Jerry Johnson, president of Criswell College in Dallas, resigned Aug. 5 after a controversy went public about the direction of the College and its relationship with the First Baptist Church of Dallas, which founded the school and maintains active ties through trustee selection.
DALLAS (BP) – Jerry Johnson, president of Criswell College in Dallas, resigned Aug. 5 after a controversy went public about the direction of the College and its relationship with the First Baptist Church of Dallas, which founded the school and maintains active ties through trustee selection.
The discord was publicized Aug. 1 when the Dallas Morning News published an accusation by Criswell trustee Steve Washburn, pastor of First Baptist Church in Pflugerville, Texas, that Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, was planning to liquidate Criswell’s assets to benefit the church, which established the college in 1970 under the leadership of their late pastor, W.A. Criswell.
The paper also reported Johnson’s affirmation of Washburn’s accusation. Jeffress, who as pastor of FBC Dallas is automatically chancellor of Criswell College, denied the accusation, saying it was the product of an “overactive imagination.” Among the college’s assets is an FM radio station, KCBI.
“Neither the deacons nor I have any plan to sell KCBI or the campus of Criswell College, period,” Jeffress told the Dallas Morning News.
Johnson resigned during a called meeting of the college’s trustee executive committee Tuesday evening.
“The resignation was due to philosophical differences the president had with the chancellor and trustee leadership about the future of Criswell College,” board chairman Michael Deahl told the Southern Baptist Texan, newsjournal of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention.
Deahl said Johnson will continue to serve as president until Aug. 15, at which time an interim president appointed by the trustee executive committee will take over.
“On a personal level and on behalf of the entire board of trustees, I want to express gratitude for the leadership Dr. Johnson has provided at Criswell College during the four years of his presidency,” Deahl said.