Greenway suit against Southwestern Seminary resolved without payment

FORST WORTH, Texas — Former Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary President Adam W. Greenway dropped his defamation lawsuit against his former employer without any financial settlement.

Southwestern Seminary released a statement on Monday, Sept. 9 announcing the matter was resolved.

“We are grateful to have this resolution between Southwestern Seminary and its ninth president, Dr. Adam W. Greenway.  No monetary consideration was paid as part of this resolution,” the joint statement from the seminary and Greenway said.

“The trustees and Dr. Greenway are looking forward to putting this matter behind us and moving on to focus our energies and efforts on following God’s plans for the next chapters of our respective lives and ministries. We pray that God will richly bless the Greenway family as well as Southwestern Seminary in the years ahead.”

In a separate statement, Southwestern Seminary said: “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.

“We believe the manner of this resolution not only vindicates the seminary, it further demonstrates the allegations made in the lawsuit were without merit. Grateful for the favor God has bestowed on the seminary since the fall of 2022, we are now eager to re-focus our full energies and resources on carrying out the mission of Southwestern Seminary.”

The Baptist Standard contacted Greenway to ask for any additional comment in light of the separate statement from the seminary. Greenway said he is still considering the best way to respond publicly and is not yet prepared to do so on the record.

Greenway, who was forced out as president of Southwestern Seminary in September 2022, filed suit against the seminary and the past chair of its trustee board in March 2024.

His lawsuit alleged the seminary administration and then-chairman Danny Roberts “began a defamatory campaign against Dr. Greenway that included both specific false statements, along with publication of a narrative that created a substantially false and defamatory impression.”

“The defamation of Dr. Greenway has been widely publicized, resulting in severe damage to his reputation and rendering him unemployable in the professional capacity for which he is qualified,” the lawsuit stated.

Most of the statements concerned alleged financial mismanagement and excessive spending by Greenway, particularly regarding the restoration of the on-campus president’s home.

Greenway’s suit asserted his predecessor—Paige Patterson—left the house “in a state of disrepair and unfit for habitation or use.” The suit said the Pattersons removed “the majority of furnishings and décor,” and that mold was visible growing on the home’s interior walls.

The suit called for a judgment awarding compensation for actual damages, exemplary damages, past and future economic loss, attorney fees, statutory and civil penalties and “all other proper relief.”

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This story first appeared in The Baptist Standard.