to excuse their greed.
The Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary leased their minerals to Chesapeake who plans to drill up to 14 natural gas wells–closer than the recommended setback distance–next to an elementary school where children from low income households attend. A SBTS alumni wrote the seminary president requesting Environmental Justice for the low-income, multi-ethnic neighborhood near the seminary. The response from Paige Patterson, President, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, is sickeningly manipulative and heartbreaking.
And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Dear President Patterson:
I am writing you as a fellow Christian, as a Southern Baptist, as an alumnus (M.Div., 1994), and more importantly as a member of the community in Fort Worth where SWBTS is the “beacon on a hill”, literally and figuratively, for over a century now.
I simply want to draw your attention, as a fellow citizen and as a spiritual leader representing one of the most influential institutions in present day Christiandom and the world when considering the reach and influence that members of the SWBTS family/community have in every corner of the planet, to the growing community-wide concerns over the many issues related to gas drilling inside a densely populated urban environment in general and to the current discussion regarding plans to build an elementary school and community center complex right next to potentially dangerous gas wells just a block down the from Seminary Hill on Rosemont in particular.
I was taught in Sunday School, and was re-inforced at Southwestern, that we as human beings and believers are stewards of God’s creation who will be required to give an accounting on the Day of Judgment regarding our stewardship, especially our faithfulness in carrying out our moral and spiritual responsibilities.
This solemn recognition combined with my high regard for the seminary as a bedrock institution in our local community and my respect for your official position and your spiritual and moral authority led me to write and respectfully ask you to look into these very real life and death issues. Then if/when appropriate, I urge you to lend a clear “prophetic voice” and needed leadership and moral guidance for the decisions and policies that impact a multitude of precious souls, including many from the Southwestern community/family.
The issues that I am pointing out are not , and should not, be restricted to the political arena because they transcend political differences. Please consider and pray about the issues and their impact on people’s health and safety, many of these neighbors are precious children and among “the least of these”. I look forward to seeing the light and love of Christ shine warmly on our community from Seminary Hill, sooner than later, President Patterson.
Respectfully and hopefully,
Y. Steve Doeung M. Div., 1994.
The response from President Patterson:
Dear Mr. Doeung,
Thank you for your inquiry about the seminary and its involvement in the Barnett shale.
The seminary is not a player in the issue of the elementary school. That is a matter that relates to the city and to the school district. We are happy to provide a venue for discussions to take place, but we are not involved in the decision in any way.
As it regards your request that the seminary desist from drilling and cost itself large sums of money that the Lord has generally made available to us, you would have to be able to prove that the prosecution of those wells would endanger someone. The city, the company, and the seminary have been diligent to satisfy themselves that there is no significant danger visited on the community. Thank you for your interest.
Until He Comes,
Paige Patterson
President Patterson has forgotten some of Jesus’ most important teachings. Please, dear readers, help me remind him. Here are mine:
The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
— Matthew 25:40
About Sharon Wilson
Sharon Wilson is considered a leading citizen expert on the impacts of shale oil and gas extraction. She is the go-to person whether it’s top EPA officials from D.C., national and international news networks, or residents facing the shock of eminent domain and the devastating environmental effects of natural gas development in their backyards.
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"My name is Legion and we are many."
Sharon, when you go to bed with the devil your conscience and ability to show compassion and empathy are out the window. The Southern Baptists are a divided lot. You've got those that are looking to work with others and promote good will, while you have the ones, apparently like this president, that are sticking to the "old traditions"…those traditions include intolerance and an unwillingness to really listen and cooperate.
Judas betrayed Christ for 30 pieces of silver, what else can we say?
BAD FAITH! Sometimes religion is about power, and power likes money more that ethical behavior. That's when religion becomes BAD FAITH!
For there shall arise false Christs,and false prophets,and shall shew great signs and wonders;
insomuch that,if it were possible,
they shall deceive the very elect.
Matthew 24:24
And the cares of this world,and
the deceitfulness of riches,and
the lusts of other things enter-
ing in,choke the word, and it be-
cometh unfruitful.
Mark 4:19
But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.
Deu 18:20
Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they lean upon the LORD and say, "Is not the LORD among us? No disaster will come upon us."
Micah 3:11
Unfortunately, the Church has gotten away with murder over the centuries and perpetrated horrific pain on people in the name of God over and over and continues to this day, while convincing itself that it is doing good and, of course, God is on her side. Accountability has often been absent with dire results. This seminary president is a case in point. The Golden Rule comes to mind. I don't think President Patterson has put much thought into his flippant response. What planet is he living on? How high is Seminary Hill? Can't he see the real world from there?
My father is a retired United Methodist minister. He fought against the chemical company in Niagara Falls, NY, during the Love Canal crisis. He is appalled about what the gas industry is doing now even though he is 87 years old. He has never forgotten Love Canal. Not all clergy are in ivory towers, thank goodness.
"The world will not breathe free until the last gas driller is strangled with the entrails of the last Baptist preacher."
… with apologies to Denis Diderot and Jean Meslier.
Is that controversial enough for ya?
You win again!
Why is this man so defensive? The writer was very respectull, reasonable, and very clear about what he was trying to say. The response, in tone and substance, does not match the content of the letter at all. Such defensive and convoluted responses usually accompany someone being "call out"–correctly –and possibly unexpectedly, like they did not expect anyone to notice or to verbalize their improper conduct. The subjects that the man addressed, money and self-interest, as well as what he did not address, children and morality/duty, are quite stark and telling. Disturbing actually–coming from someone in his position. What would other alumni, students, Southern Baptists, and even the school's Board of Directors think and say about this shockingly callous and un-Christlike response?–Nevermind what his Boss thinks and would say; wouldn't mind being there to witness it.
Patterson obviously is not an educated Christian. If he was, he wouldn't have given the political answer. What happened to God provides all my needs? For Patterson to say that any dangers imposed on the children nearby as a result of the Big Giant Pollution Machine are a matter between the school and city is ludicrous. When HE comes, I hope that Patterson doesn't look to anyone except himself to answer some hard questions. If I were there, I'd have to say "That's a matter between you and the Lord."
It's just like the churches in Booger Co. Greed abounds–lease, lease, and lease.
Brother Patterson needs to spend more time with people who pray and less time with people who prey–on the poor, weak, and helpless. I wonder if children fit into any of the adjectives? Please remember that for every person and attitude like him, there are dozens of good-hearted and faithfull believers and stewards. Rev. Patterson probably cannot accept this, but there are also many good and faithfull stewards of God's creation who do not fit into his narrow (and self-righteous) definition of believers. The Bible says that "by their fruits shall yee know them"–not just words and self-righteous prosturing. Better check your spiritual and moral "roots", Rev., because your fruits appear to be contaminated (but surely not from gas drilling related activities).
For every Paige Patterson, there are hundreds of Steve Doeung, people trying to live out their convictions and "practicing what they preach". Isn't Steve Doeung the same man who lives on the well-known Carter Ave. and who has been fighting the massive pipelines planned for under his front yard in the court? The Star-Telegram said something last month about his case–very intriguing that his meninent domain case is still active over a year later AND that the media has not reported more about it. What's the truth here, Sharon? Is the guy touching off some sensitive spots for the media also? There's something fishy @ this Carter Ave.gas pipeline saga.