The president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary was removed Wednesday following the demand for his resignation from more than 2,000 women over his teaching on domestic abuse.
The seminarys board of trustees announced Wednesday that Dr. Paige Patterson was removed as president in favor of new leadership and made president emeritus, according to The Associated Press.
Whiles Pattersons removal came in the wake of allegations that he counseled abused women to stay with their husbands and made lewd comments about a teenage girl, a statement issued by the seminary said that they found no evidence of misconduct on his part. (RELATED: Over 2,000 Women Demand Resignation Of President Of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary)
“After much prayer and a more than 13-hour discussion regarding challenges facing the Institution, including those of enrollment, financial, leadership and institutional identity, the Board determined to move in the direction of new leadership for the benefit of the future mission of the Seminary,” the statement reads.
“Additionally, the board affirmed a motion stating 1) evidence exists that Dr. Patterson has complied with reporting laws regarding assault and abuse, 2) the Seminary stands against all forms of abuse and 3) the board has not found evidence of misconduct in Nathan Montgomerys employment file,” the statement added.
Patterson and his wife will also live on the seminarys campus as the seminarys first “theologians-in-residence at the Baptist Heritage Center” once the center is completed in June.
While the board of trustees cast no blame on Patterson, fellow Southern Baptist Convention member and head of the SBCs Ethics and Religious Liberties Commission Dr. Russell Moore appeared to make veiled jabs at Patterson over Twitter.
Protecting abused women and children from predators is not an optional calling. Such is demanded by the lordship of Christ, the authority of Scripture, and the credibility of the gospel.
— Russell Moore (@drmoore) May 23, 2018
There are some things hard to figure out about how to follow Jesus, where we see through a glass darkly and sometimes arent sure whats the right thing to do.
Protecting women and children from predators is not one of those things.
— Russell Moore (@drmoore) May 23, 2018
The group of women who demanded Pattersons resignation accused him of objectifying a teenage girl in an anecdote during a 2014 sermon, counseling a physically abused woman to stay with her husband and pray for him, and urging female seminarians to make themselves look attractive.
The husband of the physically abused woman subsequently repented and gave his life to Christ, according to Patterson, and the couple now openly share their testimony in their church as an example of the redemptive power of faith amid difficult and dangerous circumstance.
Patterson issued an apology for his comments four days after the women delivered their letter.
“I wish to apologize to every woman who has been wounded by anything I have said that was inappropriate or that lacked clarity,” Pattersons apology read. “Please forgive the failure to be as thoughtful and careful in my extemporaneous expression as I should have been.”
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].
[contf] [contfnew] 
The daily caller
[contfnewc] [contfnewc]
