God Bless Texas (Baptists) And Their Hats: Why I’m Adding Paige Patterson To My Christmas Card List

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There are few times that I’ll ever publicly disagree with Dr. Tom Ascol, the Executive Director of Founder’s Ministries. And after meeting him personally last semester while he was visiting the Louisville-area for a conference, I was glad to confirm that he too was a fellow Texas Aggie grad, and that makes it even harder to say he’s wrong (lol). But after reading his recent article expressing his concern that the faculty at the Southwestern Theological Seminary (in Fort Worth, Texas) donned black felt cowboys hats at their academic convocation instead of the usual academic regalia, I’ve no choice but to humbly disagree.

And it’s not just Ascol that’s voiced concerns. Wyman Richardson wrote here that this is just ““Don’t Mess With Texas” run amuck in what used to be the world’s largest Southern Baptist seminary.” Most of the discussion has been centered around responses to Dr. Malcom Yarnell’s defense of the decision to go South-western in their academic dress. He summed up his remarks by explaining, “We are Southern Baptists in Modern Texas, not Roman Catholics in Medieval Europe, and we will wear common cowboy hats rather than exalted sacerdotal birettas, in honor of our great free churches and in order to identify with our great people.”

If all this sounds a little more theological than it should be, I think you’re right. But as a native Texan who has his own two cents to add to the conversation, allow me to explain a few things. Now, I’m about to use a few generalities, and maybe even address a few stereotypes, so do you’re best to stay in the saddle…

If you’re not from around here (Texas, that is), then I’d be willing to bet that you have a hard time understanding that there is ever a time when wearing a cowboy hat ain’t “silly” (as some authors have noted). But I’d like to see you tell that to a good ole boy from Odessa that asks his pastor to wear a cowboy hat as he does the wedding ceremony. I assure you, he’d be serious. Now I admit, Texas isn’t Lonesome Dove, but it ain’t New York City either. People here wear cowboy hats to weddings, to funerals, to baptisms, to football games, to the State Capitol, and to the hunting lease. It’s not a show for them, and it ain’t no joke.

I think the comment that explains this issue the best was made by Michele McGinty over at Reformed Chicks Babbling when she admitted, “But of course I’m from the northeast so what do I know?“

I remember when Paige Patterson came to Southern Seminary this past semester, I heard people poking fun at his pointy cowboy boots. I wasn’t offended at this, but I was made well aware of the fact that some people just don’t understand things from the Lone Star state. And that’s okay. I don’t expect Al Mohler and Southern Seminary to be donning Tony Lama boots and black felt cowboy hats anytime soon, but that won’t stop this Texan from wishing they did…

Thanks Dr. Patterson, B.H. Carroll would be proud.

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Filed under Culture, Life, Quote, Religion, School, Southern Baptist Convention, Texas

Tags: Cowboy, Hats, Seminary, Southwestern