Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary terminated former school president Paige Patterson late Wednesday evening.
A statement posted to the seminary’s website reads:
During the May 30, 2018, Executive Committee meeting of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS) Board of Trustees, new information confirmed this morning was presented regarding the handling of an allegation of sexual abuse against a student during Dr. Paige Patterson’s presidency at another institution and resulting issues connected with statements to the Board of Trustees that are inconsistent with SWBTS’s biblically informed core values.
Deeming the information demanded immediate action and could not be deferred to a regular meeting of the Board, based on the details presented, the Executive Committee unanimously resolved to terminate Dr. Paige Patterson, effective immediately, removing all the benefits, rights and privileges provided by the May 22-23 board meeting, including the title of President Emeritus, the invitation to reside at the Baptist Heritage Center as theologian-in-residence and ongoing compensation.
Under the leadership of Interim President Dr. Jeffrey Bingham, SWBTS remains committed to its calling to assist the churches of the Southern Baptist Convention by biblically educating God-called men and women for ministries that fulfill the Great Commission and glorify God.
Further, the Seminary stands against all forms of abuse and grieves for individuals wounded by abuse. Today, Dr. Bingham made it clear that SWBTS denounces all abusive behavior, any behavior that enables abuse, any failure to protect the abused and any failure to safeguard those who are vulnerable to abuse. Additionally, Dr. Bingham called for the SWBTS community to join the Body of Christ in praying for healing for all individuals affected by abuse.
Patterson was thrust in the spotlight earlier this year when old tapes surfaced that revealed Patterson previously appeared to condone domestic violence, telling a woman to submit to her abusive husband.
More than 2,000 Southern Baptist women signed a letter asking the seminary to remove Patterson from his position.
The Washington Post reported the campus rape, which recently came to light after Patterson was thrust in the spotlight. According to the Post, a woman says she was raped in 2003 at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, where Patterson was then president.
“I had bottled it up,” the woman, who was not identified, tells The Post. “My husband didn’t know about it until last week. … I told him ‘I need to do something.’ “
The Post reports:
She said she had been dating the man she alleges raped her and had allowed him into her apartment the night she said he assaulted her. The two were kissing when he forced himself on her, she said. She said she reported it the next morning to the administrator who handled student discipline. That administrator then reported the incident to Patterson, she said, and she was required to meet with Patterson and three or four male seminarians she said were proteges of Patterson’s. She said she doesn’t remember the specific words Patterson used but that he wanted to know every detail of the rape.
Patterson and other administrators did not report the incident to the police, and she claims that Patterson encouraged her not to, as well, she said. The Post confirmed that a report was never filed with the Wake Forest Police Department.
The woman said she was put on probation for two years, but she doesn’t know why, saying it was perhaps because she was with another man alone in her apartment, which was against seminary policy.
“They shamed … me, asking me question after question,” said the woman, who attended the seminary until 2005 before dropping out for reasons she said were unrelated to the alleged incident. “He didn’t necessarily say it was my fault, but [the sense from him was] I let him into my home.”
The woman said she recalls Patterson telling her to forgive the man who allegedly raped her. The former roommate said the woman described the alleged assault to him shortly after it happened and later complained to him about her treatment by Patterson and seminary officials.
Christian leaders shared their responses to the SWBTS on social media.
Let’s pray for the students, faculty, and trustees of @swbts right now. They have a bright future, but need our prayers tonight.
— Russell Moore (@drmoore) May 31, 2018
And now I’m crying.
Thank you, SWBTS Board of Trustees, for standing for what is right. https://t.co/qfNIJJxssV
— Karen Swallow Prior (@KSPrior) May 31, 2018
I was hit by a bus the same morning Paige Patterson was elevated by the SWBTS board of trustees to president emeritus of SWBTS.
A week later, at the very moment he was stripped of all titles and privileges, I was released from the hospital.
This is serious spiritual warfare.
— Karen Swallow Prior (@KSPrior) May 31, 2018
The long arc of history bending slowly towards justice. https://t.co/zZZFAhmKFb
— Audrey Assad (@audreyassad) May 31, 2018
Pray for the faculty & students of @swbts and the individuals hurting and confused in this moment. And hope in God’s grace. The Lord chastens those whom he loves. Aslan is on the move. God be merciful to us & bless us, that your… salvation may be known among all nations. Ps 67
— J.D. Greear (@jdgreear) May 31, 2018
Megan, you are the hero of women and men around the world. I, and countless other Southern Baptists, thank you for being brave. YOUR voice matters. YOUR courage made a difference. Thank you. https://t.co/LOfEda2p0U
— Ed Stetzer (@edstetzer) May 31, 2018
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