Statements on conviction of Matt Queen

Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary releases the following statements in response to the plea agreement the Department of Justice has entered with former faculty member Matt Queen. For previous statements issued by the seminary about this matter, please see here and here.

“From the beginning, Southwestern Seminary has fully cooperated with the Department of Justice in its investigation of sexual abuse in the Southern Baptist Convention. We remain resolute in our commitment to continue to do so.

“We pray for victims of sexual abuse. Southwestern Seminary remains committed to doing everything possible to protect all members of the seminary community from sexual abuse and harassment.

“Our prayers continue for Matt Queen and his family, as well as for others who have been involved in this process.”

The following statement is issued by Terri Stovall, dean of women:

“In response to the announcement of Matt Queen’s guilty plea, I offer this statement as the woman identified in court documents as ‘Employee-1.’ All my actions in this matter were motivated by the desire to do what was right for an alleged victim, even when it meant standing against the malicious actions of Queen and other men who are now former employees but were in positions of authority at the time.

“I am grateful for the diligence of the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York for holding Queen accountable for his criminal actions while serving as interim provost at Southwestern. My hope is that the full truth and extent of his actions—and the actions of others who are no longer employed at Southwestern—will one day come to light. Their egregious behavior has caused deep harm to me and others within our Southwestern community, and has brought significant cost to the institution, while harming their own Gospel witness.

“In contrast, I am grateful for seminary colleagues who acted properly and supported me during this ordeal. I am a proud Southwesterner and remain committed to the mission of this historic seminary.

“One day, I will tell my full story; today is not that day.”