done for the SBC. I think the Pattersons and their followers can only bring further harm to SWBTS at this point. I think it is time for all of them to move on. The trustees acted in the best interest of the school in firing him. My prayer is that SWBTS will be able to leave the Patterson controversy in the dust and move forward into a better future and be a better institution. I am… Read more »
Dave Miller, this is a truly excellent article.
Just yesterday I was thinking about this and each of the points you mentioned came to my mind as well. I especially like #5. I think that is really important for a plethora of reasons. I have absolutely no preference to see a Cal appointed as president of SWBTS.
…and for goodness sakes let it be a solid theologian with outstanding managerial and fundraising skills who is also NOT a celebrity!
Yes Tarheel. Dave Miller did write an excellent article. However he did leave one important “reality” from his article.
He did not rank the seminaries in his article. Therefore, allow me the privilege.
SEBTS is head and shoulders above the rest. It is the best seminary in the world. Period. End of story.
NOBTS is second best. They are working hard to catch up with SEBTS, but THUS FAR, NO CIGAR!
The other four are good Trade Schools for young upstart preachers in preparation to go to SEBTS or NOBTS someday.
GIRLS AND BOYS
IF YOU WANT THE BEST
IT’S SEBTS.
Oh Yeah, lest I forget. September is coming, so if you want to support a NATIONAL CHAMPION IN NCAA FOOTBALL, CHEER FOR THE ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE!!!!
ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!!!!!!!!…………….and Boo Iowa!
So, who would speculate as to the nominating committee? I think the other seminary presidents could be valuable contributors. I get that the various “parties” want to see their man at the top, but I think the electors are well advised to avoid the polemics. The Seminary is not a church and it doesn’t need a pastor in order to function. I would be inclined to go for the well respected academic, especially in view of the potentially adverse attention by accrediting bodies to which SWBTS has been recently exposed. Should they loose accreditation or even find themselves under a dark cloud of probation, even more students and applicants would rightly leave.
As a former student, I want a President that focuses on the building up of students and professors more than buildings (not to say that the previous administration didn’t do this, but I do believe some efforts and resources were misplaced).
You are very much correct that the new president should not be a celebrity. The last thing SWBTS needs is another politician or a power broker. They need to hire an Educator, a certified teacher and pastor with classroom and preaching experience and administrative expertise. Ideally, find someone who started off with a teaching degree/career and then obtained a Seminary Education. SWBTS needs someone who understands how to run a school. They might need to consider a separate President/CEO approach with a pastoral President setting the vision and theological tone for the school and a Chief Educator On Campus–someone with Teaching Credentials–overseeing curriculum, staff development, campus life, etc. Whether they hire separate individuals, or not, I agree that they need to forget the idea of a famous figurehead. A husband a wife team would be a great option. It’s time to think outside of the box, and put people in charge who are honest to goodness educators with teaching skills who know what should be happening inside and outside of the classroom and around campus, who can create a more positive environment.
So, I see most of you guys do not think the next SWBTS prez schould be a celebrity.
OK. I guess that leaves John Hagee, Kenneth Copeland, or Joyce Meyer out. I was really hoping to audit a class on the Blood Moons if Hagee was selected.
Oh well, maybe one of them can become a Supreme Court Justice.
Dr. Ken Hemphill was a perfect fit for SWBTS. We need a scholar // pastor // evangelistic passionate president at SWBTS.
One thing you left off that marks SWBTS from other seminaries: missions and evangelism.
This is not unique to SWBTS, and it would be beneficial to the entire convention if we could differ on theology while acknowledging that every school has missions and evangelism schools/programs, trains missionaries and planters, etc. The type of statements here and by Nate below sew division, whether it’s intended or not.
Calvinists schools are doing well while arminian and “traditionalists” are dying. Get someone in who truly believes in grace and the sovereign God and you’ll see the seminary turn around.
Nate,
I am afraid your view may be somewhat shortsighted and perhaps generational as (I believe) the Calvinist trend will likely be fading over the next 20 years as the Millenials age and get replaced by new generations which will likely see many on a different bandwagon (particularly as the Calvinist stars like Piper, MacArthur and others eventually pass off the scene as Sproul already has). Calvinists won’t entirely fade of course and having 2-3 Calvinist leaning seminaries wil likely be all the SBC needs in the future. Look into your recent church history before your lifetime and see that SWBTS thrived in earlier days when Calvinists were an endangered species in SBC life. The Seminary needs to position for the future not for the almost over 2010’s.
Hey Scott, which seminaries lean to the Calvinist side? I’m so out of touch, I hardly pay attention to those things.
Noah,
Generally Southern, Southeastern and possibly Midwestern are thought to be more Calvinist leaning in various degrees (and not everyone agrees as to their level(s) of Calvinism).
My point wasn’t so much about who is and isn’t Calvinist as it was about my belief that the market place for Calvinist seminaries will be thinning in future years and I don’t think Southwestern would benefit from going that direction. I also, however, should note I am not arguing that already Calvinist leaning seminaries need to change.
In other words (as I have heard others say similarly) a Burger King doesn’t need to turn into a Cracker Barrel to be successful, it should just make better burgers.
I don’t think the problem with Traditionalist” seminaries has been theological. But beyond that i do not really wish to opine, lest feathers be ruffled.
SWBTS can be a non-Cal seminary and prosper if it embraces some new challenges.
And i am NOT a traditionalist if anyone wonders.
I hope they leave Dr. Bingham in place for at least a year. He can do much of the work of cleaning out some of the dead and Patterson weight that is there.
I also hope some fences will be mended with those who have been profoundly wounded since 2003. Yes, Drs. Bullock and Klouda but those are just the tip of the iceberg. There are individuals who have been hurt and this needs to be rectified. Dr. Bingham could do this before the next person comes.
As far as the next person – a SWBTS grad who knows and loves the real history of the school; someone who has been a pastor and/or on the mission field RECENTLY but also has real academic gravitas; late 40s to early 50s; and has a true 21st century concept and can move the school out of the Amway/Bob Jones morass.
Finally – one who truly values minority views (ethnic, women, Millennial). No more lip service.
I totally agree with your thought about having a hispanic president. We need to start training men and women to meet the needs of bringing the hispanic population to Jesus Christ. What better way to do so than that!!!
As a SWBTS alum, my vote would be either make Dr Bingham the permanent president or name Midwestern’s Dr Jason Allen as president.
It would be a great shame for Dr. Allen to leave MBTS, He needs to stay, retire, and build our seminary into a powerhouse. Plus, he isn’t a Mohler-style Cal but I am not sure he is a SWBTS man either.
We are keeping him up here.
I know little of Dr. Bingham but he has made a good impression this far. The interim is usually not a candidate for the permanent job but that isn’t written in stone.
The SBC is still a large denomination with a lot of people who aren’t insiders in one or the other of the good-ole-boy networks whose names keep coming up all the time. As a graduate of Southwestern, I believe that from among its many alumni in the world of Christian higher education, someone with the credentials, talent, experience and calling can be found to lead the school, or perhaps is already on the staff, who will invest in it and help it take advantage of its resources and geographic location. I agree with the original post, this needs to be a spiritual leader, not a celebrity, someone who will spend time on campus and work on behalf of the students. Perks should be put aside.
I can remember being in awe of Southwestern Seminary back in the 80’s and 90’s. Those were amazing years before the anti women fundamentalists took over and besmirched the reputations of many godly, conservative men and women. Russell Dilday was a giant of a President. God blessed that man and the school richly under his leadership.
Anne Graham Loetz… She is an outstanding Christian woman, incredible Bible teacher and dynamic preacher. She is the daughter of one of Southern Baptist’s favorite sons. She has preached on the Baptist state convention level. She is visionary and prophetic. Those who don’t like women preachers and have a chance to listen to her end up changing their minds.