By Aaron Earls
Jeffrey Bingham received an interesting call at 3 a.m. Wednesday. Would you like to be interim president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary?
After a 13-hour Southwestern trustee meeting, Paige Patterson was named president emeritus and Bingham, dean of Southwestern’s School of Theology, accepted the role of interim president early on May 23.
Bingham steps into his new role after weeks of controversy surrounding his predecessor. Patterson faced a backlash over past comments he made about women and his handling of sexual assault allegations while president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
In a statement released by SWBTS, Bingham said he is “humbled and honored to be asked to serve Southwestern Seminary in the capacity of interim president.”
Bingham is a renowned patristic scholar. When he was appointed as the school of theology dean in 2016, Patterson said Bingham’s name “is known at every evangelical institution in the world.”
He completed his undergraduate work at New Mexico State and earned his master of theology and Ph.D. from Dallas Theological Seminary. He was also ordained into ministry at Arlington Bible Church in Arlington, Texas.
Before being named a dean at Southwestern, Bingham served as associate dean of biblical and theological studies and professor of theology at Wheaton College. He has also served in multiple positions at Dallas Theological Seminary and was an associate dean and professor of historical theology at Southwestern from 2002-2003.
He has written numerous books, including Pocket History of the Church, and been co-editor of several other books, including Dispensationalism and the History of Redemption and Eschatology: Biblical, Historical, and Practical Approaches. He also served as editor of The Bible in Ancient Christianity and associate editor of the Evangelical Dictionary of Theology.
Bingham has been part of numerous scholarly societies, including serving as president of the North American Patristics Society in 2017.
In accepting the interim presidency, Bingham asked for prayers for the Pattersons, Southwestern, the trustees, himself, and other leaders at the school as they work together during the transition period.
“Jesus remains on His throne, and Southwestern Seminary remains faithful to its commitment to preach the Word and reach the world,” he said.
Related:
- Trustees Shift Patterson to President Emeritus at Southwestern
- Seminary President Apologizes Over Past Comments on Women
AARON EARLS (@WardrobeDoor) is online editor of Facts & Trends.
