By Will Hall, Message Editor
FORT WORTH, Texas (LBM)–Adam W. Greenway, dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions, Evangelism and Ministry at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, has been unanimously selected by the search committee of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary as their presidential nominee.
A SWBTS press release noted that Greenway, 41, has served in many denominational leadership roles, including vice chairman of the Southern Baptist Convention Evangelism Task Force (2018), president of the Kentucky Baptist Convention (2011-2012), trustee and board chairman for LifeWay Christian Resources (2005-2015), and current chairman of the SBC Committee on Order of Business.
Greenway also was credited with leading the SBTS Billy Graham School since 2013 to become the largest graduate school at any SBC seminary. As dean he has led the school to grow from 1,381 students, including 501 Master of Divinity candidates, to 2,138 total students, with 994 enrolled in the master’s program.
He is an SWBTS alumnus, having earned the Master of Divinity in 2002 before completing a doctorate in evangelism and apologetics at SBTS in 2007.
SBTS’ SBC INFLUENCE GROWS
Greenway joins an extensive list of SBTS graduates, faculty and administrators who now lead major SBC ministries.
The fall 2018 edition of Southern Seminary Magazine included an article, “The leadership influence of Albert Mohler,” which encouraged readers to “Look across the evangelical landscape and you’ll see lines from major institutions and organizations leading back to the campus of Southern Seminary.”
Mohler, SBTS president since 1993, was noted for his influence on: Danny Akin, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS faculty/administration, 1996-2004); Jason Allen, president of Midwestern Baptist Theological (SBTS graduate; SBTS faculty/administration, 2006-2012); Kevin Ezell, president of the North American Mission Board (SBTS graduate); Russell Moore, president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (SBTS graduate; SBTS faculty/administration, 1996-2013); and, Thom Rainer, president of LifeWay Christian Resources (SBTS graduate; SBTS faculty/administration, 1994-2005).
Additionally, this year, just weeks before Greenway’s nomination, Paul Chitwood, who earned a master’s degree and doctorate from SBTS and was named the SBTS 2015 alumnus of the year, was elected president of the International Mission Board.
Although not mentioned in the article, Sandra Wisdom-Martin, who was elected in 2016 as the executive director/treasurer of the Woman’s Missionary Union, an SBC auxiliary, earned a master’s degree in social work from SBTS.
So, with Greenway’s expected election as SWBTS president, nine of the 13 national ministries of Southern Baptists are headed by leaders with direct SBTS ties.
‘IMPECCABLE CHARACTER’
Danny Roberts, an SWBTS alumnus, executive pastor of North Richland Hills (Texas) Baptist Church and chairman of the SWBTS search committee, said the search process “from its inception” in August 2018 was “bathed in prayer.”
“We came to know Adam Greenway as a man of impeccable character who demonstrates kindness and humility in his dealings with others, a leader who surrounds himself with talented people and allows them to work within their giftedness, a bridge builder in the Southern Baptist Convention, and a true scholar with a heart for missions and evangelism,” Roberts said in the SWBTS announcement.
Greenway has served as pastor or interim pastor of a dozen churches across Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Texas and Florida. He and his wife Carla, married since 2003, have two children, Wade (9) and Caroline (3).
“Ever since that first moment I was pronounced a ‘Southwesterner,’ I have felt a deep and abiding love for my alma mater,” Greenway said. “I believe the best days for Southwestern Seminary are ahead of us and I am committed to training and sending out the next generation of God-called men and women for Gospel service around the world.”
