Southern Baptist professor Matthew Barrett has ignited a theological controversy across social media platforms following his announcement that he is leaving both Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and the Southern Baptist Convention to seek ordination in the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA).
The Kansas City-based theologian made his intentions public on July 24, 2025, through a post on X (formerly Twitter) that linked to a 6,000-word Substack essay detailing his reasons for the denominational switch. Dr. Barrett, known for his work in systematic theology and “classical retrieval” scholarship, cited what he termed three “cracked pillars” in Southern Baptist life as driving factors behind his decision.
Dr. Barrett’s essay identified several key issues with the SBC: the denomination’s alleged “official rejection” of the Nicene Creed, problems with congregational polity that he claims breeds “image-management and spiritual abuse,” and Baptist baptism practices, which he contrasts unfavorably with the covenantal logic behind infant baptism.
The professor has accepted a position as Research Professor of Theology at Trinity Anglican Seminary in Pennsylvania, marking a significant career transition that places him within the Anglican/Episcopal world.
The announcement triggered immediate pushback from prominent Southern Baptist voices. Denny Burk, a professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, directly challenged Barrett’s characterization of SBC creedal positions, stating on his blog and X that “Barrett bears false witness… The SBC has not ‘officially rejected’ the Nicene Creed”.
James White of Alpha & Omega Ministries took a more polemical approach, arguing in a video response that “promoting the ‘Great Tradition’ at a Baptist institution is self-contradictory—his conversion proves our point”. White’s critique focused on what he sees as Barrett’s over-reliance on patristic sources and Thomas Aquinas rather than Scripture.
The Center for Baptist Leadership expressed concern about the theological implications, warning that “this isn’t just a denominational shift. It’s a theological pivot that risks sacramental confusion”. Their critique particularly targeted Barrett’s embrace of infant baptism and what they termed “sacramentalism”.
The controversy quickly spread across social media platforms, with mock hashtags like #BaptistsBiteTheDust trending briefly after critical YouTube commentary. The “5 Solas” account on X shared mocking quotes, while Reasonable Theology produced analytical content questioning Barrett’s biblical exegesis regarding baptism.
However, Barrett also found supporters within Anglican circles. Trinity Anglican Seminary welcomed him with a press release celebrating his expertise in classical theology, while Anglican supporters used phrases like “Welcome home to the Canterbury trail!” in reply threads.
Rather than retreating from the controversy, Barrett has continued to engage critics through both long-form Substack posts and social media responses. He has pressed the Nicene Creed issue with follow-up tweets, retweeted calls for prayer regarding SBC messengers who support the Creed, and defended against accusations of unfairly characterizing Baptist culture.
When Burk’s critical article circulated widely, Barrett responded with a defensive thread addressing what he called the “pain of those silenced for retrieving classical theology”. He has framed his criticism not as an attack on individual Baptists but as a structural critique of denominational practices.
The Barrett controversy has exposed deeper fault lines within evangelical circles regarding classical theology, creedal authority, and denominational identity. His story reflects a broader trend of evangelical theologians moving toward high-church traditions for sacramental and liturgical reasons.
The debate has rekindled earlier discussions about “biblicism” versus classical theism, with Barrett’s 2023 critique of biblicism having already drawn fire from James White and others. The conversion has also highlighted ongoing divisions within the SBC regarding the formal status of the Nicene Creed.
Several SBC theologians have signaled forthcoming articles responding to Barrett’s “three pillars” argument, while James White has announced a follow-up “Dividing Line” series on “The Great-Traditionists”. Barrett has hinted at a podcast episode addressing his critics scheduled for this fall.
The controversy continues to generate discussion about the relationship between historic Christian orthodoxy and contemporary denominational identity, with Barrett’s move serving as a flashpoint for broader questions about creedal authority, liturgical worship, and the nature of Baptist distinctives in the 21st century.
Barrett’s transition represents only the second high-profile academic departure from the SBC to Anglicanism in recent years, following a modest but notable trend of evangelical theologians seeking what they describe as greater historical and liturgical depth in their ecclesiastical commitments.