FORT WORTH, Texas (BP) — Southern Baptists’ Southwestern Seminary in Ft. Worth has initiated layoffs after announcing steps to rectify a financial environment that could “quickly escalate to a crisis.”
The restructuring includes a reduction of the operational and personnel budget by at least 10%, representing approximately $3.6 million. The cuts will come primarily from the area of institutional support, beginning with programming over personnel, said Interim President David Dockery.
Baptist Press received the following statement from the seminary:
“Southwestern Seminary trustees continue to work with the interim administration in executing the actions taken by the board during its meeting. As it is appropriate to share new developments, we will provide that information. We were delighted to host the largest recent fall Preview Day in some years on Oct. 21, welcoming more than 300 prospective students and their families, and culminating with more than 650 participants in our fall festival. Our Admissions team is aggressively recruiting students to study with our first-class faculty of scholar-ministers who not only teach their subjects with excellence, but help our students live their calling as Gospel ministers during their studies. Our campus community has been infused with multiple prayer gatherings as students, faculty, and staff humbly seek God’s blessings under the theme verse of Psalm 90:17.”
