An Open Letter to Our Missions Partner: Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary

Dear Dr. David Dockery and SWBTS Trustees,

Inasmuch as it is the responsibility of the church—not a denominational entity or parachurch ministry—to set the boundaries of its relationships and stewardship of Kingdom resources, the Elders of Broadview Baptist Church in Lubbock, Texas, provide this update regarding our partnership with you for 2026.

A few years ago, as good stewards of all the Lord has given us, Broadview Baptist Church established ten biblical values we expect our missions partners to embrace and practice (click HERE for a fuller description of each value):

• Scripture as God’s Word

• Christian doctrine

• Biblical distinctives

• Sanctity of human life

• Sacredness of sexuality

• Multi-ethnic brotherhood in Christ

• Regenerate church membership

• Godly, male pastors

• Priority of disciple-making

• Financial transparency

We also established a Missions Council which, among other responsibilities, brings annual recommendations to the church regarding support for our missions partners.

We are very pleased with the leadership that Dr. Dockery and others have provided for the benefit of students, alumni, staff, and churches connected to Southwestern. We believe that great days for the seminary are ahead, and indeed are occurring now.

Regarding our final value for missions partners—financial transparency—it is our belief that financial transparency for collective Kingdom efforts in Scripture means direct accountability to the supporting churches—not merely to a select few trustees who withhold financial details from those churches. A biblical model of financial transparency appears in Acts 20:4, 1 Corinthians 16:3–4, and 2 Corinthians 8:18–21 with respect to the Jerusalem offering: the partnering churches sent trusted men to oversee the collection and delivery, and those men returned home to report directly to the supporting congregations that the funds were used properly.

We believe churches today have both the right and responsibility to ensure their Kingdom offerings are used wisely and appropriately, and that our missions partners bear the biblical duty to be financially transparent to us and all churches that would support their work.

We respectfully urge you, Dr. Dockery, along with the SWBTS Board of Trustees, to voluntarily publish financial information equivalent to an IRS Form 990 for the seminary (similar to what many nonprofits already disclose to the public).

We are confident that greater transparency would not reduce giving to the seminary or to the Cooperative Program. On the contrary, it would likely increase support by building trust. For example, Wycliffe Bible Translators openly publishes its Form 990 each year and has experienced no negative financial impact as a result.

We recognize that this step might not be welcomed by the leaders of other SBC entities. Even so, institutional peers are not Whom we must ultimately please.

Our Missions Council was glad to recommend to our church a modified continuation of our support for Southwestern, and our church unanimously agreed to do so in 2026. We look forward with great anticipation to our future relationship with Southwestern.

God bless you in your endeavors.

In Christ,
The Elders of Broadview Baptist Church, Lubbock, Texas