By Baptist Message staff
Modified, Oct. 23, to correct Greenway’s service as chairman of the SBC Committee on Order of Business to read “2018-2021.”
FORT WORTH, Texas (LBM) – Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary trustees, during a scheduled trustee meeting, Oct. 17-18, candidly addressed multiple “areas of concern” which led to the departure of Adam Greenway as the Southern Baptist Convention school’s ninth, and youngest ever, president.
Citing “several patterns” that developed “over time” since 2019, when the then 41-year-old Greenway became SWBTS president, Danny Roberts (executive pastor of North Richland Hills Baptist Church, Texas, and chairman of the trustee board, having served as an SWBTS trustee since 2016, including as chairman of the 2018 search team that recommended Greenway) said “significant financial challenges compounded a growing sense of concern,” which led to Greenway’s resignation, Sept. 22.
Roberts, in an SWBTS press release, Oct.18, specifically cited “dysfunctionality amongst senior leadership, budget mismanagement, overspending resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars of deficits per month and attempts to pass the blame for these matters onto three different chief financial officers who were each removed.
“More recently, it became clear that action was required after evidence emerged of escalating morale problems in the institution, especially among the faculty, and a resistance to safeguards board leadership wanted to implement,” Roberts added.
During an executive session trustees examined “expenses and other expenditures that led us into serious financial concerns,” Roberts said.
He also stated auditors will “do some additional work” and that SWBTS will be “implementing new processes and procedures to put new financial guardrails in place.”
During a called meeting, Sept. 27, trustees named an interim leadership duo to guide the seminary:
— O.S. Hawkins, president-emeritus of the SBC’s GuideStone Financial Resources, will provide strategic guidance as senior advisor and ambassador-at-large.
— Meanwhile, David S. Dockery, SWBTS distinguished professor of theology and a former Christian university chief executive, will oversee day-to-day management as interim president.
One of Greenway’s recent controversial administrative actions was to “retire” David Allen, the SWBTS distinguished professor of preaching and director of the school’s Center for Expository Preaching, who had served in multiple positions with the seminary since 2004, as reported by the Baptist Message, Aug. 19.
Greenway previously served with the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, since 2007, being named dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Ministry by SBTS President Al Mohler in 2013. He also had been active in denominational life, including vice chairman of the SBC Evangelism Task Force (2018), president of the Kentucky Baptist Convention (2011-2012), trustee for LifeWay Christian Resources (2005-2015, during which he was elected chairman at 34 years old, serving in this capacity three years, 2012-2014) and chairman of the SBC Committee on Order of Business (2018-2021).
When he resigned, Greenway reported he would be serving with the International Mission Board in an undisclosed capacity, but subsequently indicated he would not be joining that SBC entity.
Click here to read the seminary’s full press release about the business conducted Oct. 17-18. Also, access SWBTS press releases for Sept. 23, announcing Greenway’s departure, and for Sept. 27, announcing interim leaders for the seminary.
