Baptist News Global
Sections
  • News
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Curated
  • Storytelling
    • Faith & Justice >
      • Charleston: Metanoia with Bill Stanfield
      • Charlotte: QC Family Tree with Greg and Helms Jarrell
      • Little Rock: Judge Wendell Griffen
      • North Carolina: Conetoe
    • Welcoming the Stranger >
      • Lost Boys of Sudan: St. John’s Baptist Charlotte
      • Awakening to Immigrant Justice: Myers Park Baptist Church
      • Hospitality on the corner: Gaston Christian Center
    • Signature Ministries >
      • Jake Hall: Gospel Gothic, Music and Radio
    • Singing Our Faith >
      • Hymns for a Lifetime: Ken Wilson and Knollwood Baptist Church
      • Norfolk Street Choir
    • Resilient Rural America >
      • Alabama: Perry County
      • Texas: Hidalgo County
      • Arkansas Delta
      • Southeast Kentucky
  • More
    • Contact
    • About
    • Donate
    • Associated Baptist Press Foundation
    • Planned Giving
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Advertising
    • Ministry Jobs and More
    • Transitions
    • Subscribe
    • Submissions and Permissions
Donate Subscribe
Search Search this site

Distinguished preaching professor says he was fired from Southwestern Seminary; administrators say he quit

NewsMark Wingfield  |  July 28, 2022

A Southwestern Seminary professor who shared a platform with disgraced former seminary President Paige Patterson this spring either has been fired or has resigned, depending on who’s telling the story.

David Allen, who served 18 years as distinguished professor of preaching at the Southern Baptist Convention seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, will leave seminary employment July 31. He says he was fired; the seminary says he was offered a different role and refused it.

Allen released his own statement on Facebook July 28 saying he “declined (President Adam) Greenway’s directive that he accept a ‘senior professor’ role, which is a retirement position void of full-time salary and benefits.”

Benjamin Skaug

Benjamin Skaug, provost and vice president for academic administration, released a response later the same day saying he was “disappointed that Dr. Allen refused continued service when offered the opportunity to serve as a senior professor. Since beginning my service as provost on February 15 of this year, I have been closely involved in the conversations regarding Dr. Allen’s relationship to the seminary. I am grieved that Dr. Allen has chosen to publish a statement that so brazenly misrepresents these conversations and the seminary’s action.”

Skaug added: “Contrary to Dr. Allen’s portrayal, the role of senior professor is a position of honor for faculty members who have served a significant period of time in their roles. At Southwestern Seminary, this position is held by individuals like Craig Blaising, Jack Terry, Ken Hemphill, Dan Crawford and more. It is unfortunate that Dr. Allen suggests that the service these men continue to render to Southwestern Seminary is second-class service.”

In March, Allen was one of two high-profile SBC leaders who spoke at a Bible conference in North Carolina with Patterson, who was fired by Southwestern trustees over allegations that he mishandled known cases of sexual abuse. Because of the fallout over that firing and subsequent allegations of mismanagement and donor poaching by Patterson, he remains persona non grata on the Fort Worth campus.

Greenway has spent the three years of his administration making amends with faculty, staff, donors and alumni — even as the SBC has been embroiled in a reckoning over alleged coverups of sexual abuse that parallel Patterson’s actions. Amid that backdrop, Allen agreed to speak at the “March Like a Champion” Bible conference at First Baptist Church of Indian Trail, N.C., along with Patterson.

The other high-profile SBC leader on that platform was Johnny Hunt, who then was a senior vice president at the SBC’s North American Mission Board but this summer resigned after the SBC’s investigation found he had engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior with a pastor’s wife.

No sexual impropriety has been alleged against Allen, although his willingness to tacitly endorse Patterson raised eyebrows in Fort Worth and beyond. In 2017, Allen gained national notoriety for posting to social media a photo of himself and four other white male faculty members dressed as Black gang members in what they believed was humor but was quickly called out as racist.

However, neither of these faux pas were publicly cited by seminary officials as contributing to the change in Allen’s employment status, even though Allen says his first notification of the intent to move him to senior faculty status came April 5, less than a month after he preached alongside Patterson. And Allen says in his nine-page letter to Greenway that another seminary administrator had expressed a “negative opinion” about him appearing on the same program with Patterson. He also notes that Greenway was upset with him about that appearance.

Privately and publicly, Skaug cited Allen’s extracurricular work as a preaching coach as a cause for concern.

“In recent months, it has become clear that Dr. Allen desires to devote his best time and energy to ministry endeavors outside of Southwestern Seminary, including his new Preaching Coach ministry,” Skaug said in his public statement. “While we are grateful for Dr. Allen’s ministry through Preaching Coach, in order to best steward the resources of Southwestern Seminary, it was determined that it was best that this new endeavor be pursued in a role that relieved him of full-time faculty and administrative obligations. As all of our full-time faculty know, the expectations placed on them are significant and would be impossible to fulfill if they were devoting significant time and energy to building outside platforms and ministries.”

“In recent months, it has become clear that Dr. Allen desires to devote his best time and energy to ministry endeavors outside of Southwestern Seminary, including his new Preaching Coach ministry.”

It is not unusual for full-time seminary professors to accept side gigs, most often as supply preachers and sometimes as interim pastors, usually with approval of the administration. Allen, however, has created a separate ministry of one-on-one coaching, complete with his own website.

Skaug said: “We rejoice when the Lord places new callings upon the hearts of his servants, but these new callings, and the time commitments involved, often require adjustments to our previous commitments. The offer of a senior professor role provided a way for the seminary to honor Dr. Allen while he was also provided the time to pursue new professional opportunities. While it was necessary to change the nature of his faculty service, to be clear, it was Dr. Allen who chose to separate himself completely from faculty service at Southwestern Seminary.”

Adam Greenway

For his part, Allen said he had sent a nine-page letter to Greenway and seminary trustees stating he had “no intention to retire or resign” from his distinguished professorship.

Before joining the faculty, Allen served 12 years on the seminary’s board of trustees and was involved in the controversial firing of President Russell Dilday in 1994. At the time, Allen was a pastor in the DFW Metroplex. He later went on to chair the trustee board.

After joining the faculty, Allen served 12 years as dean of the School of Theology and four years as founding dean of the School of Preaching.

Since Greenway’s installation as president in 2019 and in the fallout from Patterson’s firing, the seminary has experienced unusually high turnover in faculty — some inside sources claiming as many as 45 departures.

Skaug said the end of Allen’s employment was discussed in a called video meeting of trustees June 3. “The board affirmed the administration’s determination that Dr. Allen had written to President Greenway a de facto letter of resignation from Southwestern Seminary and affirmed the administration’s decision to accept Dr. Allen’s resignation from Southwestern Seminary” he said. “The board further affirmed the administration’s decision to deem Dr. Allen’s full salary and benefits received during the 2021-22 academic/fiscal year as severance, thereby releasing him from his institutionally owed post-sabbatical service obligations.”

Allen had just returned from a year’s sabbatical, which academic institutions typically offer with a requirement of continued service upon return.

 

Related articles:

Amid SBC’s sexual abuse reckoning, a NAMB senior vice president and a Southwestern professor will appear on preaching program with Patterson and Vines

Former SBC President Johnny Hunt admits improper conduct but denies abuse claims

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
Tags:Paige PattersonSouthwestern SeminarypreachingterminationAdam GreenwaySWBTSresignationDavid AllenBenjamin Skaug
More by
Mark Wingfield
  • Get BNG headlines in your inbox

  • Featured

    • ‘Pastor Johnny’ wins a bid to unseal Guidepost documents

      News

    • Even on January 6, family was important to Mike Pence

      News

    • Are our churches prepared for Christian autocracy?

      Opinion

    • 30 years ago, RFRA passed with support from a broad coalition unimaginable today

      News


    Curated

    • Elon Musk expresses regret for endorsing antisemitic post but swears at advertisers boycotting X over it

      Elon Musk expresses regret for endorsing antisemitic post but swears at advertisers boycotting X over it

    • Search For God In A Faithless Nation: Inside One Man’s Journey

      Search For God In A Faithless Nation: Inside One Man’s Journey

    • Pope Francis asks theologians to ‘demasculinize’ the church

      Pope Francis asks theologians to ‘demasculinize’ the church

    • An Indian official plotted to assassinate a Sikh separatist leader in New York, US prosecutors say

      An Indian official plotted to assassinate a Sikh separatist leader in New York, US prosecutors say

    Read Next:

    What would happen if clergy unionized?

    AnalysisKristen Thomason

    More Articles

    • All
    • News
    • Opinion
    • Curated
    • Supreme Court declines to reinstate Florida ban on drag shows

      NewsSteve Rabey

    • Immigration advocates deplore House Republicans’ effort to tie Ukraine aid to severe border measures

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Big ideas at human size: An interview with Carrie Newcomer

      OpinionSusan M. Shaw, Senior Columnist

    • Even as Biden supports their interest in Israel, white evangelicals disapprove of his job performance

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • As SBC moves toward second vote on Law Amendment, debate continues on just what it means

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • What I learned teaching incarcerated white students about structural racism

      OpinionChris Caldwell

    • Jack Tales: Remembering Jack Causey

      OpinionJustin Cox

    • Hawks and Felton to lead CBF advocacy efforts

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • The horror of Let Us Prey may not be as far from home as you think

      AnalysisRick Pidcock

    • How churches can participate in the Indigenous Land Back movement and why they should

      AnalysisKristen Thomason

    • 30 years ago, RFRA passed with support from a broad coalition unimaginable today

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Are our churches prepared for Christian autocracy?

      OpinionBill Leonard, Senior Columnist

    • Even on January 6, family was important to Mike Pence

      NewsMaina Mwaura

    • On the SBC, Alliance and CBF and lost causes

      AnalysisAndrew Gardner

    • Transitions for the week of 12-1-23

      NewsBarbara Francis

    • ‘Pastor Johnny’ wins a bid to unseal Guidepost documents

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • What would happen if clergy unionized?

      AnalysisKristen Thomason

    • Praying in a time of war

      OpinionMartin Thielen

    • Tougher border policies will not stop the flow of migrants, immigration experts say

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • The speaker and the Bible

      OpinionJim Harnish

    • Professors defend Thomas Jefferson from Christian nationalism

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Baptists were for separation of church and state before they were against it

      OpinionRodney Kennedy

    • Judge rules discovery may continue in Sillses’ lawsuit against SBC parties

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Ministry jobs and more

      NewsBarbara Francis

    • What happens when the snow melts? Humanizing victims of the war in Gaza with The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

      OpinionMallory Challis

    • Supreme Court declines to reinstate Florida ban on drag shows

      NewsSteve Rabey

    • Immigration advocates deplore House Republicans’ effort to tie Ukraine aid to severe border measures

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Even as Biden supports their interest in Israel, white evangelicals disapprove of his job performance

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • As SBC moves toward second vote on Law Amendment, debate continues on just what it means

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Hawks and Felton to lead CBF advocacy efforts

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • 30 years ago, RFRA passed with support from a broad coalition unimaginable today

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Even on January 6, family was important to Mike Pence

      NewsMaina Mwaura

    • Transitions for the week of 12-1-23

      NewsBarbara Francis

    • ‘Pastor Johnny’ wins a bid to unseal Guidepost documents

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Tougher border policies will not stop the flow of migrants, immigration experts say

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Professors defend Thomas Jefferson from Christian nationalism

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Judge rules discovery may continue in Sillses’ lawsuit against SBC parties

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Ministry jobs and more

      NewsBarbara Francis

    • She was the only Baptist and only woman delegate at a Vatican synod

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Darius Rucker dedicates this one to the faith of his mother

      NewsMaina Mwaura

    • Virginia church took the grief group outside the church

      NewsPeggy Haymes

    • Support for Trump is cultural more than theological, author says

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Amanda Held Opelt has a story to write as well

      NewsMaina Mwaura

    • He’s got a Rice business degree; now he’s focused on finding the best use for church buildings

      NewsMark Wingfield

    • Rosalynn Carter: ‘There are not enough accolades to describe how wonderful she was’

      NewsMaina Mwaura

    • Amidst global chaos, ordinary South Africans are emblem of Muslim-Jewish co-existence

      NewsNyasha Bhobo

    • Once again, faith and humanitarian groups decry Texas’ latest approach to ‘border security’

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • Archives reveal timeless messages from Dallas clergy days after JFK assassination

      NewsJeff Hampton

    • Christian groups lament and repent role religion played in allowing Israel-Hamas war

      NewsJeff Brumley

    • U.S. evangelicals continue to unite behind Israel but are less likely to mention Palestinian victims

      NewsSteve Rabey

    • Big ideas at human size: An interview with Carrie Newcomer

      OpinionSusan M. Shaw, Senior Columnist

    • What I learned teaching incarcerated white students about structural racism

      OpinionChris Caldwell

    • Jack Tales: Remembering Jack Causey

      OpinionJustin Cox

    • Are our churches prepared for Christian autocracy?

      OpinionBill Leonard, Senior Columnist

    • Praying in a time of war

      OpinionMartin Thielen

    • The speaker and the Bible

      OpinionJim Harnish

    • Baptists were for separation of church and state before they were against it

      OpinionRodney Kennedy

    • What happens when the snow melts? Humanizing victims of the war in Gaza with The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

      OpinionMallory Challis

    • Hamas’ ‘sexual pogrom’ in Israel

      OpinionJonathan Feldstein

    • ‘Useful idiots’ won’t end the Israel-Hamas war, and neither will a cease-fire

      OpinionErich Bridges

    • The blood of Advent

      OpinionJulia Goldie Day

    • Five truths about church committees and their work

      OpinionMark Wingfield

    • Tell me about your Christian tattoo

      OpinionMadison Boboltz

    • A generational torch passes at Bubba-Doo’s

      OpinionCharles Qualls

    • The desire for retaliation is a fool’s errand

      OpinionJohn Carter

    • Knowing what we see and remembering what we know

      OpinionWendell Griffen

    • Two roads diverged in a cold food court

      OpinionBrad Bull

    • What are you wearing to Thanksgiving dinner this year?

      OpinionMallory Challis

    • Did Thomas Jefferson say the president should attend church as an example?

      OpinionWarren Throckmorton

    • Between Hamas and Boko Haram

      OpinionAnthony Akaeze

    • Why the Black church must account for and attend to its own marginalized

      OpinionChristian Ingram

    • Speaker Mike Johnson betrays core Baptist value

      OpinionJennifer Hawks

    • Prison tables and the Lord’s Table

      OpinionChris Caldwell

    • The spiritual practice of friendship

      OpinionMallory Challis

    • What is digital chaplaincy, and why do we need such chaplains?

      OpinionEileen Campbell-Reed

    • Elon Musk expresses regret for endorsing antisemitic post but swears at advertisers boycotting X over it

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Search For God In A Faithless Nation: Inside One Man’s Journey

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Pope Francis asks theologians to ‘demasculinize’ the church

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • An Indian official plotted to assassinate a Sikh separatist leader in New York, US prosecutors say

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • AP Photos: Church that hosted Rosalynn Carter funeral played key role in her and her husband’s lives

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Stoicism and spirituality: A philosopher explains how more Americans’ search for meaning is turning them toward the classics

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • How support for Trump is causing a rift in the evangelical church

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • In the US, Hmong ‘new year’ recalls ancestral spirits while teaching traditions to new generations

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Argentina’s president-elect, Javier Milei, visits Lubavitcher rabbi’s grave to offer thanks for his surprise victory

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Canadian Evangelical Scholar Fired Following University Investigation

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Top Diplomat Of Ecumenical Patriarchate Delves Into Catholic-Orthodox Relations

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Africa’s Wall Street Quiets Christian Worship

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Houston’s Hindu youth will soon have a summer campsite of their own

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • The challenges of being a religious scientist

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Tens of thousands march against antisemitism in London including UK ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Why George Santos’ lies are even worse than the usual political lies – a moral philosopher explains

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • The Democratic Republic Of The Congo Works To Improve Religious Freedom For Christians

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Timekeepers no more, rank-and-file Jehovah’s Witnesses say goodbye to tracking proselytizing hours

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • This ‘wind phone’ helps grievers feel connected to the loved ones they’ve lost

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Why People Switch Churches And The High Hopes That Come With Such Changes

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • For this group of trans women, the pope and his message of inclusivity are a welcome change

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Carlton Pearson, influential Oklahoma megachurch founder who rejected hell, dies at age 70

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Amid Economic Crisis, Ministry And Music Propel Cuban Minister Devoted To Sharing Bread Of Life

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Supreme Court Denies Florida’s Request To Reinstate Its Anti-Drag Law

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    • Nicaragua’s exiled clergy and faithful in Miami keep up struggle for human rights at Mass

      Curated

      Exclude from home pageBNG staff

    Conversations that Matter.

    © 2023 Baptist News Global. All rights reserved.

    Want to share a story? We hope you will! Read our republishing, terms of use and privacy policies here.

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • RSS