FORT WORTH, Texas — The former president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth is suing the theological institute he used to lead over allegations of defamation following his resignation, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court.

Adam Greenway, the president of the seminary from 2019 to 2022, alleges in the lawsuit that a social media post in which he criticized politicizing Christianity is what really caused friction with the board of trustees and influential alumni. The seminary, though, has accused Greenway of improperly handling institutional funds and making unnecessary expenditures.

The seminary said in a statement to the Star-Telegram that it is “regrettable that Adam Greenway is suing the seminary he has previously claimed to love in response to Southwestern’s refusal to agree to his demand of $5 million last fall.”

“We categorically deny the allegations contained in the lawsuit, will defend vigorously the institution, and are confident the outcome will demonstrate that these claims are entirely baseless,” the statement read.

The seminary also said Greenway’s attorney turned down an offer to inspect evidence it says would validate the public statements made by the university and board of trustees chairman Danny Roberts.

Greenway said in the lawsuit he was pressured to leave the seminary as a result of a social media post from Sept. 12, 2022.

“If America really was/is a Christian nation — as my Twitter feed indicates some are claiming today — then where are the cries to repent and believe instead of just calls to register and go vote?” he wrote in the post. “Don’t reduce the Bible to a political prop and Jesus to a candidate consultant, please.”

Following the post, Greenway said he received a text message from Jack Graham, a prominent seminary alumnus and the senior pastor of Plano megachurch Prestonwood Baptist Church, to a group that included influential alum OS Hawkins, Greenwood says in the lawsuit. Prestonwood has a history of political involvement, such as hosting and promoting a forum for Republic presidential candidates in 2016.

Graham demanded in the text that Greenway remove the social media post, according to the lawsuit.

Greenwood alleges Hawkins responded to Graham’s text, saying it seemed like Greenway thought he always has “to be the smartest person in the room.”

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