Adam Greenway, former president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS), has dropped a defamation lawsuit he filed against the school.
Adam Greenway at the 2019 annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention / RNS photo by Butch Dill
Greenway resigned from SWBTS in September 2022 saying he “was unprepared for the enormous ‘reputational, legal and financial realities’ facing the seminary, which were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Following Greenway’s resignation, SWBTS appointed a task force to look into allegations that he had improperly used school funds. The investigation uncovered various expenses and concluded that Greenway had not properly stewarded school resources. “More than $1.5 million of school funds was spent on renovations, furnishings, and other home-related expenses, including almost $60,000 in Christmas decorations, $25,000 for artwork and over $11,000 for an espresso machine,” the report stated.
Greenway accused SWBTS of violating a non-disparagement agreement he had agreed to with the school and filed a defamation suit against SWBTS in March 2024. Greenway claimed the allegations made against him by the school made him unemployable.
Greenway and SWBTS released a joint statement on September 9 after Greenway dropped the suit. “We are grateful to have this resolution between Southwestern Seminary and its ninth president, Dr. Adam W. Greenway,” the statement reads. “No monetary consideration was paid as part of this resolution…We pray that God will richly bless the Greenway family as well as Southwestern Seminary in the years ahead.”
Later that same day, the seminary released its own statement claiming the school had been exonerated of any wrongdoing.
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“When Adam Greenway approached the seminary on the eve of his deposition and offered to drop his lawsuit with no monetary consideration in return, it was clear this was the best decision for Southwestern Seminary,” the school said. “We believe the manner of this resolution not only vindicates the seminary, it further demonstrates the allegations made in the lawsuit were without merit.”
Greenway countered the school’s statement with one of his own on September 10, praising the joint statement while also taking exception with the school’s separate statement.
“While I am grateful that such a joint statement has now been issued, I disagree strongly with the Seminary’s motivations behind or meaning of the settlement,” Greenway said. “I look forward to putting this chapter of my life behind me and focusing on the hope and the future that our Lord has for me and my family.”
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