Former SWBTS professor indicted with obstructing justice by falsifying records
Matthew Queen, 49, former interim provost and vice president for academic affairs at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, has been charged with obstructing justice by falsifying records in connection with an ongoing federal Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation into institutions affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC).
The charges against Queen stem from Queen’s alleged attempt to interfere with a federal grand jury investigation related to sexual abuse allegations within the denomination, according to a Southern District of New York press release.
Since 2022, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the FBI have been investigating sexual abuse and misconduct allegations associated with a religious denomination and its affiliated entities. As part of this investigation, a grand jury subpoena was issued to a seminary affiliated with the denomination. The subpoena required the production of all documents related to sexual abuse allegations against anyone employed by or associated with the seminary.
In November 2022, a seminary employee received a report alleging sexual abuse by a current seminary student. The employee, known as “Employee-1,” immediately notified campus police. However, no further action was taken at that time, and the allegation was not reported to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Queen allegedly failed to inform the FBI of a conspiracy to destroy evidence related to the ongoing investigation and produced falsified notes to investigators. These actions deliberately violated a court order and delayed justice for the sexual abuse victims. The press release states that Queen’s “attempt to corroborate his own lies” interfered with the federal investigation.
According to the indictment, Queen “knowingly altered, destroyed, mutilated, concealed, covered up, falsified, and made a false entry in a record, document, and tangible object with the intent to impede, obstruct, and influence the investigation.”
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams emphasized the seriousness of attempts to manipulate or interfere with a federal investigation.
“The criminal obstruction charge announced today should exemplify the seriousness of attempts by any individual to manipulate or interfere with a federal investigation,” said Williams.
FBI Assistant Director in Charge James Smith echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that intentional deception to conceal malicious behavior undermines justice.
Queen is well-known in SBC circles for his scholarship on evangelism, having taught at several Southern Baptist seminaries and authored books on the topic. He is currently lead pastor of Friendly Avenue Baptist Church in Greensboro, North Carolina, in March, according to published reports.