Founding in Waco (1908)

On March 14, 1908, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary was chartered in Waco, Texas, beginning as Baylor Theological Seminary. It was born from a clear burden: to train pastors and missionaries who would open the Bible with reverence, preach Christ plainly, and serve the churches with integrity.

The early seminary setting in Waco placed students near a strong Baptist life and the academic orbit of Baylor. Yet the aim was never merely scholarly. The school sought men called by God, shaped by Scripture, and willing to spend themselves for the gospel in Texas and beyond.

B. H. Carroll and Early Convictions

The guiding force in the founding years was B. H. Carroll, a commanding preacher and builder with a pastor’s heart. Carroll insisted that theological training must produce courageous ministers—men who could defend truth, comfort the afflicted, and confront error without drifting into mere religious talk.

His leadership emphasized prayer, disciplined study, and dependence on the Lord’s power rather than human showmanship. The heartbeat of the classroom was the conviction that God’s Word is to be handled carefully and proclaimed boldly: “Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

From Waco to Fort Worth (1910)

In 1910 the campus relocated to Fort Worth, a move requiring faith, planning, and sacrificial cooperation. Relocation meant leaving familiar ground for a wider field, trusting God to provide resources, unity, and opportunity for expanded ministry.

Fort Worth’s growing influence and strategic location offered a platform for training more workers for the harvest. The decision reflected the kind of heroism that seldom makes headlines: patient generosity, steady resolve, and a willingness to build for generations unseen.

Enduring Legacy

The seminary’s founding remains a testimony that faithful training strengthens churches and advances the gospel. It stands as an ongoing call to ministers to labor with humility and courage, “contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3), and proclaim Christ with clarity, conviction, and love.